Chapter 7
When I woke up, Kamari was in the kitchen, humming and cooking. I wasn’t sure what she was making, but her humming had my heart open. I didn’t know how she got away from me without waking me up. I thought I had her wrapped up good enough to prevent that. I sat up on the couch, and she immediately came to me.
“I’m sorry. Did my humming wake you up?”
“Naw. You not being on this couch with me woke me up.”
She shifted her weight and gave me a half smile. “Sorry. I ordered some stuff to make cheese dip. What time does your flight leave in the morning?”
“Six.”
“Okay. Well, it’s nearly five in the evening. Are you ready to eat?”
“I am.”
I stood from the couch and followed her into the kitchen. The microwave was going, and she was plating chips for us. I slid my arms around her from behind and kissed her neck. She giggled and tilted her head to get me away from her neck. I took that to mean she was ticklish. That only propelled me forward, causing her to scream.
“Deontray! You’re gonna make me wake up Mi!”
I chuckled as I released her then kissed her cheek. I was beyond grateful she was here. I was still in disbelief that she’d flown all the way back. That told me she was feeling me way more than she was letting on. She was going to be mine before we even left from here. I had to shoot my shot again.
“Thank you, Kamari. I know I’ve said it already, but you being here means everything to me… to Mi’Junae too. She really looks up to you. Before we even met you, she used to talk about how beautiful you were and how together you seemed to have it. She said she could tell that you were really a good girl and not just playing the part.”
I smiled for a moment, because all I had been imagining was how much of a bad girl she could be until now. My thoughts were consumed with how wet she probably got and how filthy her mouth would get. Now… I realized Mi was right. She was an angel. I could tell she wasn’t experienced. God had kept her pure in the midst of snakes, not allowing them to sink their venom into her.
I couldn’t figure out for the life of me why He thought I deserved her though. My rep was the total opposite of hers. She knew that, but here she was… checking on me, showing me affection, and consoling my spirit.
“She needs someone like you to look up to, and I’m grateful that you’re here to be the bright light in her life. I really wish my mama could have stayed a little longer. I know God doesn’t make mistakes, but I questioned His decision to take our mama, repeatedly. I was grown, but Mi was just experiencing her hormones. It was like He took her at the time Mi needed her most.”
Kamari made her way to me and placed her hands on my chest. It was like she could feel my sadness and anguish. She looked up into my eyes and asked, “What happened to Mi? I heard the man that came say something about her being raped.”
I nodded then grabbed her hands and brought her to the table. “She’s been fucking around with FAAFO. She left with him Saturday night after the awards show. I didn’t see her again until this morning, a few hours before our flight was to leave. She was high as hell and somewhat confrontational. My manager called and told me about the video and how it had gone viral. I hadn’t watched it. I already know that I can’t bear to do that without going left.”
She nodded. “So they drugged her?”
“I think so. I’m sure she smoked the spliff on her own. We smoke from time to time together, but I’ve always told her not to smoke with people she didn’t know. I supposed that went in one ear and out the other. Since she had X in her system, I have to think someone laced that weed. She said she didn’t take anything in pill form that she can remember. I’m just thankful that she remembers anything at all.”
“Right. While I’m not familiar with the effects personally, Tiana said that whenever she smokes, she gets paranoid, and she doesn’t remember a lot of what goes down when she’s high.”
“It can affect people differently. When I’m high, I just feel extremely relaxed and chill. I remember everything. However, Ecstasy can have a totally different side effect. Apparently, it wasn’t a huge dose… just enough for her to lose all inhibitions.”
She slowly shook her head. “Did FAAFO do it?”
“Naw. He gave her the joint though. I mean… he had sex with her… so I guess he did do it. He wasn’t the guy in the video though.”
“My God. I feel so bad for her. I’m glad you were able to calm down before talking to her.”
“Me too. While I warned her about him, I never thought something like this would happen. I expected an altercation with another female or some shit like that. Him playing with her feelings or something. You know?” I asked.
She nodded. “I can imagine. I truly hope something can be done.”
“Well, they did find fluids. She took a shower, but she wasn’t in there long. I just hope they can match it with somebody. FAAFO ass is in the system. I just hope she doesn’t get pregnant. I don’t know if she’s on birth control or not.”
“She probably got in the shower simply to sober up. I wouldn’t be in there long either if it was cold water. I hope she’s on birth control too. Did they give her the morning after pill at the hospital?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. I didn’t even think about that.”
“Don’t worry. If they did a rape kit and found fluids, I’m more than sure they offered it.”
“Yeah, but what puzzles me is Mi said she remembered them putting on condoms. You think she just doesn’t remember everything?”
She swallowed hard and looked away for a moment. I grabbed her chin and turned her back to me. “Tell me, Kamari. Please.”
“The little bit of the video I saw, there wasn’t a condom in sight, and Mi looked like she was on the verge of passing out.”
“Shit!” I yelled as I stood from the table. “That video is going to be used as evidence.”
“Did the hospital call the police, baby?” she asked.
When I turned to her, she was completely red. I smiled slightly. Just that quickly, my mind had switched gears. “The police came, but she didn’t want me in the room when she talked to them. My concern has shifted to you though. You okay… baby?”
She smiled slightly as her cheeks reddened even more. “Yeah,” she said softly.
I sat back in my seat and leaned forward to kiss her lips. When she was about to pull away, I held her to me by the back of her neck and eased my tongue to hers. She moaned as I deepened the kiss, causing my dick to really stand up. I pulled away from her slowly, staring into her eyes as I did.
“Kamari, I feel like I need to ask you to be mine again. It feels like it’s inevitable, baby. In only a couple of days, you’ve seen parts of me no one has ever seen, even before this situation with Mi. Let me make you feel things you’ve never felt.”
I slid my hand up her leg to her thigh then back down to her knee. She bit her bottom lip like she was in deep thought then looked back into my eyes and said, “Okay.”
My eyebrows lifted slightly. I fully expected her to say for us to just go with the flow or something similar to that. “Okay?”
“Yeah. Okay.”
Before she could say anything else, I stood and pulled her from her seat, lifting her in my arms like a baby. I cradled her and just stared at the woman that said she was mine. After knowing the type of life I’d been living, she still said okay to my proposal. I owed her the world for that shit.
“You’re right. It’s inevitable. Me coming here proved to me just how much I felt for you already. I can see the sincerity in your eyes. Despite your reputation, I’m willing to give us a try. I just… I don’t know how soon sex will happen. I mean, I?—”
“I’m not worrying about that shit right now. Just the fact that you trust me enough to give me a shot is more than enough. That shit is unheard of.”
I had a big ass lump in my throat, and that shit was wearing me thin. I’d already given Kamari more of my inner workings than I should have been comfortable with, and now I was threatening to drop tears in front of her. Who in the fuck had I become? I kissed her lips tenderly, gently sucking her bottom lip before pulling away.
Lowering her to her feet, I was still somewhat in shock. This was a moment I didn’t expect to happen anytime soon. I thought I would have been stalking her fine ass, showing up to places she was at to get her to get used to seeing me around, before she even considered something like this. God is good.
I watched her go to the microwave and take a bowl out of it. She stirred the cheese then added meat to it. As she stirred again, I asked, “What time does your flight leave?”
“Not until nine, but I’m flying back private.”
“So what will you do after we leave?”
She shrugged her shoulders. I was tempted to see if we could get on the flight she would be on. She walked over to me and set a plate of nachos in front of me. My stomach growled at the sight. Just as Kamari was sitting with her plate, Mi’Junae joined us in the kitchen.
“I knew I smelled food. Thank you, Kamari.”
I frowned slightly. “How do you know I didn’t make this?”
“Because your cooking sucks. I would have just stayed asleep,” she responded seriously as Kamari laughed.
“You’re welcome, Mi.” She turned to me. “That’s okay, Tray. I’m sure you’re good at other things.”
“Singing and anything pertaining to music. That’s it, sis,” Mi’Junae said.
I cut my eyes at her. At least she was in a good mood after her nap. “Mi, put some food in your mouth, and shut up,” I said to her.
She chuckled then glanced at us as Kamari fed me a nacho. I made sure to lick the cheese off her finger too. Her face turned red as I stared at her. This woman was gonna have me eating out the palm of her damn hand. I could already see it.
She took the same finger I had licked and licked it also. That shit had me bricking up quick as hell. Thankfully, I was seated at the table. I didn’t want Mi to get uncomfortable. She was probably already uncomfortable seeing us be affectionate.
“Did y’all become serious while I was asleep?” Mi asked, causing Kamari to break our stare down.
“Yes,” Kamari responded.
Mi’Junae smiled slightly but didn’t say a word until she got to the table where we were. “Congratulations. She’s a good look for you, Tray. I’m happy for you. Just make sure you treat her in a way that would make Mama proud.”
I gave Mi a slight smile and turned my attention to Kamari while responding. “You don’t have that to worry about. I already know having this beautiful woman in my life is a blessing. I won’t take that for granted.”
“Congratulations, Kamari. Just so you know, he can be extremely stubborn at times, and he leaves his clothes in the dryer. That way when I need the dryer, I have to take them out. Being that I’m nice, he knows that I’ll fold them if I take them out of the dryer.”
“Mi… where is your loyalty to family? Damn!”
Kamari laughed loudly, so I pushed a nacho in her mouth. Mi laughed hysterically. “See what I mean, sis? He already tryna shut you up, boo!”
“I don’t have to take this abuse.”
I pretended like I was gonna stand from the table, but then started eating my nachos while they laughed. I would gladly be the brunt of the joke. I would much rather see them laughing than crying.