14. Malik
T hings had been going so damn good that it kept slipping my mind to tell Sametra about her weak ass baby daddy.
This nigga was working my nerves. I’d gotten some message requests on Facebook, and it was this fool talking a lot of shit but not showing his face.
I was done playing with him, because soon I’d be changing Sametra’s name and would have every legal reason to protect what was mine.
“You look good, I love you in this purple,” she said, kissing me on my cheek.
“Thank you, baby. I’d love to say the same, but somebody ain’t dressed. You changed your mind?”
Sametra had finished her first two weeks of school, and I wanted to get her out of the house.
She’d been complaining about not having any fun, it had been all business.
It was the weekend of Independence Day so when my homeboy Davinci Bryns invited us to the Pinnacles game tonight, I knew surprising her with a night out would be right on time and what she needed.
“No, just taking it all in.”
“Baby for real, are you going to get dressed, or do we need to cancel tonight? If you’d rather rest and chill, we can do that. No pressure.”
She was still sauntering around my room in nothing but her bra and panties, hair still in rollers, smelling good with her DeMosea Urban Romance body cream all over her smooth skin.
That sweet, intoxicating scent that made me want to nibble on every inch of her was going to be the reason the night was cancelled. She knew exactly what she was doing.
“No, calm down, I’m going to get dressed now. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Sametra, don’t make me come back up here to get you.”
She turned to face me and poked her lips out before coming over to me. “Why will I be in trouble?”
“I’ll be downstairs, you’re tempting a nigga for real.”
“Boo, no fun. Scrooge.”
“Girl, if you want to cancel tonight, just say that.”
“No, for real bye, go. I’ll be down in ten.”
I shook my head, laughing as I headed downstairs. This woman was going to be the death of me, and she knew it. Ten more minutes of me watching her walking around like that would have us missing the entire first quarter.
When I made it downstairs, I made sure I had the tickets and that our reservations for after dinner were confirmed.
I looked in my garage, trying to decide which car I wanted to take out tonight.
The G Wagon felt right for an evening like this; it was her favorite car of mine, so per usual, her happiness trumped everything.
After twenty minutes of waiting, I could smell her perfume behind me. I turned around, and the sight of her made me run my tongue over my lips.
“Nah, you really playing with me. Let me see,” I said, gesturing for her to turn around.
She did a slow spin, and I took in the white silk halter top that left her back exposed, tucked into a purple mini skirt with a gold Chanel belt around her waist. The fabric clung to her in all the right places, falling at the perfect spot on her thick thighs.
She walked like a bad bitch in her heels that tied at the ankle.
They made her legs look endless despite her petite frame.
Her hair was styled in soft, bouncy curls that framed her face perfectly.
The delicate gold jewelry I’d bought for her early as we shopped for tonight, gleamed brightly against her supple brown skin.
“Damn, baby,” I breathed, stepping closer to her. “You look like you belong on somebody’s red carpet.”
“Really? You like it?” she asked, smoothing her hands down the skirt.
“Sametra, you look like a million dollars. Every woman is gonna hate you, and every nigga gon wish they were me.” I pulled her closer, careful not to mess up her outfit. “You ready to be my arm candy tonight?”
“Your arm candy?” she laughed, swatting at my chest. “Boy, you better be ready to be mine. You clean up nice yourself, Dr. Holloway. We look good together.”
“Come on, let’s get the night started.”
We made it out the door and I opened the passenger door of the G-Wagon for her, watching as she gracefully slid into the leather seat. I made my way around the car and got in.
“Ouu, we going somewhere fancy. You only drive the G-Wagon when we going somewhere special. I’ll be sucking dick in here later, huh?”
“Problem?” I asked, grabbing her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it, then slipping her finger into my mouth. I swirled my tongue around her finger as she exhaled slowly.
“No problem with me. None at all.”
“You sure you don’t want to know where we’re going?
” I asked, glancing over at Sametra as I navigated through downtown traffic.
I could see her highlighted cheeks glowing in the car’s ambient lighting.
I loved this woman so much it was sickening—it absolutely hurt to think about not having her in my life.
“Nope, I’m trusting my man tonight.”
The way she said “my man” made my dick strain against my jeans.
I never knew being someone’s man would feel so fulfilling.
Loving Sametra was like discovering a new purpose, a new level unlocked.
I’d never take her for granted. I reached over and turned up the music, and she immediately started singing along to the old-school R&B playlist I’d made specifically for her.
“Sweet lady, would you be mine, sweet love for a lifetime,” she sang, her warm hand massaging my beard as she sang to me.
“You know all the words to everything,” I said, squeezing her thigh as we stopped at a red light.
Sometimes I just felt my soul light on fire about her.
Everything about her had my nose wide open.
Like her knowing the words to all the songs, how she picked out the yellow sweet tarts, leaving them for me or Samaj.
She was beautiful, smart, ambitious, fearless, and kind. She was one of a kind.
“Music is life, baby. Plus, you got good taste,” she said, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “Where are we really going, though? Because this route is taking us toward the arena district.”
“I knew that trusting my man shit was cap,” I mocked, fighting back a smile. Sametra liked surprises, but she also didn’t like surprises. My baby could be a little contradictory, but I was figuring her ways out day by day. I was going to stick beside her, no matter how crazy shit got.
“Rommy baby, are you taking me to a game?” Her voice rose with excitement. “If so, I‘ve never been so I’ll definitely be face down ass up tonight.”
I pulled into the VIP parking area. “Not just any Pinnacles game. Courtside seats. My boy hooked us up.”
Her mouth fell open. “Courtside? Like, where they show the rich people on TV?”
“Like where they’re about to show my beautiful girlfriend on TV,” I corrected. “You ready to see how the other half lives?”
“Wait, wait, wait, you know the Davinci Bryns?”
“Yes, he was a patient of mine. He’s a good friend now.”
“Are you serious right now?” She was practically bouncing in her seat. “Malik, I’ve never even been to a professional game, let alone courtside and you’re acting all casual about it!”
“Tonight, you’re gonna experience it all, baby. VIP treatment, the works.” I leaned over and kissed her softly. “You deserve the world, and I’m gonna give it to you piece by piece.”
I handed the keys to the valet, with a nice tip, and helped my woman out of the car. She gripped my shoulders as I pulled her toward me. “Malik, this is insane.”
“You deserve insane. You deserve for a nigga to be completely off his rocker behind you. I’m him,” I said, reaching behind her neck and placing a kiss on her forehead.
“You’ve been working so hard with school, taking care of Samaj, and being amazing.
Tonight, we have fun, live like celebrities, eat good food, and see where the night takes us. ”
“What did I do to deserve you?” she asked softly, her voice full of emotion.
“More than enough,” I said simply.
I stepped out of the truck and handed the keys to valet with a tip before helping her out.
I grabbed her close as we walked into the VIP area.
I could see her taking in the scene, the luxury, the well-dressed crowd, the energy that came with being in elite spaces.
Her eyes were wide, but she carried herself with natural confidence, like she belonged here. Because she did.
“Dr. Holloway!” Davinci’s voice boomed across the corridor. He jogged over, still in his warm-up gear, that million-dollar smile on full display. “Man, good to see you!”
“Davinci, what’s good, brother? What we know?” I dapped him up.
“We know we got this.”
“Fa sho,” I turned to Sametra and kissed her hand, “This is my girlfriend, Sametra. Sametra, meet the man himself.”
“Wow, it’s so nice to meet you,” she said, extending her hand, but he pulled her into a quick hug.
“Nah, we family now. Any woman who got this man smiling like this is good people. Call me Dee.” He grinned at me. “Doc, you didn’t tell me she was this beautiful. You better lock this down quick. My homies back there eyeing her.”
“Don’t get them niggas hurt,” I said, wrapping my arm around her waist.
“Heard that,” he said, laughing. “Y’all enjoy the game. I’mma put on a show for you tonight.”
The usher led us to our seats, and I watched Sametra’s face as she realized just how close we were to the action. We were literally right on the court, close enough to hear the players talking, close enough to see every bead of sweat.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, settling into her seat. “This is unreal.”
We ordered drinks, and she had to have some popcorn. Sametra took pictures of us and herself. We did look good together.
The Pinnacles were playing their biggest rivals, and the energy in the arena was insane. Sametra was on her feet cheering, completely caught up in the atmosphere. The drink she ordered had her feeling good, loose, and completely herself. She wasn’t worried about being cute, or prissy.