22. Malik #2
“Boy, I’d swim across the ocean for my grandbaby. But let’s focus on making sure there’s still a family for me to visit when that time comes.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Now stop avoiding me and go get my Metra Me. And Malik, I’m proud of you for taking control of your career. That shows real strength. Now show that same strength in your personal life.”
“When did you give her a nickname?” I shook my head but loved that the women in my life loved each other.
“The minute she made that jalapeno honey cornbread. I love her for you son. Thats all. I want you happy and you two love each other. Don’t let this bump in the road turn into a mole hill.”
“Love you, ma.”
“Love you too, son.”
After we hung up, I sat in the parking lot thinking about what she’d said.
Mama was right, I’d been sending flowers, lunch, little reminders that I was still here.
But they felt hollow, like I was just going through the motions instead of fighting for us.
And I couldn’t have her thinking that. She meant too much to me for me to take my foot off the gas.
The Next Day
I woke up this morning missing my woman so much, I felt physically ill, agitated.
And while she thought she was winning this standoff, getting her way by keeping me at arm’s length, I was about to blow up Thursday dinner, whether she liked it or not.
Samaj had invited me, and I was going. My beautiful, stubborn woman couldn’t keep me away.
My mama’s words woke me up like cold water being thrown on me.
I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, applying my Tom Ford Oud Wood cologne she loved so much, the one that made her practically purr when I wore it.
I wanted her to smell me before she saw me, wanted that familiar scent to remind her body of all the ways I’d handled it.
Two weeks was too damn long to go without touching my woman, especially when she was carrying my child.
I checked myself in the mirror one more time, fresh cut from Precision, beard lined up to perfection, wearing a black Nike Tek sweatsuit, a fitted cap, and a pair of white forces, she loved me dressed down.
The gold chain she loved to trace with her fingers when we were lying in bed was tucked on my shirt.
I adjusted it. I looked good, smelled better, and I was ready to remind Sametra Andrews why it was time to come home.
The drive to Sheena’s didn’t take long, but every minute felt heavy.
The music didn’t calm me, not even the fact that the traffic was perfect.
I’d been to dozens of Thursday dinners, but tonight felt like the perfect place for a turning point.
I wasn’t sure what she’d told her family about our situation, or if she was going to be upset with me for showing up uninvited.
But it was a chance I was willing to take.
I needed to at least lay eyes on her. Even if she yelled at me to leave, one glance would hold me over until I could figure out my next move.
When I pulled into the parking lot, I spotted her car immediately, the Lexus I’d bought her.
She was parked next to Samaj’s car. I smiled, seeing it brought back memories of that night we’d made the sweetest love, when everything felt perfect between us.
But it also reminded me of how that same night had been tainted by Ashe’s violation.
I noticed she’d made some changes to it, got a custom license plate that read “BLESSED1” on the front.
That small detail made me smile despite everything.
She was blessed, but even more than that she was a blessing.
There was no way anyone expected me to just walk away from her and what we’d built together. I was crazy about this woman, and she needed to know that my feelings hadn’t changed. If anything, it had now gone to an astronomical level. I’d done the unthinkable.
I walked into Sheena’s with the confidence of a man who knew exactly what he wanted and wasn’t leaving without it. The hostess smiled when she saw me, I’d been coming here long enough that everyone knew me by name.
“Dr. Holloway! They’re already seated, head on back.”
In my hands, I carried a beautiful bouquet of red roses I’d picked up from the florist, and a small gift box I hoped would remind her of better times between us and where we were headed.
As I walked through the restaurant, I could smell the familiar aroma of Lorana’s cooking, fried chicken, mac and cheese, all the comfort foods that made this place feel like home. But I wasn’t here for the food tonight. I was here for my woman.
I could hear her laugh tickling my ears, and I followed the sound until I laid eyes on her standing outside the booth.
I stopped and just watched her talk to Lorana.
She looked happy, but I could tell she was tired.
Dark circles under her eyes told me she wasn’t sleeping well.
She had her hair braided back in two French braids, that was her lazy style, but it was always cute on her.
She was in simple black leggings and an oversized graphic tee that probably hid the small changes her body was already going through.
Her smile was bright as she talked animatedly with Lorana, but the moment she turned and saw me, it faltered. Still, against her wishes, I watched her cheeks rise in that involuntary way they did when she was fighting not to be happy to see me.
I approached the table and greeted everyone, John-Dale with a firm handshake, Lorana with a hug, and hit Samaj with our usual dap. But my eyes never left Sametra.
“Excuse us,” she said, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the back of the restaurant to Lorana’s office.
The comfortable warmth of her touch sent electricity through me, even though I could feel the tension in her grip.
She slammed the door shut and flipped the light on, then turned to face me with her arms crossed.
“Hey, beautiful, these are for you.”
“Hey?” Her voice was sharp. “What are you doing here, Malik?”
I inhaled we needed to do this, have this conversation so we could hopefully move on.
“It’s been weeks, Sametra. I’m trying to figure out how I’m supposed to win you back when you won’t give me the time of day. Did you break up with me and forget to inform me?”
“You got some nerve,” she said, stepping closer and poking me in the chest. “Isn’t that what you did? Not inform me? Now you want to be in the loop. It doesn’t work that way.”
“MiMi, I was wrong for not telling you, but I’m not going to apologize for trying to protect your peace and keep bullshit away from you. That nigga wanted to use you as a pawn.”
“You don’t get it.” Her voice cracked slightly, and I could see the exhaustion wearing on her.
“Maybe I don’t get it. I’ve apologized, and I’ll try to never keep anything from you again, but if it meant you could enjoy your first day of school, study for your first big test, and help Samaj with his recovery, I was going to carry that burden.
I’m not apologizing for doing what you needed me to do, fuck what you wanted in that moment. ”
She stared at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “What I needed ? Fuck what I wanted? That doesn’t sound like an apology to me. Still sounds like excuses. What I needed was to be treated like your partner, not your child. What about my voice?”
“Partner? I don’t know why that feels too fucking formal for me.
Let’s be clear, you are my woman, my world, the light of my damn life, soon-to-be wife.
I don’t need a partner in crime. I need a woman who trusts and believes that at every turn, her best interest is all I’m thinking about. Are you that woman?”
“Malik, I beg your pardon.”
“You still love him? Is that why you wanted to know? So you could protect him? I’m just tryna understand.”
I knew she didn’t but if we were spewing bullshit, I’d spew some too.
“Are you crazy? Hell no, I don’t love him, but my voice matters. And before we go further, I need to know you understand that.”
“You flodgin’ Sametra, this wasn’t about your voice, this was about control.
I know it’s been you and Samaj, but you got me now too.
You wanted to be the one to handle Ashe yourself, but the man I ran up on was desperate and dangerous.
He would’ve done anything to get what he wanted.
I’d never throw you to the wolves like that. Fuck that.”
“I wanted us to face problems together; not have you decide what I can and can’t handle. You were ready to get rid of him permanently. I don’t know this side of you, and that scares me.”
I stepped closer, close enough to smell her perfume, to see the tears she was fighting back. “You’re right. And we will face everything together moving forward. But you need to understand that I’m capable of a lot when it comes to protecting my family. But you never have to be afraid of me.”
“I trusted you.”
“You can still trust me.”
I reached for her face, my thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped. “I love you too much to watch you suffer when I can prevent it.”
She leaned into my touch for just a moment before pulling away.
“This is what we’re doing?”
“And what is that?”
“Continue playing games, dragging this shit out, pulling from me. I’m ready to come home, Sametra. I’m ready to be with you and plan the rest of our lives. What’s really good?”
“Watch it, Malik. It’s still not even resolved.
Is Ashe still trying to get money? Are you fired from work?
This whole thing was messy and reckless to begin with.
I don’t want to start over with more mess.
And if I hadn’t been with you, he wouldn’t have tried to extort you.
So forgive me if I feel like I should be a part of cleaning up my mess. ”