7. Belonging
Belonging
Dating your cousin is one of those things that is guaranteed to come with a lot of shame and secrecy.
Except in the case of me and Karma.
Nothing had really changed between us.
We still got matching mani’s, watched our little island show, and got sushi on Thursdays. No one questioned anything because this was our norm.
Only now I was in her guts a few times a week, and I could finally buy her flowers without it looking too romantically motivated.
I could also kiss the delicate lines of ink etched into her tender skin as soon as the sun rose, and squeeze her soft belly, and inhale the scent of her skin until I got high.
Life was good.
“Angie,” she giggled groggily as I pecked her temple. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Karma,” I cooed as I slipped my greedy fingers under her bonnet.
Her curls wrapped around my fingers like thick ribbons of curled satin, silently inviting me to stay a while. Which I absolutely would. I could do this all day if we didn't have to worry about pesky shit like food and water.
“I love you,” I mumbled as I nuzzled her nape.
“I love you more,” she replied while threading her fingers through mine.
We enjoyed our slow, lazy morning until my temples started to throb from a lack of caffeine.
“You have me for 36 hours until my next flight, pretty. So what do you wanna do today?”
“I was thinking brunch at Crouton.”
“Ok, I like how you thinking.”
“And maybe a walk through Chandra park.”
“Mhm.”
“I know it’s hot, but then maybe some pho for dinner? It’s that time of the month.”
“Karma, please don’t act like you’re not spoiled rotten,” I sighed. “You wanna go out for some or do you want me to make some?”
“Do you feel like cooking?”
“I always feel like it for you.”
“Ok,” she smiled.
“We just have to add one more stop.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see.”
Somehow we made it out the house without me succumbing to the seduction of her favorite animal print dress.
I’m still not entirely sure how I did it, because I was locked in to the way the cowl hem just barely covered the top of her dinner-plate areolas even now, at this nice ass white linen restaurant.
I had been on my best behavior since starting at Endeavor but this dress had me curious.
Did they still give out moving violations for running red lights?
“Angie, control your thoughts,” Karma chided as she stole a few of my sweet potatoes.
“I didn’t even say anything,” I protested.
“Your face ain’t exactly quiet. Which is exactly why I think we should skip the 4th picnic this year. You like beating niggas up, and this time everybody’s gonna know why.”
The downside to dating your cousin? They knew way more about you than the random stranger you met in the cereal aisle at Kroger’s.
I wanted to argue but Karma wasn’t exactly wrong.
Five months of holding hands with her had made my jealousy unmanageable.
The family’s insistent attempts to hook Karma up with losers didn’t help either.
It was like watching people try to move into your house with mildewy clothes.
“You were right about the hash,” I mumbled as I took another bite of the crunchy, fluffy potatoes.
The texture was great. The taste was phenomenal. I needed a jar of whatever they seasoned this shit with.
“Mm, and what else?”
“Maybe we should skip the picnic. It's gonna be hot and loud.”
“You could just admit that I'm right, Angie.”
“Now what fun would that be?”
“Anyway,” she sighed as those plump lips of hers wrapped around her straw. “You ready for our walk?”
“Actually, I want to make that stop first.”
“Mkay,” she nodded. “Maybe I can buy something shiny while we're out.”