Chapter 6
I got home from the gym and quickly hopped in the shower. Today was the day I would be going to Arranged Hearts. They squeezed me in today since someone had canceled their appointment. I’d been chilling and sticking to myself this week. While I wanted to call Vegas after all that bullshit from the club, I decided to leave well enough alone. If they said I shouldn’t be with her, then maybe I shouldn’t.
There had to be a logical reason for them to say that, being that they were both married. So I knew they weren’t hating or fucking around with her. They considered her a sister. Vegas had said there was some trauma there. I remembered Mo getting into it with Yonkers, but the reason why had still evaded me. I couldn’t help but think that that reason had something to do with Yunique. Did Mo do something to her?
I could remember him flirting with a girl my age when I was fourteen. That nigga had no morals, and as an adult, I was glad he didn’t play a role in raising my brother and me. There was no telling what type of bullshit we would have picked up on if he had. The only things I could remember ever learning from him was shit we didn’t need to learn, like fucking, smoking, and drinking… not to mention hustling.
I couldn’t say he actually taught us those things, but we surely watched him and picked up on them. Harlan used to sneak blunts he’d rolled out of his stash when he would hang around to fuck on our mama. He and I were only a year apart. We may as well had been twins, especially since our mother named us like we were. We looked a lot alike as well. He would sneak the blunts, and I would sneak the beer. We couldn’t have been any older than seven and eight years old.
I’d been racking my brain all week about what could have possibly gone down back then, and I wanted to call Vegas bad as hell and beg him to tell me. Yunique was so damn beautiful and intelligent as hell. I wanted to get to know her. In my experience, a nigga like me didn’t run across women like her often. I actually felt like I had a chance, despite her verbal rejection. Her body wanted me. I could tell from her hard nipples that showed through the thin fabric of her romper.
However, she said she had an appointment with this company to find her future husband. I didn’t totally believe in the process, but when I researched them online Sunday, I was intrigued. They had an extremely high success rate, over 95 percent. Seeing all the smiles on the couples’ faces only intrigued me more, especially the black ones. There were more black people on there than I would have expected.
When I saw a wedding picture of a voluptuous woman and her groom from like a year and a half ago, I noticed a familiar face. Yunique was her maid of honor. This was where she got the idea from, and apparently, things had worked out well for them. Getting married at first sight had me somewhat nervous, but I would give it a go.
I was ready for stability. Since I couldn’t seem to find that the conventional way, I supposed I would have to be unconventional. Yunique had gone Monday, and they had probably already paired her with somebody, being that it was Friday. My reason for choosing to go through with this was simply to try to be paired with her, but I had to be realistic. Most likely, I wouldn’t be paired with her, but I could possibly be paired with someone just as gorgeous and intelligent.
Whoever that woman was deserved my best effort and my genuineness. She deserved everything my mama told me I could be for a woman. As her oldest son, she said she always knew I would treat women right simply by the way I treated her and how I taught Harlan to treat her when he tried to get out of pocket, watching Mo’s dusty ass. I just hoped whoever they matched me with would be someone I could build with and that would have made Mama proud.
After taking my shower, I heard my phone ringing. I quickly made my way to my bedroom to see it was Vegas. I frowned slightly and answered the phone in a defensive manner, on guard for bullshit. “What’s up?” I answered.
“What’s up, man? I just wanted to apologize for how shit went down last weekend. I’m usually not one for apologies, but when I saw that Yunique looked slightly disappointed that you were gone, I felt bad. While I know it was for the best, I still need to apologize. I’m hoping this shit don’t come back to bite me in the ass, but I feel like you’ve always been solid. I would have never known you were that nigga’s son otherwise.”
I remained quiet, waiting to see what he would say. After a moment, he said, “Yonkers and Mo got into it because Mo was trying to make a move on his wife… Yunique and Kee’s mother. They hated Mo. Yonkers didn’t see the snake he was until then, but Yunique and their mother had known long before.”
“Naw. I know you ain’t finna say what I think you are. You don’t have to tell me anything more. I see why y’all were adamant about me leaving her alone. Although that nigga don’t mean shit to me, I could see how fucked up that would be if she ever had to find out. I appreciate you for telling me that much.”
“I ain’t told you shit, other than they had a problem with his grimy ass.”
“That’s more than enough. I can put two and two together. She don’t too much care for street niggas, and now, I can see why. Are y’all still out here?”
“Yeah. We fly out Sunday. I’m just trying to soak up time with my mama and new niece.”
“Congratulations, man.”
“Thanks. You gon’ find what you’re looking for. Umm… Yunique got matched with Arranged Hearts yesterday. My sister spilled the tea on that shit since they are best friends, and she referred her.”
My heart sank for some reason. Deep in my soul, I felt like she would get matched quick as hell. “That’s good, I guess. You have a sister?”
“Yeah. I met her, my brother, and my mama about four years ago. She was my wife’s psychiatrist, and she knew who I was upon first sight. Eventually, it was a pleasant reunion,” he said and chuckled.
I was willing to bet that voluptuous woman in that picture on Arranged Hearts’s website was his sister. He said she and Yunique were best friends. I refused to tell him I was going there today. So I said, “Well, again, thanks for the insight. I gotta go though. I have an appointment in a little bit, and I still have to get ready.”
“A’ight, man. We ought to hook up before we leave.”
“Yeah. How Jungle gon’ feel about that though?”
“That nigga cool. We talked things through. He know you ain’t like that nigga.”
“Okay. Well, let me know.”
“A’ight.”
I ended the call and took a deep breath. I supposed I was doing this. I was still gonna eventually get married. This shit was crazy and so unlike me, but I supposed it was time to step out of the box and try something new.
“What are the most important values you look for in a partner? For example, honesty, loyalty, kindness, etcetera. You responded, I look for all those things mentioned in the example, however, loyalty and honesty weigh a lot more than kindness.”
She glanced up at me with a slight smile. “Why do those two things weigh more?”
I was at Arranged Hearts for my consult, but it felt more like an interview. She seemed friendly, but I could tell she was reading me. She looked me up and down then she stared into my eyes. They always said eyes were a window to the soul, so I wondered if she found what she was looking for. After I took a seat, she went right in.
“Where I’m from and how I grew up, no one was really kind. Two things that weren’t tolerated, though, was a liar and a backstabber. We could always work on that kindness thing.”
She nodded. I slid my hands down my pants. I’d worn slacks and a white Polo shirt, looking like I was going to play golf. I was so damn uncomfortable it was unreal. The wait alone had me damn near sweating. When the receptionist called my name and led me to Mrs. Joan’s office, it felt like my knees were knocking. I’d never been so nervous in my adult life.
“Which three qualities are absolute must-haves in your ideal match? You said that she must be confident, assertive, and soft.”
She looked up at me, I supposed waiting to see if I wanted to add to that. So I did. “I want her to be soft enough to let me lead but assertive enough to be able to handle things in my absence.” Briefly thinking about Yunique, I continued. “I want a boss… a woman who won’t take any shit but, with aggressive coaxing, will submit to my lead.”
She nodded with a slight smile. I could tell I had this little woman nervous as hell. She didn’t elaborate much at all, just went on to the next question. “Okay. Do you have a preference for your partner’s education level or career path? You said, no. Anything you care to add?”
“Yes, ma’am. I don’t want a dummy. I want her to be smart and intelligent, not just mentally but emotionally as well. I don’t care about a career or if she furthered her education or not. I just want her to have good sense.”
She chuckled as she looked over something on her laptop. I could see she scrolled down, then she asked the next question. “What are your top two interests and hobbies that you enjoy most? You said, I love playing basketball and just hanging out with friends, whether at a sports bar or someone’s home. I don’t trust a lot of people, though, because of how I grew up, so it would have to be longtime friends. Can I ask a question, Mister Moore?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“When you lived in Houston, were you selling dope?”
I almost choked. I was not expecting her to just come out and ask that question. “That is a part of my past. Does that disqualify me?”
“It doesn’t since you don’t have a record. The reason I asked is because you keep referring to the way you grew up. Is your lifestyle even conducive to being in a relationship?”
“Yes, ma’am. I left that life behind. I want a family. It’s the one thing I’ve never really had. I mean, my mama and brother were there, but my father wasn’t nearly the man he should have been for his sons. I want to be better than him. I’ve always known how to treat a woman, thanks to my mama, and I’m ready to treat one woman the way she deserves, with love, devotion, and fervent affection.”
“Hmph. Fervor, huh? Don’t judge a book by its cover. You sounded so passionate about that just now, totally different than how this interview started. Thank you for being expressive in this moment.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said and smiled slightly.
“What do you do for a living now that you’ve left that life behind?”
“I own a few trucks that run hot shot for refineries. Basically, heavy haul couriers,” I said, noticing the confusion on her face when I said hot shot. “It’s very lucrative, and most times, I don’t have to lift a finger. Just phone calls, occasionally, about contracts and loads. My brother handles most of the business.”
“That’s good. I’m happy you found your way, Mister Moore. Shall we continue?”
I chuckled, feeling more comfortable. “Yes, ma’am.”
Going back to the questionnaire, she asked, “How would you describe your ideal first date together?” She smiled again and read my response. “Whatever she’s comfortable doing. I can adapt in any situation. For the record, I like sports bars, clubs, and going to the movies, but I feel like an ideal first date would be dinner, somewhere we can talk and get to know more about each other.”
She smiled and said, “You’re melting my little old heart, so you’re sure to melt hers. That’s very considerate of you. Being flexible is a good thing in relationships. What personality traits do you find most appealing in a potential partner?” After pausing to take a sip of water, she continued. “A sense of humor, genuineness, and nurturing.” She looked up at me. “Why nurturing?”
I felt my face heat up slightly. I was slightly embarrassed about my explanation, but I knew it needed to be said. “I’ve never really been seen after. I don’t want her to nurture me in a way a mother nurtures her child, but I want her to be able to care for me in a way that will further develop my sense of love and what it means to cherish her. My mother had to work three jobs to take care of us, so it was rare that I felt a deep sense of care from her. Hell, she was tired most times.”
I took a deep breath and slowly shook my head as Mrs. Joan placed her hand on her chest. “I need someone that will take care of and nurture my heart.”
“I think I understand. Have you ever been in love before?”
“At the big age of thirty-eight years old, I have to say no. There was a strong like for a girl in high school, but nothing since then. I had to focus my energy on making money to get us out the hood. I didn’t have time for love.”
She nodded and gave me a tight smile as she shifted in her seat. “How important is physical attraction and chemistry to you in a relationship?” She chuckled before she read my response. “People actually have relationships without chemistry and physical attraction?”
I had to laugh as well. I added, “If we have no chemistry, what are we trying to prove? I wouldn’t be able to fall in love with a person I wasn’t physically attracted to. In that case, what would be the point? When I get married, I want all the feels. I want her looks to knock me off my feet. When she touches me, I want it to calm all my doubts, anger, and whatever else I may have going on. I feel like that would be impossible for her to do without chemistry. I don’t believe in setting myself up for failure, Miss Joan,” I added with a chuckle.
“I totally get that. I don’t even know why that’s a question. I suppose for some people, it doesn’t matter.”
“They aren’t looking for a spouse then. That sounds like they need a business partner.”
She laughed loudly, and I joined her. The fuck? I wish I would go through all this shit and spend all this money to be paired up with a troll. “I know that’s right, baby,” she verbalized.
After composing herself, she continued with the questioning. “What is your preference regarding having children someday? I want to have babies. I’ll have as many as my queen wants to have. I love kids.”
She looked up at me as if she knew I would have more to say. I didn’t know how this woman had me spilling all my hopes and dreams in here, but she did. Fortunately, I didn’t feel awkward about it. “I want to prove that I can be a better father than he was. I want a child to be able to be a child. I also want to be able to give them all the love and affection I craved as a kid.”
“How do you feel about a woman that has children already?”
“I’m cool with that. I’ll love them just the same.”
She nodded, then typed something on her laptop and looked up at me again. “What is your idea of the perfect way to spend a weekend? You wrote, secluded away from everyone, showering my lady with love and affection, making love as many times as she can stand.”
Her face reddened some, and I wanted to chuckle, but I didn’t want to further embarrass her. “No further explanation needed, Mister Moore.”
I chuckled as she moved on to the next question. “How important is sharing core beliefs or interests with your partner? You said that it was very important. I am aggressive and passionate about my beliefs, so it would be in both of our best interest if we are equally yoked on matters of importance, especially when it comes to political views. If she’s a black woman and she’s voting for Trump, keep me as far away from her ass as possible, because she’s probably crazy as hell.”
She laughed so hard she nearly fell out of her seat. “Ain’t that the truth! Whew, chile,” she said as I chuckled.
“I’m going to cover two questions in one this time, like it is on the questionnaire. How would your closest friends describe your personality? What is one quirky or unique quality about yourself you embrace? You said that you’re a boss, aggressive, unyielding, and hotheaded.”
She shook her head slowly as she chuckled. “That means you don’t take shit off anyone. Am I right?”
“Absolutely. I nip shit in the bud immediately. I don’t let anything fester. We handle it before it gets out of hand.”
“You had to be around someone older to be saying nip it in the bud,” she said then giggled.
“My mama used to say that all the time. Whenever she wanted us to stop doing something, she would say, nip it! As much as that got on my nerves, I find myself saying it more and more the older I get.”
I shook my head as she laughed. “For the second part, you said you’re somewhat organized. A shirt thrown on the chair doesn’t bother me, but clothes all over the room will have me ready to F somebody up.” She chuckled. “Is there anything else? Like mannerisms?”
I shrugged. “I rub my hand down my head when I’m either nervous or trying to restrain myself from saying or doing something.”
“Sounds like a nervous habit,” she said.
“It very well could be,” I added.
“What are your love languages, and how do you prefer receiving love? Your response was any way she wants to give it. Of course, I like physical touch. Doesn’t everyone?”
She chuckled. “I believe they do, but only if the primary love language is met.”
“I get that. If a woman doesn’t feel appreciated and valued, they’ll less likely want to be touched. As a man, touch is always good with me, even when I’m pissed.”
She slowly shook her head. “How much time do you ideally like to spend with your partner versus alone? You said, I haven’t had a partner in years, so I would probably be clingy at first. However, I like having at least an hour alone in the mornings to work out… unless she likes to work out too. Then we could do it together, and no alone time would be needed. That could change as the relationship progresses though. The newness would have to somewhat wear off… where I know as long as I treat her right, she won’t be going anywhere.”
She looked up at me and smiled. “Is there something more you aren’t saying?”
I shifted in my seat some. “I have never really been in a serious relationship, and I’m afraid that I’m gon’ fuck up… excuse my language.”
“It’s okay. Why do you feel that way? In what way do you think you will mess up?”
“Well, I’ve always been a protector and a provider, so I’m not worried about that part, but being sure to be tender with her when I need to be, loving her unconditionally, being sure to make her my priority, no matter what situations arise.”
“Mister Moore, I feel like when you are with the right woman that complements you well, those things will happen naturally. You will always want to make sure she’s okay. Once you fall in love with her, nothing else will matter if she isn’t okay. Love will have you jumping through hoops to make sure she’s happy, especially if she’s doing the same for you.”
She gave me a soft smile and winked. I returned her smile with a grin and nodded. “I hope you’re right.”
“Trust me. I’ve been married for forty years, baby. That doesn’t happen without wisdom, love, and devotion. Wisdom to know when to push and when to take a step back, when to argue and when to be silent, when to show love and when to act a fool.”
I laughed. “Yes, ma’am. I get it.”
“Okay. Last question. What three adjectives would you use to describe your ideal partner?” She paused and smiled. “You said confident, respectful, and trustworthy.”
I nodded and smiled, thankful to have reached the end of her questioning. I was just anxious to see who I would be matched with. Knowing that Yunique had already been matched, I could get it out of my head that I could end up with her.
“Hold on… I don’t think we really discussed physical qualities. What’s your preference as far as physical attributes?”
I smiled slightly. “I don’t have a preference, per se, but I do like dark-skinned women. It’s something extremely sexy about a woman’s dark skin that draws me in.” I closed my eyes, visualizing Yunique. I was going to have to get this woman out of my system. “Body type… just that she’s smaller than me. It’s not a deal breaker if she isn’t though.”
“Got it.” She nodded and smiled again. I watched her type a bit on her laptop, then she stood from her seat. I did the same as she extended her hand. “Well, we are done here. I will forward your information to the next department that will match you with your ideal partner. They will reach out to you when they find a match. That could be as quick as a couple of days or as long as a month, but hopefully, you will hear from them soon.”
“Thank you, Miss Joan.”
I left her office with a pep in my step, ready for whatever this journey would have in store for me. In the meantime, I would have to keep myself busy while I waited. Hopefully, it didn’t take too long, because I was tired of being out here without action. I was two seconds from moving back to Houston.