16. Artez
“I’m nervous,” Mali stated as we waited for our bowling shoes.
“You have no reason to be nervous. My folks love you already.”
“Do they?”
I nodded. “You’ve made me a happier man. They can see the change in my energy. I don’t sleep nearly as much as I used to. I’m more present in the house too.”
“Aww.” She cooed.
I leaned down and pecked her lips before grabbing both sets of shoes.
Mali’s arm looped around mine as we walked in sync to the two lanes my family occupied.
Tonight, it was the full Gilliam family and Mali.
I figured since our relationship had progressed to the ‘I love you’ stage, it was best to introduce everyone before I proposed to Mali.
“Uncle Tez!” Jadyn and Jordyn exclaimed in unison before running over to me.
“What’s up, boys?” I replied as I leaned into their embrace. They let me go to put their full attention on Mali.
“She’s pretty, Uncle Tez,” Jadyn complimented.
“I like your hair,” Jordyn added.
“Hi. Thank you,” Mali replied. She gave them her show stopping smile which they returned tenfold.
“Twins, this is Mali. Mali, these are the twins. Jadyn and Jordyn. Most people can’t tell them apart, but if you think of them like Tia and Tamera, you’ll notice Jordyn has a small mole on the left side of his face,” I explained.
Mali giggled. “Aww, that’s so cute.”
“You want to bowl with me?” Jadyn asked as he held his hands behind his back.
I shook my head. He had a crush on my lady. I couldn’t even blame him because she was beautiful as hell.
“I’d love to bowl with you. I want to speak to your mom and grandmother first, though. Okay?” Mali’s voice was soft as she spoke to him.
He nodded and ran back over to his seat.
We finally joined my mom and sister at the lounge chairs, and they squealed with excitement.
“She’s even more beautiful than the pictures!” Mama exclaimed.
“I see you, lil brother! Got him a super model on his arm,” Alana added.
“Y’all are a mess. Mama, Alana, this is Mali. Mali, this is my crazy-ass family.”
“Ooo! Uncle Tez cussed. Money in the swear jar when we get home!” Jordyn shouted.
I nodded. “You got me, man.”
“Set up the game while we get acquainted with my future sister-in-law,” Alana demanded. She pushed me to the side and pulled Mali down into the spot beside her. I shook my head and handed Mali her shoes before I went to do my appointed task.
I loved the sight of my family welcoming Mali with open arms. I knew they would, but I was glad they did it with ease. She fit in perfectly.
“Hurry, Uncle Tez! We’re ready to bowl!” Jadyn shouted.
Jordyn nodded and tossed his fists in the air. Those two were a hoot.
“I’m almost done.” I chuckled quietly to myself. I set up everyone’s name and made sure the twins got the bumpers put on when their turn came around.
“The twins are up first, then Mama, Alana, Mali, and I’ll be the closer,” I explained.
“Great! We ordered for the boys, but the server will be back to take our drink and food orders. Mali, are you drinking?” Mama quizzed.
Mali shrugged. “I didn’t plan on it, but if y’all are drinking, I might as well get me a little cocktail or something.”
Alana giggled. “Please get a drink so I can live through you tonight, girl.” Alana rubbed her stomach and rolled her eyes.
Mali poked out her bottom lip. “Oh, my goodness. You sure can’t drink tonight. How far along are you?”
“Girl, I’m only four months.” Alana pouted. “I’ve got a long way to go.”
“You should be a professional this go around. You had twins your first time. Is this another multiple birth?”
Alana shook her head. “Just one baby, thank God.”
“Do you know the gender yet?”
“Mama knows. We’re going to have a gender reveal next weekend. You should pull up.”
Mali grinned. “I’d love that a lot.”
Mali held my hand as she talked to my sister. I zoned them out so I could instruct my nephews on how to bowl. We usually left them to their iPads, but tonight, we wanted them to enjoy the fun of bowling with family.
“Jay, start us off. Grab a ball that isn’t too heavy for you and stand at the line. You give it your best throw, okay?” I instructed.
“Okay, Uncle Tez!” Jadyn jumped up and grabbed his ball first and stood at the line. He used both hands to swing the ball down the lane. It bounced off the bumpers and ended up knocking down five pins. On his second turn, he knocked down two more.
We all cheered for him.
Once Jadyn got the swing of things, Jordyn got up and showed us what he could do. He ended up knocking down eight pins and missing the other two.
We all cheered for him too.
The real competition started when Mama got up and did her turn. She didn’t let that stump stop her from getting active. She tossed her ball down the lane and knocked over six pins and cleaned it up for a nice spare on her second ball.
“Now, you sure you can bowl while pregnant?” Mali asked as Alana stood up and grabbed her ball.
“Girl, yeah. I searched it last night to make sure, though. The last thing I need is to complicate this pregnancy.” Alana held her ball in her hand and threw it down the lane like a professional. One thing about the Gilliam family was we were as competitive as they came.
Luckily, Mali fit in perfectly. On her turn, she got a strike and did a little dance.
I couldn’t help the way my eyes perused her frame as her ass jiggled in the leggings she wore.
Mali was the epitome of beauty. Not just with her looks, but with how she carried herself too.
She fit in with my family because she was so easygoing and could have a good time.
I couldn’t wait for us to start our own family traditions.
“My feet are killing me,” Mali said as we made it back to her place. She collapsed on the couch and placed her feet in my lap as I rubbed them.
“Did you have fun tonight?” I asked.
“I had a lot of fun. Your sister is literally the funniest person I know now. Just don’t tell Joylei.”
“Nah, I’m gon’ tell her the next time I see her, for real, because what do you mean Alana’s bigheaded ass is funnier than me? I’m offended.”
“You don’t even tell jokes for real, Artez. Please be so for real.”
“Right. So I didn’t laugh you out of them panties the other night?” I quizzed.
She tossed her head back and cackled. When her giggles subsided, she locked eyes with me. “For your information, I am easy like Sunday morning for you. You coulda said a knock-knock joke, and my panties would’ve been around my ankles.”
It was my turn to cackle. “You’re hilarious, bae.”
“Hilarious enough to laugh you out of them briefs?” She waggled her brows flirtatiously.
“Fa shit sho. We can take this upstairs right now.”
She shook her head. “You’re going to carry me to the bedroom. My feet are barking.”
“Yeah, go get a pedicure tomorrow morning. My treat. I don’t want your feet sore and aching.”
“Aww. Thanks, baby. Do you have to work?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
“Let’s go get pedicures together. I’ll get a full set too. That way, I can get some nice pictures of them wrapped around your dick.”
My gaze met hers as she winked.
“You are nasty as hell, you know that, right?”
“Yes, and you love me.”
“So much.”
I pulled her into my lap and pressed my lips against hers. It started off playful but quickly heated. My hands breached the band of her leggings so I could get a feel of her ass.
She moaned into my mouth before she pulled away. “We need to shower first. We were both very sweaty at the bowling alley tonight.”
“So?”
“You’re not about to throw my pH balance off trying to get a couch nut out of me.”
I laughed. “Fine. C’mon so I can dive into that pussy. You thought I didn’t notice all the times you were shaking your ass tonight.”
“Oh, baby. I could feel your gaze on me the whole time. That’s why I kept doing it.”
“Yeah, I got something for you.”
I stood up, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around my waist as I carried her down the hall to the bedroom. I pushed open the door and walked us into the bathroom.
I placed her on the bathroom counter between the double sinks and turned on the shower. As I moved around the bathroom, I could feel her eyes follow my every move.
“What’s on your mind, baby?” I asked as I removed my shirt.
“We have a lot of unprotected sex. Like, we throw caution to the wind every time we touch privates. Are you prepared to raise a kid with me if we end up making a baby?”
I stepped between her legs and cupped her face in my hand. I peered into her big, doe-like eyes.
“Yes. Since the moment I first felt what the inside of your pussy felt like, I prepared myself for the possibility of a child with you. I want you to have my kids. I want to raise a family with you. I want to be there every step of the way as your body goes through changes so I can remind you just how beautiful you are as you protect, nourish, and grow our children in your womb.”
“Artez . . .” Her bottom lip quivered as tears pooled in her eyes.
“I don’t tell you I love you for shits and giggles.
I tell you I love you because it’s the most honest and simple way I can convey what my heart and soul express.
With you, my heart drums louder than a HBCU marching band.
My soul hums a song only you have the melody to.
Every part of my body exists for the sole purpose of loving you. ”
The tears fell from her face like a ripple in a pond.
I kissed her as tenderly as I could muster so she could feel my words and know they came straight from the heart.
I didn’t even know I could be as poetic as I was, but Mali brought that part of me out.
My words flowed like lyrics to my favorite song when I was with her.
“Make love to me. I want my soul to dance with yours in the most primal form. I want our hearts to beat as one.”
Tonight, she was about to get eaten off the bone like some oxtails. No part of her warmth would go untouched by my tongue. No part of her body would go untouched by my soul.