12. Latia
Latia
H op, skip, and a month later, and I’m in love’s haze like nobody’s business, so it’s time to show and prove to Rakai just how much our relationship means to me.
Nothing says I love you like taking your man to meet your family and best friends, knowing that your inner circle will interrogate him.
Yet it’s exactly what’s about to happen with Rakai and me.
Rakai knows nothing about my family dynamics or friend circle.
Our whirlwind love affair hasn’t left me with time for that version of getting to know him, yet things are moving quickly, and part of me needs the people close to me to confirm that I’m in too deep or that this man can love me like he’s been saying he can.
I don’t need their validation of Rakai per se, but at the same time, their opinions are important to me.
I then need to know how Rakai will intermingle with my family and friends should this relationship head in the direction he’s confident about.
Rakai has told me his plans for our future, but I need to know from my people if I’m okay to surrender my life to him.
My parents are older and chose their careers over having children, yet the thought of creating life with Rakai makes me desperate for assurance that I will be fine with him.
I’m not thirty yet, but I want the forever love my parents have.
I don’t want to get it wrong because I thought I loved a man whose love swept me off my feet.
“Let’s talk about it so you can un-furrow your brows,” Rakai’s statement cuts into my ministrations, causing me to look to my left to see his assessing gaze before his eyes return to the road.
One of Mom’s sisters is having a dinner party, and it’s the perfect gathering for me to bring Rakai.
My aunt, Tremaine, is all about “the more the merrier,” and the dinner party is more of a casual setting.
I have even invited Keisha so she can also get a feel for Rakai.
I know most of my family and Keisha will spend the evening interrogating Rakai, but I’m not opposed to it because it’s what I need to do.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this? Many of my family members will be in attendance and are liable to drill you. Can you handle the attention that’ll be coming your way?”
“I’ve spent five years in the penial system, mama. This is lightweight to a giant. Besides, loving you means I’ll always be ten toes down for whatever comes at me concerning you. Take a couple of breaths because I’m good, and we’re gonna be good.”
Warmth stretches across my chest, and a cheesy smile upturns my lips, allowing me to do what Rakai instructed. If he can make it through today without buckling from the pressure of interrogation, then I’m sure we’re going to be just fine.
“Thank you for that. I have been in my head and thinking about how you’re going to?—”
“Don’t do that. I’m thirty-two. This isn’t my first rodeo with meeting the family of the lady I’m with. I know that securing my place in your life will be confirmed by allowing your family to see the man I am. You’re worth it, mama.”
My breathing becomes labored, and my eyes fill with water at the inflection in Rakai’s final statement.
I’m not an insecure woman, nor do I struggle with validation, yet hearing Rakai speak as confidently as he is has my heart swooning.
Love is action, and Rakai continues to showcase his for me in what he does, not just in what he says.
Rakai makes falling in love with him easy.
“Hello, family!” I greet, walking into the room where various family members are meandering around.
Rakai and I are holding hands, yet mine is the one perspiring because Rakai is cool as a cucumber. Smiles and varying return greetings echo around the room as I lead Rakai toward where my parents are. My mom’s face is beaming while my dad is blank, preventing me from reading him.
“Damn, mama. If this is what I have to look forward to when you get older, I’m definitely marrying you,” Rakai whispers.
A bubble of laughter shoots from my esophagus because Rakai’s statements catch me completely off guard.
“What?”
“I’m just saying your mom is beautiful.”
“Don’t make me break up with y?—”
“Don’t make me fuck you to sleep tonight because I have to remind you that I’m only about you. Chill, mama.”
My steps halt, allowing Rakai to lean over and place two quick pecks on my lips, and my eyes flutter to a close. My heart rate increases, and my stomach flips at the euphoria flowing through my body from his kisses.
“Ahem.”
Hearing someone clear their throat, I slowly open my eyes to see my mom’s delightful face near Rakai and me.
“Oh. Hey, Mom, I was bringing?—”
“Mhm, chile. Don’t worry about it. I didn’t want to wait any longer. Hello. I’m Latia’s mom, Rita.” Mom extends her hand toward Rakai, who chuckles softly before releasing our hands and placing his hand into Mom’s palm.
“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Rita. I’m Latia’s man, Rakai Crawford.”
“Oh, I know, suga. Come on so that I can introduce you to a few people,” Mom insists, leading Rakai away as my mouth hangs.
Did my mom just steal my man?
“Girl, I hope your man can survive your aunts because they’ve been whispering like hyenas since y’all walked in the room. One of your cousins ran in to tell everyone that y’all had arrived,” Keisha informs me, causing me to turn toward her.
“Please tell me you’re lying.”
“Nope. From the looks of things, those women are about to eat your man alive. Maybe you should have rethought bringing a man like that to a hen house,” Keisha teases.
My gaze shifts back to Mom and Rakai, who are now surrounded by my aunts and one of Aunt Tremaine’s friends.
Everyone but my mom is sizing Rakai up like he’s honey sliding over cornbread.
Part of me wants to save my man from the senior valley of dry bones, but the part that wins is curious to see how Rakai handles the situation.
Taking Keisha by the hand, I head in the opposite direction of my mom and Rakai.
“So, tell me what your initial thoughts about Rakai are.”
“Other than my interest in his daddy, I have none. I haven’t had a conversation with the man or an introduction thanks to Mama Rita. We’ll talk about it later.”
Wrinkles cover my forehead, and my eyes squint. “Interest in his daddy. Why?”
“While it’s inappropriate for me to salivate over your man’s rich skin, his daddy is open season.”
“Uh... he’s married to Rakai’s mother, so actually, he’s not open to anything but a restraining order if you come at him wrong.”
“Girl, for the opportunity to have a milk dud baby like you, I might consider risking it.”
“That man ain’t gonna?—”
“Does he have a brother? A paternal uncle with a pension and a peg leg that I can remove when he talks crazily? A bald-headed cousin named Cleophas?—”
“Keisha, please stop.” Shaking my head, I cover my mouth to contain my giggles.
“Make sure you bring Kai by my house next week. I promised him a cake,” Aunt Teresa tells me on her way out the door.
“Right. He and I have plans to hang in my man cave while I teach him how to play Bid Whist,” Uncle Mark co-signs.
A frown slides into place because Aunt Teresa has never made me a cake, so how has Kai managed to get her to make him one? On top of that, Aunt Teresa’s grin while talking about Kai is the size of an ocean.
“Baby girl, your mother and I are gonna get out of here, but make sure you bring my new son over to the house tomorrow,” Dad tells me.
What the hell? How did my dad go from a blank stare to jovial within two hours?
To say that Rakai has had zero problems winning over my family would be the understatement of the year.
My man has been on a world tour since we walked into this venue.
Between my parents, aunts, uncles, and a couple of cousins, I have only gotten Rakai alone long enough to eat.
Even now, Rakai and my cousin, Stan, are taking the trash out for Aunt Tremaine.
While a beaming glint has been in my eyes at seeing the ease with which Rakai has infiltrated my family, I want my man back.
“From the cheesy, star-struck looks on your family’s faces, I think it’s safe to say you’ve been replaced, bestie,” Keisha notes.
“Right. So, what’s your assessment after talking to Rakai?”
“I think he’s what you’ve been needing, and his love isn’t surface deep.
Do you know he’s been watching you like a hawk, even across the room?
While his presence hasn’t been with you, his eagle eye hasn’t left you once.
I’m still advocating for one of his family members because I need a love like that, too. Ooh, what about?—”
“Hey, mama. I’m done. Are you ready to go?” Rakai’s voice cuts off whatever foolishness Keisha was about to say.
The smoldering gaze in Rakai’s eyes has me subconsciously biting my bottom lip while clenching my thighs together.
“Damn, let me get out of here. Uh, it was nice to meet you, Rakai. Um—” Keisha’s words get lost in translation as I stare at Rakai’s unmoving gaze.
My body feels like it’s about to combust from the rapid increase of heat surging through me the more our eyes collide. My lips part slightly, and I grab my shirt, tugging at it like it’s a fan. Jesus .
“Mhm. That look is how I stayed on my back,” Aunt Tremaine interjects, breaking the stare between Rakai and me.
Looking to my right, I see the chair previously occupied by Keisha is now empty, and I have no idea when she left. Blinking continuously, I try to think about something other than the feel of Rakai’s dick sliding in and out of my honeypot.
“Thank you so much for entertaining an old woman, Kai, baby. I look forward to you being around for a while. Take care of my favorite niece,” Aunt Tremaine continues.
“Without question, Auntie. Thanks for having me,” Rakai tells Aunt Tremaine, instantly bringing a smile to her lips.
“I guess I don’t have to worry about you wooing my family. They seemed to love you,” I say, lying against Rakai’s chest while he runs his fingers up and down my arm.
“You’re the only person I intentionally wooed.
Your family needed to see that the man holding your heart is capable of existing without you holding his hand.
Your aunts drained me, though. How do they have so much energy?
I feel like I need to sleep for the next week just to replenish what I expelled with them. ”
Giggles escaped my mouth because my aunt definitely had Rakai hopping while they took turns dancing with him. I enjoyed seeing Rakai effortlessly slow dance with each of them, but it tickles me to hear that Rakai was struggling to keep up.
“My mom and my aunts all go to Zumba and line dancing every week. Why do you think I left you to deal with them? I’ve learned a long time ago not to get roped into their shenanigans.”
“Wow. That’s cold. You set me up, mama.” Rakai sounds so hurt, which causes me to giggle again as merriment dances in my heart.
“Like a fat kid in a candy store,” I tease.
“Damn.”