Chapter 2 #2
Nicole’s eyes tightened. “You think I would miss the first date between my future cousin-in-law and my best friend? I had to see you go on your first date with that fuck nigga. I have the right to see you with a good nigga.”
Before I could reply to her snippy comment, there was a knock on the door before it opened. “Pril, are you ready? Your gentleman caller is here,” my mother said with a giddy smirk.
Meriland Blinds was a character . . . my favorite character. “I’m coming, Mama.” I stood up, turned to face her, then asked, “Do I look alright?”
“Girl, hush. You are gorgeous just like your mama.” My mama always knew what to say. She walked over, then adjusted my tresses around my face. “He’s down there looking fine. Much better looking than your stupid ass ex-bitch.”
My eyes widened while Lacie and Nicole roared with laughter. Meriland was so uncouth sometimes. My best friends loved it.
It had always been just me and her for as long as I could remember. My father, Cory Simmons, came around at his own convenience until I was six-years-old. My mama told him to be consistent or kick rocks. It seemed as if he chose to kick rocks. That was fine, because in my heart, my mama was enough.
When the debacle happened with Derrick, I went into a deep depression that even my best friends couldn’t pull me out of.
Lacie and Nicole did what they thought was best and called my mama.
She didn’t hesitate to pack her life up and move to Charleston to be close to me.
No one asked her to, but she knew I needed her, and that was all she needed to know.
I was blessed to have a mother like her.
She’s lived with me since she moved here and I would have it no other way.
When I built my home, I ensured that a peace of mind suite was attached to the side of the house.
It was a finished one bedroom, one bathroom apartment that was connected to the house but also had its own entrance.
In my mind, it had always been the plan for her to move in with me at some point.
When I was with Derrick, he was against her living with us.
That should have been the biggest red flag of them all, but I thought that I could eventually change his mind. He was who I thought was my forever.
My mama’s smack to my ass jolted me out of my thoughts.
Nicole finally got up to fuss over me before I made my way downstairs.
I smiled when Tafari came into view of where he stood at the bottom of my stairs.
A fine ass man in a five-piece suit had the same effect for me that a thick ass woman in lingerie had for men.
I had a clit hard-on right now. “You are so handsome.”
His hand went to his tie and he adjusted it. “I had ta pull out all da stops if I even wanna measure up to half of ya dopeness. Your ass is fine.”
My cheeks warmed to his compliment. After I thanked him, he reached out for my hand. Once it was in his, he pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly. His arms were strong and his cologne was intoxicating. “You smell so good.”
He pulled back from the hug and stared at me for a beat. His lips went to my ear. “There’s anotha fragrance dat I think would smell amazing too . . . especially on my top lip.”
My legs clamped together. I coughed a little. He knew from our conversations that I loved raunchy talk. It fed my slut soul.
“Alright now! Y’all stop being fresh in front of me.
At least wait until I go into my house,” my mother said with an eye roll and smile.
She came over, kissed my cheek, then put her finger in Tafari’s face.
Well, not really his face since he towered over her.
“You better treat my baby girl like a queen, princess, human, then slut.”
Lacie and Nicole giggled and my mouth dropped. I couldn’t believe that she said that in front of him. “Okay, let’s go, Tafari.”
I grabbed his hand and led him to the front door. I heard his snickers behind me. When we got to his Bronco, he opened the door for me and helped me in. My skin warmed when his arm crossed my body and fastened my seat belt. His touch was invigorating, and I wanted so much more of it.
Moments later, we were on our way. He didn’t tell me where we were going, but he told me to dress nicely, which I did.
My bodycon dress accentuated every curve that the Lord gave me with an elegance that was befitting of a queen.
My gold heels with the angel wings on the back gave a good girl with bad intentions vibe.
“Aye, what did ya mama mean when she told me ta treat you like a queen, princess, human, then slut?” Tafari asked. “I ain’t neva had anyone tell me anything like dat.”
I closed my eyes with a smile. Make sure they treat you like a queen, princess, human, then slut.
“It’s something that my mother has told me since I was a sexually active adult.
A man should treat you like a queen first which means that he understands you have boss capabilities and can be a leader.
He knows that you can handle your own business without him.
Next, he needs to treat you like a princess.
“That means that although he knows you’re a queen, he also acknowledges that you are a sensitive being that deserves to be treated softly with compassion.
He should be your doorway into a soft girl era.
After that, he treats you with the basic human respect that everyone deserves.
Last, but not least, he should treat you like a slut.
He should be willing to fulfill your sexual desires and smut you out with no remorse,” I concluded.
We came to a stop light. He turned his head and gazed at me for a moment. When the corners of his lips rose with his cheeks, I felt a sense of relief. “I like dat concept. I’ll keep dat in mind, lil one.”
When we pulled up to the valet line at Halls Chophouse, I got excited. “Oh, I’ve always wanted to eat here but never had a chance. I’m happy that I get to experience it with you.”
“Trust me, you’ll get to experience a lot of new things wit’ me. Dats my promise to you,” he said with confidence before he opened his door to get out.
This man was everything. The valet attendant started to open my door but was stopped by Tafari. I heard him tell the guy that it was his job to open my doors, not the next man. His words didn’t come across as jealous or obsessive. They were more territorial.
He kissed my temple before we walked toward the restaurant doors. His hand rested on the small of my back. The touch that I loved.
We were seated immediately. He sat on the same side of the table as me instead of in front of me. I asked why and his simple response was that he wanted to be in my skin. His being next to me was the closest that he could get. We ordered our drinks and appetizers.
Our conversation was lively as we waited for our order. We had covered so much ground on our FaceTime calls when it came to getting to know each other. Our conversations flowed organically. We didn’t grow up together, but it was like I’d known him all my life.
When the appetizer came out, we ordered our main dishes.
We ate on our appetizer and continued to talk.
He took a sip of his drink before he turned his body in his seat to face me.
“Pril, so tell me what a man needs ta do to be your man. That’s the spot dat I’m tryin’ to be in and keep for a lifetime. ”
How the hell do you answer a question like that?
“Wow, no one has ever asked me that before.” It took a second to think about how I wanted to answer his question.
“I think that you are on the right track. If who you’re showing yourself to be is the real you, then I think that you’ll be able to get the spot and keep it. Can I ask you a question?”
He smiled, then nodded. “You ca’ ask me whatever you want. Just ta let you know befo’ you ask anything, who you see is who I am.”
I smiled. I wasn’t sure if there were stars in my eyes, but it sure felt like there were. “That’s good to know. I wanted to ask you for now and when you get that spot, what can I do as your woman to make sure that you’re happy?”
The way he stared at me made me think that I asked the wrong question. There was an awkward silence for a moment before a smile broke through on his handsome face. “Da fact that you asked me dat lets me know dat I don’t need to tell you. I think your intuition will let you know exactly what ta do.”
His hand reached out, then grabbed my neck.
He gave it a light squeeze before he pulled me forward to slam his lips on mine.
The kiss was passionate and far too nasty to have witnesses.
The thing was, I didn’t give a damn. At this point, if he told me to climb on the table face down, ass up I would. I was so into this man.
It’s A Fiancée & A Girlfriend . . .
“I’m a fiancée, bitch!” Nicole danced to the music that played over Lacie’s backyard. The DJ had everyone on the floor.
This party was far better than I ever expected it to be. We had a DJ, an actual bar with a bartender, and food for days. My baby was out here doing his big one with the seafood. If you’ve never been to a crab crack in the low country, then you’ve never lived.
There was something spiritual about when the food was done and everyone lined up at the table. The seafood boil was brought over and dumped on the table in all its flavorful glory. It didn’t matter that it was burning hot. If you didn’t reach your hand in quickly, you risked not getting any of it.
Tafari made a boil with blue crabs, shrimp, mussels, and crawfish, plus all the other amazing things that went into an award-winning crab boil.
His and Jordan’s father was on the two large fryers.
They fried fish and chicken . . . in different oils of course.
Mrs. Shayla and Lula Mae were in the food truck making sure that the sides were fresh.
Between the drinks and food, I was filled to the brim.
I raised my glass in the air. “Yes, you are, bitch! He put a ring on it.”
Lacie’s glass was the next to be raised in the air. “Yes! Now we gonna get Tafari to put a ring on your finger, and we all gonna be married around this bitch!”
Yeah, I’m drunk. In my sober world, that outburst would have embarrassed the hell out of me. In my current buzzed world, my only response was aye.
Jordan and his family were popular, so there were a lot of people at the party.
Some I knew, but most of them I didn’t. What I did know was that it didn’t matter who was there, I wanted everyone to know that Tafari Seasons was mine.
We hadn’t officially committed to each other per se, but that was my man.
I’d be willing to fight anyone who told me otherwise.
“Lacie, bring yo’ drunk ass ova here,” Vince said after he wrapped his arms around my best friend’s waist. He kissed her neck after he let out a chuckle. They were the cutest couple.
She turned in his arms and kissed his lips.
Their daughters were here earlier in the night.
Once the clock struck ten-thirty, they left with their paternal grandparents.
I predicted that there was going to be some drunk fucking in the Paulson household tonight.
When Vince and Lacie were drunk, there was no limitation to where they would fuck.
It was best if my niecey-poohs were out of the house.
My body melted to the feeling of arms wrapped around my waist from behind. The place on my neck where his lips kissed warmed to the feeling. “Oh, I ga put a ring on ya finger?” he asked in my ear in a quiet tone.
I giggled, turned in his arms to face him, then wrapped my arms around his neck. At my shorter height, he had to lean down slightly for me to do so. “If that’s what you eventually want to do, then I won’t have a problem with that.”
His eyes bore into mine for a beat, then he kissed my lips. “How ’bout we start wit’ you officially bein’ my lil one? Trust me, we ga get to da ring if you keep bein’ real wit’ a nigga.”
I tilted my head back to offer my lips. He kissed me passionately. When our lips disconnected, I blushed. “I would love to be your lil one.”