Chapter 25
I didn’t get blowouts often because the slightest bit of water or steam guaranteed my hair would be back in a ’fro in no time. So when I climbed out the bed and saw my hair in the mirror, I froze. There was no evidence of pin curls. My hair was no longer showing off my stretched strands. It was shrinking up by the second.
“My hair,” I gasped as I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror.
“You look beautiful,” Ahmad said, coming up behind me. He kissed my cheek and then stared at our reflections. “You definitely need to do something about your hair, but you look beautiful.”
“Shut up!” I wailed, swatting at his arm. “I have to go back down there, and I can’t go out like this.”
“How can I help?”
“One hundred and twenty dollars down the drain,” I marveled. “It was worth it, but damn.” Glancing at him, I smiled. “You can help by giving me a repeat performance later.”
He smirked. “Oh, I got you.”
While he went to get dressed, I went ahead and spritzed my hair with water. As I watched it reappear as subtly looser-than-normal coils, I smiled. I didn’t have any products to really style it, but my natural ’fro looked good.
I just hope it doesn’t frizz when it dries completely.
When I strolled into the bedroom, Ahmad was dressed in his dark green pants and black button-up. He was holding the jacket over his arm. I went to my suitcase and pulled out a new pair of thongs and then slipped on my dress.
“You look good in green,” he complimented me.
A smile pulled at my lips. “Like a sexy MM?”
Nodding, clearly amused with himself: “Like the sexiest MM.”
“You play too much.”
“I’m serious though.” He pulled me into his arms and turned me around toward the mirror. “Look at you.”
His hands slowly moved over my thick waist and rounded hips. Situating me so that his dick was pressed against my ass, he stared at our reflection. My nipples poked through the material, giving the dress a more explicitly sexy look. I wasn’t trying to go downstairs with my nipples on display, but they seemed to always be on high alert around Ahmad.
“You look good in this dress,” he started, dragging the word out seductively as he stared at us together. “But I can’t wait to get you out of it again. I can’t wait to be inside you again.”
Turning around, I wrapped my arms around his neck and puckered my lips to get a kiss. “As soon as the fireworks are over, I’m ready to come up here and create our own.”
“That’s some corny shit, but I’m with it.”
I giggled. “Come on. I’ve been gone for an hour.”
“Then let’s go out and celebrate your birthday with your people.”
We headed toward the door, and then I stopped. “You want to leave your jacket up here?” I wondered, gesturing to how he had it draped over his arm.
“Does this mean you’re inviting me to stay the night?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t even have your number yet, and I get to spend the night? You must like me or some shit.”
Grinning, I looked up at him. “Where’s your phone? I like you enough to give you my number and let you spend the night.”
“I like that deal.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine. “I like it almost as much as I like you.”
Hand in hand, we walked downstairs. There were a handful of people milling around. We’d barely made it out the front door when Jazz spotted me. She hurried over to us.
“What do we have here?” Jazz grinned, looking between us. “Hello. I’m Jazmyn,” she introduced herself.
He reached out and shook her outstretched hand. “I’m Ahmad. It’s nice to meet you, Jazmyn.”
“It’s nice to finally put a name to a face. You’ve been holding my girl down this summer, and I appreciate that.”
Nina walked up just in time to hear her response. “From the look of Aaliyah’s hair, Ahmad has definitely been holding Aaliyah down.”
My jaw dropped. Jazz didn’t even try to hold in her laughter. I was too stunned to look up at Ahmad for his reaction.
Nina shifted her attention to me. “You traded your blowout to get blown out.” She nodded appreciatively. “I respect it.”
“Nina!” I cackled. “Will you stop?”
“Am I wrong?” Nina put her hands on her hips. “The bartender swooped in to drop off dick as a birthday gift.”
Bringing my hand to his lips, Ahmad kissed it. “I have more to offer Aaliyah than just dick. I promise you that.”
“Well, you better, because she deserves the world,” Jazz responded.
He looked over at me. “And I plan to give it to her.”
Nina gave him a look and quirked an eyebrow. “Oh, I’m sure you do plan to give it to her.”
We all burst out laughing.
“I’m going to get a drink and let you ladies talk,” Ahmad announced. He turned to me. “What can I get you?”
“The signature drink,” I answered. “Malibu sunrise.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “Malibu sunrise, huh?”
“I like what I like.”
“Good choice.”
He turned to my friends. “What can I get you?”
“I’m good, but thank you,” Jazz said.
“Your brother’s phone number,” Nina joked.
“I only have a sister,” he chuckled. “But I can get you a drink instead.”
She sighed loudly and dramatically. “I guess I’ll take the signature drink.”
“Aight, I’ll be right back.” He took a step away from me and then came back and planted a tender kiss against my lips. “Happy birthday.”
Ahmad had only gotten a few feet before my girls started talking at once.
“You weren’t kidding when you said he was fine,” Jazmyn commented.
“And did you see the way he was looking at her?” Nina chimed in. “Ahmad is in love!”
“And Aaliyah’s in love, too,” Jazz pointed out.
“Yes! She was smiling so hard I could see the sockets where her wisdom teeth used to be.”
I snickered. “I can’t stand y’all.”
“He is a smooth talker, though.” Jazz tapped her chin and then looked over toward the makeshift bar on the dock. “Are we sure he’s cool? He was saying all the right things, so I’m wondering if he practiced beforehand or if he’s just that good.”
“He’s just that good,” I answered. “He’s not like other dudes.”
“Any dude that tells you he’s not like other dudes is the team captain of the other dudes,” Nina quipped.
We all laughed.
“Nah, he’s good,” Jazz relented. “I like him. And I like the way you two look at each other. I like how he showed up today.”
Nina smiled. “I knew he was going to be the one you ended up with. I saw it at the concert. There’s so much chemistry between you two. I don’t think he’s the team captain. He’s got the look, but I think he’s legit.”
“He is legit,” I assured them with an uncontrollable grin. “Now before he gets back, what’s up with your dates? I want to get to know them.”
“It’s not a date,” they both argued in unison.
I pursed my lips and gave them both looks. “Mm-hmm.”
They gave me brief, largely downplayed stories about the men they brought to the party before Ahmad returned with our drinks. We were joined by Nina’s date first and then Jazmyn’s date. Then as a group, we went to the dance floor.
The music thumped loudly, but not at the level that would damage eardrums. The songs were hits, and the DJ managed to put together a mix that kept the dance floor packed. Conversations floated through the air from the people in the yard, under the tent, and lakeside. And at midnight, we all stood in awe as the fireworks went off.
It was a good night.
When the party ended, I said goodbye to almost everyone. My cousins Mecca and the man she brought with her, Tamara and her wife, and Jonelle and her husband stayed in the three downstairs bedrooms. My best friends were in the upstairs bedrooms with their dates. And once I’d said good night to everyone, Ahmad took me upstairs to my room and had his way with me.
For hours, we ebbed and flowed between making love and fucking and back again. My body ached from physical exhaustion and complete and utter satisfaction. By the time we wore ourselves out, it was the wee hours of the morning, and we were starving. We were exhausted, but we couldn’t sleep because we were so hungry.
“You want to go get food?” Ahmad wondered, running his hand over my stomach.
“I don’t think anything is going to be open around here,” I murmured.
“Then let’s go get something.”
His incredible smile seduced me, and somehow, I let him convince me to leave the lake house. Showering together, it took us twice as long to get ready to go. But at almost five o’clock in the morning, I walked out of the lake house for our first official date. We headed to my car.
“It’s our first date. I can drive,” he insisted.
“I’m right here”—I pointed to my car—“and you’re all the way over there. It’ll be seven o’clock before we make it to your car,” I joked. “Let me just drive.”
He chuckled under his breath. “Aight,” he relented. “But you know this isn’t a real date, right?”
My eyebrows flew up. “Because I’m driving?”
“Because we’re probably picking something up at a convenience store.” He took a look at my outfit. “And we’re not dressed for going out.”
I looked down at my black leggings, lingerie top, denim jacket, and sneakers. “You don’t like what I got on?” We climbed into my car, and after I started it, I looked over at him. “I didn’t pack anything for a late-night run, but I think I pulled this together nicely at the last minute.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you look good,” he replied with a playful sarcasm. “But when we go out on a real date, I want you to at least match.”
“Not this coming from the man who, outside of tonight, mostly wears tight-ass T-shirts and jeans,” I scoffed. “Tonight is the exception, not the rule. So I know you’re not trying to be the fashion police! Ain’t no way in hell you got one good suit and now you’re policing my wardrobe?”
He chuckled. “I got more than one.”
“Prove it.”
“I will. And even when I don’t have on a suit, at least I always match.”
My eyes bulged emphatically. “What doesn’t match with jeans?”
He pointed to my outfit. “Whatever this is.”
My head tipped back, and I let out a loud cackle as I eased down the road.
“You’re parked so far back,” I said as he pointed out his car. As I continued down the street, we were both silent until I got to the main road. “I still can’t believe you drove here.”
“Yeah.” He was quiet for a moment.
“How did it feel…?” I glanced over at him, briefly studying his expression. “How did it feel to be driving again?”
“It wasn’t easy.” He shook his head. “I didn’t think I was ready. But”—he reached out and caressed my arm—“I had the right motivation to get me behind the wheel again.”
“Well, I’m glad you made it to me safely. The fact that you even attempted is just… wow.”
“I needed to get to you, and it was the only way. Once I realized how many lake houses there were and how long it was going to take a driver to get me here, driving was the only option if I was going to make it.”
“Did you go to every lake house?”
“Not all of them. But there were at least ten that I hit up before finding the right one.”
“Wow… I can’t believe you did all that to make it to my party.”
“I knew how much it meant to you. And I didn’t want another day to go by without me telling you how much you mean to me.” He paused and in a low tone continued, “I would do anything for you.”
Butterflies moved through my stomach. “That’s really sweet.” I bit my lip. “You definitely made me feel special.”
“You are special.” His hand slipped into my lap, settling between my legs as he gripped my thigh. “So, if I had to drive here to tell you, to prove to you that what I feel is real… and that you’re the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about when I go to bed, it was worth the trip. Because I don’t want there to be any confusion about how I feel about you.”
My heart skipped a beat as I approached the stop sign.
“If you keep talking like this, I’m going to fall in love with you,” I joked, even though I was serious. The way I was feeling, there was enough evidence to conclude that I was already there.
But I wasn’t ready to admit that yet.
I felt him staring at me, so I met his gaze.
“That’s exactly what I want,” he uttered.
Heat spread across my skin at his words, and in that moment, I knew Ahmad Williamson was in love with me.
It was in his tone. It was in his eyes. It was in his touch.
He squeezed the meaty flesh of my thigh as if to corroborate my realization.
With our seat belts on and my foot on the brake, an attempt at a kiss wasn’t as smooth as I’d hoped. But as soon as we got enough slack for our lips to meet, the kiss confirmed everything for me. The way he smiled against my mouth let me know my feelings were apparent to him as well.
Soft, sensual, and expressive, our mouths and tongues said everything we weren’t ready to say and more.
A horn blared from behind us, startling us both.
“Oh, shit!” I exclaimed, seeing the car behind us at the stop sign.
Looking both ways before making a move, I stepped on the gas.
I felt Ahmad tense as we eased onto the main street, so I kept my hands on the steering wheel and my eyes on the road. Our destination was only a mile away, but we took the trip in silence. Ahmad didn’t seem to relax again until we pulled into the parking spot.
I placed my hand on top of his. “You good?”
He raised my hand to his lips and nodded. A few seconds later, he asked, “You good?”
“With you? Always.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his smile.
We went to the gas station closest to the lake and grabbed some snacks and a toothbrush. We devoured the chips and pastries on the way back to the house. By the time we got back into the room, we were ready to crash.
Sleeping naked, my back to his front and his arms around me, I drifted into the best sleep of my life.
Until a loud banging woke me up hours later.
“What’s that?” Ahmad wondered groggily.
“I have no idea,” I responded, pushing myself up into a sitting position. Rubbing my eyes, I looked around, feeling a little discombobulated. The sun was pouring into the room, and I had no idea what time it was or where the noise was coming from. I grabbed my phone.
“Oh, shit,” I reacted, eyes wide.
“What? What’s up?” Ahmad’s deep voice was etched with concern.
“It’s eleven o’clock. We have to check out at noon. The cleaning crew is here now.” Jumping out the bed, I threw on the first thing I saw to cover myself, and then I ran downstairs. Giving them directions to start outside and then work their way inside, I went around to each bedroom to make sure everyone was up and getting ready to get out. Two of my cousins had already left. Mecca was in the process of leaving. Jazmyn was up and packing. Nina had just woken up. When I made it back to my room, Ahmad was in the shower.
So, I joined him.
The decision put me fifteen minutes behind schedule, but it was worth every single minute.
“What are you doing today?” Ahmad asked after placing my suitcase in my trunk.
“I’m stopping by my parents’ house to see my grandmother. She didn’t end up making it to the dinner last night because she wasn’t feeling well. After that, I’m pretty open,” I told him. “What are you doing?”
He shook his head. “I was hoping I could have a few minutes of your time later so I can give you your birthday gift.”
I placed my hand on his crotch. “I’m quite fond of the gift you gave me.”
He snickered, pulling me into his arms. “I’m glad to hear it, because I’m trying to give you more of that, too. But I’d like to give you an actual birthday gift.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “What is it?”
“You’ll see. Can we link up tonight?”
“We absolutely can.”
He brought his lips down to mine and kissed me softly. “Good. Let me know when you’re on your way home so I can set things up.”
“You’re not going to give me a hint?”
“The hint is that it’s your birthday present.”
“That’s not a hint.”
He laughed, kissing me again before letting me go. “You’ll have to wait and see.” He opened my car door for me. “You’ll find out tonight.”
I eyed him suspiciously. “You can’t tell me because you don’t know.” My eyes widened as it hit me. “You haven’t gotten it yet.”
He laughed harder. “In my defense, you weren’t speaking to me, and the last gift I gave you, you tried to return to sender.”
I nodded as I got into the driver’s seat. “That’s fair.”
He leaned into the car and kissed me again. “Let me know if anything changes on your end.”
“I will. But what are you doing?” I wondered, looking around. “Get in so I can drive you to your car.”
“It’s not that far…” He looked far into the distance where his car was parked. “You right.”
I laughed as he climbed in on the passenger side.
“Let me know when you make it home,” I told him as we pulled up to his car.
In the light of day, I was able to get a good look at it. His car wasn’t necessarily flashy, but it looked expensive. I didn’t know cars, so I just knew it was pretty.
“And let me know when you make it to your parents’ house.”
“Thank you… for showing up and making my birthday everything I wanted it to be.”
“I was always going to show up for you.” He searched my face. “I will always show up for you.” Leaning over the middle console, he kissed me. “God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered.
I felt warm all over.
And that feeling stayed with me as I arrived at Mom and Dad’s. I saw my uncle’s truck, and not even his bullshit attitude was going to bring down the high I was on. Pulling out my phone, I sent Ahmad a text.
Aaliyah:Just made it to my parents’ house. Looking forward to 7pm.
Ahmad:I can’t wait to see you again tonight.
“Hey, hey!” I yelled, announcing my arrival. “It’s me.”
“Aaliyah!” Mom called out from the kitchen. “I’m in here.”
I followed her voice to see her whipping up something that smelled delicious. The closer I got, the more I realized I was hungry.
“Hey, Mom,” I greeted her. “What’s that?”
“I’m making a beef stew for your grandmother so she can put something hearty on her stomach. Well, I’m making it for everyone, but at your grandmother’s request.”
“She still not feeling well?”
“She seems to be recovering well. She’s downstairs in the den.” Mom put the ladle down and gave me a hug. “How is my birthday girl?”
“I’m great,” I told her honestly.
“You look great.”
The yellow dress I was wearing was cute, but she’d seen it before and told me it was too loud. My hair wasn’t as pulled together as I usually had it because I didn’t have any products with me, and she hated it when my hair wasn’t neat.
“Thank you…” I stretched the word out as I tried to figure out what was going on. “You hate this dress.”
“Yes, it’s too bright. But I’m not talking about the dress.” She gently jammed her pointer into my chest. “I’m talking about you. You’re glowing.”
“Am I?”
“You were glowing last night, too. I told your father when you did your toast at dinner. There’s something happening with you.”
“I’m in a good place,” I admitted, my smile stretching across my face.
She shook some seasoning into the pot, and then she turned back to me. “Does it have anything to do with that man of yours?”
I froze. “What?”
She went to the kitchen table and grabbed her phone. “You told me and your father that you didn’t have a date and that you were happy on your own. So imagine our surprise when we leave your party and wake up to this.” Holding out her phone, she showed me picture after picture of me and Ahmad—dancing on the dance floor, kissing on the dock, sitting on the bench. Random photos of us being taken without our knowledge.
“Who—?”
“Mecca,” she answered.
“Does she work for the tabloids?” I grumbled.
“Now don’t get mad at her. She thought we knew.”
“No, she didn’t. She was just being her nosy self.”
“Her mother was the same way,” Mom admitted with a smirk. “But don’t try to change the subject. Who is this young man, and when do we get to meet him?”
“His name is Ahmad, and I will let you know,” I told her begrudgingly.
Her smile was a little too excited. “He’s the one.”
Just her saying that caused my stomach to knot. “Mom, I need you to chill.”
“How long have you two been dating?” She studied the pictures on the phone. “You two look really comfortable together.”
I let out a short laugh. “Mom, I’m not doing this.”
She put her phone down and went to the sink to wash her hands. “Not doing what?” she questioned innocently.
I saw right through her.
“Mom.”
She sighed loudly. “Fine!” She snatched a paper towel and dried her hands. “But will you answer one question for me?”
“One question.”
There was a flicker of sadness that moved through her eyes. It was brief, but I saw it. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth? Did I make you feel like you couldn’t tell me?”
“I did tell you the truth. When I had that talk with you and Dad, I had no idea Ahmad was going to show up at the party. Up until this weekend, we were just… friends.”
“So yesterday morning, you didn’t know he was going to be there?”
“I didn’t know he was going to be there until he showed up. He wasn’t even invited. It was a whole thing.”
I saw the relief smooth the wrinkles from her face. “Oh, thank God.” She grabbed her cross necklace and kissed it. “I was thinking we’d alienated you and that you didn’t feel like you could be honest with us.” Her eyes watered. “I prayed about it last night and again this morning at church after getting the picture. I don’t ever want to make you feel like you can’t share your life with me. And the fact that I thought that means that I have to do better. So, I’m sorry, Aaliyah. I’m so sorry.”
“Mom.” I embraced her, squeezing her tight. “Thank you for saying that.”
The oven timer went off, and we broke up our hug. She pulled twelve delicious-looking cinnamon rolls out, and I washed my hands to help her glaze them.
She plopped one on a plate for herself and then put the others on a serving tray. “Will you take these to the den for me, please? There are plates already down there.”
“Not a problem.”
I grabbed a bottle of water and went downstairs to the den. My father, uncle, and grandmother were relaxing and watching preseason football.
“Aaliyah!” Dad greeted me when he saw me. “Cinnamon rolls!”
The cheer for the cinnamon rolls was a bit louder than the one for me. I set the plate down on the coffee table with the rest of the food items, and I decided to not be offended by his excitement. As I took a bite of the gooey goodness on the plate, I understood where he was coming from.
He gave me a big bear hug and then stepped around me so he could see the instant replay of the interception he’d missed.
I said hello to my uncle and grandma as I finished chewing my bite.
“I heard I owe you an apology and you actually did have a man with you at your party,” Uncle Al said. “There’s no guarantee he isn’t someone you hired to play the part, but if I’m wrong, I stand corrected.”
I opened my mouth to say something petty, but my grandma spoke first.
“Don’t pay him any mind,” she intervened, rising to her feet. “But come outside on the porch with me for a minute.”
I took my bottle of water and cinnamon roll with me.
“How are you feeling, Nana?” I asked her as she took a seat in the rocking chair.
“I feel good.”
“Was it like a twenty-four-hour bug or something?” I wondered, sitting in the chair next to her.
She shook her head. “No. I wasn’t sick. I wanted to be at your birthday party, but I didn’t think Al deserved to be. Not the way he’s been acting. I didn’t do enough to protect your mom from his ways when they were coming up. I didn’t know the type of things he was saying to her or the reason why she was so obsessed with her weight. I didn’t know. And by the time I found out, they were grown. But seeing how he acted at Aniyah’s party, I wasn’t going to let him ruin yours.”
“Thank you, Nana.” I gave her another hug. “I wish you were there, but I appreciate you taking one for the team. I had already uninvited him, but I’m glad you were there with the reinforcement.”
“For you, my beautiful granddaughter, anytime.”
“So, you’re really not sick? Because Mom’s making beef stew so you’ll have something hearty on your stomach.”
“I’m fine. I’m better than fine. I feel great. But I wasn’t going to turn down homemade beef stew.”
I tipped my head back and laughed. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She leaned forward. “So, tell me about this man that gave you your Cinderella moment.”
“How did you know about that?”
“Who do you think? Mecca!”
I shook my head. “Of course.”
After a two-hour visit and a bowl of beef stew, I told everyone goodbye. They were mostly distracted by the close game. I would’ve been interested in the outcome because it was neck and neck, but I had something better to do.
Before I backed out of the driveway, my uncle came out the house, flagging me down.
Rolling my window down, I sighed with pursed lips.
“Aaliyah,” he called out.
“Yes?” I replied.
He handed me a box the size of a book. “Happy birthday.” He took a step back. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you—for the gift and the apology.”
“I hate that I missed your party. I told your mom to give it to you before your dinner, but she forgot it. But I, uh… I have to say that I’m proud of you for standing your ground.” He pointed at the box. “Open it when you get home.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Backing out of the driveway, I waved and then sped off. I waited until I got to the first stop sign and curiosity got the best of me.
Tearing open the wrapping paper, I opened the book-shaped box, and my eyebrows went up. Slowly, a smile pulled at my lips.
Wow.
A horn beeped behind me, so I placed everything in the passenger seat and then got on the road. As soon as I got to the next stop sign, I pulled out my cell phone and called Ahmad.
“Well, hello, Aaliyah.” His deep voice put a smile on my face as it boomed through the speakers of my car. “I was just thinking about you.”
“Oh really?” I replied. “And what were you thinking?”
“It was about your gift. I had to reach out to Asia for some help. That was a mistake.”
“What did Asia say?”
“Well, first, she said she knew something was between us from day one and just a whole lot of ‘I told y’all so.’”
I laughed. “I’ll give her that.”
“Oh, don’t let her hear you say that! She’s been insufferable all afternoon.”
“What else did she say?”
“Well, she kept saying how she knew we would end up together because we spent the summer pretending we weren’t in love with each other. And for that reason alone, I needed to pull out all the stops since it’s our first real date. She said I needed to take you to a five-star restaurant and then bring you home and do the rose petals, expensive wine, and gourmet chocolate thing to end the night. Then she said”—he changed his vocal pitch to imitate Asia—“‘If you love her and you want this to work, you’ll listen to me,’” he concluded.
“Oh, wow, okay,” I giggled. “She was laying it on thick!”
“She thinks she knows everything now. Can’t stand her ass sometimes.”
I smiled, knowing how much he loved his sister. “I bet!”
He was quiet for a second. “So yeah, thanks to some strings my family pulled, we have a reservation at seven o’clock at Cloverleaf.”
I burst out laughing. “So, I see you took her advice about the five-star restaurant.”
He let out a light chuckle. “Well, she was right one time before. It couldn’t hurt to see if she was right about this, too. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Butterflies rippled through my belly, and I bit my lip. “Famous last words.”
“How was your visit with your family?”
“It was nice. Mostly watched football. But my uncle gave me a pretty cool gift.”
“What did he give you?”
I glanced over at the ownership paperwork, manual, and keys. “A yacht.”