Chapter 13
After going home to shower and change into my own clothes, I headed to see my parents.
The gate to their home swung open, and I eased up the circular driveway.
Their current home was a world away from the one I grew up in.
There were no broken elevators, no loud-ass neighbors, and no constant shootouts, echoing through the halls.
When I was twelve, my father moved us out of the hood and into this mini palace in Melville Harbor, an upscale neighborhood where lawns were perfectly manicured, luxury cars gleamed in every driveway, and the air itself felt cleaner, quieter, and richer.
Thanks to my dad being one of the top lawyers in the city and some good investments, we were able to live a comfortable life.
Back then, it felt like a dream come true.
My parents had worked hard for everything we had, and they made sure I never forgot where we came from.
Even with our upgraded life, the marble floors, and the chandeliers, pieces of that old life were still tucked inside us.
My mother’s laugh still bounced through rooms, my father’s discipline was still sharp, and Sunday dinners never changed, no matter how fancy the table got.
I cut the engine and sat there for a moment, letting the quiet of the neighborhood soak in. When I stepped out, the soft click of my heels on the driveway echoed off the polished stone. The front door opened before I even reached it.
“Sweetheart!” my mom called out to me. Her arms wide, with a bright smile lighting up her face, she waited for me in the doorway.
I rushed into her embrace, inhaling the familiar mix of her perfume and home-cooked comfort.
“About time you came by to visit us. Hmm,” she said, giving me a side-eye. She stepped back to allow me to enter.
“Mom, don’t start. Where’s Daddy?”
“In the kitchen, making his famous sandwich. I don’t know why he calls it ‘famous’ when it’s just some regular turkey sub.” She laughed, and I did as well.
She stepped back to look at me like she could still see the little kid who used to beg for just one more story before bedtime.
I kicked off my shoes at the door before following her into the kitchen, where my dad was putting mayonnaise on some sweet rolls.
He looked up and smiled when he noticed me, and it was contagious.
I giggled when he pulled me in for a hug and kissed me on the forehead. “Hey, Pumpkin. You want a sub?”
“Hey, Dad! And yes, please!”
I set my purse on the kitchen counter and sat down on the stool next to my mother. She smiled softly—the kind of smile that always made me feel like I was home, no matter how old I got.
“Your daddy's been in here acting like he's on Top Chef.” My mom teased, giving him a playful expression.
“Don’t hate, Clarissa,” he said, grinning as he layered turkey and cheese on the roll. “You wasn’t complaining a little while ago before our daughter got here.” He winked at her, and she shyly dropped her head.
“Okayyyy! TMI!” I groaned as I held my ears.
They both cracked up laughing, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
My dad shrugged, still smirking. “Hey… I’m just saying. Marriage ain’t gotta be boring.”
“Lord, help me,” I muttered, shaking my head as I reached for a water bottle from the fridge.
“Don’t let your daddy fool you. He only gets romantic when he wants something cooked or washed.”
“Woman, stop lying,” he said, sliding a sandwich onto a plate and setting it in front of me. “You know you love this charm.”
“Charm?” she repeated, arching an eyebrow. “That’s what we call it now?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Y’all need your own reality show. The Clarissa and Dale Chronicles. I’d tune in just for the chaos.”
Mama waved me off. “Mhm, and those marks on your neck tells me you gon’ be in the kitchen with some man getting on your nerves soon too.”
My hands shot to my neck. I forgot to cover the marks with makeup that Samir put on me last night. I was so embarrassed as my eyes met my mother’s, not daring to look at my dad.
My mama’s eyes lit up like she’d just struck gossip gold. “Mmm-hmm! Don’t try to hide it now. I know a love bite when I see one,” she said, leaning in with that mischievous grin that always made me nervous.
“Ma!” I groaned, tugging my hair down to cover my neck. “Can we not do this right now?”
Daddy looked up from his plate, confused. “What marks?”
“Nothing!” I said quickly, shooting my mama a warning look.
“Nothing, my behind. I bet that ‘nothing’ got tattoos, fine, and loves your cakes.”
“Ma, please!” I buried my face in my hands, wishing the floor would swallow me whole.
“Okay. That’s my cue to leave you women alone.” My day grabbed his plate and headed out of the kitchen, but not before whispering something in my mother's ear, making her nod and giggle like a schoolgirl.
“So, I assume the man who put those hickeys on your neck is the man you were all over social media with?”
“Mom, it’s not like that. I mean… Yes, Samir and I are… Well, I don’t know what we are, but I do like him.” I smiled.
“Oooh! Look at that smile! Yeah, it’s more going on than you are letting on. So why the hesitation, sweetheart?”
I sighed, tracing my finger along the counter, trying to find the right words.
“Because it’s complicated, Ma. He’s not like anyone I’ve ever dealt with before.
Well, I’ve only been with Jerome, but Samir is…
intense. Too confident. The kind of man that doesn’t just walk into a room, he takes it over. ”
Mama raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Sounds like good trouble wrapped up in fine packaging.”
I laughed softly. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m afraid of. He’s got this whole bad-boy-charm thing going on, but he’s also… thoughtful. A bit arrogant. But I like that about him. It’s just… He wants kids, Ma, and I can’t give him that. That’s one of the reasons I never dated after Jerome.”
My mother gave me a reassuring look only she could pull off. “Baby, that shouldn’t be a reason not to date. Your doctor never said you couldn’t have kids. She just said it might take a little longer than usual, but it’s still possible. Don’t let that stop you from letting a good man love you.”
I looked down at my hands, letting her words sink in. “It’s not just that, Ma. I don’t want to get attached to someone and then disappoint them later if things don’t work out. What if he wants kids right away? What if I can’t give him that?”
She reached over and tilted my chin up until our eyes met.
“Then that ain’t the right man, baby. The right one will love you, and not just for what you can give him.
And if he’s worth a damn, he’ll be patient enough to wait.
” Her voice softened. “You've been through enough heartbreak already, Zanova. Don’t go talking yourself out of something good just because you’re scared of what might happen. ”
I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. “You really think he could be something good?”
She smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I see the way your face lights up when you say his name. You don’t even realize it. That’s how I know.”
I wrapped my arms around my mother, inhaling her scent that always brought me comfort.
We talked a little while longer before I left to meet Nyala at my condo.
She was coming to help me get ready for my date, and I was excited to catch her up on everything.
Just as I pulled out of my parents’ driveway, I got a text from Samir.
MyMan: I miss y’all already. I can’t wait to see you tonight. Wear something sexy, but comfortable.
I had to laugh. This man had gone into my phone and changed his contact name, which I had no idea he did. He had to have done it when I was asleep.
Me: So we are going through phones already? My man? I can’t with you. And who is y’all? I might just skip out on this date sir!
A few seconds later, my phone buzzed again.
MyMan: You not skipping nothing. Stop playing with me, Nova baby. You know I’ve been on your mind since you left. You been running through mine.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. This man was something else.
Me: Boy, please. I got better things to do. And that last line was corny! lol
MyMan: Yeah? Name one. And I bet your pretty ass smiled at my corny line.
I bit my lip, staring at the screen for a second before typing back.
Me: Boy bye! And for your information, I was thinking about what sexy outfit I am wearing for this date you begged for.
MyMan: Good answer. But just know, I plan on taking off that sexy outfit by the end of the night.
I shook my head, blushing like a teenager. “Lord, this man gon’ be the death of me,” I mumbled to myself.
As I pulled into the parking garage of my building, my phone dinged one more time.
MyMan: Be ready by the time I get there. I got plans for us. And for the record, I changed my name in your phone cause that’s what I am, your man. Get used to it. We go together REAL BAD!
I leaned back in my seat, grinning like a fool. No matter how much I tried to play it cool, Samir had a way of slipping past every wall I built. And tonight, I had a feeling those walls might just come all the way down.
“Oh, frennn! You are definitely getting some dick tonight after Mr. Tequila King sees you in this outfit!” Nyala was being dramatic as always.
“Girl! Everything doesn’t end with dick!” I laughed at my friend.
I stood in my vanity and checked out my outfit.
The black wrap blazer hugged my waist like it was made for me, dipping low enough to tease without giving away too much.
The little cutout on the side showed a hint of skin to make a statement.
My fitted, black jeans molded perfectly to my thighs; one knee was slightly distressed, giving the whole look an effortless edge.