8. Falcon #2
I stared at her for a beat before I went back to my task. “When you say me, you mean we, love. I’m not sure what this is, but what I’m doing is being with my woman. We don’t do the sleep in separate beds.”
Her huff was exaggerated just like the plop on the bed. “Falcon, I know you read my text because you’re here. Why are you doing this?”
When she asked the question, I decided to stop so we could have a real conversation. I sat on the bed with my body turned toward her. She smelled good as fuck.
“Mazikeen, yes, I read your text. Your feelings are valid. I want to say that first. Next, I want to tell you that the whole breakup shit ain’t going to fly.
You don’t get to quit on this relationship.
When I committed to you, I committed to everything that came with you including those delusions that made you think that you could break up with me in a fucking text.
Hell, the delusion that you could break up with me at all,” I said with a titter.
Her head dropped, and her shoulder lifted. “Falcon, I don’t want you to feel stuck. I know you say you signed up for this, but I just can’t believe that.”
My head tilted. “How the hell are you gonna tell me how I feel? My love, what you believe and what is true can be different. I don’t give a fuck about all that shit you was popping in your text about hospital visits, dialysis, pills, and other shit.
Kee, I met you at the fuckin’ dialysis clinic.
You were in a recliner in the middle of a treatment. Let’s get logical for a second.
“My mother has had lupus for over twenty-five years. Granted, hers doesn’t affect her kidneys, but she has lived with this disease.
I have seen my father take care of her for years and have even helped take care of her.
It’s not like I’m a man that is oblivious about what it takes to be with a woman that has lupus.
” My body shifted more toward her. “If I felt like at any time this would have been too much, I would have left your ass right there in that seat.”
I needed her to understand that I had options, and I still chose her. It was what it was. I loved the fuck out of this woman.
She gazed at me for a second before a tear fell. “I don’t want you to resent me. There’s a chance that I could be on dialysis for many more years or forever. I may never get a kidney. Or worse, I get one and the lupus affects that one too.”
My hand lifted so that my finger could wipe the lone tear. “Baby, you’re worried about something that will never happen. I know that one day, we will get that call for a kidney. We just have to be patient.”
The wheels in my head turned. Should I? Yeah, I think I am. There was something that I wanted to give her. She watched me get up and move to the closet where I stored my bags that I unpacked. I retrieved what I needed, then returned to my seat.
She gazed down at my hand. Her head didn’t lift when she asked her question. “What is that?”
The side of my finger went under her chin and lifted her head.
“Mazikeen, I love the fuck out of you. We are locked in. You are my home, and I refuse to let you give me a vacation notice. With that being said.” I stood, then bent on one knee.
“I want you to be my home forever, and I want you to allow me to be yours.
“Will you marry me?” I opened the ring box. This ring had burned a hole in my pocket for months at this point. This wasn’t the way that I envisioned the proposal, but it was the right time. I knew that in my heart.
Her hand covered her mouth. The lone tear had company. “You want to marry me? Are you sure?”
I chuckled. I responded as I took the ring out of the box. “Kee, I’m not about to play with you. You see me on bended knee and going to ask me if I’m sure.”
She laughed when I grabbed her hand and slipped the ring on her finger. When I asked her how it fit, she smiled. “It’s a tiny bit big, but it won’t fall off.”
“Yeah, that’s intentional. I wanted it to have a little room for the days that your finger might swell. You still haven’t given me an answer,” I pointed out.
She looked at the ring as tears continued to flow. After what felt like forever, she gazed at me. “Yes, I will marry you.”
“That’s what the fuck I’m talking about. Kee, you’re stubborn as fuck. I still love you and always will.”
My hands cupped the side of her face as we passionately kissed. I pulled back from the kiss because I wanted to make sure she ate. “Did you eat dinner already?”
Her head shook side to side. “No, we were going to order something. Neither of us felt like cooking.”
“Alright, let’s get to that.” I finally stood to my full height and pulled her from her seat on the bed. “Be prepared for your bestie to act a fool too.”
Kee laughed. “She’ll be happy. She’s called me everything but a child of God for that text.” Her shoulders shrugged. “Perhaps I was being a little irrational.”
I refused to acknowledge her statement. Her giggles were cute behind me as we left the room to go to the living room with Rome and Lula Ann. I was the first to walk in. When Kee walked in behind me, Lula Ann jumped up from her seat.
“See! I fuckin’ knew it. Baby, didn’t I tell you they’re gonna walk in there fake broke up and walk out engaged?” Her voice was loud and excited.
She let out this scream that made me flinch before she ran to Kee. They hugged each other for a few seconds. “Do you like the ring?” Lula Ann asked her after they finished their hug.
Kee glared at her with tight eyes. “I do. Have you seen it already?”
Lula Ann peeked over at me. “I have. I helped bighead pick it out. He was going to propose at y’all’s anniversary dinner, but here you went trippin’ today.”
Kee’s head slowly turned my way. “Really?” After I confirmed, she rushed into my arms. “I love you so much, and I’m sorry.”
There was silence for a moment. It was broken by Rome’s hand clap. “Congratulations! I’m so happy y’all got this shit together. We already ordered food. Y’all can go pack y’all shit so you can leave after dinner.”
This nigga. “We got you, bro.” I wasn’t going to even fight it. Besides, I planned to fuck the stubbornness out of my fiancée. It would be great to do that in the privacy of our home.