Chapter 19 Fatima #2
I looked over at my brothers, who looked just as happy to have me here as I was to be here.
“You did good, Fatima. He’s good looking.” Heather smiled at us, but I rolled my eyes.
“It’s nice to meet all of you.” Ahmad grabbed my hand from under the table and squeezed it. He narrowed his eyes at me. I knew I was being petty and that I should stop, but I couldn’t help it.
“You know, I thought you favored your mom, but looking at your dad and your brothers, I see all four of you really favor each other.”
“Yeah, you would think I spit them three out,” my dad joked. Instead of saying the slick remark I wanted to, I kept quiet.
“Well, let’s eat,” Heather spoke up and reached for one of the dishes on the table.
We passed the dishes around the table and all ate. The food actually smelled good. At least Heather could cook. Ahmad and my dad engaged in small talk while I sat there eating my food. The rest of the table would join in their conversation, but for the most part, they were quiet too.
“It’s been a long time since we last saw you, sis,” DJ, the oldest, said. I could hear the sarcasm in his voice.
It was wild how much he looked like our dad.
“DJ,” my dad warned.
“What? I’m just saying, I don’t get why you were so pressed about her being here when she obviously doesn’t care about being a part of this family.”
“DJ, stop! That’s still your sister,” Heather scolded.
“She doesn’t act like it,” he mumbled.
“I’m glad you’re here, Fatima,” Jalen said. I smiled at him.
“You look good, Jalen. How old are you now?”
“Nine.”
“We almost done with this?” DJ asked.
I cut my eyes at him.
“Fatima, how have things been going for you?” My dad jumped in, changing the subject.
“Good, Dan.”
“I would really like it if you would call me dad.”
I snorted. “We both know that you don’t even deserve that. My mom’s husband will get called ‘dad’ before I say it to you again.”
“You’re still mad that he left your mom for ours?
” I had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself down.
I really wanted to tell his smart mouth ass off, but I knew he was in his feelings about me being MIA.
Just like I was holding on to ill feelings, he was too.
I knew I was wrong for shutting my brothers out because they didn’t do anything to me.
“DJ!” Heather and my dad both yelled.
“Actually, DJ, I’m not mad that he left my mom for yours because her new husband makes her happier than he did. Your father didn’t just leave my mom though; he also left his only daughter.”
“Fatima, I know I hurt you, but I’m trying to make up with you. I want you and your brothers to get closer. I want you to start coming around more, and I want you to be a part of this family.”
“I’m not fifteen, Dan. I’m a grown woman that’s past the stage of needing my dad in my life. Your family is already set.”
“Fatima, please just consider it. Your dad really misses you,” Heather interjected.
I looked at her with my mouth turned up. “Aren’t you the one that broke our family up in the first place? I don’t need you commenting on anything that has to do with me.”
“Fatima—"
“Dan, look, y’all can say what you want, but at the end of the day, you left my life for more than five years then tried to come back like things were supposed to be sunshine and rainbows. Then you make a sad attempt to be a part of my life after that when you should have just stayed gone.”
“I tried to be there, but you kept pushing me away.”
“Why would I let you in when you already let me down once? Just because you sent birthday cards or Christmas gifts didn’t make up for the fact that you weren’t there.
Every holiday my brothers had you there, every birthday you were there, every school event you were there!
I made the cheerleading team in high school and were you ever at one game to watch me?
No! You weren’t, so no one can speak to me about letting anything go because you didn’t give a damn about me.
Once Heather got here, you stopped being my dad.
“For years, I suffered issues when it came to being in a relationship and letting someone get close to me because I was scared they would leave me like you did. I’m twenty-four years old and just now allowed myself to fall in love with someone because of the damage you caused in my life.
So, before all of you sit here and try and tell me how I should feel, maybe you should consider how the hell my life was affected by Dan’s decisions. ” I paused and looked at my brothers.
“I have no issue getting to know the both of you. At first, I was envious of you two for having him in your life, but I don’t even care anymore.
I turned out great without him. I have my own business now.
I have five photography gigs booked, and I met a great guy without him being in my life.
DJ, I know you have some ill feelings because I shut you out.
I’m sorry I wasn’t a better sister to you and that I let my anger with Dan interfere with us, but hopefully we can move past it.
I love both you and Jalen, but I don’t want anything to do with your dad or mother. ” I pushed my chair back and stood up.
I looked over at Ahmad, who had been quiet the whole time. “Come on.” I wiped the angry tears from my eyes with the back of my hand.
The frustration I’d been feeling had finally come to the surface.
Even though I wanted to say way worse, I kept it respectful.
I was tired of dwelling on the past and was ready to let it go.
Now, I was moving on. If my brothers wanted to get to know me, I meant what I said about being willing to do that.
If not, then I wasn’t going to cry over it either.
At the end of the day, I said my peace and was leaving with a weight off my shoulders.
Ahmad faced me and nodded. Without saying anything else he stood up, and we both walked out the room. My dad was calling my name behind me, but I ignored him. I didn’t have anything else to say to him.
When we finally got back into the car, I sat there with my hands folded in my lap, staring forward.
“How do you feel?” Ahmad finally asked, pulling off.
Out of the corner of my eye, I stared at him.
“Better. Relieved, actually.” I opened his center console to get my phone out. I went through my notifications and responded to some emails I had received. My heart did feel lighter. I didn’t feel like a dark cloud was hanging over me anymore.
“So, you’re in love?”
“Huh?” I kept my eyes on my phone.
“You’re in love? That’s what you told your dad.” I tucked my lips in my mouth and refused to look at Ahmad. I didn’t mean to even let that slip out. Now I was just talking, but I was sure I meant it.
Ahmad reached over and grabbed my phone out of my hand. “You gone answer me?”
Suddenly, my body grew hot, my mouth grew dry and my words got stuck in my throat.
“I…I mean, I don’t know if I’m in love with you per se, but I know I feel strongly about you.”
My stomach grew queasy as I waited for him to respond. “Why are you so nervous?”
Ahmad was driving with one hand on the wheel and the other in his lap. His face was calm.
He glanced at me and smirked. “I’m not. I just didn’t realize I said that.”
“Was it true?”
I traced his body with my eyes. “I really like you. You make me happy and always encourage me to be better. You always make sure I’m good, and your being there for me today for emotional support meant a lot to me.
You didn’t have to come, so I don’t know if I’m in love, but I know I have deep feelings for you. ”
The car came to a stop and Ahmad put the car in park. He undid his seatbelt and looked over at me.
“Let me see your hand,” he told me.
I raised an eyebrow but gave him my hand. He placed it on his chest.
“You feel that?” I nodded. “Every time you’re around me my heart beats a certain rhythm.
Even when it’s beating quickly, it always finds this rhythm when you come around.
I wasn’t sure if I was willing to try this love thing again after Kylie and her bullshit, but you changed that for me.
You’re a genuine person that loves hard, and I love that.
One thing you never have to worry about me doing is flaking out on you. ”
The smile on my face couldn’t have grown bigger if I wanted it to. I undid my seat belt and bent over the middle console. I grabbed his face and kissed him passionately. He reached behind me and rested his hand on the small of my back to pull me closer to him.
“You keep kissing me like that and I’ma have you sit on something.” I started sucking on Ahmad’s bottom lip. His words alone caused my panties to grow wet.
“Let me sit on it then.” Pulling back, I unbuttoned my jeans and proceeded to take them off.
Ahmad licked his lips and leaned his seat back. He undid his jeans and pulled his dick out. My mouth began to water as he stroked it in his hand.
One thing I was happy about when it came to Ahmad was that I was always left sexually satisfied.