Page 3 of Embrace

“Definitely. Marriage isn’t something we play about around here,” she added.

The more we talked, the more relaxed I became. When we got over the basic questions about my age, sign, career, and things like that, we moved on to the fun questions.

“Okay. What are the most important values you look for in a partner?” Lamya quizzed.

I processed the question. I pondered my answer for a few moments. I didn’t want to rapid fire my responses. I wanted to have thoughtful anecdotes to help find my person.

“I want a partner who values family. My family and I are so close that I couldn’t imagine being with someone who didn’t have a solid relationship with their family as well. If I have kids in the future, I want to be able to trust our families to be the village we need to raise our child or children safely and lovingly. I also want a partner who can communicate effectively. I know couples argue, but I never want to go to bed upset or angry at my man. Life is too precious to let a night pass when we’re not content with each other.” I answered.

I was raised in a two-parent household with an older sister. My parents showed me daily what a healthy marriage looked like, and I wanted to use their marriage as a gauge for my future matrimony. Not only that, but my grandparents on both sides also showed me what it looked like to be in love. I wanted to have a family of my own where love was never questioned, where trust was a given, and the good outweighed the bad.

“Beautiful answer. The next question is how important is physical intimacy in your relationship? What are your views on sex?”

I smirked. “Oh, y’all asking all the serious questions, huh?”

“Of course. We don’t want to leave any stone unturned.”

I licked my lips and took a moment to think about my answer. “I don’t want to sound shallow or anything, but physical intimacy is extremely important to me. Not just sex—but the hand holding, the lingering glances, and breathtaking kisses… I need all of that in a relationship because my love language is physical touch. I’m not expecting a man to know how to make me orgasm in three seconds because things can be taught, but there has to be a physical attraction and authentic chemistry between us.”

“I love your answer,” Lamya commented.

I smiled. “Thanks. I’m just keeping it real. Holding back and being cryptic won’t get me anywhere.”

“You’re absolutely right. You would be surprised at the number of people who didn’t take the process seriously.”

“No offense, but y’all charge too much to want to come up here and play.” My statement came before I could stop myself. I let out a nervous laugh.

“No offense taken. I agree with you. I’m not the type of person to play with my money,” Lamya stated.

“Okay! Hell, I didn't even pay out of pocket myself, but I’d be damned if I took the opportunity for granted. I’m here for a reason.”

“What’s your why?” Lamya probed.

I looked away from her intense eye contact. My why only made sense to me. “Honestly, I was tired of getting my heart broken. I was tired of temporary, and I want forever.”

“A lot of people would say you're too young to want to settle down and find a husband. Your twenties should be when you’re exploring the dating pool and having some fun.”

I shook my head. “I’ve done all of that. I have had wild twenties. It’s not appealing to me. I want to settle down and have as much time with my soulmate as possible.”

Lamya nodded. “I have faith we will give you exactly what you’re looking for. Let’s keep the questions flowing. I know you mentioned it briefly, but let’s talk about love languages. What are your love languages, and how do you prefer to receive love?”

My lips stretched into a big smile. “My love languages are quality time and physical touch. I know we have to have a balance of alone time and time together, but I value the time together. I prefer to be with my partner the majority of our free time, and I would hope my partner feels the same way.”

Lamya smiled and shifted in her seat to get more comfortable. We’d been in here for a while. Conversation flowed freely, and I was grateful for it. “Can you describe your ideal first date?”

I hummed. “Well, I don’t have an ideal first date. Really, I like adventurous things. I like to have a good time. Anywhere we can vibe and have a good time is a great date to me.”

Lamya nodded and adjusted herself in the seat. She paused for a moment before she continued.

“Do you have a preference on your potential partner’s education level and career path?” Lamya asked.

I shook my head. “Life happens all the time. Degrees aren’t for everyone. I won’t fault my partner for not graduating college or going to an ivy league school. Heck, I went to community college before a state college, and I barely use my actual degree. I started a business in Graphic Design. I guess to make a long answer short, I do not have a preference. I only ask that my partner have a job and can handle any financial issues that may arise.”

Lamya nodded. “I understand completely. You’d be surprised at how some women answer the question.”

“They want billionaires who will throw money at them, huh?”

Lamya laughed. “Pretty much. What are your top two hobbies?”

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