Page 70 of Bending The Rules

I blew out a sigh. “Yeah… I know. But she’s not even in the country anymore. She went to Nigeria, to meet a new author… and she was talking about not coming back.”

“Sounds like you need to be booking a plane ticket, or getting her back here.”

I chuckled. “Well, I can’t leave after what just happened with Bri. I want her back on her feet first. But I’m hoping Toni decides to come back, even just for those few days. Whatever we decide, we should probably get on the same page.”

“Don’t just hope – make it happen. I’m telling you, you’ll be sick if you see her end up with somebody else because you were too stubborn to take a chance.”

At that, my father threw his hands up to drive home his point, then rounded the desk to sit down.

“You know,” I said, after a few moments of silence had passed between us. “This advice you’ve given me… I really think you may need to take it yourself, man.”

Pops looked up from his computer, eyebrow raised. “Excuse me?”

“You and Imara. I know, I know,” I said, raising a hand as he rolled his eyes. “Just hear me out. I know you had it in your head that marriage is the ultimate goal – and I’m not saying you should change that. But I don’t think you and Imara are that far apart in where you want to be. Y’all are at least in the same damn book – you love each other, and you want to be together. So if you both want the same thing… why are you letting something as simple as a title keep you apart?”

He shook his head. “It’s not that simple, son.”

“But it is, really. You want to be together forever. She wants to be together forever. So… be together. What’s the problem?”

“You try saying that shit to a woman, see what happens.”

I laughed. “I get it, man. It’s a double standard. But do youwantto find somebody else?”

“No. I want Imara.”

I shrugged. “Well, man… maybe you’re going to have to be the one to make that compromise. Maybeyouhave to move, instead of the expectation falling on her.”

My father sat back, hands folded together as he looked at me. After a few moments, he nodded. “Alright son. I hear you. I’ll think about it.”

I stood up, reaching across the desk to shake his hand – a gesture he accepted. “There we go! Good, man. I want to see you happy Pops. And differences aside… I know Imara did that for you. I hope you two can work it out.”

“We’ll see. Now get your ass out of my office, unless you have a down payment ready to put down.”

“Stop trying to act like a tough guy, old man,” I said, rounding the desk as he stood up. He pulled me into a hug, patting me on the back hard enough to make me stumble.

“You’re coming to your brother’s get-together tonight, right?”

“The thing at Jay’s? Yeah. I think he’s going to propose tonight. He invited all of us… even Imara is going to be there.”

Pops scowled. “He conveniently left that out of the invitation.”

“Perfect chance to talk to Imara though… unless she’s bringing a date.”

I ducked as he swung at me, laughing as I jogged out his office. He yelled a few choice words in my direction as I left the dealership, but I had a good feeling he would take advantage of the opportunity that had been presented to him.

Now… I just needed an opportunity of my own.

- & -

There wasn’t a single part of me surprised to find Cat and Bri posted up on my couch – instead of atherhouse – when I got home. There was popcorn everywhere, like they’d been fighting with it, and a half-eaten fruit platter decorated my coffee table.

“You couldn’t have made this mess at your house instead?” I asked Cat, keeping my voice low as I bent to lift Bri’s sleeping form off her lap. “How was she today?”

“Tired, but happy. And why would I do that, when I could make it at yours?” she called after me, as I carried Bri to her room.

A few minutes later, I emerged to find my living room back in proper order, and Cat in the kitchen putting away the fruit.

“Thank you,” I told her, grabbing a handful of grapes before she slipped the plastic back on. “But seriously… your husband isn’t worried about you being over here just for the fun of it?”

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