Page 169 of Tarek

He chuckles, his eyes crinkle with mischief. “Oh, the memories of me waxing you. Look how far we have come.”

“Yeah. I think I fell for you that night.”

Tarek pulls me closer, his hand resting on the side of my stomach as he rocks me gently. “I fell for you the moment you said, “I came for the food, not him.”

“When did I say that?” It feels like a lifetime ago, me and Tarek, all the moments that led us here.

“The first time you came to the restaurant, and the girl was waiting for me.”

I chuckle. “Did you ...you know, leave with her after I left.”

“Nope, I sent her home.”

For some reason that made me happy.

“Tarek, is it possible you can look at my pussy, and tell me if it’s okay?”

Tarek laughs as he kneels. “I will do one better, I will tell you if it tastes the same.”

I chuckle because I knew I was in for a memorable ride.

* * *

TAREK

Having a pregnant woman in my house is an interesting venture. It’s 2:00 a.m., and I am just driving back home. At 11:30 pm. my girl had a craving for a food she loved from Trinidad called ‘doubles’. There was only one Caribbean restaurant in Lakeshore and of course it’s closed. I had to get their number from a colleague and beg them to make three doubles for my girl. I volunteered to make the doubles, but apparently me, a Michelin chef wouldn’t be able to replicate this Caribbean dish. Those three doubles cost me $1000.00 each. Why? Because they had to get up out of their beds to make said doubles. Ever since we hit the 20 weeks, I haven’t had a complete night’s rest. My girl has a particular taste. Last night, I was about to sleep, and she wanted a smash burger from a food-truck in Charleswood. Did I drive over four hours for a double smash burger loaded with extra pickles and onions, plus a side of onions rings? Why, yes. Yes, I did. My wife…I mean my girl. I really want to make Penny my wife. After consulting with Zeeta I got the ring of Penny’s dreams, an Art déco emerald-cut, flawless diamond ring is sitting in the box.

I am thinking about all the ways I can propose, but thanks to Zeeta I understand that an over the top proposal will freak her out. Zeeta’s words were, “Keep it simple, stupid.”

So, I will keep it simple. All I want is for my girl and my babies to be healthy and happy. Part of that happiness comes with Archer’s help. It’s finding her mom’s ex-boyfriend aka the man who tried to touch her. In the coming months he and the pastor will not be able to touch anything again.

My phone rings loud and hard. Who the hell is calling me at 2:00am?

“Hello?”

“Hi Tarek? It’s Melody.” Her voice is breathy, like she was trying to sound seductive. “Melanie? Damn. I thought roaches only come out when the lights are off. Wait its nighttime. I guess that tracks.” My fingers tap with impatience against my steering wheel.

“I just wanted to ask you if you’d reconsider sending me a necklace. Since you know, everybody has one.”

I laugh “Your pussy didn’t qualify you for that.” Honestly, I should’ve ended this call already.

“You are acting like I meant nothing,” she cries, her voice trembling.

I scoff “This is not an act. You didn’t mean shit to me.”

“Tarek you don’t mean that,”

“Melalone,”

“Melody! You think you are some prize huh?” she snaps.

“No, but my pregnant fiancé does. And apparently so do you since you are calling me at 2am over a fucking necklace.”

“There is no need to be this way,” she pleads.

I sigh, I was done with this conversation “Just because your parents are cousins doesn’t mean you get a pass on having zero critical thinking skills.”

I hear a sniffle “You think you are so untouchable. Like karma won’t catch up with you.”

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