Page 14 of It's Love I'm After

Taking a minute to note the time, I smirk because Chaniya doesn’t realize that the groundwork for our first date is presently being laid.

“The minute you asked for my number was the confirmation I needed to know that you’ve become comfortable with me. A date is definitely forthcoming, Chaniya.”

“Why are your eyes so droopy, and why are you moving so lethargic, Son? It’s not hot outside, which is why I asked you to come over to cut the grass. I would have let your father do it if I knew you were looking haggard. I already had to promise to make him a strawberry shortcake to let you do it instead of him.” Ma frowns, staring me up and down with her hand resting on her waist.

After laying up on the phone with Chaniya until after five this morning, the last thing I felt like doing was cutting grass. However, giving Dad a break and spending a little time with them motivated me to get out of bed this afternoon. Caking on the phone is something I haven’t done since high school, but I don’t regret a single moment. Hearing Chaniya’s laughter, snorting, and seductive yet low voice will always make me forfeit sleep for the opportunity.

“I know you hear your mother talking to you, son.” Dad’s deadpan voice has me blinking and scrolling through my mental rolodex for Mom’s words.

“Not enough sleep, but I’m good. Giving Dad the chance to relax will never be a burden. Although, a piece of your strawberry shortcake sounds great.”

One thing about Glynn Malone that I admire is his work ethic, which he made sure to instill within me. Dad is also the one man I trust without reservation because he has always been intentional with his teachings. Having a father who doesn’t simply preach things to their son without understanding hasbeen one of the most significant rewards of having Glynn Malone for a father.

“We’ll see.” Ma smiles before leaving the kitchen.

Thanks to Mom’s mom, she knows how to cook and bake, which meant Essence and I always had homecooked meals growing up. It’s also why I know how to do more than boil water and am able to feed myself whatever my stomach craves on any given day. Adele Malone didn’t play that lazy man thing, so Essence and I received the same teachings and instructions on what it takes to run a household. In fact, I can get stains out better than Essence because, unlike my baby sister, paying attention wasn’t lost on me.

“What’s the real reason? You’re looking like you been down in the gutter?” Dad asks after looking over his shoulder to ensure Ma is gone.

“Love jonesing or at least trying to.” A smirk slides into place because I can never get anything past Dad.

Dad gives me a blank stare, and a shout of laughter leaves my mouth when a frown forms.

“It wasn’t Sherita, man,” I inform him after getting myself together a minute later.

“I was about to say. If you ain’t learned anything else from that skeezer, it should be to become Usain Bolt whenever you’re in her presence. I’m not sure what trap school her lineage comes from, but you don’t need any parts of the education.”

A lopsided smirk slides into place from hearing the negative and old-school derogatory name Dad calls Sherita. Dad has always communicated his displeasure with her since the first day I brought Sherita to meet my parents. Dad said Sherita moved like a snake, even from the beginning, and he didn’t trust her.

“Trust me, we’re on the same page. Sherita Albert was the worst mistake of my dating life, and I’ve been dating manywomen over the years. I can’t wife or date a woman who can’t be bothered to adequately clean her menstruation undergarments.”

“Ewe.” Dad’s face contorts, and his nose twists, inciting my laughter again.

*bzz*

The single vibration coming from my pocket has me sliding my phone out to see who’s trying to contact me. The proud grin upturning my lips can’t be avoided when I see Chaniya’s name on my lock screen.

“Ah. It must be the object of the heavy bags resting under your eyes. I’ll give you some privacy, but I’ll be waiting to hear more about whoever she is soon,” Dad says before exiting the kitchen.

My fingers trip over themselves, trying to unlock my phone to read the message from Chaniya, and my heart rate increases with every second that passes.

Chaniya:I’m just waking up, but I wanted to tell you again how much I enjoyed talking to you. I’ve never been through anything like that before, so I was afraid to go to sleep which was the cause of asking for your number. Ten minutes into our conversation calmed me enough to sleep, but your soothing tone prevented me from releasing you so we could get some sleep. I hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience for you. With the work you do, I can imagine how crucial sufficient rest is for you.

Forget getting this woman to accompany me to the wedding. I need to make her an expectant bride.

My body temperature, heart rate, and pulse elevate while reading Chaniya’s text, and my nerves begin firing all at oncefrom the thought of locking her down. Closing my eyes, I try to fight the fluttery feeling in my stomach that has never happened before. Opening my eyes, I push the air gathering in my lungs and type a response that contradicts what I want to say:Marry me, Chaniya.

Me: There will never be a time when you’ll inconvenience me. Thank you for allowing me to spend hours with you. Calming you ultimately calmed me.

7

CHANIYA

“Oh my God! Oh my God! You didn’t tell me you were gonna be taking part in killing little fishes. You’re a murderer,” I say while backing away from Germayne, who’s wearing a Cheshire grin.

A week after the robbery, with Germayne and I sitting on the phone for hours, I let him talk me into going on a date. The problem is I didn’t think he was serious about the type of date we would be having until last night. Germayne instructed me to wear my oldest clothes and some beat-up tennis shoes, yet I thought he was joking. Caleb was with Kenyatta, who had a sleepover for two of his sons, so I didn’t have to worry about asking Mom to keep him again. I haven’t told Germayne about Caleb yet, because whatever this is between him and me isn’t serious.

If things change, I’ll talk with him about the fact that I’m a single mother. One of the problems with Dedrick is that I let things move too quickly and allowed him to meet Caleb within a month of us being together. Dedrick hadn’t proven anything to me in that short timeframe, so I shouldn’t have been so careless with my son.

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