Page 25 of Tempted to Love You
“Nah. There aren’t too many things I don’t or won’t eat.”
“Okay. Great. I have everything I need. I’ll see you soon.”
“Are you alright, mama? Had I known this goofy shit was gonna have you crying like this, I would have picked our first movie.”
Rakai and I are lying on my couch after consuming the creamy garlic shrimp pasta I made for dinner. Lying in his arms was a feeling I had been waiting for since he walked through my front door. Either the long day or my pasta dish had Rakai sluggishly granting me the opportunity to choose our movie. Scrolling on Tubi had me coming across my favorite pig and spider film before stopping to let the movie play. Rakai didn’t utter a single complaint when I told him it was one of my favorites. All had been going well until now, watching the spider reach the end of her life and the pig’s emotional reaction.
“This part is so sad, and even the pig is crying,” I whine, wiping the water from the corners of my eyes.
“Aww. It’s okay, mama. The spider is going to bug heaven. She’s fought a good fight and spun many webs. It’s time for her to rest,” Rakai tells me while running his hand up and down my arm.
Lifting my head from Rakai’s chest, I look into his eyes to see humor and sarcasm staring back at me before chuckles escapehis mouth. Slapping Rakai’s chest, I shake my head before removing the remaining moisture from my face.
“Don’t be teasing me, bae.”
“What? All I said was that the spider is gonna be good. See? Look.” Rakai nods toward the screen, where the pig grabs the sack of babies the spider leaves behind.
Picking up the remote, I stop the movie and go back to the home screen to find something else to watch.
“What’s wrong? It was about to get good.” The sarcastic tone in Rakai’s voice has me turning and glowering at him before resuming my search. “I’m not sure what the problem is. I was just about to?—”
“Hush, Rakai. Don’t be making fun of me for being a baby. I know I’m?—”
“My baby and allowed to cry over a pig and spider whose friendship has been baffling me since I watched this movie while keeping an eye on one of my co-workers’ kids not too long ago.”
“They might have been different species, but neither of them had a problem making friends. Sometimes people need a lesson on removing barriers to find lasting friendships.”
Rakai just looks at me for a second, leaving me to wonder what he’s thinking and if my ability to be compassionate has gone over his head.
“Who knew my woman could be wise and intuitive. Teach me more, ole wise one.” Rakai smirks, pulling me into his arms and tickling my side, causing me to laugh like a schoolgirl.
“Okay! Okay!” I laugh, twisting in Rakai’s arms, trying to get him to stop tickling me as my eyes release water for a different reason.
“Tell me you love me, and I’ll stop,” Rakai requests humorously in his statement.
Giggling, I clamp my mouth shut, causing Rakai to continue tickling me, and an urge to pee hits me, forcing me to try to wave the white flag.
“I gotta pee. I gotta pee, Rakai.”
“Tell me you love me then, mama.”
“Okay. Okay. I love… I love...” I drag out until Rakai’s hands stop moving, and he sits me up while waiting for me to tell him what he wants to know.
Easing from the couch, I look at Rakai while calculating the distance and speed necessary to reach the bathroom.
“I’m waiting.”
With a smirk and a slight head start from the small steps I’m taking away from Rakai, I shout my answer before making a mad dash to my safety net.
“I love... Wilbur.”
“Pleaseeee, bae,” I whine.
“Nah. Last I checked, my name ain’t Wilbur, and since you confessed your love to him, he should be the one fucking you to sleep tonight.”
The joke was on me because Rakai did not react to my false love claim until this moment. After spending twenty minutes in the bathroom killing time, I emerged to find Rakai where I left him, quoting lines from another movie that was playing on the TV. Rakai let me resume my spot on his chest with his arm resting around my waist. I should have known not to trust his nonchalant attitude because my horny ass is finding out how petty Rakai can be.
“How is Wilbur gonna do that when he’s an animal, Rakai?” I ask, rolling my eyes in the dark.
