Page 106 of Rules Of Engagement: St. Louis
“Naomi, cousin, please tell me you’re coming to the barbecue next Saturday.”
“Of course I’m coming. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good, because Mom’s been planning the menu for weeks and she’ll kill me if you don’t show up to eat her potato salad.”
“The Chiefs are not starting off this season right,” I said, with my attention on the T.V. I was only half-listening, focused on loading the dishwasher, when Ebony’s voice came through the speaker again.
“Wait, is that a man’s voice I hear in the background?”
I smirked.
“Maybe,” Naomi said, shooting me a look that was wrapped in panic and amusement.
“Naomi Blackford, are you holding out on me? Who is he?”
“He’s... someone I’m seeing.”
“Someone you’re seeing? That’s all I get? What’s his name? What does he do? Is he cute?”
“His name is Christian, he’s a lawyer, and yes, he’s cute.”
“A lawyer? Ooh, okay. Is he there right now?”
“He’s here.”
“Put him on the phone!”
“Ebony.”
“I’m serious! I want to talk to him!”
Naomi looked at me helplessly. I dried my hands and walked over to where she was standing by the counter.
“Hi, Ebony,” I said, leaning toward the phone.
“Oh my God, he has a nice voice! Naomi, you’ve been holding out on us! Christian, this is Ebony, Naomi’s my favorite cousin.”
“I thought Patrice was your favorite cousin,” Naomi said to Ebony.
“That was last week. This week, it’s you because I’m about to invite your mystery man to our family barbecue. Christian, you free next Saturday?”
I looked at Naomi, trying to read her expression. She appeared to be processing a thousand different emotions at once.
“If Naomi wants me there, I’d love to come,” I said.
“Of course she wants you there! Don’t you, Naomi?”
“I...” Naomi looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Would you like to come? To meet my family?”
I understood that she was asking for more than just a date to a barbecue. She was asking if I was ready to be a part of her world the same way she’d become a part of mine.
“I’d love to meet your family,” I said, then mouthed. “No pressure.”
Her hand touched my face, and she kissed me lips.
“Excellent!” Ebony’s voice came through the speaker. “It starts at two but come hungry because we’re making enough food to feed half of St. Louis. Naomi knows where it is. Welcome to the family, Christian!”
The call ended, leaving us standing in the kitchen staring at each other.
