Page 26 of Not A Homie, Lover Or Friend
Sit up. Lay down. Stand up. Pace. Sit.Repeat.Sit up. Lay down. Stand up. Pace. Sit.
The crack of the thunder exploded as I finally lay down on the couch, staring at my skylight window. I ran my hand up and down my chest as I thought of Lakia. How did I even get myself into this shit? Why her? I ran my hand down my face as I tried to rationalize why I wanted to get the fuck up and go get her. My phone vibrated on the table, and to my surprise, it was my dad. “Malo.”
“Hey,” I responded.
I could hear him clear his throat. “I heard it was storming there. I’m checking on you.”
I continued to stare out the window as lightning struck. “I’m cooling. You ok? How’s grandpa?”
My grandfather was getting older. Every time I turned around, he was sick. I knew soon I would be making my way back to Samoa for a visit, but it would be a sad one. “He’s ok. Your mother told me you’re going to the fireman academy.”
“Hmph. She did? When you talk to her?”
That was the thing. My mother and father swore they disliked each other, but then they had these secret conversations about me. I found it interesting. “I haven’t applied yet.”
“Why?”
“E leai sou feau!” I spat.
“Oh, so you learn how to speak a little Samoan and you talk shit.”
I let out a deep sigh. “I—”
“Let me speak,” he snapped.
I knew saying that would piss him off, but I didn’t want to think about the fireman academy. I had been putting it off because I wasn’t sure if I was fully ready to dedicate myself to it yet. I had been tossing the idea around but had yet to pursue it. I don’t know if I felt like it would take me away from the life I once knew, or if I was afraid of going through the trials alone. Ihad put in a lot of work to get this far, but something in me felt incomplete, and I wasn’t ready.
As my dad continued to speak, there was another knock on my door. I shot up from the couch as I stared at the door. “Let me call you back, pops,” my words trailed off. “Fai-fai-lemu,” I said before I hung up.
I tossed the phone on the table as I made my way toward the door. A feeling sank in my stomach, and I knew she was on the other side. I unlocked the door and opened it. She didn’t even bother to say anything as she stepped forward, pulled at my two braids, to bring my face to hers. She pressed her cold, wet nose against mine as her eyes seemed as if they were trying to savor the moment. “I want to stay,” she mumbled.
My lips disappeared between my teeth as my eyes closed slowly. “What are your intentions?” I muttered. “Aua e te peplo,” I added as I slowly opened my eyes.
Crack of thunder.
She didn’t say anything but allowed her focus on me. I went to pull away, but she wrapped my braids around her hand, bringing me back down.
“Sukalati, what are your intentions?”
Her lips parted slowly and grazed mine. “They were bad, but now I,” she paused. “I want to try,” she whispered.
“Why?”
“I’m your wife, Fua. I’m not your homie, your lover, or friend. I’m your wife.”
Crack of thunder.
I closed my eyes because I wanted to believe Lakia. I did, but a part of me still had my reservations about her. “Look at me, Fua.”
Eyes on her.“I’m your husband,” I said as my arm slowly wrapped around her waist to pick her up.
I used my foot to close the door as she wrapped her long, chocolate legs around my waist. To have her in my arms felt good. It felt genuine, like we were now in this shit together. She wouldn’t let my hair go as I had gone to set her down on the couch, but she pressed her lips against mine. That was it. The way we kissed each other was different than our drunken night. Our lips devoured each other as we were both chasing the taste of love.
Once we were able to pull our lips away, I carried her to the back and into the bathroom. Lakia clung to me like Velcro. I leaned forward, turning on the shower. When I set her down, I began to remove her wet clothes gently. Maybe there should have been words shared between us, but this moment of pure silence was needed. I wanted to show rather than speak of what I could be for her. I wanted to show her that she could have all the things, the support, the love, the passion, and attention that most women dreamed of.
When she stepped into the shower, a smile eased on her face. “Aren’t you getting in with me?”
My tongue slid across my bottom lip as I stared into her face, “No. Let me take care of you tonight.”
