Page 51 of Love You Like That

“You missed some important appointments. You missed time, Ezra,” her mother noted.

“I showed up when it counted!” I snapped, my voice rising before I could stop it. “While her body’s changin' and she don’t recognize herself in the mirror,I’mthe one kissin’ every stretch mark like it’s sacred.”

I watched Yaya’s Pops jaw tense and her mother’s snobby facial expression change. It was softer now. Curious. I took a breath, chest heaving. “I’m ready to spend the rest of my life lovin’ ya daughter better than I ever have.”

Her Pops turned, walking toward the window, looking out in silence. I stood there, heart racing, chest tight. “I see her in you,” her mother finally said. “The way you talk. The fire. The nerves. The love. I guess youaretrying.”

I looked at her, eye steady. “I am.”

Her Pops turned back around. “She’s always been strong,” he said. “She was born with her mother’s fire. My structure. My stubbornness.” He stepped closer. “If you’re going to marry her, Ezra, you better be ready to withstand that fire. Not just love it. Not just admire it. You need to hold it when she can’t and know when to step back when she can.”

I nodded slowly. “I already do.”

He stared at me for a beat longer and then exhaled a deep breath. When he extended his hand, it threw me for a second but then, I took it. Firmly. “I’ll give you my blessing,” he said. “But I’m watching. And if you ever disappear again, even emotionally… I’ll be at your door before you can finish your next poem.”

I cracked a breathless laugh. “Fair.”

His grip tightened. “Don’t just marry her. Deserve her.”

“I plan to,” I said.

Her mother smiled now, warm and a little amused. “Guess we should start looking at wedding venues.”

W h e nIg o tback to Yaya’s, she was in the kitchen, barefoot, holding a mug of tea. She turned when the door opened, eyes instantly scanning me.

“Hey. Where’d you go?” she asked. I walked straight to her, pulled her into my arms, and kissed her. Tongued her down. She melted into me as she set the mug down. “What did you do?” she asked against my lips.

“Went to talk to ya parents.”

Her mouth fell open. “You didn’t…”

“I did,” I whispered. “And I got ya Pops blessin’.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I wanna marry you, Yavanni. Not just 'cause we got a baby on the way but because I love you. 'Cause I’mma better nigga wit’ you. Becausethis? Us? It’s forever.”

She nodded, tears falling as I lifted her onto the counter. Snatching her robe open, I kissed every part of her. And in everybreath, every moan and everyI love youwhispered against skin, we wrote the first line of our forever.

T h es c e n to fcitrus, buttercream, and soft incense swirled through the room in a perfectly balanced harmony. It was just sweet enough to kiss the air but soft enough not to choke it.

I stood near the entrance of the event space, belly full and round in the most beautiful baby blue off-the-shoulder gown my girls forced me to wear. My locs were pulled up in a goddess braid crown with little gold cuffs tucked between. My wooden earrings brushed my collarbone, and my feet, which werealready threatening to revolt, rested in the comfiest pair of gold-laced flats I could find.

“Bitch, you’re glowing,” Dianna whispered, handing me a mocktail in a fancy glass rimmed with sugar.

I smiled, brushing a hand over my bump. “It’s either that or the fact that I haven’t had to cook in two days.”

Erin laughed behind us, adjusting the extravagant balloon arch framing the dessert table. “It’s the glow. Oh, and maybe the hormones. Or maybe it’s because your man has been acting like you’re made of literal gold lately.”

I turned toward the mirrored wall just to peek at myself again. I really was glowing. Ezra kept saying it every day, every night and every time he bent down and kissed my stomach.

The space was everything I didn’t know I needed. Warm ivory drapes framed the windows, and soft purple lighting lit the corners. The theme, “Little Light, Big Love”, was penned in gold script across a giant floral sign behind the gift table, and the place was filled with so many faces from different parts of my life. Coworkers from the hospital, my old nursing school classmates, my aunts, cousins, and some of Ezra’s folks I’d met at the block party.

Of course, my parents were there as well. They stood near the drink station, my mom in a royal blue pantsuit with hair freshly blown out, and gold studs twinkling under the lights. My dad was stiff, as always, in slacks, a navy blue sweater and brown designer loafers. His smile was real though, especially when he glanced at Ezra. Which was wild, considering where we were just six weeks ago.

Ezra and Mekai arrived fashionably late but when my man walked in, tall, fine, layered in a baby blue jacket and an ivory turtleneck with his chains tucked underneath, the whole room kind of paused. He knew how to take up space without even trying. He greeted everyone and then made his way over to me holding a bouquet of blue tulips and a smirk.

He leaned in and brushed his lips against my cheek. “You look beautiful, baby.”

“Thank you, babe. You match my fly effortlessly.”

The afternoon continued to be a vibe. We played games I didn’t think I’d enjoy such as onesie decorating, baby bottle chug races, and “Who Knows Mama Best?” trivia. Ezra teamed up with Dianna and lost, badly.

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