Page 54 of When Love Becomes A Need
“Kicking it, huh? That’s what you young folks say when you’re just having sex, huh?” I choked on the water I had just drunk and started laughing.
“Nah, mom. Dang, what kind of man do you think I am?” I hit my chest a few times.
“Loraine, what I tell you about being in that man’s business?”
“He’s about to be twenty-nine. I don’t want my son to be lonely for the rest of his life. I’m not getting any younger and neither is he. I want grandkids from him sometime soon.”
“Grandkids? You getting beside yourself, ma,” I chuckled.
“No, I’m being real. You’ll be thirty next year. It’s time for you to settle down and start a family. Your career is doing good now and you need to get your love life together too.”
I groaned. “I promise my love life is fine.”
“It sounds like it since you’re seeing someone. What’s her name?”
“Fatima,” Autumn jumped in. Once again, I cut my eyes at her. She was doing too damn much.
“Fatima, huh? When will we get to meet her?”
“We aren’t serious. We’re talking, getting to know each other. If things get more serious, then you’ll meet her.”
That wasn’t the full truth, but it was close. If my mom met Fatima now, I would never hear the end of it. She would try to pick wedding dates and colors before Fatima could sit down. I’m sure she was probably doing it right now, if we’re being honest.
“Loraine, you heard the boy; now leave him alone, and Autumn, get out your brother’s business.”
“What? I’m just trying to help him. Fatima did the photoshoot for my boutique. She’s really talented and I think she’s good for Ahmad. She’s nothing like Kylie either, which is a plus.” Autumn rolled her eyes.
“Well, that’s a plus. If she’s that great, then I really want to meet her son.” My mom was cheesing hard. Excitement dripped from her voice.
I sighed and dropped my head. “I’ll talk to her and see if she’s up for it. She’s got some issues regarding relationships too that we’re working on, so I don’t want to rush anything.”
“Just bring her by and let me judge if she’s the one.” There was no changing my mom’s mind, so I just nodded and got quiet.
If I let Fatima meet my parents, then that meant things were getting real with Fatima. Just hanging out and talking was cool for me, but I couldn’t lie and say I couldn’t see her being around long-term. When ole’ boy showed up at her house the other day, I knew shit was getting deeper with us. I was ready to take his head off. Just knowing he was someone she once had a relationship with had my blood boiling, too. A nigga like him didn’t even deserve her.
Fatima was special and she needed to be taught how to love. Her playing second to someone wasn’t showing her that. I didn’t agree with her sleeping with someone else’s husband, but I wasn’t going to hold it against her. She ain’t want that nigga and that’s all I cared about.
Yeah, I was getting in deep. I didn’t want anyone else to have her after me. To be honest, I didn’t even want there to be someone after me. Fatima may be the one, but I guess only time will tell.
____
“Hey Ahmad, there’s some girl out here asking for you,” Laci walked into my area and said.
I looked up from my sketchbook and pulled my headphones out. “Who is it?”
“Someone named Fatima.” I smiled.
“Tell her here I come.”
I set my sketch pad and the pencil in my hand down then stood up to stretch. I was done with my appointments for the day, so I was up drawing premade tattoos for customers. I had been running around all morning at the second location and was running on E for real.
Walking out to the lobby, my smile grew as I stared at Fatima from behind. She had her friend Isabella with her, and they were in a conversation.
“What you doing here?” I wrapped my arms around Fatima’s waist from behind and kissed the side of her face.
“I wanted to come see you. I hope I’m not interrupting. I know you said you been busy, so I brought you something to eat.” The smile in her voice was present.
I let her go and she turned around and handed me a bowl. “I made some spaghetti and garlic bread.” I grabbed the bowl from her, pulled her into me, and kissed her forehead.
