“I date, Mama.”
“Who? I haven’t seen anyone.”
“That’s because I haven’t met anyone that I felt compelled to bring over for you to meet.” That was the truth. I dated quite a bit over the past five years but hadn’t met anyone that I seriously considered introducing to my mother. I even had one long-term relationship with a guy that lasted well over a year, but the thought of introducing him to my mother had never sat well with me. That’s how I knew our relationship wasn’t going to last into the second year.
“You need to find someone.”
“I don’tneedto find anyone. I’m happy, Ma.” I had plenty of male suitors and lots of opportunity to go out or have someone warm my bed when I wanted. “I’m busy building my business,” I finally stated, sitting back against the couch.
“I know losing Darryl and the baby was tough—”
“Ma, please. Can we not talk about this?” I insisted more angrily than I’d wanted to show but I hated that she’d brought up the loss of my son. That was a conversation that was off limits, even with my own mother.
“Okay, I’m sorry, baby. I just worry about you. I want you to find someone to be as happy with as I was with my Daniel.”
In spite of myself, I let out a small smile at the way my mother said my father’s name. Theirs was a true love story. Growing up, our house was always full of love because of how deeply they cared for one another, and had no problems showing it.
“I know, Ma. How about you tell me about the Fashion Museum you’re just dying to show Ida?” I encouraged, changing topics.
I remained at my mother’s for another hour talking with her about fashion and thumbing through the latestVanity Fairmagazine. I helped my mother get undressed and into bed before turning her light out and locking up behind me. I promised her I wouldn’t walk since it was dark out, so I ordered another Lyft to drop me off at home.
As much as I hated to admit it, my mother’s words about finding a man had rattled me just enough, that sleep was a difficult chore to get to that night. Which was how I found myself sitting up in bed, combing through yet another sports blog, periodically stopping when articles about Tyler Townsend appeared. I found myself wondering about this athletically gifted, incredibly good looking, intense, yet somewhat dopey man. That was when I knew it was time for me to force myself to shut the computer and get to sleep.
Chapter Six
Tyler
“All right, you two, uncle Ty has to go but I’ll see you in a couple of days,” I told my niece and nephew. I’d just spent the last twenty minutes on the phone listening as they recounted their day at camp to me. It was just after eight, and Kelvin and I were headed out to a local lounge for a few hours. Since training camp was almost over, we were given a short reprieve for a night out.
“Okay, Uncle Ty, don’t forget next time you babysit you said I could paint your nails again,” Kennedy reminded me.
I laughed into the phone. “I did agree to that, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, and Daddy says a man should always keep his promises.”
I smirked. “Sounds like something Aaron would say.”
“Yeah, but he says I don’t need to worry about any promises from any other man besides him, my uncles, and my grandfather. He says no other man will matter to me until I’m at least forty. What’s that mean?”
I bent over laughing since thatdefinitelysounded like something my brother would say to his six-year-old daughter.
“It means your father talks too much,” Patience, Kennedy’s mother and Aaron’s wife’s voice pushed through the other end of the line.
“He’s right though, Patience. My niece doesn’t need to worry about any man that isn’t related to her.”
“Whatever, Tyler. Tell your uncle to have a goodnight you two.”
“Nite, Uncle Ty.”
“Goodnight, Uncle Tyler.”
Kennedy and Kyle both said in unison.
“Good night. I’ll talk to you all soon.”
“Stay out of trouble, Ty,” Patience warned.
“Where’s the fun in that?”
