“What does that mean, Ruby?”
“It means that I want to explore what this”—I gestured between us—“looks like. I want us to hold hands in public and kiss under the stars after a dinner date downtown. I want to wake up to you every day, and maybe one day have a baby with you.”
I lowered my eyes to the ground, not ready to meet Amari’s eyes. Something about speaking my thoughts out loud made them so real. I was slightly overwhelmed.
Before I could regret my words, Amari reached down and lifted me by the waist so my eyes were level with his.
“This is the beginning of something new and real. I’ll go in with you one hundred percent, starting now.”
Amari set me on my feet and picked me up again, this time bridal style. I shrieked and giggled as he carried me toward the stairway, which was decorated with garland and small red bows.
“After I make love to you, we’ll decorate the tree, and you can open up your gifts.”
“But it’s not Christmas yet.”
“I don’t need to wait until Christmas to unwrap my present. You’re the gift that will keep on giving long after the season ends.”
“Promise?”
“With everything in me.”
I reached for Amari’s face and kissed him as if my life depended on it. In his arms, I received every bit of healing I didn’t know I needed. No matter how bad the days became, I now had someone in my corner who wouldn’t abandon me.
It was time for the real Ruby Starks to step out of the shadows and back into the light.
Epilogue
Ruby was a vision of joy and love in the sleeveless red pantsuit that cupped her breasts and butt the way I liked them. I couldn’t wait for everyone to leave my Christmas party so I could finally feast on the real guest of honor in my home.
She didn’t pay attention to me watching her as she spoke in an animated way with her friend Nick. He was a cool, somewhat eccentric guy who made Ruby laugh, so I had no problem adding him to my guest list.
Malcolm dabbed me up at the punch bowl as I openly ogled the object of my affection.
“Man, whatreallyhappened during that snowstorm? You weren’t this caught up with Lise, and that was your wife. Did Ruby Starks put some kind of voodoo on you? I know folks who can unhook dudes if she’s got you sprung too tight.”
I chuckled at my goofy friend and slapped him on his back.
“Keep living, bro. One day, you’ll see what’s up for yourself. When you meet the one God created for you, logic isn’t logical anymore.”
“It’s like that?” Malcolm took a bite of his oversized cinnamon roll and chased it down with a big gulp of Diet Coke.
Before I answered, Ruby sashayed toward me with an oversized sprig of mistletoe in her hand.
“Excuse me, Malcolm, but could I pull my man away for a minute?” Ruby lifted her hand high and waved the mistletoe near my face.
Before Malcolm answered, I reached behind Ruby’s neck and bent down to kiss her with passion that had become our norm since she got back from North Carolina. She reached for my neck and hung on tight as I reached for her butt and rested my hands on her cheeks.
Whoops, hollers, and whistles filled the room as I dived in deeper and took what was undoubtedly mine.
“Get a room, Unc.” My teenage nephew coughed the words into his hand as everyone around us laughed.
When I released Ruby, I frowned and pointed at my guests.
“Y’all are the ones who need to get a room. This is my house and my woman.”
People laughed as Ruby shook her head in mock disapproval. I loved that she was already comfortable with our public displays of affection and my big personality. I warned her that once she was mine, the entire world would know.
“For those who are new here, Ruby Starks and I are a couple.” I said the words for the third time since everyone arrived at my house.
