A sob escaped before she threw her arms around him and he followed the motion, closing her into his embrace. Twenty-three years and she felt the same. Twenty-three years and his heart found its rhythm again.
Asao left the house, giving his parents the privacy they needed for the moment, and smiled because his world was aligned again too. Now it was time for him to head to the woman who owned him because seeing and feeling his parents’ love had him craving the woman he was more than willing to give his to.
An hour later, Asao walked into Samari’s apartment and she walked into his arms, dropping her head against his chest.
“What’s wrong?” he asked after a kiss landed at her temple.
“Nothing.”
“So you’re running game now? Your energy is all fucked up. What’s the matter, Mari?” Asao asked, gripping her chin and tilting her head to provide him access to her pretty face. Her mouth could lie but her eyes would not.
“My mom came by today,” she said in a huff.
“Yeah?”
She nodded.
“And?” he asked, waiting.
“And we never agree on anything.”
“When I asked about your mother, you told me that was a story for another day. Today is that day ’cause I don’t like the way she has you in your feelings. Come talk to me.”
He guided her to the living room where he sat and brought her down on his lap. “I need to see your face,” he demanded and she lifted to straddle him with her knees pressed into the sofa. “What happened?”
“She saw the video.”
“What’d she say?”
“She asked if I was tired of doing mylittlemusic thing.”
Asao kept quiet but his eyes remained on her as did his hands. Both on her thighs where his fingers moved smoothly over the exposed skin.
“All she sees are the failures. Never the accomplishments which makes her think I’m not good enough.”
“There isn’t a damn thing about your voice or your talent that’s little, Mari.” The venom in his voice was hard to overlook but he managed to keep his expression neutral.
“It’s not, but that doesn’t matter to her because all she sees is disappointment.”
“Are you?” he asked, keeping an intense gaze on her.
Samari frowned. “No.”
“Then let that shit go. Her thoughts don’t fucking matter. Her words can’t hurt you if they’re not true. Them shits can’t break you and they damn sure don’t define you.”
“I want her to understand who I am and for her to see me.” Samari handed over a confession she had never spoken aloud to anyone before. She felt safe exposing her insecurities to Asao.
“I get that and I can’t tell you not to care but I can tell you that what you want doesn’t matter if she’s too selfish to meet you where you are. Honestly, if she won’t she doesn’t deserve any part of you, aight?”
Samari pushed down the emotions clouding her mood.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, baby. The only responsibility you have is telling me what keeps you grounded so I can make sure it’s done.If what you need is action, then put that demand on me and let me show you how solid I am. Because I’m gonna step behind you every time. My name is on you, Mari, that means I’ve got you.”
Determined not to let her mother steal any more of her joy, she smiled and placed her hand on his neck, using her words to shift the energy. “If your name is on me, maybe mine should be on you.” She brushed her fingers over his neck and Asao smirked.
“Don’t act like you don’t know what type of time I’m on,” he said before his mouth was on hers. They were locked in. If she wanted to see her name inked on his skin, she could get that.
