“Taking things slow for me means forsaking all others. Meaning you only wait up for me.” My words were slow for her to get it. Careful to make sure my message was conveyed clearly. And honest for her to know how serious I was.
“Like I said, I don’t want no problems. All of that is a yes for me so long as I get the same commitment in return.”
I stepped forward and kissed her forehead. “All of that and then some. Good night.”
“Good night, Enzo.”
I left feeling confident that we’d turned a new page but with the same level of understanding.
Slow didn’t mean unsure. Intentional didn’t mean timid. For me, I was choosing Thyri without hesitation. And she was choosing to wait up no matter how late I was.
CHAPTER 2
Something To Look Forward To
THYRI
Ilocked the door behind them and pressed my forehead against it, slowly exhaling. Every interaction I had with Enzo since our first kiss at the Sullivan holiday soirée left me feeling like this – longing for the time to last just a bit longer. It was something about the way he spoke to me. The way his presence filled the room. And his lips. God, his lips really had me questioning whether I really wanted to continue taking it slow. I mean, my mind said it was for the best, but this cat said different.
It had been a little over a year since I had sex. And not because I had sworn off men. And certainly not because I didn’t have suitors. A bad bitch with personality that could fill the room always had suitors. However, I was still learning how to be single after coming out of a fourteen-year marriage. I also had a son to think about, and my father’s health consumed a lot of my time as well. On top of being selective of who I allowed in my space, I hadn’t necessarily put myself out there to date.
And then there was Enzo. He was my type, a provider, protector, an amazing father, loved family, and gave B.D.E. in every sense of the phrase. I was glad that I wasn’t closed off to the idea of there being an “us”. Still, taking it slow wasproving to be more difficult when I was long overdue for coochie maintenance – and not the kind from my wax lady. I was talkin’ ‘bout fawkin, sweating out my hair type of maintenance.
Shaking off my lust filled thoughts, I went to shut the house down for the night. It was quiet without EJ’s voice filling the space. Funny how a two-year-old could take up so much room without trying. I just knew he’d hate it the first time he came over. My place was a nice size, but I didn’t have a playroom or amenities fit for a toddler like he was used to having at his fingertips.
It turned out that he loved being in KJ’s room more than the one he had at home. He wanted to be a teenager so bad. Smiling to myself, I went into the living room to dismantle the fort me and EJ had built earlier to watch movies in while we ate snacks. We later used it to play hide and seek. Being around him made it hard not to become a big ass kid.
While straightening the pillows on the couch, I thought about Enzo’s words.
Forsaking all others. You only wait up for me.
Enzo was dangerous in ways he didn’t even try to be. It only pushed me closer to him. Satisfied with my living room, I headed for the kitchen to wash the few dishes in the sink. With my head in the clouds over my new boo, I heard KJ’s slippers flapping against the floor as he walked into the kitchen.
“I thought you were sleeping,” I said, watching him open the fridge. “Aht aht. You betta wash your hands. I don’t know what you be getting into in the middle of the night.”
Teenage boys were nasty, and I was almost sure that KJ had long ago discovered himself.
“Come on wit’ that, Ma.” He huffed but walked over to wash his hands in the second sink.
“I’m just saying. Let’s be mindful.”
Shaking his head, he grabbed a cup from the cabinet and filled it with water. “EJ coming back over tomorrow?”
“I’m not scheduled to work, but anything can change. Why, wassup? You wanna hang?”
He frowned and side-eyed me over the rim of his cup.
I chuckled. “Why you act like it’s a crime to hang out with me?” I questioned, drying my hands and placing one on my hip. “I think you be forgettin’ that ya mama is that girl.”
“Ma, no teenager wants to spend time with their moms. Besides, you got someone that wanna hang witchu, but you be frontin’.”
I leaned back against the counter with confusion written on my face. “I didn’t even know y’all still use that word.” I snickered. “Who I’m frontin’ on, KJ?”
“Enzo,” he replied without hesitation.
My heart jumped, but I remained straight faced. “Huh?” was all I could come up with.
With a wide grin, he set his cup down and leaned back against the fridge. “Ma, I know you’ve been trying your best to keep the status of y’all relationship from me, but I can see. Y’all tryna act like it’s a top-secret mission just makes it even more obvious. I know you’re doing it in fear of how it’ll make me feel. Enzo doing it out of respect.”
