More laughter fills the space allowing me to expel a small exhale of relief.
We’re in the second period.
Second verse.
Let’s keep these vibes going just like they were in the first.
“Next question,” Kira proclaims during her dive back into the box for a random card. This time when she pulls it out, she reads, “Category is literature.”
“Most books have too many words in them,” Allerick jokingly comments, “so I’m already out of the running for the answer.”
Our chuckles are faint enough to still hear the host ask, “This USA Today Bestselling Author of historical and contemporary romances’ first three novels wereNight Song, Vivid, and Indigo. Who are they?”
Aly’s mouth and hand twitch in tandem, yet she doesn’t commit.
Nor does Ciara.
Or Alexis.
She doesn’t even appear to have understood the question.
All of sudden, my girlfriend slowly lifts her paddle to throw out a guess, “Beverly Jenkins?”
“That’s correct!” squeals Kira in utter shock.
“Damnit!” barks Aly in frustration. “I knew I knew that one!”
“I swore you were gonna get it!” our host eagerly concurs. “You love black romances!”
“Beverly is like the GOAT!” Gilly’s other best friend gushes.
Curiosity has me dropping my gaze down to the woman I’m holding hands with. “Telenovelas I know.” Her stare shifts to mine. “But romance novels? Is that new?”
“Kind of…” The tiny cringe she flashes creates a small ache in my chest. “I likejuststarted to give them a chance. I don’t know that I’mthatinto them, but I don’tnotenjoy them.” Nervousness instantaneously takes over. “They’re not like theonlything I read or that I will be reading or that I’m open to reading.”
Supporting her new choice to try something different is effortless as well occurs with a crooked grin. “Baby, I’m not gonna judge you for readin’ whatever you wanna read. You like it? I’ll love it.”
She lets the corner of her lip kick upward. “You really wanna finish that lyric, don’t you?”
“I may die if I don’t.”
Our small snickering exchange is interrupted by the best friend she beat out for the point, “When did you read Beverly?” Her neck slightly cranes forward, pulling my love’s focus in that direction. “Andwhy? You never mentioned being open to the books before.”
“You didn’t ever ask me to be,” Gilly quietly defends while toying with her jukebox necklace that she rarely takes off.
Only when andifwork requires it.
Great practice for wearin’ a wedding ring, aye?
“Who did?” Kira chimes in, her own interest flourishing. “Who asked you to read one of her books?”
“One of my newer friends, Joey.”
“Cap’s wife?” pushes past my lips without hesitation.
My girl momentarily drifts her attention back to me. “Yeah.”
“Why?”
