I didn’t want to take a trip too soon since I was still a prospect and it was important I be in town to participate in as much as I could, but I was ready to start traveling and taking complete advantage of being a free man. As the days passed, it was easier for me to be around people, and I was spending less time cooped up in one room. Jelai had a lot to do with that. Whenever she noticed I was drowning in solitude for hours at a time, she found a way to pull me out of that shell.
Things were going great for me, for us, and it finally felt like I could breathe easy and trust that everything was going to be okay.
All I could do was stare at my man. He wasn’t overly soft and romantic, but he was intentional and he catered to me. Because Wicked knew I loved making bracelets, he planned what he called a create date. It started with a gondola ride over the river to the arts district. There, we went from one shop to another creating things. I got to create lip gloss that he enjoyed kissing off my lips before we created perfume and cologne, then candles, and last, I got to create a charm bracelet. I picked pieces that reflected not just our date today but every date we’d had since he’d been released.
When he looked over at me, I couldn’t imagine how goofy I was looking. Wicked chuckled before giving me a kiss as best as he could since I was smiling.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked.
“I’m just happy. Happy to be here. Happy to be with you. Happy that I finally get to love you and be loved by you.”
That earned me another kiss. “I’m happy about all those things too. You ready for tonight?”
A slow exhale escaped me. I thought I’d be happy when my mom and Chris agreed to sit down and actually talk to Wicked, but now, I was dreading it. We’d been having such a great day, and I didn’t want them to say or do anything to ruin it. All Wicked needed to see was my pout before his head started shaking.
“We don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. I really don’t give a damn how they feel about us. I’m only doing this because I know it’s important to you,” he said.
“I know, and I appreciate that. I want to do it. I just don’t want them to say something that will ruin our day. Today has been so much fun. I kind of just want to go home and continue to enjoy you. This is the first day this week neither of us had anything to do.”
“Well if that’s what you want, then that’s what you’ll have. We can reschedule. Maybe we can go tomorrow after church? That’ll give us an excuse to leave early if shit goes left, because I know you won’t want to miss riding out.”
“Oh absolutely not,” I said with a small laugh. “I live for riding out with you now. It’s so much fun. The only other thing that gives me that thrill is riding a rollercoaster.”
“Aight, bet. Then check with your mom and see if they’re available tomorrow. If so, we can head home and chill for the rest of the day.”
“Mm, that sounds good.”
When he hesitated, my smile wavered.
“Speaking of which . . . how attached are you to your home? Will I be moving in there when we get married, or are we going to find something new?”
Whew.
I thought this conversation was about to go a completely different way.
It didn’t surprise me that Wicked asked me that. The first time he paid my rent, that led to him paying the rest of my bills. While he hadn’t officially moved in, we spent every night together practically unless he went to his parents’ house over the weekend and stayed. I loved having him in my home and hoped he felt like it was his home too, though we hadn’t had a conversation about him officially moving in yet.
“Hmm, I like it. I’m not in love with it. I wanted to build my forever home, so I would be okay with moving. Mine is a really great starter home. If we stayed there for a while and maybe had our first child there I’d be okay with that, but eventually, I want us to build our own home.”
“Good. I like the sound of that. Your home is cool and it works for now, but with us both wanting a large family, we’ll need something bigger anyway. I want you to never have to give up your beading room, and I’ll want a space that I can chill in too, so with our bedroom that’s three rooms off the rip, not including what we’ll need for our kids.”
We continued to talk, and I swooned as he shared with me his investment plans and his desire to expand his auto shop empire so our kids could have generational wealth. He was already doing phenomenally well, so I had no doubt that he’d be able to always take care of us financially. Now I wanted him to myself even more. Talking about our future calmed my nervous system in a way that made me want to lay in his arms and cuddle and nap for the rest of the day.
“No matter what they say, I’m still gonna choose you,” I told Wicked as we waited for my mom to open the door.
He looked at me and smiled as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “I appreciate the sentiment, but you wouldn’t have had a choice, bae. I wasn’t going to let them pull you away from me.”
I giggled but tried to reel it in at the sound of the door unlocking. Ma smiled at us both as she pulled me in for a hug.
“Hey, baby,” she spoke warmly.
“Hey, Ma.” When we unraveled, I took Wicked’s hand into mine. “This is Yates, but everyone calls him Wicked.”
Ma eyed him with a smirk before extending her hand for his. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Wicked.”
“You as well. My mama is the only woman I allow to call me Yates, but if that would make you more comfortable, you can.”
“I appreciate the consideration, Yates. Come in, and make yourself at home.”
