Chapter 12

12

N eko

The sound of Malorie and my mother talking and laughing was something I wanted to hear for the rest of my life. They looked like they belonged in this element together… as the two most important women to me. As they allowed the TV to watch them, because they certainly weren't watching it, they sipped wine and ate chocolate and popcorn. I didn't want to impose on their time, but I needed to take advantage of Malik having plans.

I packed a bag of things I thought she'd need and headed to my parents' house to get Malorie. If all went well, we'd end our night at a hotel.

"What y'all in here cackling over?" I asked, giving Mama a kiss on her temple.

"I was just telling Mal about the time you almost peed your pants because you were so scared of that alligator at th—"

"That's enough of that," I said, lifting Mal off the couch by her hand.

"I have pictures too," Mama said with a sly smile that made me chuckle.

"Yeah, but you wouldn't show them to her because you love me too much to embarrass me like that… right? Besides, I wasn't about to pee on myself, and I wasn't scared. I just wasn't in the mood to hold that thing."

"Mhm. Tell that lie to somebody else."

Malorie laughed at my expense as she allowed me to lead her down the hall to the guest room.

"What's up, Neek?" she asked, tightening her grip on my hand slightly.

"I was able to get us tickets for the candlelight concert downtown tonight."

"Ooh, I was wanting to go to that!"

"Good. I packed everything that was on your bathroom sink and in the shower. Hopefully that's all you need to get ready."

"Did you get me some perfume?"

"Yes, sweet girl. Jewelry too."

As she took the bag from my hand, she gave me a slow, tender kiss. "How long do I have to get ready?"

"Forty five minutes," was what I said, though she really had an hour and a half.

"And you're sure no one we know will see us there?"

"I hope not. It's not the vibe for my crew, so we should be good."

"Okay, good."

I gave her another quick kiss before going back into the living room with Mama. I'd probably start getting ready in fifteen minutes or so since it wouldn't take me as long.

After the Concert

Malorie was silent, but the smile on her face showed she enjoyed the concert. The orchestra, completely surrounded by candles, performed ten Neo Soul songs, and it was a definite vibe. When it was over, we went to The Rose Valley Hotel for dinner, where we'd also be staying for the night. As we rode the elevator, I thought back to my conversation with Mama before I got ready.

"You like her, don't you?"

I looked up from my phone and found her eyes already on me.

"Who?"

Mama's eyes rolled. "Malorie."

"I mean… yeah. She's a very likable person."

She scoffed. "Don't play with me, boy. You know what I mean."

Chuckling, I tossed my phone onto the couch gently and sat back in my seat. "I like her. I think I love her." With a sigh, I ran my hand over my face. "I know I love her. I just… don't want to say it because that would make this too real and even more complicated."

"Why is it complicated to begin with? Mal is an amazing woman. She has some maturing to do but you do too. I love that little girl."

I felt myself blushing because of her approval. "Malik doesn't want any of his friends to date her. We've been cooling it but we're not official and we've been hanging out on the low."

Mama's brows raised as she rubbed her hands up and down her thighs. "I see. She's worth risking your friendship with him?"

"I don't even want to think about that, Mama."

"But is she?"

"…Yeah. She is."

"Are you worth losing her brother to her?"

My head shook. "I'm sure I'm not, but even if I was, I wouldn't put her in a position to choose."

"Then how exactly do you think this is going to work, Neko?"

"I don't know," I seethed, quietly but with more aggression in my voice than I wanted to have. "I'm just taking it a day at a time, Mama. I know we have an expiration date. I know we can't really be together. I just want to enjoy her for as long as I can."

Mama scooted closer to me and put her hand on my thigh. "You know what you're doing is wrong, regardless of how right it feels. If you value her, do right by her. Don't put her in the position to feel as if she has to lose either one of you. I can tell you like her, and I wish you could be with her, but if you can't, call it off before things get too deep."

As much as I didn't want to agree, I did. I knew in my mind the longer Mal and I carried on the harder it would be to let her go, but I was already so far gone that I didn't want to. My thoughts were holding me hostage so much I didn't even realize when the doors of the elevator opened. We got out after Malorie gained my attention and I led us to our room.

When I opened the door, I let her go in first. She gasped at how romantic the staff had set the room up. I'd booked the honeymoon package since it came with rose petals and balloons, champagne and chocolate covered fruit, and what they called a play chest, which had unopened sex toys.

"Neko," she almost sang. "This is so beautiful. I love it."

Turning her in my arms, I cupped her cheek. I wanted to tell her I loved her, but that didn't seem fair. Instead, I grazed her nose with mine, then kissed her tenderly.

"As beautiful as you look in this dress, I've been wanting to get it off you all night long."

That was absolutely true, though she laughed. I picked an off white, off the shoulder body con dress for her to wear, and it looked just as good against her curvy, honey brown frame as I thought it would.

"Then what are you waiting for? Take it off…"