AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I squeezed her hand and she looked down at it, as if she had the same thoughts in her mind that I had in mine. Yet, I had so many reservations that caused me not to push things too far. The thought of her sister did have me wondering how the rest of her family would feel too.
“So, I have another question,” I said, still holding onto her hand. “It’s along the same lines. Now that I know you have never dated a white guy, it makes me wonder how your family would feel about us dating.” I paused, before adding, “I already know how your sister feels, so would your parents feel the same?” It was an awkward question to ask, but one that I couldn’t get past.
She was quiet. She took several sips of her wine and then put her glass down on a coaster, before looking at me. “It’s like this,” she started, “should you and I get to the point where we would want to meet the others parents, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” It wasn’t a solid answer, but I think I understood what she was saying. Then she continued. “My parents have strong values, I wouldn’t lie and say that they don’t, but they also want me to be happy. I believe that if they see that I’m happy, then they’ll be fine with it.”
“But what about your sister?” I quietly asked. I needed to hear the answer to the question, because family was important to her. The love for her sister was a strong bond I wouldn’t dare try to break.
She snickered. “Well, Tameka certainly has her own problems with relationships, so she doesn’t exactly get to tell me how to run my life, does she?”
I laughed softly. It was a good answer, but we needed to be logical in our thinking when it came to how she would react, whether she had a say or not. When she asked me the next question, I wasn’t prepared to swallow the same pill.
“I’ll put out the same question to you,” she said. “How would your parents react knowing that you were dating someone of my color?” she asked.
The room got still. It was painfully quiet, and I could feel the beads of sweat wanting to trickle down my forehead. My palms were sweaty, and I was scared to death to respond to the question, cursing myself for even bringing it up in the first place.
She had to sense the hesitation. She pulled her hand away and reached her thumb up to my chin and turned my face, so that I was forced to look at her. “Channing?” she asked. “How would your parents like knowing that you are dating someone of my ethnicity?”
I heaved a sigh and continued. “My parents will love you,” I started, but then paused briefly.
“But?” she asked.
I smiled softly. “My parents will love you if they get to know you,” I stated.
She tilted her head, surveying my facial expression. “And you’re sure about that?” she asked. “You’re saying one thing, but looking a little unsure of what you’re saying.”
I quickly shook my head. “No! It’s true. The minute my mom, dad and brother meet you, they will love you. I’m sure of that.”
She looked like she wanted to argue, but didn’t press on.
I knew in my heart that if my parents, my father especially, could find it in his heart to just want what was right for me, he would love Kemara. Until then, it would be a struggle, no doubt. I couldn’t tell that part to her. I didn’t want to worry her and dash her hopes of meeting my parents and getting two people that would greet her with open arms.
After we both got that out there, we stopped the serious conversations to more of when you were a kid, what did you want to be growing up.
“A Barbie doll,” Kemara said.
I frowned, then laughed, at that answer. “A Barbie doll?” I asked. I couldn’t control the laughter that kept wanting to come. She playfully hit me.
“Don’t laugh. It was a very important dream I had,” she said. Then she laughed, relieving me. “I wanted to be skinny and rich. Do you know how many dream houses that bitch owned? Not to mention her pink sports car.”
That brought us both to laughter.
I pulled her closer to me and planted a kiss on her lips. The mood and moment felt right and she fell into me, which caused me to move in closer. When she parted, she asked me in turn. “What about you? Did you always want to be in construction?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No…my first choice was President,” I responded.
She chuckled. “President of the United States?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Gotta start dreaming big. That’s my motto.”
We laughed, and I pulled her closer to me and we kissed once more. It felt good to have my arms around her as we sat on her couch and just enjoyed being with one another. When she pulled away, she leaned into me and I held her closer, with her head resting on my shoulder. We might not have had sex that night, but we spent the night just holding one another. I’m not sure when we fell asleep, but we drifted off with my arm around her and Kemara cradled against my embrace. Taking things slow wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. All that really mattered was that we were together and everything felt right.
Chapter Nine
Kemara
Waking up in Channing’s arms was something I could get used to. The morning after
I cooked him dinner, I woke up to feel his warmth embracing me. I looked at him and a smile crossed my lips.
