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“Yeah, let me get him.”
I hear her call in the background.
“Terry! It’s Barrett on the phone!”
I shake my head, chuckling. My mom, always yelling.
“Barrett, my boy. How are you?”
“I’m great, dad. Could you please put the phone on speaker?”
I hear a bit of shuffling before he talks again. “We’re here. What’s up, son?”
“There’s a woman I’m interested in.” I tell them, straight up.
They both fall silent before my mother lets out a shaky laugh.
“My son is getting married! Who is she? Do we know her?” She rattles.
“Ma, calm down. I haven’t even spoken to her about it yet, and actually she’s seeing someone else.”
My mother huffs my concerns away. “When I met your dad, he had a girlfriend, and I was talking to three different men. Nothing serious, but still weighing my options, you know. And look at us, thirty years happily married.”
“Ma!” I chuckle at her insane confession.
I hear my dad’s amused laughter and watch him shake his head, looking at my mom with fondness before turning back to me.
I grab the back of my neck in a nervous gesture.
“And I haven’t been totally forthright with her about my intentions.”
“Come on, Barrett. You know better.”
“She said she wasn’t really into him and that she’ll break things off…” I try explaining.
“Okay. Why are you calling? You don’t sound like it’s advice you need.”
My dad knows me like the back of his hand.
“It’s Mia Seydi,” I finally admit.
Ma explodes in cries of joy, and my father and I burst with laughter. My parents have long known about my soft spot for the youngest Seydi daughter. Our families are close and I think they would have supported us. But we were too young back then. I was too young.Well, grown-ass Barrett is ready to claim his woman.
Christmas
Mia
One week. Seven entire days since mydinner with Barrett, and not a call, a text, or a social media poke from themotherfucker!Nothing. The man has disappeared into thin air the same way he busted into my life.
I’ve debated with myself, Halima and Sarah a ridiculous number of times about contacting him, but it just doesn’t seem right. That wouldn’t sit well with my gut.
I was fine!Just living my life. I thought I’d forgotten all about thestupidboy with the soulful eyes. Thought he was nothing but a vague memory from my past. Some silly youth nostalgia.How could I have been so wrong? How did I fool myself into thinking I was over Barrett?The second I saw him that afternoon in Mayfair, it was as if my heart had come back to life after a long slumber, and the feeling has only kept growing stronger. His phone call sent a myriad of butterflies into full motion in my stomach. And our dinnerwas so much fun, so romantic, and crackling with the intensity of our mutual desire. Sitting across the table from Barrett, so close I could study all the changes on his face and body. Letting the deep bass of his voice fill my ears and vibrate through my chest. Laughing at his jokes, still amazed by this relaxed version of the stuffy kid from my memory. I began hoping. I let myself reopen a door I thought was sealed forever.
When Barrett asked about Reda, I thought for sure he wanted to be with me.What an idiot!This guy never had any real interest in me, and now that he’s turned into some kind of player, I was probably just another girl he wanted to seduce.
I think I hate men. Not all of them. Reda’s a good guy. He just found himself entangled in my mess. I sigh deeply, mind filled with a combination of anger, self-loathing and sadness. I’m done wasting my time thinking of Barrett… AGAIN. And I need to be honest with Reda!
***
