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“Because he was about to head back home to get married that week. Now, mind you, the nigga looked to be every bit of in his fifties. So, I asked why he waited so long to get married. He explained how in his culture, they’d just moved away from mandatory, arranged marriages. He said his parents had just missed the old tradition when they’d gotten together as kids. Some families still did it, but the younger generation coming up pushed hard against it. This included his generation. So, the shortie he was going home to marry was the one he’d been wanting since they were like preteens, but her family knew she had some…gynecological issues.”
“What?” I chirped. “As a preteen?”
“He’d been feeling her since his preteens. I don’t know when they assumed she had these issues. Well, anyway, for a female in their culture, it makes you undesirable as a wife. The shit is so deep, her father ain’t want her married either.”
“That’s horrible! Why?”
Tobias shrugged again. “Reproduction is essential to preserving culture. A barren woman holds no value in some of those tradition-led ethos. Herk said he ain’t care about having kids, but somehow because of that, he wasn’t able to secure her hand before he got an opportunity to come to the U.S. He never forgot about her, though. Always kept in touch, and never laid a hand on another woman. He said they call it teetotalism. No sex, no companionship, no nothing.”
“Wow…”
“Right.” Tobias stood from the bed. “But he got his lady. They got married, and he brought her here. Saw him a month after that. Dude had a glow to him.” He headed to the door. “So, call me Herk. I’m on my teetotaling shit.”
My belly flipped, burning like acid with jealousy.
Wha— “Who are you waiting on?”
“You,” he answered with his back to me.
“You totally made that story up!” I called out to him, deathly curious.
“Everything except for your last question,” his nonchalant voice carried.
I was effectively confused at this point. “Wait!” I shouted at the opened door. “Then how true could the last be if the first was totally made up?”
The trail of his scent left behind had me closing my eyes in shame.
And did I say thanks for the food?
“I’m not ready to leave,” Mya wined, stretched out with her arms over her head in the oversized, leather reclining sofa. Her contented grin was soft as she gazed into the crackling flame of the fireplace.
We were all clothed in robes and plush, sheepskin slippers with rubber soles.Crystal K.was top tier in resort spa services. We’d been here for just over six hours, receiving facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, mineral spring baths, adult beverages, a full meal, and snacks.
“Me either,” Lisa’s groan wasn’t much different from Mya’s before she yawned. “I’m dreading tomorrow. It’s gonna be such a long day for me.”
“You’re still coming back out tomorrow. Right?” I asked, curled into my recliner, debating on texting Tobias.
I missed him.
Shit…
Here I was, staying with him in a rented house this week and missing him at the same time. Who was this Lennox?
Lisa answered, “Of course, I am. I hate that I have to leave y’all tonight.”
And I hated the indisputable desolation in her voice.
Nisha nodded. “Same, chile.”
“I don’t know why you didn’t just stay with Lennox,” Mya inquired. “Split the room.”
Lisa rolled her eyes closed. “Girl, I’m lucky to be here. Aaron’s never happy when homecoming rolls around and he has to be daddy daycare.” She yawned, head reclined. “I swear. The shit I know now; if I knew back when…”
“Tell me about it,” Nisha agreed.
Mya sat up, back leaving the cushioned sofa. “What would you have done differently, Nish?”
Nisha didn’t reply right away, gazing at the wine glass between her palms. “Hmmmmm…”
