Page 30 of R&B Mixtape

Baby girl jumped up and down with excitement. She had been a friendly spirit since she’d been born so I knew that having a woman around to play with was better than having to entertain me.

“Cool. Let’s head to the kitchen.”

I led the way as they set at the table and engaged in their own conversation. Charmaine didn’t know but she was racking points up by the second. Serenity was my heart and soul so if a woman outside of her mother could bring a smile to her face, I was content.

I fixed their plates and placed them in front of them. Baby girl dug in immediately while Charmaine smelled the food as if I laced it with some type of poison. I found that to be funny because she truly didn’t know what she would be missing out onif she turned it down. I wasn’t a chef, but I was taught by the best.

“That’s low key rude, Charmaine.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just… it smells really good, and I don’t know if it’s too good to be true.”

“It’s food, Charmaine, not a proposal. Eat and enjoy your meal. I promise I’m not out to get you.”

Nodding, she followed suit behind Serenity. I knew I had her when I heard her moan. That was all I needed to hear, and I was satisfied.

“Oh, my goodness, Naeem, this taste the way it looks. If you don’t mind me asking, who did you learn from?”

“My grandfather. He was the man to be when it came to busting out the pots and pans. He did more cooking than my grams. He said it was therapeutic and I didn’t understand what he meant by it until I started doing it for myself.”

“He taught you well. Are you going to join us?”

I grabbed my plate and sat across from the both of them. My own child had turned on me. Normally, she would be right under me wanting to steal food off my plate but instead she was giving all her attention to the pretty woman that joined us for the night.

I watched on as they tuned me out and started to form their own bond. Charmaine was new to us, yet we were so accepting. She could’ve been a serial killer on the low and here we were smiling in her face eating up her beauty. The only thing was, we couldn’t get attached because of how soon her departure from us would be.

“You have a smart daughter, Naeem.”

“Thank you. I’d like to think she gets that from me and not her mother.”

“Oh yeah? What makes you say that?”

“I won’t trash her mom in front of her. That’s not me. However, I don’t mind holding a conversation over a glass of wine after I get her to bed in a few.”

“Alright. I understand that completely.”

Dinner went on with the two of them ignoring my presence. I didn’t mind because I was enjoying their interaction. When one smiled, the other followed suit and it caused me to watch in admiration. As long as my baby was happy and felt safe then Charmaine was good in my book.

Charmaine

Nervous should’ve been what I felt being around Naeem, but I was more than comfortable. It didn’t frighten me either that a stranger brought on comfortability quicker than someone I’d known for years. When it came to meeting new people, I wasn’t a fan because I felt that everyone in my life as of now was a permanent fixture. Men were exchanged more than anything, but I was good.

“Are you sure with spending the night here? I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable in any way.”

“I’m sure. Besides, I told Serenity that I would be here for breakfast. I lie to big kids, not little ones. My things are still by the door though. Do you have a spare bedroom I can crash in?”

“Yeah, my bad. Follow me.”

He led the way down the hall after grabbing my luggage. I didn’t know how I would get through the night with alcohol in my system.

Naeem was fine as hell. The second we came inside from the car I was hit with a whiff of his cologne. I wasn’t sure if it was in the air or just radiating off him. That was the first thing that captured my attention. His looks were what locked me in completely. His chocolate coated skin was one to eye andwhen he smiled… it caused my heart to skip a few beats. I knew nothing about this man, yet I wanted more of him.

I hadn’t thought about Courtney or Dre since he rescued me from the blizzard that was still ongoing outdoors. My attention went to his daughter but the entire time we kicked it, I could feel his eyes on me. I wanted to steal glances his way as well, but I knew the time for me to stare him down was coming soon. When I got the confirmation at the dinner table that we could have our moment after Serenity was in bed, I felt anxiousness course through my body.

This weekend was supposed to be one where me and my crew threw our middle fingers up to men and worked on us. Instead, I was more intrigued with the man that had a story to tell. I knew by the end of the bottle that one of us if not both would be under the influence and revealing more details about ourselves than we intended to. However, I was prepared for it. Naeem’s aura was too welcoming not to.

He opened the door to a room that looked like it wasn’t a spare at all. I was already intruding; I didn’t want to put him on the couch as well.

“Here it is. The bathroom is through the door in the corner. Whenever you’re ready to converse for a bit, just join me in the living room.”