THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT
The 7 things I like about you
Your hair, your eyes, your old Levi's
And when we kiss, I'm hypnotized
You make me laugh, you make me cry
But I guess that's both I'll have to buy
Your hand in mine
When we're intertwined everything's alright
I want to be
With the one I know
And the 7th thing I like the most that you do
You make me love you
I looked at Omari, I couldn't believe I was right back in the situation I was in literally a few months ago.
He opened the door, topless, in grey track bottoms. He had his little durag on. He smiled opening the door wider for me. I walked in taking in the scent of his deodorant. He must have just had a shower.
"Found yourself here ok then?" I nodded. I walked in to the middle of his beautifully decorated Parisian apartment.
I had opted to take an uber. I wanted to sneak out, and the sports car that he had rented would not have allowed me to sneak anywhere. I had removed all the girls makeup and put them all into bed with water next to them. I would be back in the morning before they had even realized I had gone.
"This room service then?" I asked putting my bag down on the sofa.
"You hungry now?" I nodded. I walked slowly towards the double doors. I opened one of them and found that it led onto a balcony.
I needed football money in my life, not NHS money.
Omari walked over to the small desk near the chair. He picked up what I could only assume was the room service menu. He walked back over to me and handed it to me.
I don't know what made it happen. I don't know what made that change. I looked up at him as he handed me the menu. I felt myself get wet.
I could feel the muscles thudding and flowing.
I tried to look out past the balcony and straight at the Eifel tower that we were right across from. I looked back at Omari trying to keep the hurricane of thoughts and possibilities in my head at bay.
"Let me know what you want and I'll call-"
Fuck it, I thought.
Instead of responding, I reached for him. I rested my hands of his neck, reaching myself closer to him.
Omari pressed the cold hard palm of his hand against my back forcing me to move closer to him.
He pressed his lips against mine. I wrapped my hands around his neck, pushing myself closer onto him and tip toeing.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I whispered against his lips.
He broke the kiss only to take my top off – that was the confirmation I needed. We kept my bra on as my tongue fluttered against him. His hands were deep in my hair. My hands were gripping onto his neck, trying to copy his height.
He pulled me away from the window, tossing me on the sofa that lay in the middle of the hotel living room.
He pressed his lips against me once again. He leaned back to roll on a condom.
I try to help him by trying to take my skirt off but he pins my hands on top of the sofa. Before I can even think to use my other hand he pins that against the sofa too.
He thrusts once, cautiously. He looks at me and grins.
I smiled back at him giving him the license to.
He thrusts again, and he's gone.
It all felt so rushed, and so passionate.
It felt like everything I wanted to do when I first saw him those months ago.
I could feel myself loosing, lost, becoming unmade.
I could feel an earthly groaning coming from me as I was coming. Omari thrusted further until we synchronized in our moans.
***
"Room service?" Omari offered as we laid down in bed.
I grinned. I was actually really hungry now. Omari leaned over to grab the food menu He handed it to me. I waited for him to get back into bed comfortably before I snuggled myself into his shoulder.
I looked through the extensive list – actually feeling lost for choice.
"Can I have the truffle pancakes, and some bacon on the side please"
"You dirty meat eaters –" I rolled my eyes handing him back the menu. He called downstairs placing my order and some vegetables for himself. I definitely wanted a footballer's money but I did not want their diets.
When he put the phone down I grabbed that hand and swung it over myself like a blanket. Perfect.
"Are you and Greg over?" Omari asked stroking my hair.
"If we weren't?"
"Honestly?" I nodded. "I wouldn't care. I probably would swing for him if I ever saw him on road. If he ever comes to a match I might launch the ball towards him." I shook my head slightly. I did actually feel so bad about how things ended with me and him. But eventually, after a few years maybe, I'd stop trying to make you break up with him and come to terms with being your friend."
I nodded. That was the most mature answer I would ever get from Omari on that subject.
"Greg and I over. He's moved most of his things about, and he won't talk to me ever again probably."
"Do you want to talk to him?"
"I don't want him to hate me. He was a big part of my life for years."
"I get that."
We sat in silence for a while.
"Stacey and I are over. You wont ever hear her name after this conversation."
"What about your baby?"
"It's done. God knows how she got pregnant in the first place."
"You used condoms?"
"No, but Stacey was meant to be on the pill and she's always so good with it. " I shuddered at the thought of them having sex. Him being with her. Her making him happy.
"Shall we start with never mentioning her name ever again, from...now?"
"As long as that bakery is never mentioned again."
"Different situations."
Omari shrugged. "I can help him move out." I turned to him and sat up. I wanted him to see that I was being serious. Greg did not deserve any of this.
"Don't, Omari." He rolled his eyes. "Fair, you don't want to hear his name but don't be disrespectful to him. He never did anything wrong to you." Or me for that matter. "I'm going to try to make him not hate me."
"Will you try to get back with him."
"No. and I don't want to."
"That's all I need to hear."
Whilst we waited for our food we went and stood out on the Parisian balcony. This couldn't be real. This felt so surreal, I felt like I was in a movie standing here on the balcony that ran the length of the floor. In this silk dressing gown being held by Omari overlooking the bloody Eifel tower.
It felt surreal but I felt so comfortable. I felt like I had found that missing puzzle piece and everything just clicked.
This was that click that I had never felt in another relationship.
"Lee, do you think had we met at the wedding, we'd still be attracted to each other? Like, had we never dated when we were teenagers"
"What's with all these questions?"
"Just answer." I shrugged keeping my eyes shut and my nestled into his chest.
"I don't know about you, but I think id's till have the hots for you." Omari answered for himself.
I felt a coy smile forming on my lips. I now regretted being so buried in his chest, I knew he could feel me smiling.
"I probably would have thought you were still that prick from school"
"Yeah, actually I'd probably think you were that neek who got her body done and bought a dress from Fashion Nova."
I shoved his chest back trying to figure our if he was being serious. "Excuse me!"
"Lee, come on. You were a late bloomer."
"So you would think I got my body done?"
"If I only ever saw you in that frumpy uniform, then years later you suddenly have curves what am I meant to think?"
"Puberty?"
"Maybe."
"Or maybe you met Dr Miami."
"Go away." I laughed walking back into the hotel room.
***
"When is Sam's bachelor party starting?" I asked pushing my plate of food away. It was tasty but I always found the portion of posh food super tiny. I was hoping for a big meal that would have slumped me right away.
"We're meeting at 3pm tonight." I looked at the analogue clock on the side of his bed. It was only just turning 5am now. I needed to be back before 8:30. "And a flight back to London is only an hour"
"You'd really fly anywhere to make sure I don't sleep angry at you." He nodded.
"Australia?" He nodded.
"South Africa?" He nodded again.
"One of my favourite countries anyway."
"What if I was in Russia." I continued to challenge.
"I'd have to bring gang to help me beat up any racists, but of course."
"What if you'd miss a match?"
"What match?"
I tried to think back to my unbelievably limited football knowledge.
"World Cup Final"
"Assuming England will ever get to the finals again."
"Let's say they have. And I'm in Russia very angry at you."
Omari thought for a while.
"I'd have to buy a Concord or a jet or something. And get you and get back in time for football."
I laughed giving up. He said he could come.
"You full?" I nodded smiling. I would have liked more but who was I kidding? I had a bridesmaids dress to wear in less than two days that got tailored when I was about 5 pounds lighter and going to the gym 4 times a week. Not when I had just broken up with my boyfriend and eating whatever I wanted.
"Cuddles?" I asked stretching my hand out like a little child. He put the plates to the side of the bed, before slumping his sculpted body on top of mine. He rested his head on my breast.
"I could actually stay here all night."
"So could I."
Omari slid his hand through my lightly tied dressing gown. He rubbed his hand on my already hard nipples. I wondered if he could feel the winding down of my heart.
"When did you get them pierced?"
"First year uni."
He maneuvered his hands under my knee, pushing me further down to the bed. He slid his hands though my thong, effortlessly slipping them down to my ankles. He spread apart my knees that had suddenly gone shy.
Our tongues fluttered against each others. He pressed himself onto me, s if he was trying to fold himself into me. I felt so safe, warm and loved. I nibbled at his chin, his ear, just touching his face.
I missed how close and intimate we had been.
It felt like time was unspooling, taking me back to all those times as teenagers. All those firsts we had as teenagers, figuring each other bodies out.
His body slid right into place over mine. He placed his lips over mine but refused to kiss me. When I leaned up to kiss him he moved back. He instead, firmly pressed my chin to my shoulder. He laid a trail of kisses from my neck, down to my breast. The trail continued through my nipples down to my belly button.
He slide his hands between my legs, positioning his fingers and thumb the way I had taught him I liked.
He nuzzled his head against my belly button, where I'd always been ticklish.
I felt Omari watch her squeeze my eyes shut. I clamped my thighs against his wrist, feeling his cold watch on my upper thighs.
My back shot up and arched as I felt his warm tongue enter.
All the muscles in my thighs and my stomach and bottom tensed and quivered at that contact. I moaned.
I could feel myself edging, he still knew exactly what I wanted. Before I could recover, before my body could react and release he rolled me over. My head was lost in the bounties of pillows on his bed.
Omari leaned over and took a box of condoms out of his draw.
"They didn't sell any singles?" I jokingly asked.
Omari held both of my hands against the rail of the bed as he prepped himself. With his now free hand, he gripped his hand around my hair, pulling my head towards him. I breathed in, arching my back as I felt the firs thrust. Omari paused, readjusting the grip he had on my hair before releasing another strong stroke.
He kissed my neck. He thought he was sly, but he always did that when he was trying not to come quickly.
I still had it like that.
I swivelled my hips in a way I knew would take him over the edge.
He reacted by pulling my hair tighter, closer towards him.
He slid inside me again, causing me to gasp and shut my eyes tight.
***
"Omari, I'm really going to be late" I said trying to get into the shower BY myself. He was undressing obviously with the intention of getting into the shower with me.
"This is killing two birds with one stone, no?" He said with a cheeky grin. I couldn't mirror it back. I was on the brink of an anxiety attack at the thought of any of the girls realising that I had been missing the night before – what the fuck was going to be my reason? 'Sorry girls, I just had to go over and fuck my ex, something I could do in London but I decided to do it now?' – didn't think so.
"I'm genuinely late." I whined.
Omari stopped in his his tracks, "Do you regret what happened last night?"
"No, I mean I wish I hadn't left the girls, but honestly. No."
"Good." He stood still. Ok, his going to let me go shower by myself.
"Are you going to show me how to use the shower, then?"
Omari joking rolled his eyes. He jumped over the bed, throwing me over his shoulder as he raced himself to the bathroom.
I tried to his my obvious amazement at this huge bathroom. Probably the size of my kitchen and living room combined. I put a brave face, ignoring the view of Paris from the shower. Instead, walking, well limping slightly, towards the shower casually.
I pressed the button that looked like it made it go hot.
Like a thunderstorm, water from the top of the ceiling began to fall on top of me. Wow, it didn't even have a shower head.
Omari leaned against the wall, staring at me.
I smiled back at him, leaning on my left leg.
"Are you just going to stare."
"For a little bit, yeah." I shrugged. I was already naked, so I just cautiously walked into the middle of this thunderstorm, unsure how hot it would be.
The water was warm and I started to actually thinking about what would happen had I got home, and the girls were all up and looking for me. I didn't have any missed calls, and it was only 8am, but I still couldn't be sure.
Omari joined me in the shower. He moved my hair out of my face, leaning down to kiss me. I could feel him against me.
We walked slowly onto the corner of the shower and what I was hoping – a one sided window that was overlooking the city. Omari picked and held me comfortably in his arms as he wasted no time.
Mid thrust, the corner from coming Omari said the oddest thing.
"Marry me."
I completely froze. My arms that there gripping onto his neck for some stability suddenly felt like they were touching hot lava. I pushed myself down and away from him. What the fuck was wrong with him.
Before he could say anything I left the bathroom. My only mission now was to get the hell out of here. How was I had ran away from one marriage proposal right into another one?
"Lee?" He shouted after me.
I paced around the apartment finding pieces of clothing and putting them on as I went along. I was in the living room zipping my skirt back up when he met me in here. He had a towel tied around his waist and a look of confusion on his.
He was confused?
He moved closer to me, taking advantage of the fact that the zipper was stuck and I was focusing all my attention on that.
"I've known you since you were 15 years old, Aaliyah." He said, putting his arms around me.
"No." I shook my hands shaking him off me. "You have known me from 15 until I was 18. Get that right Omarion. You have not known me since I was 18. Nearly 5 years."
"I don't care." He shrugged. I ran my hands down my face.
"Are you actually kidding me?"
"Are you kidding me? It's been nearly 5 years or whatever yet I still know you like the back of my hand Aaliyah." He reached out cupping my breast. I whacked his hand away from me like an annoying flat. I continued my hunt around this apartment for my socks and shoes.
Omari blazed behind me still.
"We are in love."
I looked under the sofa, where this all started last night. "Are you telling me that or?"
"We are in love. I don't care what you say but you cant say to me that we aren't in love?" I shook my head as that was all I could seem to do. "Tell me we aren't in love."
"We aren't-"
"Say it and don't lie."
"Omari." I sighed. This was really not how I expected my second proposal to go. I didn't think that I would have actually even had a bloody second proposal.
"Marry me." He repeated.
"Again, are you commanding me or asking me?"
"I don't see how you don't see how this is perfect." I found my finally shoe. I slipped it on, forgetting about the bra I couldn't find. I had my bag and my phone and enough clothes to get me home. I didn't care about anything else. I couldn't stay standing here with Omari, it was putting me on the bring of a panic attack.
"I don't see how you don't see all the problems?" I asked. "Stacey for example?"
"Stacey's nothing. I've told you before."
"Omari you always do this. You're going off instinct. You need to stop and breathe and think."
"What do you mean stop and think? Think about what? What do you do when you love someone?"
"Its so much more complicated than that."
"I'm making it simple!"
I was actually dealing with a perpetual child. He just wasn't listening to anything I was saying. It wasn't even going in in one ear. He wasn't absorbing anything I was saying.
"You, coming to surprise me to apologise was literally the most romantic thing you have ever done. I don't need to you ask to marry me. It makes me feel anxious"
"Because you don't want commitment."
"I'm not sure if I want commitment with you Omari. Yes I love you and I know you, but I don't know you. And you don't know me. I'm not committing to someone I was in a relationship with years ago, especially with how it ended."
"I hear you."
If he could follow that level of logic, "Then why did you propose." I asked.
"Because that's what people in love do." He replied simply.
"Coming here was obviously a mistake."
Omari stared back at me with a face I couldn't read. "Every time we get to a good place you just make me regret it instantly." I walked towards the door. "See you at the wedding." I shouted back closing the door.
I sneaked back into out penthouse hoping no one could hear me. It was around 9am so I think I was fine. I got in the shower again without any nasty little questions popping up.
I made us a full English breakfast as a secret thank you. I knew that no one would have even noticed I was missing or would even remember that I didn't spend the whole night with them. I really should have – I could have gone my whole life without having been proposed to mid-fuck in the shower.
***
Back in London and it was the day of the wedding. Everything felt like an absolute blur. Thank god Sam had hired about 9 photographers because god knows I would need solid real life memory of this. Our make-up artist had done out make up. All the bridesmaid were dressed in our pale lilac dresses. We had had our range of photo shoot today – starting with our dressing gowns with all our names as we got our nails and hair done this morning.
Katy opened the door and we all shrieked at her wedding dress.
I instantly put my head back, looking up at the ceiling trying to keep the tears at bay. I was not having this make up ruined.
My chest compressed as I tried to keep my ugly crying at bay.
She looked like an absolute angel in her Vera Wang fishtail dress.
Katy sniffed as he mum put on her long lace veil – the final piece – softly onto her head. I had to just not cry until they said I do. After that I was ugly sobbing everywhere.
"How are we doing for time?" Katy asked her mum.
"I think you're going to be the first bride ever to be on time." We took a few photos and started to make our way downstairs.
The groomsmen met us at the bottom of the stairs.
They had the exact same reaction we had when they saw us.
"Sam did that." Melvin said out loud what I was sure was meant to be internal.
"Trust me." Omari replied, not taking his eyes off me. We walked down the stairs, with about 6 different cameras set on us. The bridesmaids linked arms with their partners, and Katy stood at the back with her dad. The door as opened onto the caste gardens. Jesus, I knew I said I was going to save all my ugly crying for after they said I do – but one tear just had to escape. This was something out of a fairy-tale.
Everyone stood up ad we all walked out to the pace that we had rehearsed. The piano started and Sam turned back. We walked to the front of the ceremony and split off onto separate side. Once we had all taken out places, Katy and her dad came out.
I could have sworn Sam stumbled back.
"Fuck...me" I could just make him out saying. He turned back and looked up at the sky, just like I had done so many times today trying not to cry.
Katy reached us at the front, she held Sam's hand to help her come up onto the podium. She had worn 5inch heels, because she wanted to look 'taller' in the wedding photos, but when she was standing up here for a while I knew she would regret it.
I managed to keep my tears generally at bay throughout the ceremony, until we got to the vowels.
Sam turned to Katy. He smiled and just nodded to himself. He knew he did that.
"Bruv, I don't even know where to start."
We all burst out laughing. Even at his wedding day same still had to keep that streak of hood in him.
"Everyday day I see you, and I think that you can never get any kinder. Any more selfless, caring or giving. And everyday I wake up to my best friend, you are more kinder, selfless and caring. I promise, in front of everyone we both love and care about, in front of God – I will love you until death do us part. I will love you when we're both sick and in care homes, I will when you wake me up at 6 to drive you to work and McDonalds and pay that stupid congestion charge all because you got drunk the night before. And I know this aint the normal vowels, but we aren't a normal couple. I love you baby, and I cant wait for death to even try to part us."
"Thank you for that...colourful version of vowels, Katherine?"
"I actually wrote mine so I'll do those," Katy joked to the crowd. Katy shook one leg, trying not to cry.
"Fuck it." She wiped a tear and handed the unready Father the vowel she had written down. This was surely going to be the most exciting weather he had been to.
"Sam. Sammy. Samuel. Squid." Katy's voice went really high as she got to the end of he sentence. She took a breath in trying to compose herself. "You are my prince charming. You are the perfect addition to my life. And I just really fucking love you, and I'm proud that you'll be my husband."
The Father nodded slowly.
"Ok, then."
"Do you, Samuel Williams, take Katherine Margret Johnston, to be your lawfully wedded wife."
"I do."
"And do you, Katherine Margret Johnston, take Samuel Williams to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do"
"You may now kiss the bride"
I ha to cover my mouth to quieten the louds sobs that tried to escape.
I turned to my mum who was crying and I lost it. I just cried tears of such joy.
My big cousin, my brother, was finally married.
My cousin was going to have little hims running around soon, hopefully.
This was perfect.
This was the moment I couldn't wait to have with the right the person. I could see the pure happiness on Sam's face. I looked down onto his hand.
He wouldn't, would he.
I could see his hands slowly turning into a fist.
They wouldn't do this in a front of a priest???
I looked to the boys on the side, they were going to do this.
"BRAAAAAAP!"
"Ay PRIEST WHEEL THAT REAL QUICK"
All the boys had gun finger salutes up the sky and having so many noises.
Sam joined them with one gun finger salute up in the air before he leant in and kissed Katy. With the sounds of my soft sobs and the boys shouting "brap" and making gun sounds.
This was in the weirdest way possible, so perfect.
After the official ceremony was done – this was my licence to drink as much and eat as much as I wanted. Before that, we had to help Katy change into her second dress, and greet all the people that had arrived for the reception as they had wanted a really small intimate ceremony.
The first two things were done, I just had to find my comfortable pair of heels to change into. And to do that, I needed to find my actual room in this old building.
I was walking past a room when I heard them talking.
I would have said it was an accident, but I got a sneak peek of them talking in what seemed a tense conversation so I decided to ease drop anyway.
I hadn't really spoken to him today, or actually given this past few days that much thought today – but seeing Chris especially put it right back in the fore front of my mind.
I stood outside the door, trying to listen to the conversation yet get a glimpse of the two brothers.
"So you're gonna risk it all for her, again?"
"I'm not risking anything"
"Are you forgetting how you behaved when she left? How you didn't wanna eat, speak to anyone. How you stopped playing football?"
"I remember."
"And how it took nearly a year for you to be half the person you were before she fucked you around."
"She didn't though Chris,"
"She did Omari. She's left her man that she lived with for you. How do you know she won't do the same to you? What loyalties does she have to you?"
"We love each other."
"Her and her man loved each other."
"Chris, bro. This is something I want to do."
I wanted to add that I didn't leave Greg for Omari. Greg and I broke up, and whilst my actions with Omari played a major role in that, it wasn't the sole reason or the leading reason.
"I just think she's being the same little girl she was before she left. She has you around her little finger and you don't even realize it."
"I do realize it."
"If she says jump-"
"I'll ask her at what trajectory. She's my girl, bro. Like, deep that." Omari paused staring intensely at Chris. "She means so much to me and she's going to be in my life, in whatever capacity she wants."
Chris remained silent.
"And if that is me and her romantically involved, platonic or her being a fucking snake charmer to me, then that's that. The only reason that I'm wrapped around her 'little finger' is because I love and trust that she won't ever exploit that."
"You really think she wont?"
"I know she wont."
Chris again went silent.
"You don't think she won't use you for money, to make herself feel better or to get you to get her a few nice things-"
"Are you forgetting how and when I met Lee. When I was 14 when I had a two pounds a day to buy myself lunch at school. How her family took me in after I had that fight with Dad? How Sam was there for me all those times. How she was the only one who told me that I would actually amount to something and mean it. How she was helped me with so many exams. How she helped with Kara at the hospital. Your niece. How her mum was the guarantor for my first flat after your dad kicked me out. Are you actually lost?"
"You're getting me mad. How can you actually say that? She has nothing to gain by being my friend. Come correct."
"I get your worried, and that you're scared it can end wrong and that I'll get in my feelings again or be depressed or whatever, but that's a chance I'm going to take with her. And I will take more and more of those chances until she says no more."
Chris didn't say anything.
"You're gonna need to get with the program. She's in my life until she doesn't want to be anymore. Not based of you and your perception of what happened 5 years ago."
"I hear you. I'm looking out for you, you know that."
"I do. And I appreciate it and I know I'd be the same in your position. But what happened all those years ago is not only dead in the water, but everyone over reacted. It should have stayed between me and her, no one else. Stop beating a dead horse. Pick on how she has a posh accent now or something."
"Alright,"
"Or her little sister. She's actually disgustingly shit at football. I went to play with her and Kara,"
"It must run in the family. Swear Aaliyah had no hand to eye coordination"
"Yeah, bro, throw something at her today and see how slow her reaction is."
The two brothers laughed at me. I rolled my eyes, idiots.
I was going to be on alert and keep an eye on them.
"Love, bro." They embraced.
"I'm gonna make an effort with her"
"Appreciate it. She's a part of me. I know it sounds dumb-"
"Nah, I get you. She's family. I'll make her feel welcome and squash anything."
I heard silence in which I could only assume the two brothers hugged. I waddled down the hallway and just out of sight in case they came out of the room and awkwardly saw me watching.
Katy and Sam had had there first dance. I too felt like a new woman. The make up artist had stuck around and luckily touched up my basically runied make up. I was in my second, more comfortable dress and heels.
I was also half a bottle of wine down and more ready to party than cry.
"Can I have this dance?" Omari put his hand out. I took it not looking up at him. I would either have wanted to jump into his pants again or run the other way.
I had always had a thing for him in suits. And him, today, in this tailored light cream suit was honestly doing things and brining back memories of literally two days ago.
'At Last' by Etta James played as I put hands on Omari's shoulder. We rocked back and forwards. I spotted Jim and my mum doing the same thing a few metres away. She looked up at him, placing a kiss on his lips. Ming ran up to them giggling, with Kara. They stood next to my parents, holding each others hands swaying completely out of beat with each other. She tapped my parents - wanting to show them how great her and Kara were at dancing. A few metre from them, Sam was hugging Katy from the back, slowly dancing to the music as well.
At Last transitioned into 'She's Always a Woman' – and this is when Omari began to speak.
"I realize I shouldn't have proposed to you."
"I was just so anxious and scared that after the wedding I would loose you again because you wouldn't be forced to see me. I was scared because I heard that Greg was going to propose to you and make you happier than I ever could. I was scared that after the wedding you would, I don't know, remember or realize that I'm completely punching with you, so I took it to the extreme and I understand why you said no."
I nodded.
"Lee, honestly. I love you. I've loved you since we were 15 and I thought I could stop. But I don't want to. I want to and I will love you for another 15 and another 15. We click. I have never met another woman that I have ever felt so comfortable around. You are my best friend, my worst enemy, my teacher, my partner and my love. When I'm around you I feel like the luckiest man in the world. I can't let you go again. I am standing here fighting to have you in my life, in whatever capacity you are comfortable. I know I can be territorial when it comes to you, and over react and I know that where most of our arguments stem from."
I nodded again trying to really not cry.
"You don't know my daily schedule. You don't know what I like to eat now, who I hang around with. But you know things about me I don't even know about myself. You know my deepest secrets. You know things I am ashamed to even admit to myself. You know my family. You know and own my heart. I know you will never be malicious towards me, and even if you did like a dickhead I'd forgive you, without you even saying sorry. But I trust that you would never do that. My heart aches every time I think about you, what I missed. I'm never going away unless you ask me to."
"I just wanted to say sorry for putting you in that position, and if you want we can be friends. I will be mature and respect our boundaries. That includes you not wanting to stay in contact after the wedding."
"Thank you for explaining yourself." He nodded.
"I said no to marrying you, not you. You overthink things. We were fucking in Paris overlooking the bloody Eiffel Tower. Why could you just let that be that. Why couldn't we have had that moment. Why couldn't you wait until after the wedding when everything had died down to just ask me out for a drink. Or just make another play date with the girls. Why can't you just let it be and let what happens, happen."
"Because someone else will come and scoop you up."
"And that really scares me."
"So I'm trying to lock you down ASAP."
"There's nothing I can do about that Omari. I'm not rushing into another relationship with you, or anyone else."
"I need to get over Greg and understand that my 3-year relationship is over. I need to find somewhere else to live, I need to speak to my friends and family and explain why he isn't coming to family events anymore. I need to sit Ming Lee down and tell her that Uncle Greg isn't going to be around no more."
"I understand."
"Do you though? Because if I meet someone and they ask to go for a drink, I'm not going to say no because of you."
"I get that, you're single. I'm going to fight to be in number one position though. I know you're a catch."
"Do you understand, and you won't be childish?"
Omari nodded. "You don't need me to try to marry you every two seconds" He concluded.
"And as much as you annoy the f*ck out of me, I want you in my life. Don't think you ever have to fight for that."
"And if we have sex again?"
"Then we have sex again."
"And if we argue"
"We argue and get over it like adults. You will apologize for making us argue."
"And if we get married eventually?"
"Then we get married Omari, just don't ask me anytime soon."
"I won't."
"Just keep your face looking cute." I joked.
"I'll keep it cute and clean for you to sit on."
I pushed him away laughing.
"I hate you." I laughed looking around to see if anyone, especially my mother or father, could hear him.
"Girls only say I hate you to the guys they love."
"Well, then I really hate you."
"I hate you too."
"Don't want anyone here thinking you're taken." Omari pulled me for an embrace and pecked me on the cheek. "I need some healthy competition; Greg was almost too easy."
I rolled my eyes. I moved his head to my lips and we kissed.
We kissed passionately. I could feel Omari grin against my lips.
"I am taken."
Omari kissed me on the lips again.
"I'll introduce him to you later." I slapped his cheek and winked jokingly.
"You better walk me to a mirror."
"Rah, neeks got attitude yeah?" Omari leaned back in shock but trying to contain his laughter. I felt something hit the side of my face. I took a a little to long to realize because I looked up to Chris laughing. I looked down and the flower he had thrown at me – and like Omari predicted my reactions were so slow.
"Told you!" Omari shouted over and the two brothers laughed at me. Omari looked down at me, the only one not in one this joke.
"Rah, neeks got attitude?" He asked me back laughing.
**POWER is finally bloody over. Sorry for how long it's taken me to finish it! What has been your favourite moment of Power? Mine, hands down is when Aaliyah got rushed. She really needs to get smacked sometimes lol.