"Thank you" I smiled as I walked into the restaurant "Is that my baby!" Aunt Candice spoke embracing me into a hug "Hey Auntie" I hugged her back
"And where have you been?" She asked me knowingly "Uh I" I looked over to Kareem
"She doesn't live here anymore Auntie, she moved to Washington"
"Washington?!"
"For work" I smiled laughing lightly she nodded "Okay then babygirl, just the two of you?" She asked grabbing two menus, Kareem nodded she led us to a table
"Usual drinks?"
"Yes please" I smiled at her as Kareem pulled my chair out for me, I sat down thanking him he sat down across from me looking at the menu
"You act like you not finna get your usual" I teased him he chuckled "What if I wanted to try something new?" He asked me I laughed "Like what?" I tilted my head looking at him
"Shit what's in front of me" Kareem mumbled "Huh?" I smirked
"I said this fried calamari and mac and cheese" Kareem lied looking at Kari, she rolled her eyes smiling "Yeah right, don't play with fire Reem" I pointed at Kareem picking up my menu
"So when you leave?" Kareem asked me "In three days" I sighed
"I don't want to go back" I stirred my drink with my straw he chuckled "Already tired of serving the President?"
"It's just so stressful and time consuming, it's like watching a child play with toys all day but instead it's actual arsenals and shit" I rolled my eyes
"Aye mama that's what comes with the job" He shrugged, I realized what he just called me feeling my heart flutter, it was such a simple word but coming from his mouth it felt like something so much more
"Okay y'all usuals right?" Aunt Candice asked after placing down our drinks "Yeah" I nodded smiling up at her
"Gotcha, so how have y'all lovebirds been?" His Aunt asked I opened my mouth unsure on how to answer "We not together anymore Auntie"
"What?" She chirped "Mhm and he got a new lil yea yea" I went on teasing "Taj!" His Aunt looked at him with wide eyes
"It's a long story Auntie"
"Tuh, and why haven't I met her?" She asked he shook his head "Just haven't felt like the right time" He shrugged I frowned looking at him
"How long have y'all been together?"
"A year" My eyes widen at his answer, oh hunny I thought they was a new couple I'm not wrecking a happy home, any at that.
"Taj has she met your parents"
"Yeah briefly" He nodded taking a sip of his drink, his Auntie scoffed "Sound like you don't really like her"
"Nah don't do that Auntie, I really love that girl" Ouch that hurt.
"Are you in love or you have love for her?" Auntie Candice asked putting her hand on her hip, I looked over to him he stayed silent
"Don't confuse love for deeply caring for someone Nephew" Candice patted his shoulder making him nodded with an expression that I couldn't quite figure out in his face
Auntie Candice walked away I looked at him "She hasn't met your family Kareem?" I practically scolded him, he smacked his lips
"Nah Bk" He shook his head sippin on his drink "And have you met hers?"
"Yeah" He nodded "What the hell are you waiting on?!" I silently yelled appalled, although I wanted him it was still wrong for him to be planning to build a life with this girl and she still hasn't met the family she may possibly be marrying into
"You man" Kareem looked up at me, I frowned "What?"
"I'm waiting on you babygirl" Kareem told me again I looked at him in disbelief "Please tell me your joking right now" I looked at him crazy
"You've been with her for a year just to get back with me?! Kareem you are leading her on?!"
"Nah that wasn't what I was on it's just—" He stopped looking down I kept my eyes on him truly confused on what his plan was
"I thought Kasey was somebody I could settle with but that spark with us like I had with you was never there, I just thought maybe we need to get married"
"Turns out marriage doesn't solve everything" Kareem chuckled, I frowned looking at him "I wasn't leading her on everything, What I have with her is real it's just— I'm still in love with you and I didn't realize that until you came back" He finished looking at me
"So do you love her Kareem?" I asked "I guess I don't, I felt like I did she's been there for me since we broke up helped me heal in ways I couldn't imagine"
"Reem that's not love, you trauma bonded with her" I informed him "The same way we were trauma bonding"
"So what you saying is we were never in love"
"Of course we were! Look at us right now" "It's just we were a rare case of a trauma bonding relationship" I spoke truthfully this is all stuff I learned through therapy helping me understand the relationship dynamic me and Kareem had
"Damn girl when you get all wise on me?" He asked teasing me I laughed "Therapyyy" I sung he smirked
"Now I know what's different about you"
"What's that?" I asked taking a sip from my drink "You grown as hell now, not physically but mentally and emotionally"
"Aww thanks Reem" I smiled "Okay here's the steak with mash potatoes and green beans, and Baked chicken with asparagus and sweet corn"
"Thank you Auntie" I smiled up at her "Anytime baby"
"So" I started chewing the rest of my food "O my gosh I've missed her cooking"
Kareem laughed "So what?" He asked "How's church?" I asked Kareem chuckled "When you start asking me about this type of stuff it's usually the other way around"
"I've grown Reem, there's a lot you gotta relearn" I teased him he chuckled taking another bite of his food
"Oh I'm more than ready to"
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I have no words, what about y'all? what are you guys thinking?
....
YOU ARE READING
Kareem: Sequel to Kari
Romance"This is why I wanted to talk to you, I think I'm with you for all the wrong reasons and I believe I'm wasting your time to find your Husband" "Everything I did and have with you was all real and genuine, it's just ever since that event we went too...
