Dark Like Me 3: Open Up

1- A New Classic

I plop down on my new blue sofa after I put the last box down. Movers have been moving in and out of the two-story Victorian house, Shiriki found for us a few weeks after graduating from college. I sigh, relieved that I made it out of college alive also relieved I grabbed the last box from the mover's truck. A male mover puts the washing machine where it needs to be, then waves to me, indicating that he and his movers are finished. I wave back. With a huff, I look around at the mess of all sized boxes scattered all over the medium sized living room. I know there are more boxes upstairs knowing this causes me to slump back into the sofa.

Taking out my cell phone, I call my dad, Sequan. He and I have been getting closer and closer since my other dad Roy doesn't want to speak to me. The reason being is that I am still with Shiriki and for whatever reason he loathes him. I have no tolerance for him and his behavior.

"Hey, Sirrah. You settled in alright?" Sequan answers. He always sounds so cheery on the phone. I think it is the fact that he is finally getting to know me after so many years. I know he feels like he has missed out on a lot even though pictures were sent. It is nothing like actually being there to see it really happen.

"Yes, we are settled in pretty good. We still have a lot of boxes to unpack but I have one of my friends coming over tomorrow to help me with it."

"That's great. If you need an extra pair of hands. Just let me know."

"I will, dad. Thanks."

"Alright. My lunch break is up, I gotta go."

"Talk to you later."

"You too, sweetie."

We hang up.

With the help of Sequan, Shiriki got us a great deal on the Victorian. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, double car garage, a porch, and a storage room for 1,495. I know that it is going to be a lot more when we get cable and Wi-Fi. However, the best part is that it is in a gated community. Shoot, this place even has a pool, fitness center, and a few other things that make it fantastic.

Shiriki enters the house and trips over a box. "Whoa. Holy-." He catches himself on an end table and continue to mosey on as if he did not just trip and almost fall.

I cannot help but laugh at him being clumsy.

He sits beside me and places my aching legs over his own legs. "So, not funny." He smiles and begins to massage my feet; I let out a pleasurable groan and lull my head on the back of the sofa.

"Visellia said she would come and help me unpack tomorrow," I explain to him between groans.

"Are you sure about that?" He moves to my calf muscles.

I close my eyes. Visellia has not been very reliable lately, but she has twins to take care of. Therefore, I do not want to continuously bust her chops when she can't make a trip.

"Shiriki, she is a new mommy. Those twins have a schedule to be on and sometimes she can't do but so much." I am now looking at him.

Visellia had twins, a boy she named Gabriel Raymond Apelles who looks exactly like her and a girl she named Genève Amelia Apelles, who looks exactly like Visellia's father. Visellia named me their God mama and Shiriki their Godfather.

"And don't forget, she does have twins, Riki. Not just one." I hold up two fingers to make sure he understands what I am saying.

He chuckles, placing his arm around me and pulling me close. This puts a smile on my face and my mind at ease. "It sounds like a lot of hard work to me."

"They are...I mean.... My sister has two now. However, she and Visellia make it seem so easy. Like it's a walk in the park." I snuggle close to Shiriki.

Sydnie is still married to Brent; however, they have another baby, a girl this time. Sydnie named her River Orion. "Do you want children, Sirrah?"

My breath catches in my throat. I knew this conversation was coming eventually. Shiriki and I have been dating for four years now or so. We have gone through many vicissitudes but we did not do the 'light switch' thing. That is where it is on, then it is off, then it is on again. No. We even struggled through Kimber's pregnancy scare. She had a beautiful baby girl she named Whitney, but unbeknownst to Kimber, Shiriki had a DNA test done and found out the baby was not his. I almost jumped for joy in the hospital; I know Shiriki was relieved too.

"I have thought about it from time to time. So, yeah...I guess." I confess to Shiriki. I look around at the boxes. "What about you?" I cannot believe we are actually having this conversation. We have already discussed marriage and what we would do in that case. Nevertheless, discussing children...that is a different ball field.

"I want at least three." He rubs my legs.

"Seems as though you have already given this a lot of thought." I realize he responded rather quickly for my own comfort. Maybe, I am being a bit paranoid.

"I guess you can say that I have been." He begins to caress my arm with his fingertips in a gentle manner.

"At least, you know what you want." I give a nervous chuckle.

"Yep."

I continue to look around at the mess of boxes scattered about the floor, but the topic of children is weighing heavily on my mind. "Where are we going to sleep?"

He stands up. "Oh, yeah. I am going to go ahead and put the bed together."

I begin to stand up by scooting to the edge of the sofa. "Do you need help?"

"No, Sirrah. You..." He looks around for something for me to do, "can unpack the small boxes."

"Why?" I arch my brow at him.

"Because I want to make the bed. Is that so bad?" He shrugs his shoulders with a smirk.

"No." I stretch the word to let him know I am on to him and his sneakiness. "I guess not."

"Good." He goes to the master bedroom, located upstairs.

I shake my head and smile. Yes, that's my man and I am proud to have him with me.