Forever My Lady: The Ballad of Iman and Adonis

Chapter Twenty-Four: Refuge in Ricky

IMAN POV
As hard as it may be, I have to accept the fact that Adonis and I are now ancient history. He's always going to be in my life because of Aviv, but we are killing each other as a couple. Believe me, I wanted a forever thing with him but it just wasn't in the cards. I was driving over to my girl Titi's place for study/girl time. Adonis has Aviv for the week and I need some company!
I was knocking on the door when I heard two voices behind it. Titi must be seeing Alonzo after all! He was her high school sweetheart, the one who got away. She swung the door open and smiled as I came in. No this bitch didn't! 

Me: Tiara!
Titi: Girl, you ain't even met him yet!
Me: I've been engaged to a con artist , broken up and had a baby with a boxer all in two years time. I don't want any more distractions in my life. They're all the---

The second I saw him....I forgot what I was mad about.

Ricky: ....same?

This brother was ooh!. Women would trip over their Vicky Secrets to touch this beautiful work of art. He could be a street thug working for Ice Cube, seducing Halle Berry senile self, drag racing to pay his rent, throwing little kids out the window, and stalking Sanaa Lathan and females will be praying for him to bless their life. 😂😂😂.

Me: ER, I'm sorry...uh, I don't believe we have properly met! I'm Iman Khashim-DeGrate.

Ricky: Richard Ealy Nash. Everybody calls me Ricky. Nice to meet you!

We shook hands and it was as though he knew me all the while. He was sexy yet sensual at the same time. 

Me: I take it you're Titi's friend?
Ricky: Yeah. Since grade school.
Me: No way! Uh, how come I haven't seen you before!?
Ricky: Just moved down here from Silver Springs.
Me: Well, you'll like it here in Philly. I promise.
Ricky: Well, if all the women are as beautiful and classy as you....I'm sold on staying.

We both blushed.
Ricky: Why?
Iman: Why what?
Ricky: Why are you sitting over there alone ? Come over here with me.

Slowly but surely I made my way over to Ricky and looked into his deep blue sea colored eyes. His skin was smooth and his smile lit up my heart. Titi knew what she was doing, setting me up with this guy.

A FEW WEEKS LATER....
In between work, studying, and Aviv, I'm not having too much me time nowadays. Ricky and I speak on the phone a lot. I haven't told Adonis because he gets jealous and every time we meet to discuss Aviv, the conversation always goes left; asking me about who I'm with! Mind ya bidness! If you had been taking care of ya shit, we'd still be together!!! After five weeks of phone calls, Ricky and I agreed to go on our first date.

We went to a seafood place called Catch & Release in his hometown of Silver Springs. It was nice. I love seafood and so does he. It was the first night where I could meet a man and just be myself with him! 

Ricky: You having a good time?

Me: I am!

Ricky: Look Iman, I really like you a lot, but I'm not being completely honest with you.

I spit out my food, threw the napkin on my plate in frustration and groaned in anger. Not again! Not again!

Me: Don't tell me. You have eleven children with nine different women, you owe the IRS money, and you have 3 STDs.

He gasped and chuckled.

Ricky: Not even close, baby girl.

I sighed. Thank goodness! 

Ricky: I'm a reformed kind of man.

Me: Oh, like a street thug gone straight?

Ricky: Yeah. I grew up with an alcoholic father who was psychologically gone after Vietnam. My mother used to cut herself, and I have an older sister who's a recovering drug addict. When I was nine, my father shot my mother before turning the gun on himself....right in front of us. I spent the next few years in and out of foster care, a little time in juvie, and did five years for armed robbery. I'm not perfect. Yeah, I've done bad things, it says so on paper. It may look bad on paper, but I'm a good man. 

Me: I-I never knew that---

Ricky: I got my GED, worked 3 jobs to get my associates and now I have my own apartment. Mom would always tell me I would never amount to shit.....

Me: Boy was she wrong!

Ricky: I may not have a Ph.D or a fancy degree, but I do have a heart and I work hard to  make a better life for myself. If you want to just be friends, I'll understand but if you want to take this further, I'm all in.

Me: Wow, this a lot to take in. I have to think about this....A LOT. I've been through so much in two years, I don't want to keep being hurt, and I can't do it with my daughter.....not again. 

I kissed him on the cheek and politely left the restaurant. I like Ricky a lot, but I need to be sure that he's all in like he says he is.

I hope he's the one, I really do.