Mom.

Is everything okay with her and dad?

I haven't spoken to them in over three weeks. Which is so un-filial of me. Normally I don't ever go that long without contacting them but a lot has happened. Mainly meeting Kira- starting my first relationship, work, and just forgetting.

The ring tone continues letting me know I have to answer sooner rather than later. I guess there is a bright side I can finally tell mom about Kira. Maybe we can even face time so I can introduce him to them. That should go over real nicely. Note the sarcasm.

"Baby, aren't you going to answer it?" Kira asks. I nod.

Here goes nothing.

"Hello, mom."

"Eureka. You're father and I haven't heard from you in a while. How is everything going?"

"Sorry I haven't reached out in so long. I'm doing good. Work is going well. I'm still covid free. How have you and dad been? Have you guys gotten sick?"

Kira's hand rubs on my left thigh. His way of letting me know he's here with me.

"We're good. We haven't gotten sick since last year when we caught it. We're okay, busy working."

"Okay, that's good to hear. Mom I'm going to switch to what's app, I'm with someone I want you to meet, okay. Are you with dad?"

"No, he's still at work. Who are you with?" Mom asks.

"My boyfriend Kira."

"Uh. Okay. Hang up and call me back." She mutters.

"Okay."

Hanging up I move to what's app hovering over the video icon. Kira gets closer picking me up, setting me sideways on his lap.

Is he nervous? Maybe.

"I know you're probably not ready but are you okay with meeting my mom."

Kira holds my cheek turning my face so our eyes collide. He's as ready as he'll ever be. I lean in kissing him softly. Hoping to make him less nervous. As I move back Kira holds my neck drawing my lips back to his. Kissing me so tenderly I feel it in my stomach. Only then does he lets go?

"Now I'm ready. What's her name Detka?"

"Julian and my dad is Peter."

Kira nods. I hold up my phone pressing to start the video. It rings for a quick second. Then my mom appears on my screen on the top half. At the bottom is me and Kira who's face is right beside mine. I hold his hand with my free hand. He grips it tight.

"Hi mom, I want you to meet Kira, he's my boyfriend. Kira this is my mom Julian."

Obviously, I wish I could be introducing them differently, not via video but it's better than nothing for now.

Mom remains quiet. For what seems like an eternity. She analyzes us looking from me to Kira then back to me.

"Mom." I try to break the awkward silence.

Meanwhile, I feel Kira gripping my hand tighter. I rub my thumb over it. Hoping it will ease him.

"It's nice to meet you, Kira. Sorry, I'm just surprised. I didn't think I'd live to see Eureka dating."

"Mom, please," I say.

"What it's true. How long have you guys been together?"

"Uh-" Kira interrupts answering. "Almost two months now, ma'am. It's nice to meet you too."

"I can't wait to tell Peter. He's going to be so shocked when I tell." Julian explains.

I shake my head. Was I failing that much in the relationship department? Even my parents didn't see me with someone.

"Honey it's not what you think. We just thought maybe you were Asexual or not into men."

Really?

"Trust me, Detka is anything but Asexual. I know she prefers men."

I nudge his shoulder because I'm getting embarrassed now. Kira just chuckles. Loosening up so I know he's not nervous anymore. Mom laughs along with him. They're already ganging up on me. Great.

Kira kiss my cheek. Stopping any bantering in my head. Mom just fawns at us. More so than whenever she talks about her imaginary boyfriend, Michael Jackson.

"Aww. You guys are so cute."

"Mom! I'm right here." I say.

"So I'm your mother, it's a part of my role to dote on you. I can't wait to meet in person Kira. Hopefully this summer for Eureka's birthday."

"Yes, that sounds great ma'am." Kira agrees.

"You can call me Julian."

"Okay, Julian."

"Eureka I have to go. Talk to you soon. Please try to reach out more often. You know your father gets all worried when he hasn't heard from his only daughter."

"Okay, I will. Be safe, love you. Say hi to him for me."

"Ok bye honey. Bye Kira."

Kira and I wave then the screen clicks off as mom ends the video. She's always been quick to hang up whenever she's finished talking. Kira holds me close. Setting his chin on my shoulder. I turn to him.

"That went well. Don't you think?" I ask.

"Yeah, she seems nice. Want to spend the weekend at my place since you're free this weekend?"

"Sure. We should head back to mine so I can get some stuff for tonight and tomorrow."

"Okay let's go."

>>>>

"I'm ready." I let Kira know.

He holds out his hand. "Let me carry that. It looks heavy."

Kira says, motioning at my duffle bag. It wasn't, I just need a lot of stuff. Like my electric toothbrush, shower cap, bonnet, hair products to co-wash and refresh my hair into a twist out, etcetera. There's a lot that goes into being a woman, especially being a black woman.

"Okay thank you. Are you leaving your stuff or taking it since we'll be at yours?"

Kira takes my duffle in his left hand then my hand. "I'll just leave it so the next time I'm prepared when I stay the night."

"Okay. Let me grab Obsidian and his stuff."

Kira let's go for me to put Obsidian inside his cute yellow cat traveling backpack, putting it on. I get an old grocery bag to carry his cat food and cat bowls. One for his food and water. "Now I'm really ready."

"Okay, Detka. Let's head out."

We leave my apartment and journey to Kira's. Which I still faintly recall from our first date. He had a beautiful place. I can't wait to spend the weekend there with him. Mostly I'm just happy having him in my life.

>>>>

We climb a familiar flight of stairs. Going up to his bedroom. Kira places my bag on the bottom of the bed. I take off the backpack, unzipping it to let Obsidian free. He stays by my feet. He's unfamiliar with the environment. I pick him up scratching his cheeks, making him purr, rubbing into my fingers. I continue while looking around Kira's bedroom.

It's larger than mine, with dark slate walls which give the room a modern feel. His king-size bed is in the center made up of dark and light gray bedding, and pillows. Over on the right are floor-to-ceiling windows covered with black-out curtains. Kira quickly draws them to one side, letting in the last fading daylight as the sun sets on the horizon. A beautiful mixture of golden yellow, orange, and red.

His bathroom and closet are both on the left connected to the suit. I hadn't been inside them before so I go to have a peek, first in his walk-in closet. It kept neat and organized. His shelving of clothes and shoes on display. Next to the bathroom.

It has an ample amount of space. Complete with double vanity, they're dark bowl-shaped, a standing glass shower with two rain showerheads. All around the room is black rectangle tiles connecting the space to the bedroom. Making a luxurious bathroom. The tub is the most unusual. I've never seen one like it before. It's free-standing and all-black matching the mood of the space.

My man really loves black. I should know.

Kira comes up right behind me holding around my waist. "Do you like it?"

I nod. "Yeah. I've never seen a black tub before."

"It's custom made. We can have a dip in it later if you like. How about we watch one of those cartoons you like, then afterward dinner, then a bath? How does that sound?"

"Great."

Kira and I get comfortable on his enormous bed propping up ourselves sitting against his headboard that doubles as shelving. I wonder if he designed the space.

I load up a new slice of life anime called Horimiya. I've heard good reviews about it on YouTube. I figure with it being so normal he wouldn't get too confused when we're watching it. It starts off okay. Kira gets more comfortable moving me between his legs. I lean into his chest, setting my laptop on one of his pillows so it's at the right level for us both.

Soon we start getting into the anime. Kira seems curious about it. Asking questions that I answer to the best of my ability since I didn't watch it before. Somehow we go from episode one to episode six, getting halfway through the season.

The great thing about anime is it's so easy to binge as the episodes aren't too long or too short. As I pause the ending song for episode six my stomach grumbles out.

"Someone's hungry. I think it's time for dinner baby."

"You might be right. We watched a few episodes. Brunch was a while ago. What do you think of your first anime?"

Kira leans in tickling my ear. "I like it. I can see why someone might love watching them. This one has that nostalgic feeling of childhood while still having a mature feel of adulthood to it. It's definitely interesting."

"Yeah? There's an anime out there about almost anything. From food, fashion, action, romance, singing, science, you name it. You can pretty much find one about anything you can think of." I explain. It's part of what I love about anime

"So what's for dinner?" I set the computer to one side. Crawling off the bed with Kira behind me. "I was hoping you'll help me prepare it." He says. Heading out turns to me, with a smile on his face.

"Detka, you coming?"

I nod running upon him. He easily picks me up throwing me over his shoulder, confirming my belief he can carry me up a mountain. Kira heads to the kitchen not putting me down until we're stand in his large gourmet-style kitchen. He sets me down. Peering down to rub my cheeks softly. He winks at me making my chest warm as my heart races. I can't with him. He is so fucking sexy.

"Detka if you don't change that look, you might become dinner."

"Uh..." Kira makes me speechless.

"I love making you stammer. Later baby. Right now let's make dinner."

"Okay. How can I help?"

Kiras opens his large refrigerator. Taking out multiple things, vegetables, a packet of tofu, and noodles. "You can start by cutting the tofu into squares. I'll do the vegetables. Is that okay?"

"Yes."

"Okay let's get started."

>>>>

"That was really good Kira. Honestly who taught you to cook."

We are doing the dishes together. He's washing while I dry. I can't help but rave over the meal again. "My mom, she taught me the basics and I built upon them myself once I started living on my own."

He passes me another plate. I take it and wipe the dish towel across the front and back drying it before putting it in the plate rack with the others. We have a balanced system. Kira continues washing a cup next.

"That's so sweet. My mom taught me to cook too. I can't cook as good as her but I prepare a lot of her recipes."

"Yeah. What are some of her dishes you make?" Kira asks.

"Um let me think, her cinnamon rice, orzo, pumpkin one-pot rice, seafood, and some of her meals which include meat, which I don't cook anymore since I've gone plant-based."

"What made you stop eating meat Detka?"

"That's a long story," I answer simply.

"We have all night."

He's right we do.

Obsidian's traveling bag.

Cat bowls. I want a cat so badly.

Kira's bedroom.

The bathtub.