I sat in our makeshift salon while holding my MacBook up so that Kwashie could watch the YouTube video. Was I really going to allow her to lay my lace front wig just for her own personal gratification? Yes.. and that's why I'm sitting right here in this current moment crossing my fingers tightly hoping that it comes out great and I don't have to wear a cap on the road this evening to the business dinner with Richard's associates.

"Kwashie, it has to dry first." I said.

"I can't see it, does that mean it has dried?" She asked cluelessly.

"Does it feel sticky?" I asked.

"Yes..." I felt her fingers tapping my hairline as if she was drumming a desk.

"Pull the wig on.." I instructed.

I helped her to pull the dark brown wig over my head and secure it on my hairline.

"Why do you have to wear a wig, again?" She asked.

"Richard said that I needed to look extra feminine tonight because we have some people to convince. So it was either dress and short hair or long hair and suit. I chose my options wisely," I convinced myself.

She didn't respond, she just held the blow dryer on my forehead moving it just like I showed her to. Won't lie, she learns pretty quickly.

"You boy..." I called to her.

"Yes, you girl.." she rolled her eyes at me.

I started saying it to annoy her ever since she started her T shots and she thought calling me a girl would annoy me equally, it didn't. I've accepted the role that I played in this relationship for awhile now and I didn't mind it at all. We decided to do my hair first since I wanted the whole evening to set the lace and lay my edges.

"Did you bring down the products for your hair?" I asked. She also decided to ditch the salon and made me learn how to palm roll.

She pointed to the medium sized basket with her products which consisted of shampoo and conditioner and, her locking gel. While my basket had way much more. Since we both had natural hair now, we shared the oil mixture her mom made.

She sprayed the mouse in her hands and ran it through the front of the wig then tied it down with the black strips. I took the edge brush that I had with edge control and laid my edges.

"SWOOP." I shouted out when I made the first swipe.

"Look at the lil boy, SWOOP." I continued jeering her while I danced and laid my edges.

"Have you decided what you're wearing tonight?" She asked me.

"Yeah, I pulled out one of my black Armani suits earlier. You?" I was focused on staring at myself in the mirror waiting on an answer that never came.

"You don't know what to wear, do you..." I trailed off and she shook her head.

"Let me do your hair and then we can figure it out." I laughed.

I washed and conditioned her hair paying attention to the lock extensions too to make sure that they got a proper wash. I started re-twisting from the back up realizing that this was probably way more easier than laying a wig or a perm. I put the twisted locks together in a plait for her protective style and continued my way up. I introduced her to Snapchat last year and she ended up with way more followers that I had but most of them were African based.

In the beginning I was hesitant to post her because everyone knew that I was gay and I was afraid of the repercussions I'd get when they saw her. I sucked it up and decided that I didn't care, it took awhile to get used to the terrible comments but I was happy with Kwashie and ignorance was bliss so what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

Close to an hour later, I was finally finished with Kwashie's locks and set her under the dryer she bought and went to the kitchen for drinks. I came back and she had her phone up to her face licking her lips and winking. I made sure I was in the shot before looking at her and twisting my face up.

"You think you look good, huh?" She jumped and dropped the phone in her lap looking over at me.

"Doing thirst traps now? This is what we doing now?" I extended my neck and pushed my lips together.

"Uhh...."

"Who are you flirting with?" I went to grab the phone but she pulled it away.

"Oh. You got secrets now?" I tilted my head and folded my arms.

"I'm not hiding anything," she rolled her eyes.

"Then let me see your Snapchat." I held out my open palm.

"Nope." She popped the P.

"It's like that? Cool.." I lifted my hands in front of me and backed away going back to the kitchen.

Her mom would send over ice cream for me so I went to the freezer to get a tub. I stood by the island and ate the ice cream in silence while scrolling through Twitter. I didn't want my mind to run wild because if I started assuming that she was really hiding something then I'm going to assume that she's cheating and if I should ever assume that, I might just go bat shit crazy.

My plate was already full and I thought she'd be the one to bring me peace but nah, she has to be hiding her phone. I've never asked for her phone before and the first time I caught her slipping she behaves like she's hiding something. I'm not going to search her phone, what's in the dark will come to the light soon enough. If she thinks I'm gonna sit back and make her take me for an idiot, she got me fucked up.

I emptied the tub and threw the container away washing the spoon and rested it in the dish drainer. It was now 4 and the dinner was at 6 so I had to start getting ready. I walked back to the makeshift salon and felt her hair, it was dry so I turned off the hairdryer and started packing up everything walking out with both baskets in my hands.

Kwashie has brought over a few suits here just in case we had to go out so I went to look at the options. I picked up the dark blue suit, white button down and a slim back tie laying them on my bed while I stripped and went to have a shower. When I got out, Kwashie still wasn't in the room. I shrugged it off and sat at my vanity flicking the switch hearing the lights buzz to life, I connected my phone to the speakers and allowed Jess Glynne's voice to fill the air.

Wrapped up, so consumed by all this hurt.

If you asked me, don't know where to start.

I sung along with the words remembering how solemn this song always makes me feel.

I know there's somewhere better cause you always take me there.

Came to you with a broken faith, gave me more than I had to hold.

My eyes were closed as I slowly rubbed the moisturizer into my skin while the words slipped from my lips.

"Caught before I hit the ground, tell me I'm safe you've got me now." Kwashie had stepped into the room and started singing along.

I hated the fact that she could make me feel less than I truly was but in the next heartbeat there she was reminding me of my worth. I hated the highs and the lows with her but it kept our relationship interesting and it kept me on my toes.

"Would you take the wheel, if I lose control. If I'm lying here, would you take me home?" She walked up towards me and now held my chin between her fingers lifting my face up so that I could look at her.

"Could you take care of a broken soul? Would you hold me now? Would you take me home?" She connected our lips together and I felt it. I felt everything that she was feeling for me and more.

I didn't say anything once she broke the kiss. I stayed silent as she walked away and locked herself in the bathroom. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and realized how far I've come and how much further I'd have to go.

I was almost through blending the eyeshadow on my second eyelid when Kwashie pulled the door and exited the bathroom stark naked looking over at me.

"I'm so blessed to have you," She said.

"Flattery doesn't ruffle my feathers, babe." I smiled over at her.

"I'm not trying to flatter you, I'm being honest." She held her hand over her chest.

I gave her a sly smile before turning my attention back to my reflection. I applied mascara and then went on to my foundation, contouring, highlighting and blush. I swiped the dark red matte lipstick on my lips before letting down my hair and removing the scarf around my edges. I ran the flat iron over it a few times until I felt satisfied.

Kwashie was sitting in boxers and socks with her binder on looking at me.

"Why aren't you ready?" I asked her.

"I knew you'd take a while so I didn't want to crush my suit." She said.

"Get ready.."

I walked over to my walk-in closet taking down my suit from its place on the rack and walking back laying it onto my bed. I was already in my sports bra and tights pulling the pants off the hanger and stepping into it.

"Why do you always wear tights instead of boxers?" Kwashie asked.

"They just fit better," I shrugged my shoulders.

She didn't answer, she just continued getting ready in silence while the speaker played anything my phone shuffled. I hummed along to some of the songs looking over at my wall clock. It was 5:20 and we had to be out of here soon. I tucked my green silk shirt into my pants after buttoning it up all the way to my neck and then pulled my suit jacket over my shoulders. I pulled at the shirt so it bunched up a little instead of lying flat against my stomach. Like majority of my other suits, the pants leg was fitted and stopped right above my ankle.

I looked over at Kwashie and she was having problems with fixing her tie so I went to help her and fixed her suit as well. I looked her up and down before asking if she had everything.

"Deodorant?" I asked.

"Check."

"Cologne?"

"Check."

"Brushed your teeth? Moisturized your face?"

"Check and check." She said pulling on the watch that I gave her.

I went to my closet and took out my gold linked watch walking back over to her and putting it on her. I took the watch away and rested it on top of my dresser.

"Are you wearing your plaits down or do you want me to catch them up or something?" I asked looking at her hair.

"I like it how it is plus we have to go." She looked at the watch and grabbed her phone and wallet.

I made sure I had everything. My earrings, necklace and matching bracelet and, watch was in place so I took up my money clip and disconnected my phone from the speakers flicking the lights off and leaving my room rushing down the stairs behind Kwashie. Her oxfords hit the tiles of the foyer while my loafers silently trailed behind her. She took up her keys and we walked the back door to the garage to her new 2019 Lexus. She wanted a Jaguar, but I pleaded against it. My mind couldn't bear the memory of Carter Jones every time I saw it.

I got in the the passenger side and buckled up while she got in and started the car pulling out of the driveway. We waited until the gates were closed before she sped off down the road to exit the community and made our way to the restaurant for 6.

5:55. Kwashie pulled into the restaurant, got out and opened my door for me while handing her keys to the valet and walking up to the waitress at the podium.

"We're here for the lawyer society dinner," Kwashie smiled.

The waitress blushed and stared at Kwashie for a second too long. I loudly cleared my throat and watched as her smile dropped and she turned away leading us to the table filled with both male and female lawyers. I saw my favorite employee at Richard's law firm and ran up to her chair once the waitress left.

"Moniquuuuuee." I hugged her shoulders from behind.

"Zim, I haven't seen you in so long. You look nice," she complimented my suit.

"Thank you m'lady," I bowed as she laughed.

"Where's your mother?" She asked.

"Away..." I smiled and turned to allow Kwashie to help me into my seat.

He sat beside me and I looked over the table at Richard.

"On time," he said.

"Aren't I always?" I grinned.

The chatter sounded around us when the same waitress came back taking our orders. Kwashie didn't object when I ordered a glass of wine and she got the scotch just as Richard had told us earlier.

"So, Mr Ekuban." Mr Walters said from the other side of the table.

"I see you're the lucky fellow who got Richard's most prized possession," he winked at me and I shuddered.

"Ah, it wasn't easy." Kwashie smiled while looking at me resting her hand on the back of my chair.

"Tell me, how did you do it?" He asked getting the attention from the rest of men who tried to court me before I reached 18.

"I had to make a deal with Richard, you see. I had to promise him the bride price fitting for his most prized possession." He started.

"Which was?" They were all curious to hear and so was I.

"2 hogs and a goat." Kwashie said.

The whole table erupted with laughter and I hit her hand. They were all almost drunk from the empty bottles of wine sitting on various parts of the table.

"I've never heard that one before," Mr Walters said.

"And you've never met me before, that's why I was able to win the hand of Richard's most prized possession." He winked at me.

I blushed and cleared my throat as I straightened my fitted jacket. The waitress came back with our drinks. Kwashie's had a paper towel under it and I could see the ink of her telephone number magnified by the bottom of the glass. Once she leaned in to rest my wine glass in front of me I held onto her hand tightly.

"Listen well, I have no patience for women like you and I suggest you leave my fiancé alone before I use the curly red mess on your head to mop the floors." I smiled at her and watched her face widened with surprise.

"I'll be back to take your meal orders," she cleared her throat as I let her go and she scampered away to the safety of the kitchen.

"I didn't know you were that possessive," Kwashie said.

"There's much we have to learn about each other," I cleared my throat.

"Well I have nothing to hide, my love." She lifted my left hand and kissed the ring on my finger.

"Pleased to hear," I smiled at her but the smile never reached my eyes.

**

Ladies, please don't come at me about the makeup 😭 I literally just used the order I see the women use in IG videos.