Show Me the Sun

by Miriam Shumba

  The phone ringing seemed to come from a million miles away, and though their lips broke apart he started planting kisses on her neck.

  “I must get that,” she whispered, putting her hands on his chest.

  “Let the machine take a message,” Amari groaned. What was he planning to do? Surely he didn’t think she was just going to sleep with him just because his kiss made her lose her mind.

  She pushed harder and Amari stepped back, hands held up as her phone shrilled again. She walked around him and, in a daze, picked it up.

  “Hello,” Raven said, and coughed to clear her throat. She sounded like someone who was coming from a deep sleep.

  “Raven. Where are you? We were expecting you here an hour ago,” Clare complained.

  “Oh, Mom, I’m on my way,” Raven said.

  “You are still at home. We’ll have to start dinner without you. Raven, you can be so inconsiderate. Your cellphone is off and your father was getting worried.”

  “Sorry, Mom. I’ll be there in a few,” Raven apologized and hung up. She looked in Amari’s direction but couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

  “Do you need a ride?” he asked.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I can take you. Who’ll bring you back?”

  “So many people, my sister or brother,” Raven said biting her lip. “I’m gonna jump in the shower, can you wait?”

  “Don’t do this to me.”

  “What?”

  “Shower while I’m here. Just thinking about you in there…” Raven shook her head to clear it. She was still in a daze. She glanced at him quickly and was amazed at how her heart quickened, thinking about where his imagination was taking him.

  “I’ll hurry,” she said. He walked towards her again and kissed her without any warning this time. She clung to him mindlessly. He was so big and it felt so good holding him, holding her hands on his back. And his hands on her face, pure bliss.

  “I better go,” she muttered, her lips on his neck. “This is not good.”

  “It’s so good,” he said.

  “No. I shouldn’t do this. My mom will kill me, and it’s wrong,” Raven said as he took her lips again, making her body burn.

  “Nothing wrong,” Amari echoed bringing her closer.

  “Amari,” she said and he looked at her. She had never really said his name before, and with her sweet soft voice it sounded so excitable. “I must go.” He knew he had to let her go. She thrilled him. She wanted him to let her go because she couldn’t do it herself. With the willpower of a lion he stepped back and watched her go in her bedroom. It took a lot from him not to follow her and have her melt in his arms again, but instead he went to her book shelf and started looking around while he imagined her naked in the shower with steam and bubbles all around her. What he needed right now was a nice cold shower.

  Chapter 8

  “Where have you been?” Clare yelled as soon as Raven walked in. This was one of the family’s twice-monthly dinners, and Raven was two hours late and they had an important guest in the house. The guilt was all over her face as she sat at the dining table that had food ranging from macaroni and cheese, Cornish hens, greens, her mother’s delicious sweet potatoes and potato salad. Everybody was almost done eating and Raven waved at Tahlia, Esther and PJ. She hugged her father then took her place next to him.

  “I’m sorry. My car died,” Raven said.

  “Old Baby finally threw in the towel?” PJ asked.

  “Yes. A friend gave me a ride here,” Raven nodded, looking sheepish.

  “Oh. I always worried about you driving that car. I hope now you’ll let me help you buy a new one.”

  “Dad, I can afford one. If I can’t get it fixed I’ll buy something else.”

  “Which friend brought you?” Clare asked.

  “Amari,” Raven said, then cleared her throat.

  “Amari Thomas. You mean A-T?” PJ asked, excitement and disbelief in his voice. Raven looked at her brother, irritated, her eyes telling him to shut up. Now the whole family looked at her with interest and forgot all about the delicious dinner. Since Raven was no longer working in the church, her parents were adamant that she attend the family dinners. However she hated being on the spot like this. She usually had nothing interesting to share with them.

  “Who is he? Is he a singer?” Clare asked, looking around the table at each of her children’s faces. “The name sounds familiar.”

  “Mom, he’s gorgeous,” Tahlia said. “He’s so good at basketball, too.”

  “Averaged about 25 points a game last season and is also a good defensive player,” PJ said. “He’s now perfected ‘the Lethal Pass’ that he tosses behind his back.”

  “What’s he doing with you?”

  “He helps at the center, Clare,” Philip Senior said, and Raven looked at her dad gratefully.

  “You must be careful. Those kinds of men wouldn’t be interested in girls like you except for one thing,” Clare said, looking pointedly in Raven’s direction. Clare saw Raven flush and her eyes widened. Raven could tell from her mother’s expression she’d soon have to endure a mother-daughter talk.

  Raven was embarrassed as she remembered what had taken place in her apartment, what might have happened if the phone hadn’t interrupted the heated kiss and Amari had not stepped away from her. She was totally powerless, and now she felt humiliated. Her mother was right. He probably just wanted to use her. An easy, inexperienced woman to seduce and toss to the side.

  “We just work together. He was at the center when my car broke down,” Raven said.

  “Oh, lucky you,” Tahlia said, grinning.

  “Tahlia. There’s nothing lucky about being stuck with a man who she doesn’t know that well,” Clare cautioned, then looked at Raven’s plate and added, “You might as well warm up your food. It’s already cold. We’re about to have dessert.”

  When Raven went to the kitchen to microwave her food she was relieved to hear the conversation return to events at the church. She nearly jumped when Tahlia tapped her on the shoulder.

  “Amari, huh?” she said, putting her plate in the sink. Raven shook her head. Her little sister was eagerly looking in her face.

  Raven couldn’t believe the tingle that went up and down her spine at the mention of his name, but she shrugged. “Tahlia, he’s just helping the kids.”

  “If he brought you why didn’t he come in?” she asked. Raven remembered the ride in his car and the longing she had never in her life felt or thought she was capable of feeling. Yes, she desired him. The way he put his hand on the small of her back when she got in the elevator and told her she smelled lovely. She flushed again, remembering the unmistakable look that entered his eyes.

  “Oh, my goodness, something’s going on,” Tahlia said.

  “No.” Raven shook her head and took her plate out of the microwave. “Don’t start or you’ll have Mom all over me about this.”

  “Okay, you can tell me. Is he as nice as people say?” Tahlia asked, leaning in.

  “I don’t know what people say, but he’s so good-looking in real life. He takes my breath away,” Raven confessed, and they both giggled.

  “What are you talking about?” Esther walked in, holding two plates up like a waiter. PJ was right behind her with his plate and some glasses.

  “Work,” Raven said quickly. “I had a tough case this week.”

  “Oh,” PJ said. “I thought you were talking about Amari Thomas. If he’s at the center I’ll have to visit. I admire the guy.”

  “Oh,” Raven said. “Because he averages 20 points per game?”

  “That too. He never loses his cool.” PJ went on to describe more of his moves on the basketball court and some famous shot he made to win the Eastern conference. As they were about to have dessert the doorbell rang.

  “That must be Josh,” Clare said loudly. “Better get it.”

  Her husband walked to the door and opened it.

  “Josh!” Philip said and gave the
young man a hug. “We thought you weren’t going to make it.”

  Raven walked into the living room just as Josh and Philip walked in. Raven had heard so much about Josh she wasn’t sure she had expected to see such a young and handsome man. When her parents talked about him in her mind she had pictured someone much older.

  Philip introduced his daughters. “These are my girls, Raven, Tahlia and Esther,” Philip said.

  “It’s wonderful to meet you,” Josh said.

  “How’s Kenya?” Clare asked.

  “Great!”

  “You’re still there?” Esther said. “Are you now becoming an African?”

  “Almost. I can speak fluent Swahili now.”

  “That’s incredible,” Clare said. “Come in. Would you like some dinner?”

  “I’m fine, but that looks good,” Josh said and pointed to Philip’s plate. It was filled with peach cobbler and whipped cream.

  Over desert Josh told them that he had come back home to check on some of his investments and also see his parents. Raven listened to him intently, excited to hear about all that he was doing for the people in remote villages in Kenya. He was the only doctor for miles and sometimes served as a pastor.

  “Raven, your dad told me about what you are doing at the center,” Josh said.

  “Oh. It’s just starting,” Raven said.

  “She’s even recruited a professional basketball player to help there,” Philip added.

  “Who?” Josh asked, turning to Raven.

  “Amari Thomas,” she responded and she pictured him kissing her in her apartment and almost swooned. She had to get herself together or they would all see through her silliness. It was just a kiss. An incredible, knee-melting kiss. A kiss that must never, ever happen again.

  * * *

  “Why don’t you spend the night?” Philip Senior asked when his older daughters were gathering their purses to leave.

  “Next time, Daddy,” Esther said, hugging her father and then her mom, Josh, Tahlia and Phil. “Besides, I didn’t come prepared to sleep here, and I’m going to drop Raven at her apartment.”

  “Take my car,” her father said, his arm around Raven’s shoulder. “I still don’t like you living in that building all alone.”

  “It’s safe, Daddy,” she said and hugged him. The hugs continued as she embraced the whole family. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  As soon as Raven buckled her seat belt Esther turned to her, soft brown eyes inquisitive. “What is going on with you and Amari?”

  “Oh, not you, too,” Raven whined, looking out the window at the dark evening. Now that the afternoon rain was gone the night sky was filled with stars and clean, dewy air.

  “When you walked in at dinner there was a sparkle in your eyes. Is it because of him? Did he do something to you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s a professional athlete and I don’t know much about him, but from what I hear these guys sleep around a lot.”

  “Don’t all guys?”

  “Yeah, but these guys are chased by women so for them it means nothing to take your innocence away.”

  “Nothing happened. He just kissed me,” Raven confessed, looking at her sister. Esther jerked the car forward.

  “That’s all. What does he want? Are you dating?”

  “No. He just kissed me and I was a total fool. I completely lost my mind.”

  “Well, he is fine,” Esther said, getting onto the highway. She was driving well out of her way. Her new home was in Farmington Hills, right by a golf course, but Raven knew that Esther didn’t mind a long drive if it included a juicy story.

  “I don’t know, Esther. I’ve never felt like that before.”

  “It’s lust,” Esther said, shaking her head. “Or infatuation.”

  “I guess so. I never thought I would be lustful.”

  “Well, don’t give in to temptation. Don’t sleep with him, Rave,” Esther begged, her eyes on the road.

  “I won’t. I wouldn’t,” Raven said with very little conviction.

  “It’s nice to wait,” Esther advised, smiling.

  “Did you and Angelo wait until you got married?”

  Esther nodded.

  “You never did anything?” Raven asked and Esther sighed.

  “No. That’s why we got married quickly. It says in the Bible to do that.”

  “Yes I know…In Corinthians, right,” Raven said and echoed Esther as she quoted the verse, “But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”

  “Did you burn for Angelo?”

  “Yes. But it was nice to wait, too. Made it more special.”

  “Was it your, you know, first time?” Raven asked. Esther nodded as they entered Raven’s apartment complex.

  “And him?”

  “Oh, you know Angelo’s testimony. He was bad! He was a womanizer who actually took advantage of women in the church,” Esther said.

  “Oh. I don’t remember. He always seemed like an angel.”

  “You can’t judge a book by its cover, that’s for sure.”

  “Oh, he was that bad?”

  “Raven, Angelo confessed everything when he got born again. He told me how his old desires were completely gone and he just wanted to please God. God gave him a new heart.”

  “That’s beautiful, Essie.” Raven smiled. “I’m glad you got a man with a new heart. So what is it like?”

  “What?”

  “Being intimate. Do you like it?”

  Esther laughed, seemingly embarrassed. “It’s wonderful. When you are about to get married we’ll have this talk. I hope you remember what I said about waiting.”

  “Oh, Essie, you are getting way ahead of yourself. I don’t think I have to worry about that. Amari and I just work together once every couple of weeks and the kiss was just a one-time thing. Don’t worry.”

  Chapter 9

  When Raven got home her mind was on Amari. She wanted to talk to him, and though he had left his number she resisted calling. That would make her desperate and crazy all at once. Raven was woken up by the phone ringing at seven in the morning. She still had two more hours before she would get ready for church. She picked up the phone beside her bed.

  “Hello,” she said, wondering who would be calling so early.

  “It’s Amari.”

  She was instantly awake. Amari. How did he get her number?

  “Hi.” She sat up, letting her sheets fall off her body. She looked at her dresser where she had put his T-shirt when she found it in the kitchen. She no longer looked at her kitchen in the same way. It brought back memories of the kiss, and her living room brought back memories of Amari’s chest and bare arms.

  “Did I wake you?” he asked.

  “Yes. No. I was lying in bed,” Raven stammered, bringing her knees up to her chest.

  “How are you getting around with no car?”

  “Just staying at home.”

  “A girl has to eat. Are you free for dinner tonight?” Amari asked. Raven widened her eyes in surprise. He was calling her for a date.

  “Dinner?”

  “Yes. Can you come?”

  “Sure. I mean it will have to be early, but okay.”

  “I’ll pick you up at six?”

  “Six,” she said, and when she put the phone down she stood on her bed and shrieked so loud she shocked herself and fell on the bed laughing. In her excitement she quickly dialed Candice’s number.

  “Who’s this?” a sleepy Candice asked.

  “Oh Candy—sorry. It’s so early. I’ll call you later,” Raven apologized.

  “No. Tell me why you called,” Candice insisted, her voice still husky from sleep.

  “Amari asked me to dinner. I don’t know what to wear. I’m so nervous.” The shriek on the other side caused Raven to move the phone away from her ear.

  “Oh, my goodness. You’ll have to miss church. I can call my hair stylist. This is an emergency. He c
an do your hair and nails.”

  “No, no. My hair’s fine. I had it done last weekend,” Raven said.

  “All right. Let’s meet later after church. I can give you some tips.”

  Raven laughed and said good bye.

  Amari. She was going on a date with Amari.

  She walked to her dresser and picked up his shirt, bringing to her face. It smelt of rain and soap and him. She hugged it close to her and fell on the bed, the shock of his call and voice still making her skin tingle.

  * * *

  Amari was amazed at how happy he was to see her. When he dropped her off at her parents’ mansion he wasn’t ready to let her go, and now seeing her again confirmed the emotions she had evoked in him. There was something incredibly warm about her, something soft and irresistible. She was different from any woman he had ever dated. She was so different, in fact, she could have been from another planet.

  “Hi,” she said, and he could tell she was shy and uncertain, something he did not see in most women he met. That thrilled him and evoked feelings of protectiveness and tenderness towards her. He liked what she wore, an embroidered tunic and white pants that wrapped around her slim legs and rounded butt. To him she looked fresh and sweet.

  “These are for you.” He handed her fresh flowers that he hid behind his back.

  “Wow,” she said, taking the beautifully arranged flowers. She kept her eyes on the bouquet when she spoke. “That’s very kind.”

  “You like them?” Amari asked.

  “Love them, thank you,” she said and walked into the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “No thanks. We can go for dinner if you are ready,” he said.

  At dinner he got to know her better, and he liked her more as they talked. They laughed so hard as he told her stories of his life growing up in Detroit, with his cousins and uncles.