Page 24 of Love Legacy

“Naomi, you cannot talk to your father like that. He is the leader of this household and you will treat him as such and obey.”

I shake my head. “You know what? I’m not doing this anymore. Y’all are in my place, not the other way around. I am asking you to leave.”

“Naomi!”

“Mama, I’m sorry. I love y’all, I really do, but I can’t handle this today. So I’m asking you politely, please leave,” I repeat, heading toward the front door and opening it, showing my parents out.

They both shake their heads but head out anyway.

“I’m disappointed in you, Naomi,” my mom says.

My father can’t even look at me as they both exit my apartment.

I close the door behind them, collapsing against the door.

Thank God that’s finally over . I remain seated against the door for a few minutes, completely spacing out until I feel someone try to open the door.

“Oof.”

“Naomi, is that you?”

I get up off the floor, letting Maeve in. “Sorry.”

“Were you sitting against the door?” she asks, entering the apartment.

I nod. “My parents came to visit, and I just crashed once they left.”

Maeve drops her bags in the kitchen, looking at me in disbelief. “Wait, what? Your parents were in New York and you had no idea?”

“Nope. I guess they were ‘in the area’ for a church conference, so they decided to drop by unannounced.”

“How did that go?” she asks, moving to put the groceries she bought away. She stops, looking down at the floor before bending down and coming up with Sage’s bra, dangling from a single finger. “Wait, who’s is this?”

I blush deeply, embarrassed that Maeve found the bra before I could move it. “Sage’s…” I say, hiding my face.

Her jaw drops, looking at the bra. “Shut up! Did you two hook up last night?”

“Maybe… I would disinfect the counters before you make anything in here.”

She steps away from the counter that she was leaning against. “Naomi!”

I bite, my lip shrugging. “Sorry? We got a little carried away last night. I’ll clean up though.”

Maeve squeals excitedly. “I’m so happy for you, Naomi! I love you guys together, so I’m glad you guys are making some serious progress.”

I smile. “It was so nice. And the lack of remorse that I feel for what we did, even when my parents showed up here, I think proves that what we have is right. Even though they definitely would not approve, I kind of don’t care anymore.”

Maeve gives me a big hug. “I’m so proud of you, Naomi! You’ve grown so much.”

“You should’ve seen me. I stood my ground and told them to leave when things got out of hand. My dad scolding me for getting my nose pierced without his permission was the last straw.”

Maeve pulls back to examine my face, checking out the piercing. “No way! That looks so good on you. When did you do that?”

I grin. “Yesterday. That’s kind of what started it all.

I called Sage in the morning and asked her to take me to her piercing shop.

We drove all the way to Trenton, I got it done and then we had dinner with her parents.

When we got back, I invited Sage up, things got a little hot and steamy, and we spent the night together. ”

“So wait, does that mean Sage had to do the walk of shame, bra-less, in front of your parents?”

I nod. “Yup. We told them she was one of my roommates and she was heading out for a run. We were literally about to try for a round two when they showed up.”

Maeve laughs loudly. “No way, cock blocked by your parents. Or whatever the female equivalent is.”

“Taco block-o?” I suggest, feeling proud of myself for coming up with that one.

“Clam jam?”

“Beaver dam?” Maeve and I exchange puns, breaking down into a fit of hysterical laughter.

We’re still laughing when Alex returns home, finding us in tears in the kitchen. “What did I miss?” she asks, confused.

“Clams, tacos, and forgotten bras,” I reply, finally coming up for air and wiping the tears from my eyes.

Alex continues to stare at us, the confusion even worse now. Maeve finally collects herself and fills Alex in on my last twenty-four hours. Alex sits at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, processing the information we gave her. “So wait, are you and Sage together now?”

I shrug, chewing on my bottom lip. “I don’t know. That’s not a conversation we’ve had yet.”

“You know, you’re going to have to be the one to initiate that conversation, right?” Maeve points out.

I nod. “Yeah, I know. Same as last night. Sage even said that. That at this point, she’s just following my lead and letting me set the pace. So if I want to pursue something more with Sage, yeah, I’ll have to put myself out there.”

“I know it sounds scary, but at least you’re going in knowing that Sage is head over heels in love with you.”

“You really think so?” I ask, turning to Alex. “I know she likes me a lot, but loving me? You really think that’s a strong possibility?”

“Absolutely. She’s devoted to you. I mean, she took you to meet her parents last night. That’s not something she does with every girl she’s interested in. In fact, I don’t think she’s had her family meet any of her college girlfriends,” Maeve states, “you would be the first and only.”

It’s a bit reassuring to hear that, honestly.

I would be lying if I said Sage’s reputation didn’t contribute to my hesitation to pursue things further with her.

I’ve heard the stories about her revolving door and endless roster of women.

Not that it’s something she should be ashamed of.

She’s just not a relationship person or at least her track record in college would show that she’s not a relationship person.

At this point, I think I’ve made peace with my sexuality, at least where it concerns Sage.

I like women, or at least I like her, and today just confirmed that I no longer care for my parents’ approval.

But I’m still looking for love, and I’m not interested in dating around, so Sage needs to be serious about me for me to open that door.