“Oh hush. Don’t act like I haven’t dated after you.”
“I can’t remember the last one. So, it’s been a while. And why or how is this one complicated?” I shrugged as if he could see me, now cutting the corn.
“It’s the girls’ dad, and I don’t even know his name.”
Jasiel didn’t hesitate to laugh at me.
“Wait, so let me get this straight, you met someone but you don’t know his name? But Jo-Jo hangs out with his girls at the summer camp.”
I laughed before I let out a frustrated groan as Jasiel ran down the information I just shared.
“Yes. Well, the oldest for sure. They’re in the same group. The youngest one is only included during the after camp hangout on the playground. Oh, and I met his dad already. He’s been picking up the girls.”
“Okay. So, why haven’t you asked him his name yet or offered yours? Don’t be the weird lady who knows all about his family, giving his kids food and shit, but don’t know his name. Unless I’m missing it and you really want his dad. And I mean, Liv, you know I’ma support you in whatever but that might be…” I laughed hard this time as I grabbed the phone and the bowl with the corn and headed outside to put it on my little grill.
“While I appreciate the support, absolutely hell no. I mean he’s not a bad looking man, but c’mon Jasiel, no. I wouldn’t have spent the last five minutes telling you about the son. And I don’t know. The first time the opportunity wasn’t there and the second time, I got tongue-tied or something. I can’t explain what happened.”
“Aww damn, Liv, tongue-tied sounds serious as hell. What did Byrdie say about him?”
My mouth had been moving so fast that I didn’t realize I had fucked up the girl code.
“Oh God, she’s going to kill me. Jasiel, you can’t tell her. I haven’t had a chance yet. The second meeting just happened today. But I don’t think I’m going to say anything anyway. Our kids obviously like hanging out with each other. I can’t ruin that.We still have the thick of summer camp to get through and I need Jo-Jo beating me to the door everyday to get there.”
“I’m staying out of it, but Olive, the kids hanging out makes it better if you ask me. If I met a woman who had kids and Jo-Jo got along with them and her, that would be my sign that she was the perfect fit.”
“Sounds good. But Jo-Jo hasn’t met him either.”
“Well, make that the next step. It’s important that he and Jo-Jo get along too. Even if nothing happens with you two, playdates are a thing, and just like you’re comfortable with his kids, he needs to be comfortable with Jo-Jo.”
I gnawed on my lip as I took the chicken off, put on the corn, and set a timer to come back and flip it.
“I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation right now. Let’s leave my love life out of check-ins in the future.”
He snickered. “Girl, please. So I ain’t good enough to hear yours but I can dish mine? Naw, we family, I want it all, even what’s going on with you. Making sure you’re good plays into you being good for Jo-Jo. If our check-ins are about your dating life, I definitely want to hear it. Shit, I’m vetting them muthafuckas too. He gotta be right for you too, Olive.”
I smiled at the sentiment of Jasiel genuinely wanting to know about my dating life. But it wasn’t necessary. Well, hadn’t been since I didn’t do it often enough for it to have mattered.
“I appreciate it, but you’re absolutely not vetting the men I will potentially date. I will let you meet him of course, but that’s after I vet him for me and Jo-Jo.”
The timer going off had me heading back outside to flip the corn once more.
“Fine, but you already know if he hurts you or him, I’ma fuck him up.” I smiled as I shook my head. I was done with this conversation.
“Bye, Jasiel.”
“What, real shit. You know I fuck with you for real.” I chuckled.
“Anyways, did you finalize the date when you’re coming home?” Jasiel always moved so secretly with his annual vacation dates. He got the allotted days earned and spaced them out over the year so he could come home more than once or twice to see Jo-Jo and Byrdie.
“Olive, I’m sorry. I won’t make it. I put the request in too late and I didn’t get approved in time. And I know, I fucked up, I’m already putting in another one. Hopefully they approve it so I can come home before he goes back to school.” I wanted to be upset, but I knew that wouldn’t fix anything.
“Okay, well, I’ll let Jo-Jo know.”
“Naw, this one is on me, so I got it. I’ma wait another week so I can figure out a good apology gift for him. Again, Olive, I apologize.” Even with Jasiel doing all this, I knew Jo-Jo would still be upset; so mentally I was thinking of a way to make it up to him now.
“Okay, I gotta go.” My mood had shifted drastically. The line got quiet before Jasiel spoke.
“Olive.”
