“Olive, I’ma need you to stop acting like someone’s grandma who hasn’t done this before. You’re going to take your time and get to know him so you can fully decide if the actions transfer off the paper. We just don’t date fine ass faces, personalities and good qualities are a must; you know this. So when is the first adult date? And I mean without BeBe’s kids running around.”
“Girl, too fast. The man hasn’t even used my number himself yet.”
Byrdie tilted her head to the side as her forehead drew the lines in the center and I knew she was confused.
“What does that mean?”
I chuckled at the thought. “He had his oldest call and invite Jo-Jo and me to the fair. And before you say something slick, he was the one who asked for my number. So I’m sure he intends to use it himself.” It was like Highland knew I was talking about him because my phone vibrated with his name popping up.
Highland: Thanks for a wonderful time at the fair. The girls and I truly enjoyed you and Jo-Jo. How soon is too soon to plan another date?
My smile was giddy as I hit reply, trying to ignore Byrdie in the background, but it was impossible when she covered my screen, preventing me from texting.
“Wait, don’t tell me Stepdaddy is already on the line.”
“Byrdie, I swear I question a lot of decisions I’ve made in my life, most of them include you. Can I agree to date the man before you pass out nicknames like that?”
“Girl hush all that shit up. What did my future brother-in-law say to us? It better be when he can come take you out alone—without the kids—with a promise to?—”
I cut her off with a blank stare. “I swear you are so aggy.”
“No, you right, my bad, y’all business… but put it on the itinerary please and thank you. You’re starting to get those worry lines on the corner of your eyes that mean you’re lacking vitamin BD.”
That had me laughing way too loud for this hour outside. I was sure my neighbors heard me.
“Please go home to your husband. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Ugh, fine. But be a good sister and do as I say. Hell, I’m sure Jasiel would even agree on the matter.”
“Eww, don’t bring him up in the conversation. Good night, Byrdie. Love you.”
Byrdie drank the last sip of her wine then got up so she could leave.
“Love you more.”
I watched her get into her car before I put my attention back on my phone screen.
Me: Thank you for the invite, we enjoyed y’all as well. I was thinking about taking Jo-Jo to see that new kid movie tomorrow, are y’all free?
Highland: As long as the tickets and snacks are on me.
Me: I think I might can allow that. Only if I can handle dinner.
Highland: Nope. That’s on me too. See you tomorrow morning. *wink*
Yes, Jasiel helped financially for Jo-Jo, so money was never an issue when it came to him, plus I did quite well for myself, but having a man wanting to take care of everything was a game changer for me.
I smiled as I typed back.
Me: See you tomorrow.
Chapter
Eight
Highland
“Okay, Farrah, remember tomorrow the ferry will be packed with a shit ton of kids, so please make sure you and the girls are prepared. For those two trips to and from, I want all of y’all on the ferry. The camp provided the paperwork to the parents so more than half will be prepared to handle motion sickness with medication. The unapproved kids we’ll have to treat naturally. So make sure we have enough of those little cans of ginger ale and crackers not included with the little snack trays the chef made for them. Am I forgetting anything?” I asked Farrah as we sat in the office going over the checklist for the camp’s field trip. Since there were so many kids, I offered up the ferry for easier transport of all the campers. I might have overestimated my ability to handle such a huge number of kids on the vessel at once.
