“Oh my gosh, look at y’all blending shit all up. It’s cute.”
“I know, right? The other day we swapped kids. The girls and I were hanging by the pool, having girl time, down in the Keys athis beach house. Highland and Jo-Jo were out, having boy time. Nobody told me that having little girls was like having mini mes. Byrdie, I had so much fun painting our toes matching colors and sipping on our fancy girl drinks.”
“Swapping kids? Aw shit, y’all in deep already I see. And a beach house? Liv, the more you talk the more I’m falling in love with all of this for you. Also, with you now having access to this man’s beach house, we need to set a date most definitely for our long weekend down there.”
I shook my head at Byrdie because she was adamant about this vacation. And now with her knowing that Highland had a house down there, I knew for sure that she would really push this on me.
“Byrdie, I don’t have access to anything because that’s not my damn house, but we’ll see. I’m not sure about how deep me and Highland are, but that was major for me. You know how I am about anybody keeping Jo-Jo. And girl, I passed my baby on to Highland with no problem.”
“Which is a good thing, Liv. It means you’re not only comfortable with him, but you trust Highland with more than just you. Have you told Jasiel about him yet?”
I nodded as I bit into a wing.
“Yes. He encouraged me to explore things with him.” I continued to eat my wing as I felt Byrdie’s glare burning a hole into me.
“Oh hell no, Liv! So let me get this shit all the way the fuck right. My big headed brother knew you were getting dicked down before I did? What type of shit is that? It be yo’ own people.” I looked around to see who was close as Byrdie’s voice grew louder.
“Girl, if you don’t hush, and no. I just meant that I told him I met someone. I haven’t talked to Jasiel in a couple of days, and even then I wouldn’t tell him anything like that. Jasiel and I arecool, but we notlet me tell you how good this man cracked my backcool. C’mon now, Byrdie, you should already know I’ma only tell you how good it was.” I smiled at the memory from only a couple days ago in my kitchen and the way he’d fucked me too damn good on my counter.
“Oh shit! So you are getting dicked down, and it was good!” I sat there frozen for a minute before I realized what I had just let slip out. Byrdie’s laugh came out loud and deep as she took another bite of her food. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out.
“Don’t worry, Liv. I don’t think you’re a hoe because you let this man fuck on your first date.” I scoffed at her words.
“Good to know but it didn’t happen on the first one.” Byrdie’s mouth fell open as a smile began to form.
“Wait! No ma’am, you’re definitely keeping secrets and not telling ’em to me fast enough for my liking right now. Y’all already had date two? When and where? Hell, Highland ain’t playing, is he? It’s only been what, a week or two since y’all had the first one, and already two down. Pressure, baby.”
I laughed hard, tossing my head back as a raindrop hit my nose. My head shot up, but now I was looking at the sky to see dark clouds quickly appear.
“Damn, did they say it was going to rain today?” I reached for my napkin to wipe my hands so I could check the weather app and see the time.
“Oh hell no. You not getting outta those fucking details, Liv.” I shook my head, because of course Byrdie’s ass would think I was avoiding the conversation.
“No, I’m serious. I just felt a drop.” Just as I said that, another three fell before the sprinkles were steady enough for Byrdie to groan out of frustration.
“Oh my gosh, of course this would happen right when the tea was getting good. Fucking Mother Nature.” I looked at her andwe both busted out laughing. The rain was picking up so I knew camp was over. I looked around as the kids were all yelling and running for cover under the pavilion. I knew the call was coming next.
“Girl, you act like the phone don’t work anymore. I’ll call and tell you everything later once Jo-Jo goes to sleep.”
“No, I’ll call. You forget about me when Stepdaddy Highland comes around. Let me go anyway. I gotta get to the station in a few.” She made her way over to me, pulling me into a hug.
“Love you.”
“Love you more and stop calling him that please.” We said our goodbyes and my phone rang at the same time with the camp’s number.
Byrdie left me as she made it to her car while I answered the phone and confirmed what I already knew. I immediately thought about Highland still working and made a quick decision to get the girls too.
I packed everything up and went to the car to make sure I still had Jo-Jo’s old booster seat in my trunk for Neela. After I secured it in the car, I grabbed mine and Jo-Jo’s umbrellas.
Then I made my way over to get the kids. I walked up to the pavilion, getting Neela first since she was closer and spotted me. Then I made it to the older kids, overhearing one of the girls calling herself telling Ceona she didn’t have a mom and couldn’t do one of the activities on Friday’s family day.
“No, because the tug of war is girls versus boys. That means mommies and daddies and you don’t have a mommy, so you can’t play.” The little girl rolled her neck with her hand on her hip.
“So, I don’t wanna play that dumb game anyways.” Ceona crossed her arms over her chest, holding her head up high, and all I could think of was Highland in that moment, training her for situations like this.
But I didn’t want Ceona or Neela to be put in these situations where they felt like they couldn’t participate in an activity or be teased by the mean girl crew. No, I was here now and ready to be whatever they needed me to be.
I went to step in, but Jo-Jo came to her rescue, making my whole heart melt.
