“Leave my sister alone. We do have a mommy. So, if she wants to play, she can play. Come on, Cece, Mommy’s here.” I didn’t even know Jo-Jo had seen me until he said something.
I fought back my tears as I held the umbrella for Jo-Jo and Ceona, who ran into my body, wrapped her arms around my waist. Once she let go, I tilted her head to see the tears welling up in her eyes. I placed my hand on her cheek, hoping she understood that she had me from now on. I smiled, causing Ceona to do the same.
“Hey my babies, are y’all ready to go?” I rubbed her back with her nodding to answer while Jo-Jo moved to open his umbrella for them, then wrapping his arm over her shoulder. I chuckled to myself because he really was the little big brother. Ceona had a good five inches over Jo-Jo, but he didn’t care. I bent down to pick Neela up to make it easier to get us both there dry.
“Mommy, can we get BJ’s for a snack today?” he asked as soon as we reached the car. They hopped in first while I tried to balance both the umbrella and getting Neela in the seat.
“Let’s call Mr. Lando first before we make food decisions; he might have plans for the girls already,” I said, breathing heavily as I struggled to keep the umbrella up to protect my hair while I strapped Neela in.
The groans came in unison from them as the umbrella began to slip from the crook in my arm making me stand, doing my best to catch it, but it was falling fast.
“Damn,” I said lowly, as I bent down, preparing to pick it up when I noticed the rain wasn’t hitting me. I smelled him.That sweet bourbon and sandalwood scent had me shooting up and turning to see Highland standing behind me, holding his umbrella over us.
“Hi, baby.” His pearly whites flashed before he leaned down and gently pecked my lips.
“Highland, what are you doing here?” I asked, still confused at how he was standing in front of me.
“The foul weather called us in earlier than expected. I was hoping to beat you here so you could enjoy your lunch with Byrdie.”
I chuckled at us both having the same thought of being considerate of each other’s time.
“Byrdie and I were already here having lunch when the rain started. I got the call and walked over to get them. Oh my God, I should’ve called you first. I hope it’s okay that I was going to take them with me. I just realized I was kidnapping your girls.” I covered my now wide open mouth.
Olive, you just be doing shit.
Highland, clearly amused, snickered at me as he nodded.
“Olive, I was about to do the same thing. It’s not kidnapping when you or I pick ’em up. I know they’re safe with you and you know Jo-Jo will be safe with me. Shit, I’m sure even with me here they will want to stay with you.”
“I doubt it.” Highland then leaned to the side, getting the kids’ attention. They all yelled out their greetings to him. To prove his point, Highland asked the girls if they were ready to go with him.
The whines that came from Ceona and Neela had Highland tossing me a knowing smirk as he came back into my view.
“See, they not even thinking about me. And I can hundred percent understand because I’m not trying to be away from you either.” Highland went to kiss me again when Ceona’s voice came out, stopping him.
“Daddy, you can kiss Ms. Liv later; we want to go to BJ’s for our snacks.” She said it so matter of factly that she had me laughing as Highland mumbled low enough so I could hear him say something about blocking ass kids.
“Oh yeah, that was another phone call. They asked for BJ’s.”
“That sounds like Cece’s request for sure. Well, I guess we’re headed to get food. I’ll follow you. Let me get you in the car.” Highland closed the back door, then walked me around to the driver side and proceeded to open mine, ushering me inside.
Ugh, he’s such a freaking gentleman.
“Ms. Liv, I’m tired,”Neela said as she came up to me on the couch, extending her little arms my way, letting me know she wanted to lay on me. We all ended up back down in the Keys at the beach house after getting BJ’s to-go. The rain had us all stuck in the house today and I didn’t mind it. Jo-Jo and Ceona were both sitting at the table playing with Legos. While Highland and I were snuggled up on the couch playing the question game as he called it.
“Dang, Neela, you don’t want Daddy to hold you?” Highland asked with Neela swiftly shaking her head as she began to climb onto my lap.
“I keep telling you, I give the best cuddles. It’s your fault that you still haven’t experienced them,” I said as I snuggled Neela into my arms.
“Naw, but I got the way to fix that. How about you stay? There’s enough space for Jo-Jo to have his own room.”
Are y’all ready for an overnight, Olive? That’s a big step. You haven’t slept in a bed with a man in years.
Hell no.
“I don’t know?—”
Highland cut me off by putting two fingers on my lips.
