I had no idea why I even got involved or why I would lie. But it came out with ease.
She looked at me then back to them before she asked if they knew me. The oldest nodded before she repeated my name back to her. I sighed; glad she recalled it with confidence. The counselor looked me up and down, squinting, not sure if she should believe us or not. After a minute of silence she fixed her face and pushed her shoulders back.
“Okay, just making sure. See y’all next week. Have a good weekend,” she said as she began to walk away but not before looking at me quizzically once more.
Once she was gone, I called the oldest over to me.
“Maybe we should call your dad. Do you know his number?” My question was a long shot. Most kids her age knew how to work a phone but I didn’t have faith that she would actually remember the ten digit number.
She nodded before she pulled out a phone, making my mouth fall open.
“Huh, well lets see how close he is.” She hit his contact name. I then reached for it to put it on speaker.
When no one answered she hung up, but a rich yet rough baritone called out for her from behind us.
I turned to see a muscular man making his way over to us. Suddenly my mouth was sealed shut as I stood there like a deer in headlights unable to move, talk, or take my eyes off him.
Gotdamn.
He was at a distance but what I could make out was fine as hell. Tattoos were riddled down his chocolate arms. I couldn’t tell if he had waves or just a haircut under his baseball cap. The plain white T-shirt clung to his body and I could tell he did manual labor.
Olive, now you just guessing and playing.
He tossed his hand up and I swore I could see it flexing even from here.
“Cece, Neela!” The girls ran to meet him halfway. He waved and I waved back. That was it. And like that, he was gone.
I stood for a minute longer before I called out to Jo-Jo.
By the timewe made it home, Byrdie was pulling up right behind us with her son Darius. He was a year older than Jo-Jo. I loved that they had each other. Growing up as an only child, I was lonely the majority of the time. Not that I had a lot of free time outside of school and Angie.
“Girl, you know how much I hate when that big head brother of mine is the reason for the extended invite over here. Like who the hell is the best friend here? Uht uht uhn, do better, Liv,” she joked as she hopped out of her car. I was confused at what she was talking about. I hadn’t heard from Jasiel since Monday night when he called Jo-Jo.
“And what is the reason Jasiel gave you to be here today? And heffa, real best friends don’t need invites, so who needs to do better with those pop up visits?” I joked back just as I unlocked the door, then stepped aside so the boys didn’t knock me over as they ran inside.
“Now you know how he is about Jo-Jo, we’re here to celebrate his week down of camp. He said a pizza party on him. And girl, when they decide I’m no longer a valuable person at the radio station, I will gladly go back to my daily blow downs. It’s been far too long since we just hung out. Please vacation me andsoon.” I playfully rolled my eyes at Jasiel sending Byrdie with pizza for camp.
“What is this word that you speak of? Vacation? Can you use it in a sentence for me please? I’m not used to such foreign language.” I couldn’t remember the last real vacation I’d taken.
“Vacation. Me and you in the sun, toes buried in the warm sand, with drinks in our hands.”
“You left out Jo-Jo and Darius in that sentence, ma’am. We have kids,” I said just as we made it past the threshold into the house. I could hear Jo-Jo’s TV on and loud, letting me know the boys were already upstairs and had the game on.
“Yeah, I know, and for a reason, because they have daddies who can take over, if only for a weekend or something. Shit, mama needs a break too. And plus, this is the summer we find you a man. It’s been far too long since you had one of those too.”
“Heffa what drugs did you just say yes to today because your brother is very much not here to take over. And please don’t start with this dating thing. I told you, if it happens, then it happens. Plus, let’s not act like the last one didn’t run out before dinner was over once he found out what I did for a living.”
We made it to the kitchen where she set down the boxes of pizza while I washed my hands before getting the open bottle of wine out of the refrigerator. Byrdie washed hers before getting the glasses down.
“Girl, did I say date? I meant fuck. You can leave out all the personal information, just name, age, and status, all of them to have a little fun. If anybody deserves it, it’s you. And Jasiel will be here in a couple of weeks; we can plan something. We don’t even have to go far, just something on a beach for a couple of days. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I did tell Jo-Jo we could spend a weekend at Splash Mountain when your brother comes home though.” Byrdiekissed her teeth while I shrugged and took a sip of the wine I had just poured into my glass. It was the best I had to offer.
“Ugh, and how does that soothe your soul and get you some dick? Oh my God, wait—please don’t tell me you and Jasiel are…”
My eyes grew wide as I damn near choked on my sip while Byrdie’s whole face twisted up as if it was the most disgusting thought.
“I promise whatever drugs you’re on today, don’t take that shit no more. It’s got you behaving badly. You do know that we made a baby, so the deed has already been done, right? But no, me and your brother are still just co-parents, and must I remind you we move like a family when he’s here. It’s the only way I get a break while on the staycations because who else is going to watch Jo-Jo while I’m at the spa or whatever?”
