He could tell that she was still upset about whatever had happened between her and Jalen before they’d met up today, but she’d been doing her best not to show it.
“I don’t know,” he told her. “My brother is the operations manager for a Cayman Industries company, and Kieran’s wife is an artist. She has her own gallery and has been selling her pieces. But it isn’t always about the money if it’s something you’re passionate about.”
“I guess,” Landon responded before going back to eating the fruit on her plate.
“I hear you like comic books, Mikal. Are you reading any right now?”
“I just finished Umbrella Academy. Jalen said we could go after school on Tuesday so I can get a new one. I’m thinking about getting Ms. Marvel. I’ve been waiting to get started on that one, but I don’t like to start a new one until I finish one.”
“What’s your favorite comic?” Rohan questioned.
“I’m really into superhero comics. I thinkThe New 52is probably my favorite.”
“Good choice. I prefer the older version, but I have to say that one was good as well.”
“You read comics?!” Mikal asked excitedly.
“I do,” he confirmed.
“Uncle Rohan has a collection at his house,” Alynn threw in. “He buys a new one like every week.”
“I do not,” he countered, and Jalen laughed.
“Jalen reads comics too. Most of the time with me, but it still counts. So, I guess that’s something you guys have in common,” Mikal said with a smile.
They broke off into several small conversations. Rohan tried to hold several with each of Jalen’s siblings. He wanted to get to know them and wanted them to get to know him as well. Ifhe was going to be dating their sister, he wanted them all to get along. He knew that would make things easier for Jalen.
Once they’d finished eating, the younger four decided they wanted to play a little while longer, and Rohan and Jalen went with them. Giving Kodi a break to just be by herself if that was what she wanted. Since she’d been with them the entire time before they started eating.
They pushed them on the swings, swung them on the merry-go-round, and helped the twins cross the monkey bars. At some point, Landon and Kodi wandered over, and they all played Red Rover for a bit.
They ended up staying at the park another hour and a half. Once the twins seemed tuckered out, they packed everything up and reloaded it.
“This was fun,” Mikal said.
“We should do it again,” Kodi tacked on, giving them both a sly smile.
Rohan couldn’t help but chuckle. She was playing belated matchmaker, or well, pushing them to spend time together.
“Ignore her,” Jalen said once it was just the two of them standing outside of her vehicle. “It’s the Taurus in her. They are meddlesome.”
“She’s fine. I’m sure she just wants what’s best for you. Besides, she and Mikal are right. It was fun, and we should do it again.”
“Yeah, we should,” she agreed. He leaned down and kissed her gently.
“Let me know when you make it home.” He opened her car door for her and watched her slide in. Closing it, he stepped back, allowing her to pull out of the parking spot with a wave before he got in his vehicle.
“That was so much fun,” Alynn told him as soon as he got in. “I like Jalen and her sisters. We can do this again, right?” she asked.
“That’s good, Shrimp. I’m glad you got along with them, and yes, we can do this again,” he responded, backing out. “Now, to get you home. I told Trent I’d have you back by five.”
“Yeah, I have some homework to finish. Just a chapter I have to read and some questions to answer.”
Rohan shook his head. His niece had always been one to put off her homework until the last minute when they’d let her, but she’d always gotten it done. They’d all tried to tell her about procrastinating, but it seemed she made better grades when she did.
Heading towards his brother’s house, Rohan decided he’d stick around there for a bit and see what Trent was going to cook. There was nothing like a home-cooked meal when you weren’t the one who had to cook it.
14
