“Probably head over to the pool. Jeremiah’s been loving his swim lessons this summer. He’s less afraid of the water. It’s so dope watching him get excited about swimming underwater and all his new tricks.”
“Aww, my little sport. I can’t believe how big he’s getting.”
“They grow up fast,” Sean sighed. “A’ight, we’re about to get outta here before it gets too late. Thanks for lunch, lil sis.” Sean pulled me in for a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Anytime. Can’t have my sport starving.”
Sean frowned at me, his eyebrows nearly meeting as his forehead creased. “That’s cold. I feed my son.”
“I’m just messing with you.” I slapped him on the arm.
“Jeremiah, come give your aunt a hug and say thank you for making us lunch.”
“We’re leaving, Daddy?”
“Yes.”
“Going to the pool?” His brown eyes sparkled with hope. I was reminded of the community center our parents used to take Sean and I to during the summers for swim lessons.
“I told you we were.”
“Yesss! Aunt Angie, you wanna come?”
“Thanks, sport, but I can’t hang out today. Maybe next time, okay?”
He came over and wrapped his arms around my hips, pressing his head against my belly. “’Kay. Thank you for the ’pisghetti and cake!”
I lowered my head, pressing a kiss to the top of his low cut hair. “Anytime.”
I waited, watching as Jeremiah told his little friend good-bye, and for my brother to load him and the food they took into the car before I waved and stepped back inside. For some reason, my mood soured after talking about my parents. I had wonderful friends, but I didn’t feel like unloading on any of them to express how empty I felt without my parents. My whole life my parents were my world. Hell, even Sean had commented on how close I was a few times, telling my mom and dad that they needed to cut the chord. But I wasn’t babied by my parents. We just were close. I moved back in with them right after college, and never felt the need to live on my own. They left me the house in their will since, at that time, Sean had purchased his own home for his then-fiancee and Jeremiah’s mother.
I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to shake off my mood, not wanting to carry it with me throughout the rest of the day. I was looking forward to spending time with Eric that evening, and I did my best to remember that. No one wants a pouting, sad date. I didn’t have much to clean up after lunch since Sean insisted he and Jeremiah do the cleaning since I cooked. I put away the now dry pots and pans and then proceeded to pack up the sandwiches, fruit, and chips I bought to surprise Eric on our date. I liked the movie in the park idea and thought instead of going out for dinner afterward, we could just eat it while we enjoyed the show. That was yet another thing I loved about my city. There was always something to do, especially during the summer months. I would have to fix my sour mood before six o’clock when Eric showed up.
Chapter Eight
Eric
As soon as she opened the door, I could tell something was weighing on Angela. She greeted me as warmly as she had any other time, but the shine in those tawny eyes was dimmer than usual.
She smiled. “Hi.”
“Hello,” I returned, leaning down to press a kiss on her lips.
“I thought instead of finding something to eat before or after the movie we could have dinner picnic-style in the park.” She held up a white wicker picnic basket.
“I should’ve known you’d be making something. I didn’t want you to go through the trouble.”
“No trouble at all. We both need to eat right?”
“Right. Let me.” I took the basket from her arms so she could lock up.
“It’s a perfect night for a movie in the park. It’s cooled off since this afternoon,” she stated as I started the ignition.
I placed the basket in the backseat so we had enough room as I drove.
“How was your day?”
I took my eyes off the road for a second to see her flash me a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Instinctively, I grabbed her hand for comfort, bringing it to my lips and then placing it on my thigh as I drove.
