Giggling, I helped her down from her stool and escorted her back toward the bed where I had her pajamas laid out.
“You guys are having a pajama party,” I pointed. “Don’t you want to have fun with your friends?”
“Yes. But—” she pouted.
“No buts and stop pouting,” I tapped her nose. “Pretty girls don’t pout, right?” I asked then began tickling her sides. “Right?”
“Right!” she cackled. “Right, mommy!”
“Okay, then, come on.” I stepped back and pulled her up off of the bed. “Let’s get you ready then mommy can get ready.”
I’d already ran her a bath, so we went back inside the bathroom after undressing her. I washed her up really good then brushed her teeth, lotion her up, and got her dressed just in time because Jazzlyn was at the door waiting for her when we were done.
I went ahead and started to get myself ready after they ran off. I was glad that when I left Aldrick’s house, I’d grabbed my small jewelry box because my gold necklace and earrings were going to go perfectly with the dress that Mrs. Latrina and Mel picked out for me. While we were at the mall, they insisted that I get jewelry too, but I declined and stood firm on that decision. Kiyan and his family had done plenty, besides, I loved the setthat I was wearing tonight because it was the last thing given to me by my own mother.
After I showered, I moisturized my skin then slipped on my dress. I’d gotten my nails done short, so it was easy for me to put my jewelry on myself. My hair was next. After getting it curled, I had them pin it up until it was time for me to go out later, so I removed the rollers then pulled the curls. It came out perfectly. My hair was bouncy and full of volume.
Just as I got my shoes on, there was a knock at the door then Kayla stuck her head inside.
“Oh wow.” She grinned, stepping all the way in. “My brother is going to faint for sure when he sees you. You look amazing.”
I blushed, turning my gaze toward the mirror.
“Thank you,” I simpered. “So do you.”
“It’s not very often that I get to get this done up. We are usually so busy with work and whatever the boys have going on, so I had to go all out for my man tonight.”
“He’s lucky,” I commented. “It doesn’t even look like you’ve had two kids.”
“Oh, that’s because me and my little family are gym rats,” she giggled. “The way they eat, and have me eating, wehaveto be. Plus, it’s our little bonding time too.”
“I may have to adopt that idea, but I can’t imagine that Ava would do right in the gym.”
“Trust me, Kyron and Isaiah were a nightmare in there at first, but the more you go, the more she’ll get used to it. Besides, Kiyan has a gym right downstairs, so you don’t have to go far.”
“Oh, we wo?—”
“Welp, it’s about time for us to head out,” she cut me off with a smile. “Are you ready?”
I chuckled lowly knowing why she’d cut me off. Her and everyone else insisted that Ava and I stayed put, even after the holidays. I liked Kiyan.A lot. But I also didn’t want to imposeany longer than we had already. He was nice enough to open his doors to us and had gone beyond imaginable measures to make sure that my daughter and I were straight, so even if me and him decided to take things further, I still thought it would be best if I had my own space.
I sprayed on some perfume, grabbed my clutch then followed Kayla out of the room. Everyone else was already downstairs, so I hiked my dress up and began my descent. Kiyan was standing at the bottom of the stairs having a conversation with his brother-in-law, but the moment he noticed me, he paused whatever he was saying and stared at me, almost as if he was in awe. It was like that every time he saw me—as if it was the first time every time.
Grabbing onto the railing, he climbed a few steps to take my hand and help me down the last few stairs, but he didn’t stop staring and his expression never changed.
“Boy she’s not going to disappear,” his dad teased when we made it to the bottom.
“Leila, you look gorgeous, baby,” I heard Mrs. Latrina say, so I faced her and smiled.
“Thank you. You look beautiful too.”
“Leila… wow.” Kiyan pulled me closer. “You look…” he paused, casting his gaze down my entire frame then back up until our eyes met. “Wow.”
I blushed hard. “Thank you, Kiyan. You clean up nice too.”
“Come on, Ki. You have all night to stare like a lovesick puppy. We need to head out. These shoes are just meant to be cute, not to stand around in all night.”
He wasn’t paying his sister any mind, so I had to start walking and pull him along. I was with her. My shoes were cute and all, but I wasn’t going to make it all night in them, I needed to rest my feet as much as I could.
