And every time he glanced toward the house, he wondered if she was awake, thinking about him too, or if he was just another moment she tucked away so she didn’t feel stupid for wanting more.
He hated the thought…hated how it clawed at him…hated how he couldn’t read her as clearly as he wanted to because Meadow was a walking contradiction.
She flirted with him boldly and fearlessly then avoided him like looking at him too long was dangerous.
She teased him, then pulled back like she was scared she liked him too much.
She fed him, laughed with him, worked beside him, but still acted like the night they shared was some accident she didn’t know how to explain.
In Crescent Park, if you wanted somebody, you said that shit. You didn’t dance around it…you didn’t pretend, but this wasn’t Crescent.
This was her land, her life, her rules. And although he hated playing by the rules, he’d humbly concede to hers.
So he moved quietly and he was careful, trying not to show how bad he wanted her.
Zaire was lining up another shot when he heard the sound of shoes crunching against the gravel that lead up to the green.
“Well, well,well…” Rena called out, dragging the words. “Ain’t this the sexy-ass sunrise I didn’t know I needed?”
Zaire closed his eyes. “Good morning…” he muttered.
Rena smiled like he’d said the best thing ever. “What you got going on?”
Zaire looked at her like she was dumb. Instead of answering her, he just lifted his club and swung.
She snickered. “Not a morning person, I guess.”
“You’re here early,” Zaire finally looked down at her.
She was short compared to him, though taller than Meadow. But then again, some of her students were already taller than her. She was truly a short thing.
Rena touched his arm. “You be keeping up with me?”
“More like Magnolia,” Zaire said.
“Oh,” she shrugged her shoulders. “I know Meadow brought you downtown but let me show you how we really party. We can go to the city…it’s way more to do there.”
“Oh, yea?” His brow lifted.
The sound of a low rumble cut Rena off and made Zaire stop pretending to be paying attention. It was so loud, it shookthe ground and made his ears ring a little. Craning his neck, he looked up to the sky for it.
Rena squinted. “Oh hell no…not again.”
Zaire dropped his gaze and looked at Rena before the sound pulled his eyes up too.
A small crop duster plane was circling low…really low.
His brows pulled together. “What the hell-”
Rena sucked her teeth. “Meadow…swear she a damn pilot.”
“You lyin’?”
“NO, I wish I was.” Rena pointed as the plane dipped lower, swooping across the tree line. “She waters the grass with that thing and sometimes flies it for the annual Juneteenth gathering. The kids love it.”
Zaire stared, jaw unhinged. “She flyin’ that?”
“Yea,” Rena huffed, “to water the grass.”
