“She looks good,” Mr. Nickels says as Zah and the other runners take their places.
“She’s been working hard,” I say proudly.
“The vibe here is great,” Erica says excitedly beside me. “You both look so happy here. I’m not getting this on my campus. My school is so lame.”
“You have options, sweetheart,” my mother says.
“Quiet, they’re about to start,” my youngest brother, Eddy, says.
He’s nine and has a thing for Zahirah. She babies him and protects him from the rest of us. In his eyes, Zah is a star. I can’t blame the kid. She lights up my world too.
We all chuckle at him, but turn our focus on Zahirah and the track. I lift my hands to my lips and blow into them. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. This is a huge weekend for us.
I’m hoping our families will receive the news well. I don’t know what I will do if they don’t approve of us. Zahirah isn’t one to defy her parents much.
Her decision to come here against their initial wishes is probably the most defiant she’s ever been. If her parents don’t agree, this could be the end of us. The thought makes me sick to my stomach.
“Come on, Zah,go,” her dad bellows, pulling me from my thoughts.
I smile with pride as our family rises to their feet to cheer for her. I’m standing with my hair in my hands as I watch on. There’s one girl ahead of her, but Zah is gliding as she stays on her heels.
“Come on, baby,” I yell as she gets right up on the other runner.
Zah runs right by the other girl and leaves everyone in her dust. There’s a clear gap between her and the others. There’s no way they’re catching her now.
My baby glides right across the finish line. I roar with excitement and rush down to the sideline. Zah races over to me and slams into me as she hops on my waist, wrapping her legs around me.
She had been worried all night that she would choke in front of our family. I told her she could do it. I knew she would crush it. When she picked up her hip number and was given eleven, I knew today would be epic.
“You did it, baby. I’m so proud of you,” I croon as I hold her tight.
She cups my face and kisses me. I take the kiss a little further as I move one hand to her ass and grasp her face with the other. Whistles and catcalls ring out.
We’re used to that around campus. It’s not until throats are cleared that I remember where we are and break the kiss. I release Zah to allow her to slide down my front. Taking her hand in mine, I lace our fingers together as we turn to face our family.
Our dads are standing with expressionless faces and their arms across their chests. Our moms are on either side of them with smiles on their faces. I think we’ll be fine with them.
“How long has this been going on?” Mr. Nickels asks.
“Since about two weeks after I arrived,” Zah replies.
“Wait, you were the cheating boyfriend?” Erica says.
“I didn’t cheat.”
“He didn’t cheat,” Zah and I say at the same time.
“It was a misunderstanding. We cleared things up.”
Someone calls Zah’s name. She turns to find her coach waving for her to come over. Great, I’m going to be left to deal with this alone.
“I’ll be back,” she says to me as she grabs my bicep and lifts on her toes, puckering her lips.
I dip my head and peck her lips before she turns and runs off. Watching after her with a smile on my face, I take a deep breath.This isn’t really how we planned to do this. I guess we both got caught up in the moment.
I turn back to our parents and groan. This is the moment of truth. I look to Mr. Nickels and stand up straighter.
“What are your intentions for my baby girl, Coswell?”
