“Her pwitty.” Zakiyah smiles while pointing at Caziya.
“Yes, she is, Kiki.” I cosign as Caziya and I lock eyes. “Can you say hi to Daddy’s pretty friend?”
Intense astonishment takes shape on Caziya’s face when her eyes bounce from me to Kiki. With my early morning departure, which didn’t provide an explanation, I’m sure seeing me with my daughter has her out of sorts. Countless seconds pass before Caziya’s face clears, and a wide grin upturns her nude-colored lips when Zakiyah starts waving. My eyes stretch at the animated expression coming from Kiki because it’s more than I’ve ever seen from her with someone other than family.
“Hi,” Kiki says in a singsong voice, which causes a smirk to form on my lips. Something about seeing my baby girl being so friendly with Caziya triggers an adrenaline rush within my body.
“Oh my God. How are you, cutie patootie? I love your beads,” Caziya tells Kiki, gushing, causing me to get lost in her beauty as her cheeks heighten.
“Me too,” Kiki says, pointing at Caziya, who laughs heartily because it’s clear that Zakiyah is trying to tell her that she’s cute too.
For a minute, I simply stare at the two-way conversation happening between Kiki and Caziya, without adding or taking away from their exchange. My heart stretches with every passingminute, and I’m starting to feel like this is a moment in time that I shouldn’t let pass by.
“Can we sit and enjoy our ice cream together? It looks like my daughter is just as enamored with you as I was the first time I saw you.”
Caziya’s assessing eyes bounce between Kiki and me. I momentarily hold my breath, waiting for her answer.
“I wouldn’t want to interrupt your time with your daughter. I also don’t want to cause any problems for you at ho—oh shoot. You spent the night with me and you ha?—”
“Breathe, Ziya. Don’t let whatever thoughts are swirling in that pretty head of yours change your mind about me. I’m not that guy. If you take me up on my offer, we can discuss it further.”
Caziya’s eyes stretch before she stares wordlessly like she’s searching my eyes for a contradiction within my words.
“O-okay,” Caziya says in a shaky tone, causing relief to surge through my body as I nod before going through the process of getting ice cream for Kiki and me.
The idea of Caziya changing her mind has me practically rushing the worker behind the counter while also ensuring Kiki gets her sprinkles. Not wanting to waste any more of Caziya’s time, I use my phone to pay for our cold creamery and nearly drag Zakiyah to the table where Caziya is already scooping ice cream into her mouth.
“Ouchy, Daddy,” Kiki whines, flexing her hand once we reach the table, effectively making me feel like shit with my attempt to have an impromptu encounter with Caziya.
“Aw. What’s wrong, cutie? Did Daddy hurt you?” Caziya asks, giving Kiki the cutest fucking pout I’ve seen from a grown-ass woman.
The traitor who lives in my house, being raised and cared for by me, bobs her little head up and down, causing her beads to shake.
“Wow. Really, Kiki?”
Seeing Zakiyah take to Caziya so effortlessly has me ready to give my left nut to keep her in our presence. Single parenthood doesn’t provide me with many opportunities to entertain women, and I damn sure don’t bring randoms around my baby. Something about Caziya and Kiki’s reaction to her makes it easy for me to welcome Caziya into our ice cream social.
“Leave this baby alone, mean ole Daddy,” Caziya tells me, smirking before shifting her attention back to Kiki. “How about you sit beside me, and I’ll make sure Daddy doesn’t hurt you anymore?”
Kiki giggles, and the sound along with Caziya’s smile has me realizing that for the first time since becoming a single father, a woman has gotten more than my sexual attention. The comfortable feelings from the night I made a move to change Caziya’s sad disposition return tenfold, and I sit down once Kiki does, with a renewed interest to get to know the woman across from me. When Kiki starts eating her ice cream, I jump into a conversation with Caziya, hoping for an easy interaction between us.
“As I promised, I want to clear the air as it pertains to our sleepover.”
Caziya’s breath hitches, and her chest begins to rise and fall heavily as the spoon of butter pecan hovers in front of her mouth upon hearing my words. Her eyes become a mask of uncertainty as an array of emotions takes turns in the spotlight for the moment. Forging ahead is easy, as I know that Caziya is still struggling with the aftermath of what led to our meeting.
“I’m not that man and have never been that man. I’m as single as a dollar bill. The only woman occupying my everydaylife and occasionally my bed is her,” I say, nodding toward Kiki as Caziya’s eyes shift from me to my daughter.
“Wh-what about her mother?” Caziya mutters.
“She’s deceased, which is a story for another day. Just know, I’m single and would never place you in another compromising position. So, how have you been, Ziya?”
Pretending like I haven’t been feeling a way about leaving a sleeping Caziya a week ago is something I can’t do. My mind might have been occupied over the last week, but even in the silent moments, I have thought about her and how she’s been doing since the relationship bomb detonated.
“Things are starting to get better, and my chest isn’t feeling so heavy.” Caziya’s face flashes with relief and something unreadable as I nod before scooping some of my strawberry ice cream into my mouth.
My eyes shift to Kiki, who isn’t paying attention to Caziya or me as she enjoys her ice cream while dancing in her seat.
“I’m happy to hear that, Ziya. Can I ask how long you and goofy were together?”
