“Oops. Sorry about that.”
Caziya’s face flashes a light red tinge as she returns to her seat, and I finally clear the saliva in my throat that has me embarrassing myself in front of this woman. Another first for me, but despite the awkwardness of the moment, I can’t help but appreciate Caziya attempting to assist me.
“Good looking out, Ziya. But next time, can you try a gentler hand? Who taught you to injure the person you’re attempting to help anyway? You’re gonna have me walking around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame the rest of the day.”
Caziya’s eyes brighten, and laughter comes out of her mouth, restoring the calm and easy camaraderie between us.
“It was more of a reflex thing than anything. I’m sorry, though.”
“Excuse me again. Are you ready to order?” the waiter says, returning to the table as I give Caziya the floor to provide her lunch request before doing the same. “I’ll have that out for you in a jiffy.”
“See what I mean? I know there aren’t many people in here, but he’s bucking too hard for a tip,” Caziya whispers when the waiter leaves the table.
“It’s cool. But before I forget, thank you for sharing your lunch hour with me, Ziya.”
“It’s my pleasure. I enjoyed our time the other day. I also think I’m in love with your daughter.”
My heart sputters, and my lips twitch before they shift into an easy smile upon hearing her words. Zakiyah is my most prized possession, and it’s not often that I allow her around women who aren’t family. It means everything to me that Caziya not only appreciates interacting with her but also enjoys the experience.
“Yeah, it’s clear that she’s in love with you too. Although we’ll have to keep it a secret because Kiki made my sister wait a while before expressing her love.” I smirk.
Caziya leans in, looking left and then right before she speaks again in a lower tone than she did moments ago.
“It’s our secret, but only if you’ll agree to feeding me again.”
A boisterous and loud laugh escapes my mouth at hearing the unexpected request that left Caziya’s mouth, which caught me off guard. Of all the things I might have thought she would say in response to my statement, that was nowhere in my mind. Once my laughter dies down, I lean closer until our mouths are a hair apart and provide my counteroffer.
“Only if you’ll agree to being my woman.”
Caziya’s breath catches, and her eyes dance with sparkling lights as she wastes no time giving me an answer without force or hesitation.
“Deal.”
The only response necessary is for me to do the one thing this moment calls for, . . . a kiss. I claim Caziya’s lips while ignoring the increase in my heart rate from our connection. Our lips touching and dancing send spirals of ecstasy through me, and my dick twitches in response. I take a minute to forget our surroundings and devour the softness of her mouth while sealing our new status. This moment is going to be the fuel I need to push through the rest of my workday.
It’s beentwo days since Zakai and I not only had lunch together but also became a couple, and I’m still on cloud nine. I have found myself staring off into space several times in the last forty-eight hours at the thought of my new budding relationship. Unlike my previous relationship, this one is more delicate because it’s not just Zakai that has to be considered. I have to ensure that what’s between us doesn’t negatively impact Zakiyah. She’s such a sweetheart, and with the absence of her mother, I can understand the things she’ll have to overcome when she’s older.
“My God, please don’t let Zakiyah suffer some of the same things that I have from the absence of Rosetta. I know our situations are different, but God, please let nothing buthappiness, love, security, and peace follow Zakiyah. Let her experience not a drop of torment or an ounce of tears from the lack. Let little Zakiyah be connected with people who love her and are capable of filling the void of her mother’s absence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
I wipe the lone tear that falls from the corner of my right eye and sigh while I try to push the heavy weight in my stomach down to my feet. Every time the thought of Rosetta’s neglect enters my mind, a shift of melancholy settles within me. I’m thirty, so Rosetta’s rejection shouldn’t have a noose around my neck. But the truth is, my mind has never released the pain or agony of her not wanting to raise me or be bothered with seeing me over the years. It’s like she never had a child, and that is the pain I don’t want poor little Zakiyah to experience.
“Cece!” The sound of that voice penetrating my ears nearly freezes my blood when I exit the elevator.
My eyes bounce around the lobby as a few of my colleagues pass by, staring, and my blood pressure spikes from the sudden attention. I have done my best to try and forget this man’s existence, and here he is at my place of employment. Sighing, I shift my gaze to Kelvin, who stands dead center with a bouquet of roses, while smiling uneasily. His observant eyes plead with me to be cool and not ignore him. The vein in my neck thumps wildly as I slowly walk closer since there is mixed company in the vicinity. I don’t want to draw further attention to this unexpected yet unwelcome visit.
“What the fuck do you want, Kelvin? Coming here is low even for a trifling ass nig . . .” Closing my eyes, I try to rein in my anger as my neck heats, and I bite my bottom lip to keep myself from truly crashing out in this public place.
Bashing this mothafucka in his face with my purse will land me in jail! Spitting in his face will have me circling the gossip around the water cooler the rest of the week.
My foolish ass let my nirvana of being in a relationship with Zakai prevent me from asking any probing questions. When a touch lands on my hand, my stomach clenches, and I take a ginger step back as my eyes open, Kelvin moves closer.
“Can we please talk outside, b?—”
“Don’t you fucking dare call me that name. You have five minutes. Bring your ass, goofy.”
I sidestep Kelvin and plaster on a fake smile before heading toward the double doors that will lead us outside and away from prying eyes. I can’t register anyone in our vicinity as my eyes burn with restraint while I fight to remain professional. Kelvin’s heavy footsteps behind me further grate my fraying nerves as I push through the exit, breathing in and out heavily once the outside air slaps me in the face. Once I’m a reasonable distance from the front entrance and away from being overheard, I twirl around, crossing my arms over my chest. I stare daggers at Kelvin and his audacity as he sighs before extending the bouquet of flowers toward me.
“I don’t want that shit. What do you want? How the fuck did you think it was okay for you to show up at my job?”
