Zakai:
Come on in, I’ll meet you at the entrance.
“Now, Satan, I’m warning you now. While I have a nice Christian upbringing, I don’t have a problem joining you in the gutter. Tread lightly, or I promise I won’t have an ounce of reservation giving Aunt Emmy more ammunition for her prayer closet.” With nothing else to add, I exit my car and briskly walk to the entrance.
I step fully into the strip club, and my eyes bounce around the room as surprise fills me when not a single exotic dancer is visible. It takes my mind a second to catch up with the unexpectedness of that fact when Zakai’s face comes into view. Beside him is a woman whose familiarity with Zakai has my gaze bouncing between the two of them. Before I can turn around andwalk back out the door, Zakai pulls me into him and kisses me, instantly stealing my breath.
“Mm,” I moan.
“I missed you, Ziya. But fix your face; it ain’t what you think,” Zakai whispers after our kiss ends.
What’s crazy is that being in Zakai’s arms settles my spirit, mind, and disposition the longer he holds me close. A frown forms when our connection is broken as Zakai smirks before acknowledging the woman he walked up with.
“Like I said over the phone, despite this being a strip club, I wanted you to come here so you could help me sample the new menu my cousin is testing out for her patrons. This is my cousin, Alecia Clark. Cousin, this is my lady, Caziya.”
Oh shit! I totally misread this whole thing. Cousin?
A shred of doubt enters my mind until Zakai’s lips lightly touch mine a second time as if he realizes I need the silent confirmation that all is well.
“Let her breathe, Kai. Damn. Hello, Caziya. It’s nice to meet you. My sincere condolences on being the woman falling for my cousin’s affections.” Alecia smirks.
“It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.” I wink.
“Wow. For real, Ziya? You wound me.” Zakai’s face twists, and his lips twist into a frown that causes me and Alecia to laugh at his expense. “Come on so I can feed you, and you can give the details necessary to go hunting for the fool who wasn’t smart enough to stay away from you.”
A giddy feeling surges through me as my world and encounter with Kelvin melt with Zakai’s words. Although I don’t have much information to share with Zakai regarding Kelvin’s whereabouts, it does something for my ego and bruised heart to hear his concern. Maybe I should have let Zakai kick Kelvin’s ass at the bar that day.
Caziya:
I’m not asking. Be at my place at seven for dinner and bring Zakiyah.
5151 Wishbone Circle, Apt C
I shake my head,laughing at Caziya’s forward text message that doesn’t broker a rebuttal or rejection. Thanks to Kiki’s soft snores, I’m just waking up from an unintended nap. I just saw Caziya’s messages from several hours ago. Exiting the thread between Caziya and me, I dial my sister praying she will be free for the night. Although Kiki has been given clearance to join me for dinner at Ziya’s house, I want to spend some time with my woman alone.
“Hey, big brother. What’s up?” Asia asks when the call connects after the second ring.
“I need a huge favor, Sis.”
My gaze shifts to a napping Kiki as I await Asia’s reply, and anxiousness fills my extremities. I love my daughter with everything in me, but Daddy needs some one-on-one time with his lady without the presence of little, fragile ears.
“What do you need?”
“Are you busy tonight and tomorrow?”
“It’s Friday. I uh—let me stop lying. No, I’m free all weekend, actually.”
I exhale the air gathering in my lungs as a smile slides into place at the knowledge of Asia’s open calendar.
“Bet. Can Kiki spend the night with you? I’ll pick her up sometime tomorrow afternoon if it’s cool with you.”
“I’ll be here, so bring her whenever,” Asia says before disconnecting the call without another word.
Pumping my fist, I hop up from the couch so I can gather a couple of snacks for Zakiyah for when she wakes up. My parents and Asia have clothes at their houses for Zakiyah, so I never have to worry about packing a bag or anything. I’m sure Asia has snacks for Zakiyah too, but I’m not sure what kind of mood she’ll be in upon waking up, so it’s best to be prepared. Call it desperation or call it the innate desire to see my woman, but I have Kiki’s snacks ready and her awake in no time.
“Weepy, Daddy,” Kiki says after I secure her in her booster seat in my vehicle.
“I’m sorry. But you’re going to spend the night with Auntie Asia.”
