“Absolutely breathtaking,” I added.
Freddy grabbed her hand and helped her off the last step. “It’s your job to cater to her for the rest of the evening.”
“Yes sir.” Tyler jumped into action, rushing over to grab Amill’s hand. He lifted it like a delicate flower and planted a kiss on Amill’s hand before releasing his grip. Tyler’s nerves were getting the best of him as he fumbled with the clear plastic container that housed the corsage.
“You look amazing,” he complimented, trying his best to hide the nerves.
“Thanks, you look great too.”
“Relax jit,” Yaseer encouraged.
I gently rubbed my hands up and down his back, proud of him for not jumping down his throat like I’m positive he wanted to. The tension was evident in his shoulders, but I’d work all of that out of him later. Tyler finally lifted the corsage out of the box and Freddy reached for the box to dispose of it.
“Wait! Let me get a few pictures of him putting the corsage on,” I cut in, rushing back into the living room where I left my camera earlier. When I ran back, I immediately bent down a little next to them to get a good angle. “Okay. I’m ready.”
I snapped pictures while Tyler slid the blush-toned flowers onto her wrist. They were both nervous because now that the corsage was on her wrist, the petals trembled slightly. Amill was showing all of her pearly white teeth.
“Alright, let me get a few pictures of you guys together. The stairs are a perfect backdrop,” I suggested.
Like a pair of naturals, Amill and Tyler posed for the camera. Everyone had their phones out snapping pictures until we led them outside for more pictures in front of the Camaro Tyler pulled up in.
“The photoshoot has been amazing but we are taking off,” Amill announced, officially over it all and ready to go.
“Soooooo the curfew tonight,” Amill faltered, her eyes landing directly on me.
Yaseer snapped his fingers and Wayne opened the door to his truck.
Wayne stepped out of Yaseer’s truck as he started speaking. “I hear you wanted a two a.m. curfew. The best I can do is one a.m. and there will be no stops at hotels. And my driver is going to make sure that rules are followed.”
“Dad!” Amill whined.
“Yaseer,” I pulled on is tank top.
He leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Don’t Yaseer me. I shot at your husband, remember? Wayne takes her or her ass can stay here all night.”
“Amill, I think this is a great compromise. Time is steady ticking, the longer you stand here whining the less time you and Tyler have out together.” I urged.
“Traitor,” she turned her nose up and clacked her way over to the truck where Wayne was waiting to help them inside.
“I promise to take good care of her and have her back before curfew,” Tyler assured us.
“See, he seems like a decent kid,” I grinned, watching them pull off.
“I liked him,” Vicky affirmed. “I hear you have two boys of your own, Marissa. Room for any more kids in your future?”
My body instantly tensed up, and I hoped my face wasn’t betraying me.
“We have plenty of time to think about something like that.”
“The look on her face says otherwise,” Vicky pointed out, letting me know that I was failing miserably.
Yaseer looked down at me. The disappointment was etched on his face. “They are barely together, Vicky, and you over here asking about a kid. Can we at least get to know her over dinner first?”
“As y’all can see we are already in pajamas. It’s been a long day, we can order something, but we are in for the night.”
“That works. We will be taking up residence here for a few days because there is a tropical storm about to blow through Miami, and I’m not trying to be down there when it does. Order something good while we take a shower,” Freddy requested, holding his wife’s hand.
They led the way back into the house, and I mentally prepared myself for the conversation I knew Yaseer would want to have once we were alone. I guess this was one of those age gap struggles we’d be facing early on.
