“Theywere readingIndigo –okay, he’s been reading, she’s been listening, which is easier with a baby she says – and asked had I ever read it or anything by Beverly and then gushed about how much she enjoyed the writing and how he couldn’t stop praising the writing and then offhandedly asked would I be interested in reading the next novel from herwiththem.”
“Like a book club?”
“More like I think they just want another person to talk to about books.”
“Kinda sounds like a book club….” Mirth can’t help itself from spreading in my expression. “Y’all want me to join?” Small chortles shake my fitted tan shirt covered shoulders. “Not sure Cap would like that. Maybe if I brought iced coffee? Or if like I learned to make a really goodRaf coffee Moscow style – which is heavily focused on the way everything steams together simultaneously unlike traditional lattes.”
“Shutthefrontdoor,” Alexis squeaks in a high pitch tone, “you speak German?!”
“Moscow is in Russia,” I politely correct prior to slowly nodding, “andnebol'shoye kolichestvo.”
“Eeeeekkkk!” the brunette chirps in tandem with flying to the edge of her seat. “What does that mean?!”
“A little bit,” the other half of my soul translates.
“Since when doyouspeak Russian?!” Lionel grunts in an impressed fashion.
“Um…” Gilly nervously nibbles on her bottom lip.
“You saidCap’swife,”Béchir suddenly begins, our collective gazes, “like aship’scaptain? Or a pilot?” His brow pulls together in befuddlement. “I thought Aly said you worked in the business of athletics.”
“Too tall to be a pilot,” Ciara casually announces. “Dated plenty. I’d know.”
There’s no time to process her commentary courtesy of Lionel further injecting, “Kira said the same thing; however, she never mentioned any details.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice my Slayer visibly tense.
Ah.
They don’t know.
But do they not know because she’s embarrassed for them to know?
Is she embarrassed ofme?
Ashamed that I don’t have a PHD in history or a masters in urban agriculture – although I think if Iwereto go back and hit the books again, I would be interested in the sustainability initiatives of growing coffee beans in vertical farming.
I mean…I’ve never gotten the impresh she was ashamed of me before.
Why should I now?
And since she’s not humiliated that her best friend –her brother– coaches, I can’t imagine she’d feel that way about her boyfriend –future husband– being one of the best players in the league.
I’m damn sure not.
It’s my truth.
I live it.
My groove.
I move to it.
That’swhat matters.
Just like teeth are hers.
We can appreciate and respect one another’s jams without judgment.
