Jashaun and the most adorable girl stared back at me with the same amused grin. “Ah…good morning, neighbor. We didn’t mean to scare you.”
Jussica covered her mouth to hide her giggles.
Faced with the reality that Jashaun was truly a father stole my next breath. This wasn’t a game or pretend. I had to be ready to be a stepmother if I wanted to be with him.
His forehead furrowed. “Um…sorry to bother you. Need your help.”
“Can you comb my hair? Because he can’t do it at all.” Jussica pointed at her hair, which did appear to be roughly combed into two puffs.
I checked my watch and looked back up at two faces pleading with me. “Come on.”
Jashaun leaned against the wall with folded arms, watching us in my bathroom. “Can you do it so it looks good for the week?”
“She needs to tie her head at night. Still, her hairstyle will last two or three days, tops.” I opened my drawer and found a pink satin scarf, and gave it to her. “Do you know how to put it on your head?”
Jussica barely nodded, too busy staring at the mirror with narrowed eyes, making sure she liked her hairstyle. Also, like her father, she apparently cared about her appearance. “Can you add a bow or something?”
“I don’t have bows.” I put my hands on my hips. “This is as good as I can do. I know a braider who can do her hair, so you don’t have to worry for a couple of weeks.”
“Ooh, I want blonde braids like Blue Ivy that go down my back.”
He and I answered at the same time. “No.”
Our eyes met in the mirror, and suddenly, being a stepmother didn’t seem so scary after all.
To placate her fallen expression, I scrambled around in my drawer and found a glitter headband. “Want to wear this today?”
“Thank you.” Jussica smiled widely as I placed it on her head. Missing teeth in children always melted me. I impulsivelyhugged her, and she returned it warmly. She looked up at me. “Are you my daddy’s girlfriend?”
“No, Ms. Soraya is just daddy’s friend and neighbor.” He promptly answered without looking at me.
Jussica hugged me again and left the bathroom.
His hand touched my lower back, and he kissed my nape. “I don’t think it’s time to tell her who you are to me. Yet.”
Although his quick denial shot a searing heat to my gut, I also couldn’t argue with his logic. Jussica had just learned about her father, and her mother had abruptly left her with him last night.
He followed me out of the bathroom and whispered, “You can punish me all night in San Antonio if you’re mad with me.”
“Daddy, come on.” She stomped her foot, holding the knob of my front door that she’d opened. “I’m hungry.”
“I am too.” He lowered his voice and held the door for me to pass him as I hid my blush.
“You’re horrible,” I whispered.
“Always. Tell, Ms. Soraya, ‘bye’.” Jashaun prompted.
She waved and took off for the elevator.
“Hey, what did I tell you about running in the building?” He barked, and she stopped, waiting for him.
As soon as he made it to her, he started running, and she chased after him, giggling.
“Y’all go ahead. I think I’ll take the stairs.” I smiled, shaking my head. He would be a fun dad and husband.
Lord, Raya. Can we keep it at the boyfriend level, first?
As the presenter droned on about the literature and job descriptions changes to follow the removal of anything DEI related, I couldn’t focus with the heavenly-smelling man besideme. I snuck a side glance, and he seemed focused on what was being said, and given that he had a higher rank as an executive who had to ensure his staff followed federal, state, and city regulations, he didn’t have much choice. Only the slight curve of his lips indicated that he caught my stare. I sighed internally. The last three days here had been the best time I’d ever had at a conference or with a man.
