Once the embers settled and the coal began to smoke, I put the steaks on.
Travis looked at his watch and mumbled something under his breath.
“What’s with you, man? This is the third time you’re looking at your watch,” I asked.
Travis gave a sheepish grin. “You saw that? I was looking out for a text from Jazmin. I was asking if she wanted to do something later for her birthday.”
“And you expected her to answer?” Mike laughed. “You know Jazmin is into Big and her books. She has no room for anyone else.”
Birthday?I felt my eyes go wide. How could I have forgotten Niya’s birthday? The entire time we were together this morning, she must have wondered why I didn’t say anything. “Birthday?” I said aloud.
“Yeah,” Travis said. “I thought that’s why you went to see your girl, Niya, this morning.”
I shook my head. “No… I…”
“See that’s why you need to be on Instagram and Snapchat like the rest of the normal world. You would never miss another birthday.”
“I don’t like people in my business like that,” I said.
“Wait. What do you mean, his girl?” Mike asked, butting in. “Is there something going on I need to know about?”
I ignored Mike’s question. I wasn’t ready to have a conversation with him about my emerging feelings for Niya, especially after his innuendos this morning. I had admitted my feelings to Travis when I’d called to ask him to collect my keys, air out my apartment and turn on the AC since I’d signed my lease remotely.
“So, I guess nobody’s going to answer my question?” Mike asked again, interrupting my thoughts. He looked between us before flailing his hands. “Aight. Cool. I see how it is.”
“Ain’t my story to tell,” Travis said, swatting at a fly. He jutted his chin my way. “Let me text you Niya’s number.”
“Cool. Thanks,” I said. I dug into my jeans pocket, took out my phone, and sent Niya a birthday text. I kept my phone in my hand to wait for her response.
Travis decided to fill the sudden quiet with a question. “What I want to know is, how you plan on explaining your baby mom—ugh—I mean, Lakesha to Niya. Those two can’t stand each other. They’ve been at each other’s throats since high school. Their rivalry is of epic proportions.”
Mike challenged me with a knowing look.
I shrugged. I knew I had to say something then. “This is all brand new. We’ll talk.”
He gave me a thumbs up, signaling he could wait. Then he added, “They can’t be in the same room without a cat fight.” He watched me as he spoke to ascertain my reaction.
I kept my expression neutral and returned to the grill to turn the steaks and put on the corn and potatoes.
“It’s roasting hot out here,” Travis said. “I’m going inside to get some of that fresh-squeezed lemonade you pride yourself on making.”
“Bring me a glass,” Mike said, coming over to me. He sniffed. “That smells good. You got my mouth watering.”
I looked at my watch. “It’ll probably be about twenty minutes or so and we can dig in.” I gestured toward the kitchen. “Why don’t you get the salad together? Make yourself useful.”
Mike looked like he wanted to say something but it appeared his stomach won out. He strolled into the house, leaving me free to think about the dilemma of these two women. One I wanted in my life and the other seemed to be inserting her way into my path without invitation. Just my luck they were arch enemies.
The feud had started somewhere in middle school when they both tried out for the cheer and dance squad. Lakesha had made captain. I had to give it to her. When I watched her at the football games, I knew that girl had some serious moves.
According to rumor, the dance coach found out about Lakesha’s escapade with a boy in a school restroom and demoted her from captain because she was setting a bad example for the team. Niya was named captain, by no request of her own, but that title put her at odds with Lakesha. Then there was a bunch of mess with Lakesha and her minions trying to sabotage Niya’s leadership, Jazzy—who wasn’t even on the team—making threats to anybody who messed with her sister, and Niya doing her best to keep the team from breaking into two cliques. Finally, the coach pried the truth out of Niya, which resulted in Lakesha getting kicked off the squad permanently. Since then, those two had bad blood. So bad even the counselors at the school knew not to schedule them for the same classes.
The truth was, putting aside all that cheer and dance drama, Niya outshined Lakesha on so many levels. For one thing, Niya kept her pearl inside her clam. Lakesha constantly had hers on display. Which is why I knew it was my guilt and grief that led me to get under the covers with Lakesha, or rather, in the back seat of my father’s rickety old Jeep. I shook my head. I didn’t know how I would tell Niya that I’d not only slept with Lakesha but had a child with her as well.
Well, allegedly.Nothing had been proven yet.
I sighed. This wasn’t how I imagined my first weeks back in Lovetown would go. After being honorably discharged, I had begun using the communications degree I earned to connect people with jobs as a corporate recruiter. I helped other young people land their dream jobs. A little bit of mentoring came with the job, but that wouldn’t start until September. In the meantime, my only plans were to enjoy my new place, hang with my friends, and explore a relationship with Niya.
Never did I once imagine there would be a child waiting to look at me with soulful brown eyes and say, “I love you, Daddy.”
