“So give her the sign there? I can do that.”
“Yeah, do the sign but a little something extra too. Maybe get roses, enough for the class. Give everybody one and have them hold the roses out for her to collect. Then do your sign and ask. She’ll love that.”
“Oh, that’s dope. She will like that. My momma can hook the roses up for me. Thank you,” he says, really appreciatively.
“You welcome but do me a favor,” Sunjiya says.
“Anything.”
“Send pictures to your dad.”
“I got you. On God,” Quise says.
Not even five minutes later, their food arrives—a delicious assortment of mac-n-cheeses and an amazing looking jerk pizza. Over dinner, they continue to talk, with Quise constantly bringing Sunjiya into the conversation. It’s clear his Pops really likes Sunjiya, and honestly, so does Quise. She’s not onlypretty as hell but she’s cool, down to earth, and funny. Her homecoming idea sealed the deal for him.
“Pops, I like her,” Quise says as he and Akeem walk to the front door once they’re back at the house.
Thankfully, Charis doesn’t make a scene and keeps herself inside. She is, however, watching on her security camera. To her dismay and frustration, she doesn’t have a better, more up-close look at the woman in her damn driveway.
“Good ’cause I like her too,” Akeem says and Quise smiles.
“How long you gon’ be here?” Quise asks, and honestly, Akeem doesn’t have an answer.
When is he leaving? When is she leaving? How are they going to handle the distance between them?
“Why? What do you need from me?” Akeem replies.
“I know Momma wants to do everything for homecoming but I kinda want you there. Me and her are not going to agree on my fit. She already talking about a tux. I’m not wearing a tux to homecoming.” Quise sighs and Akeem grins.
“I got you. When you trying to ask yo’ girl?”
“Friday.”
“Bet. Then I’m here until we take care of everything. We can go tomorrow after school to get the roses and poster shit then find your fit Friday or Saturday.”
“It’ll have to be Saturday for the fit, Pops. I got practice Friday after school.”
“Then I’m here till Sunday,” Akeem says and Quise’s smile gets wider. “I’ll scoop you from school tomorrow.”
“You gon’ tell her?” Quise asks.
“Yeah. I’ll let her know and even invite her Saturday. It’s your first homecoming; she’s gonna want to be there. But don’t worry, we not getting a tux.”
“Thanks, Pops,” Quise exclaims before hugging Akeem.
Quise lets himself inside. Once he closes the door, Akeem walks back to the car. His visit has now been extended to Sunday.But what about hers? We definitely need to talk when we get back to this room.
“You ready?” Akeem asks once he slides into the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, but can we stop and get ice before we head back to the room? The ice at the hotel is those chunky square pieces. I should have gotten a cup of ice to-go from the House of Mac,” Sunjiya responds.
“I don’t know where to find yo’ special ice. You gotta tell me where to go.”
“Me either,” she says with a smile. “But we can try that big gas station I saw on the way here. It looked like it might have it.”
“How the hell does a gas station look like it has your special ice?” he questions with a slight smirk.
“It just does. I can’t explain it but it does. If it doesn’t, I’ll just make do with the big ass ice at the hotel.”
