All he wants is my love and honesty.
Can my love overshadow my lack of complete honesty?
Does it count that my whole truth would only hurt him?
My love is real, raw, and completely honest. Can I make that enough?
If not, can he still love me if he knows the entire truth?
Of all the thoughts plaguing her mental, the last one is the loudest and scariest. It’s the one that keeps her quiet. Losing Akeem isn’t an option; the thought alone cripples her. After experiencing a love like his, she can’t imagine not having it in her life. It’s not a conceivable option.
The vibration of her cell pulls her from her thoughts, so she removes it from her tote. She immediately regrets it when she sees the preview of the text on her screen. There has been no contact from her twin sister since Antigua.
“Shit,” Sunjiya sighs before looking around for Akeem. When she doesn’t see him returning to the truck, she opens the text.
305-392-1311: Since you are using my name, how are you celebrating our birthday?
It takes Sunjiya a minute to determine if she should respond. Her sister’s slick ass, condescending tone is loud and clear. Plus, her birthday hadn’t even crossed her mind. For the past two years, she hasn’t celebrated it anyway. It wasn’t a day she treasured. On her born day, she had been given away. She could count on one hand the number of years her day was even acknowledged, and lastly, the last time she celebrated, she’d met Marcelin.
Celebrating her birthday is the last thing on her mind and getting drawn back in with her twin is the next to the last thing.No contact is best for them. It has to be all or nothing because any inch given to her twin always converts to a mile and Sunjiya can’t risk her past or lies interfering with here and now. She deletes the message and places her cell back into her tote. Her timing is perfect, because not even a minute later, Akeem opens the back door and places two, large, white to-go bags on the floor. The umami smells fill the truck instantly and her damn mouth waters.
“You did get Perla’s,” she gushes when he slides into the driver’s seat.
“We have to eat on our date,” he tells her.
“Now I’m really curious about where we’re going,” she admits.
“We’re close.”
“How close?” she asks but he doesn’t answer. Her excitement amuses him and he really wants to keep it a surprise until they actually make it to the spot. Akeem backs out of the parking spot and exits the garage. Five minutes later, he pulls next to a parking meter. “Where are we?”
“The parking is limited. We have to walk a little. You cool with that?”
“Yes. I’m just ready to see where we’re going,” she says eagerly.
He gets out and opens her door then grabs a small duffle from the trunk before grabbing the food bags. After latching her arm around his free one, Akeem leads them to their destination, a river-like reservoir on the Colorado River, deep in central Austin.
Lady Bird Lake is a popular recreation spot open to the public. He’s surprising her with a dinner boat ride on one of the popular retro boats. When they pass the park and walking areas to reach the dock, Sunjiya’s eyes widen at the sight of thedifferent boats. Aside from several small retro boats, there are also huge cruiser boats for large parties.
“Are we going on a boat ride?” she asks.
“We’re taking Edith,” he tells her before leading her over to a rare 1958 dull light green retro, electric Glass Slipper boat. Of the retro boats, it’s the most eclectic looking and rarest. Only about twenty Glass Slippers were made in total between 1958 and 1959. This one has been restored and is fully operable.
Sunjiya’s excitement is contagious and he finds himself smiling along with her as she rushes toward the boat. When they reach it, a tall man walks over and confirms Akeem’s identity. After Akeem places the duffle and food bags on the back seat of the four-seater boat, the man gives a quick and brief intro of the boat’s operations and rules.
“Edith is electric, equipped with life jackets under the back seats, GPS, two paddles, an anchor, horn, and lights. The key is tricky. It’s magnetic. Now, if it falls off the throttle, just place the handle in neutral, and insert the orange key where it fits like a puzzle,” he says and Sunjiya’s eyes get big.
“We’re driving it?” she questions.
“Yes. It’s easy, and because it’s electric, it doesn’t go over five miles per hour,” the man assures her. Then, he hands Akeem a laminated piece of paper. “This map is for shallow areas and boundaries, but if you just stay close to the middle of the lake, you’ll be fine. It also has my number, just in case. You have two hours to enjoy yourself and the beautiful views of downtown,” he adds before dropping the tricky key into Akeem’s hand.
The moment he walks off, Sunjiya wraps her arms around Akeem. “This is so beautiful and sweet. Thank you,” she gushes before kissing him passionately.
“You ready?”
“Yes! Can I drive too?”
“You want too?”
