Page 13 of Just Like Summer

He grunted. “Well, you grow some here in no time. What you eating tonight, babygirl?”

Kamilla looked up at the felt board with the black letters. “Your two-piece basket with the greens and extra hot sauce.”

“There’s pork in the greens,” Ray shared.

“Is there any other way to make greens?” Kamilla queried.

“Ah shit, I’m going to like you. C4, bring her back. You walk in here with someone else, I’m telling. What you want to drink?”

“Just a cup of water,” she announced.

Ray nodded toward the cooler. Kamilla slightly turned to protest before Ray continued. “Take a seat, babygirl, he got it. Ain’t nobody gonna bother you, you in good hands.”

Kamilla started to a booth and Cairo grasped her wrist, leaned in and spoke. “Near a window so I can see the block and the door, aight?”

She nodded, subtly inhaling his scent. When he released her, she found a spot that honored his request. She watched Cairo and Ray finalize the transaction in a hushed tone, only looking away when Cairo glanced at her with that stupid smile on his face. He joined her, sliding in the booth and taking her in again.

“Why you change?” he asked.

“Because that uniform shirt is itchy, and I was smelling like onions and cilantro,” she shared. “It was too many smells to sort through. And I really don’t like unpleasant smells.”

“All I smell is mangos,” Cairo admitted. “That shit lingers.”

Without much thought, Kamilla responded. “My mom used to make body butters and oils as a side hustle. It’s all I use.”

“Used to?” he asked, leaning in to take in every word she spoke.

Kamilla swayed her head. “I don’t want to get into it. Anyway, that beat, are you going to fix it?”

“You going to listen to it if I do?”

“I might.”

“Aight bet.”

They ate and enjoyed the silent ride back to her tiny corner of the hood. When she arrived, Martez was sitting on the porch smoking a blunt. Her groan of detest was audible. Kamilla checked her phone for a text from Aunt J. There wasn’t any, so she prompted the conversation.

Kamilla: porch full of CKs and Martez…I have to come back to this every day?

Aunt J: he paid half the rent. You pay half the rent, you can have a say so

She pushed out a scoff and swiped her hand over her face.

“Who's that?” Cairo asked as if he didn’t know.

“My stupid ass cousin who really isn’t a cousin and no one in my family can tell him no,” Kamilla grumbled, as she gathered her things.

“He be bothering you?” Cairo asked.

Kamilla looked at him. A loaded look that told Cairo all he needed to know. In the drop of the CKs were Hype and Chuckee who had just held her at gunpoint. Busted lips and black eyes. Cairo grunted and got out of the car.

“Come on,” he directed.

Kamilla’s eyes bounced in trepidation as he pulled her door open.

“Look at this shit here,” Martez spat, sitting up like he was like that. “Little Milla riding with the opp. Fuck is up with that? I would’ve given you a ride.”

Cairo didn’t like the way he said it. He grabbed Kamilla’s bag and walked her up the steps. He didn’t say anything to the men sitting around. No words were spoken until Cairo insured Kamilla was inside the house.