Page 32 of Just Like Summer

“You want me to stop? Say the word,” he offered. The nonverbal cue of her swaying her head was stopped by the hook of her chin and his body erasing space between them. “And no. Only you.”

“Might think you want to be more than my friend,” she buzzed. “I’m new to this, you shouldn’t fill my head up with ideas.”

“The danger of this is I already got ideas. But say what you want, I’ll listen,” Cairo offered an approach he wasn’t used to.

Kamilla nipped her lip and pulled in a deep inhale. She was caging her thoughts again. “We should eat, yeah?”

Cairo subtly clenched his jaw. “Yeah.”

From the tucked away beach back into the city, he took her to Sunset Pizzeria. A tiny food truck where the owner slung more than firestone pizzas. Cairo had done plenty of transactions here. Since he called for a slowdown, it was a safe night to bring Kamilla out.

“I know that ain’t Cairo with a girl,” Dania’s voice met him first before he spotted her fully.

“See,” Kamilla huffed playfully. “You got other homies to kiss.”

“Chill out,” Cairo grumbled with laughter. “That’s my homie’s girl. She’s aggravating as hell.”

“I am not aggravating,” Dania spoke up, coming into view and nudging him out the way. “I’m the little sister he’s never had and the one he won’t get rid of. Whether he admits it or not. And you’re beautiful. Blink twice if he’s holding you against your will.”

Kamilla laughed nervously. Dania’s personality was big, radiant, and welcoming.

“Dania,” she further introduced.

“Kamilla. And I’m not being held against my will. Anymore,” Kamilla added, cutting Cairo a playful side-eye.

“Any more? What’d you do to her?” Dania asked, her hands on her hips, cutting her eyes at Cairo.

“Saved her damn life if you must know. Nate, get her,” Cairo huffed.

“No. Uh uh. I gotta figure out how you got someone this pretty when you look like that,” Dania shot back.

“Like what?” Cairo grumbled.

“Like you got your hair braided three years ago and brushed them every day,” Dania fired back, making Kamilla cover her mouth.

Cairo swung his finger between her and Nate and grumbled, “YouYo two deserve each other.”

“Mhmm. I’m going to take your girlfriend to get some food. Give her some money,” Dania demanded.

“I’m okay,” Kamilla spoke up, simultaneous with Cairo digging in his pocket to hand her a small knot of cash. She turned to block him only for him to stuff it in her pocket. “I won.”

“You lost. Get what you want.”

“What do you want?” Kamilla asked in a quieted tone.

Cairo masked his need to take her in again and matched her tone. “Tell him the C4 special. He’ll know.”

“Alright, come on,” Dania quipped, hooking her arm in Kamilla’s and pulling her in the direction of the food truck. “I want to get all up in your business.”

“K, watch out she’s nosy as hell,” Cairo called to her back.

“Shut up, boy,” Dania shot back.

“Nah, see, I knew you were too fuckin’ quiet. Where the hell did you find her? She can’t be from around here,” Nate whooped.

Cairo hit him with the back of his hand in response.

“Oh, nigga, it’s like that?” Nate posed.