Page 69 of Just Like Summer

Kamilla blew out a deep breath. “The whole thing or a part?”

“Part enough to fight the urge to hang up. But I know family shit can get tricky. You know I got you right?”

“I do know. It’s a feeling in the pit of my stomach that confirms and erases any doubt. And I guess everyone else won’t understand that,” Kamilla spoke, sitting up to kiss his face. In true Cairo-fashion, he held her there, slowly and sensually devouring her lips. “Pancakes.”

“Tell you what,” he muttered between kisses. “For the sake of saving us some time. I’ll make the pancakes, you start folding the clothes you swear need to get done, I’ll help and then we’re taking y’all out.”

Kamilla frowned. “I know it’s KP day, but I really don’t want to be in the mix.”

“I know that. And you know I don’t like sharing you. I want the attention to myself. So we’re taking y’all to the pier today. Winning giant ass teddy bears and loading you up with cotton candy and shit. Kissing and rubbing on you in the back seat.”

“Wait…a date?” Kamilla cooed playfully, as she stood up.

“Yeah, something outside of our norm. Wait ‘til your nigga takes you to spot with white table cloths and shit,” he teased, standing up behind her and gently palming her ass. “Ah shit, it’s getting some weight on it.”

“Cut it outttt. You won’t stop feeding me,” Kamilla giggled, walking down the short hall to grab a basket of clothes she washed while he was locked in the studio. Every day she showed up with food, a kiss, and a fresh set of clothes. “I don’t know, I think I’ll always opt for the tacos in the car, Chinese food in the laundromat, pizza while you fuck people up.”

“Better act like you know. Anyone against you is against us. You know I’ll snatch everybody out your way, on Azul.”

Kamilla bit a grin. “I got you too. Now stop looking at me like you want to eat me up and make my pancakes. I’m hungry and I haven’t been to the pier in a long time. I’m overdue for an oversized bear.”

“What you do in Greenwood for fun?”

“When dad came up, we went to the race tracks. For my sixteenth birthday, he convinced an amateur racer and his crew to open up the track so I could ride in a race car,” Kamilla answered with a smile. “Even though I’m pretty sure the guy was an Azul.”

“What’s his name? The crew manager?” Cairo quizzed from the kitchen as Kamilla plopped back down with the basket of clothes. For a moment she watched him, shirtless, muscles flexing as he whipped the batter. He was focused on his task of communicating and caring for her. That had been the thing she loved the most.

“Uh, dad called him Blu Eye. You know him?”

Cairo slowly nodded his head. “Nigga is a legend. He used to chop cars with Jackal. Nigga took the wrong car of the right man; before he knew it, he was moving his family up to Greenwood to be a pit crew manager. I think he’s moved up now.”

Kamilla added, “Yeah when we went, he was the crew chief. Talk about timing.”

“I’m learning everything that’s for you won’t miss you,” Cairo stated. “I didn’t believe for a long time. Just like I thought the prayers my grandma whispered when I kept her up all night weren’t enough to keep me. God got a funny way of showing you He’s always around.”

“When’d you start noticing?” Kamilla asked, folding away.

Cairo smirked offering her a loaded look. “I’ll tell you later. Promise.”

True to his word, he fed her, assisted her in folding their clothes, and to seal their mid-morning, he pinned her to the bed and devoured every inch of her. Now, they were side by side trailing behind Nate and Dania.

As promised, he won her an oversized bear that was stuffed in the backseat along with a slew of other things. If she looked at it, he got it. Even strongarmed the booth attendant for the prize Kamilla won fair and square. Kamilla licked her ice cream and bumped Cairo with her hip. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Anticipating my needs.”

“And you don’t be doing the same?”

“I try.”

“Nah,” Cairo mused, throwing his arm over her shoulder. “You do that shit effortlessly. It’s the most magical thing I’ve ever experienced, for real. You want to get on the Ferris wheel? The sun’s about to set.”

“Oh yes,” she quickly answered.

“We’re sitting that one out,” Nate announced, a weary look on his face. “My stomach. It might’ve been that hot dog.”

Dania smacked her lips and rolled her eyes. “You didn’t even eat the hot dog. You can tell them you’re afraid of heights. They won’t judge you.”