Page 70 of Just Like Summer

“I will,” Kamilla quipped as she looked up at Nate. “As tall as you are, you don’t like being up there.”

“See, Mila, that’s where you and I are going to have issues. It’s a different from being up here and up there.”

“Damn,” Kamilla blew. “Out of everything you’ve done, a little Ferris wheel is where you draw the line? Never thought I’d see the day.”

“I can’t have my babies up there,” Nate replied, trying to deflect his fear to Dania being pregnant.

“And now you’re using my friend as an excuse. Oh, Nate, it’s not looking good for you,” Kamilla teased, walking off.

“I hope that lanky ass nigga can catch you when it tips over,” Nate called to her back, making Cairo laugh and wave him off. “Knowing him, he’ll jump out after you using that flag as a parachute.”

Dania chuckled and pulled him down by her. “Shut up and watch the sunset with me.”

Tucked in his side, Cairo took her ice cream out her hand and finished it off. “I asked you if you wanted one?”

“Didn’t look good until you started wrapping your tongue around it,” he joked.

Playfully, she rolled her eyes and looked at the glistening Oceania Sea. “I hope when I get to OSU, we keep this.”

“Oh, I didn’t tell you I’m renting an apartment a block away?” Cairo posed.

“No, I think you left that out of your stalker manifesto,” she quipped, finding no evidence of a joke on his face. “You serious?”

“On Azul. And I figured it’ll help cut down on your tuition fee,” he stated. “That and I can’t be too far from you. Got to make sure them niggas on campus know my baby ain’t shit to fuck with.”

“Ohh, that’s what it is…you’re jealous,” Kamilla cooed.

“Possessive as fuck. Told you that though,” he replied, kissing the top of her head.

“I just can’t believe you’ll leave 50th and Husten for me.”

“I’ll go everywhere you go. Shit is simple.”

They settled into a comfortable silence until they reached the top. His fingers caressing each coil slowly before breaking their silence. “You asked me when I knew that the prayers worked? When I was forced to pray for myself. I was sitting in a dark house with cognac, pills, chain smoking weed and staring at a gun. Three options were on the table: do some felonious shit, end it, or do what my grandmother taught me. So I prayed and I asked God to give me something that would pull me out and something to sustain me. I needed something to care for, to love for. Something that was going to give that back. The melodies started playing – that was something to pull me out. But it’s the shit that I care for that cares back that I can’t and won’t ever be able to let go.”

He gently butted his forehead against hers and tilted her chin upward. A longing study of his eyes, she could see there was so much more he had to give her – so much more for her to find in him. But there was a glint of him withholding from her – something that haunted him.

Kamilla’s small hands reached up to grip the hairs of his manicured beard. “Tell me what that was. That thing that weighs on you and haunts you?”

“Not today. That’s my demon to carry,” he replied softly. “I love you too much to put that on you.”

“Respect me enough to tell me,” she countered. “I can handle whatever it is.”

Cairo gripped the root of her hair lovingly and pulled her into him closer. “That’s fair. Let me find the words, aight? I’ll tell you. Just let me find the way.”

Kamilla semi-pulled away and started to ask, “You’re about to break my heart?”

“Hell no. Never. I’ll never fuckin’ do that. Just trust me – aight?”

A weak, “okay” came from her lips as she folded her arms around herself and peered out into the sea. Yes, she trusted him. However, the idea of him withholding whatever it was made her stomach turn.

The sun had set and they were back on the boardwalk, his arms wrapped around her, his gaze vigilant. Cairo took pride in looking ahead to protect her. While Kamilla looked at the water hit the posts of the boardwalk, Cairo saw the group of officers headed in their direction. He anticipated this day, but never wanted her so close to it. Tiny was talking and had said his name, there wouldn’t be any other reason a group of officers and detectives were headed his way.

Kamilla didn’t look up until the warmth of his body left hers. “You good?”

“Take this,” he directed, in the same movement motioning Nate over. Cairo stuffed his wallet and keys into Kamilla’s pocket. When Nate flanked him, he handed over his gun. “Get them out of here.”

“Cai, no,” Kamilla started, earning her a pointed glare.