“For sure, you still got balls left. It helps when you’re playing to win. Think about a prize that you want this time. Once you got it in mind, get in position again, and this time hold your form all the way through the shot, but add a push off your heel. Don’t worry; I won’t let you fall.”
Jo-Jo being enrolled in Little Einsteins was beginning to make sense because he was a fast ass learner.
This time when he tossed the ball, he pushed up, with me assisting in holding him so he wouldn’t fall, getting the ball in.
“Oh my gosh, Mr. Lando, I did it! Mommy, did you see me?” He turned to ask Olive who was cheering along with the girls for him.
“Hell yeah, you did! That’s what I’m talking about, man. Now hit that shit again.” This time Jo-Jo got in position all by himself, counting out loud to three before he sent the ball in again. This time with me holding him from going over the ledge.
“Mr. Lando, I won!”
“Whoa! I told you, Jo-Jo. I had you!” I yelled as he turned and hugged me around my neck. This was a different type of feeling for me. Yeah, I was forever proud of my girls, and eitherone of them could have inherited my love for the sport, but I felt as if I were passing down a family heirloom to Jo-Jo at this moment.
“I’m so proud of you, man,” I told him as I hugged him back.
Chapter
Seven
Olive
“Ms. Liv ,my bow came off. Can you put it back on for me?” Neela asked, putting the big white bow in my hand.
“Sure, baby girl.” I bent down so I could clip it back on her ponytail that was missing one. That sparked my question. The girls nor Mr. Kelvin ever mentioned a mom in their lives, so I wondered who was keeping their hair done that seemed to change daily. Yesterday, Neela had one big puff with her edges done while Cece had a half up, half down thing going on, but today she had a couple of flat twists in the front with the back loose.
“Neela, Daddy could’ve put it back on,” Highland said with Neela shaking her head.
“So, now Daddy ain’t good enough to do your hair anymore, Neela?” He got another head shake, which had me giggling.
“So you do their hair?”
“Yeah, which has become a lot since their hair just keeps growing. But I’m constantly online learning new techniques and shit. I have to keep them together.” He shrugged as if it was a normal thing. We fell back in line, going in motion with the crowd of people around us.
“Ooh, Ms. Liv, can we go on that ride?” Ceona asked me as soon as we walked up on the oversized teacups.
“I don’t mind, but you have to ask your dad, Cece?” I told her as my head motioned toward Highland. This had been us since I said something about the cotton candy. As if she had forgotten he was even beside me, Ceona looked at Highland, who was doing his best not to laugh at his oldest yet again seeking my approval tonight.
Highland nodded while the two oldest ran to get in line, and Neela, who was no longer in the wagon but still stuck to my hip, didn’t bother to run and join them like she had been doing since we’d reached kiddieland at the fair.
“What’s the matter, big girl? You don’t want to ride this one?” She hugged my leg, tossing her head back to look up at me as she shook her head.
“We can swap out if you want to and I can stay behind with her.” Highland was already moving to pick up Neela who now moved further behind me, clinging to me tighter. Highland’s eyes grew wide as he stood up straight. Highland’s handsome face frowned as his mouth hung open and nose scrunched in disbelief.
“Really, Neela? You choosing Ms. Liv over me?” She nodded rapidly, making me chuckle while Highland pressed his lips together as he nodded, quickly accepting the betrayal from her.
“I can understand that. But what if Ms. Liv wanted to get on the ride though?” I was now shaking my head because I was off ride duty.
“It’s okay, you can handle the big ones. I don’t mind keeping Neela with me. Besides, this was part of the agreement, remember? You can get on this ride with these kids while I sit all this ass right here with Neela. Ain’t that right, Neela?” I said. Highland smirked while Neela and I were already getting comfortable on the bench facing the ride.
“I don’t think that was the exact agreement, but since I do remember you saying something about you and that fine—” Jo-Jo calling out for us cut Highland and his comment about my ass off.
“See, look at God saving you from saying something completely inappropriate in front of Neela. Now go, we’ll wave at y’all on the spin around.” I shooed him off with my free hand that wasn’t around Neela. Highland’s eyes ran down my body one more time before he turned to get on the ride.
“Ms. Liv, can you hold me?” Neela asked while already moving to climb into my lap.
“Of course, pretty girl. Are you tired?” She nodded, then yawned big as soon as I helped the process of her getting comfortable. Neela’s head instantly fell onto my chest as I wrapped my arms around her. This time, I welcomed the snuggles from her as I cuddled her in return and began to sway her from side to side in my arms. We stayed this way for a minute before I decided to try my best to keep her awake. I wasn’t sure how Highland would react if I put his youngest to sleep while we were still here. Since Neela was the one who always seemed to be close to me but hardly talked, I decided to spark a conversation, hoping to open this side up for us.
“Neela, did you have fun today?” I asked her as I waited for a reply. When she didn’t answer, I glanced down to see her eyes already closed.
