“Aye, watch yo mouth around my baby,” I joke, and she falls out laughing. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I loved her laugh.
“Last time I checked, I’m the one who pushed her out.”
“So?” I ask, eyebrow raised. “I been here since day one, so she’s practically mine too, is she not?”
“She is,” she says, shyly. Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, almost embarrassed. “I-I didn’t mean anything by it...”
The room goes quiet, and I realize that I probably took it a little too far. So, I stand, rounding the table as I take the plate and spoon from her hand. I set them on the table toallow Sera to continue to feed herself before taking Zee’s hands in mine. I squat down beside her and squeeze her hands lightly. She looks down at me.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” I apologize. “I didn’t mean anything deeper by that. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Kay…I don’t want you to think that you aren’t appreciated because you are,” she states. “I know you were just joking, but it brought back memories that I’d rather not reminisce about right now.”
“So, again, I say that I’m truly sorry,” I say once more. “I took it too far. I love having you and Princess Sera in my life like this. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
“Neither would I.” She smiles, wrapping her arms around my neck to pull me in for a hug.
We stayed like that for a few seconds before I pulled away and kissed her forehead lightly. Once I was sure she was okay, I fixed her a plate of food and then fixed my own before taking my seat again. I began to eat, but I could feel eyes on me, so I turned to see both my moms staring. They shared a knowing look, but I chose to ignore it. They knew how I felt about Zseyah, but they never pushed. They believed that if it were meant to be, it would be.
The rest of lunch went by without any more misspoken words, and eventually Morgan showed up. Of course, our parents fussed at her for being late with the deliveries again, but it wasn’t anything too bad. They finished off their lecture by thanking her and then fixing her something to eat, which she happily scarfed down.
After we finished eating, we all ventured off in different directions. Zseyah had taken Sera down to visit my grandparents, who lived right down the road, while my parents wentback to work like they did every day after lunch. Weekends did not stop their hustle. Meanwhile, Morgan and I had ducked off to go kick it by the pond with a few of our cousins who lived around the orchard as well
As soon as we arrived, a blunt was lit and passed around. Morgan and I took up residence in two of the empty lawn chairs to enjoy the breeze as the blunt made its rounds. By the third round, it had begun to kick in, and I could feel myself become one with the air around me. I didn’t smoke often, but I did enjoy partaking every now and then, and being around my wild-ass cousins was always one of those times. Shit, Ineededto be high to deal with their foolishness.
“Aye, I see you brought Zseyah’s fine ass up here again,” my cousin Warren said. I rolled my eyes. “She still thick as fuck.”
“Bruh, chill yo ass all the way out,” I warn. “You and Morgan stay on the same time, but I keep telling y’all that she’s off limits.”
“Shit, yo pussy ass ain’t never admitted your feelings, so what’s wrong with us shooting our shots?” Another of my cousins, Rylie, asks. “Mamas is fine, so of course we’re gonna acknowledge that.”
“Respectfully, though,” I state, looking at the people around me. I sigh before sitting up. “I love y’all, I do, but I’m only gonna tell y’all this one last time. Zseyah is off limits. Always has been for y’all and anyone else that tries to step to her, so leave it alone, a’ight?” They nod, rolling their eyes, but they mumble agreements. “Also, next time you bring her up, you better do it with respect. Stop fucking objectifying her. She’s more than just her body, and I would appreciate it if y’all respected that.”
“Heard,” My oldest cousin, Dario, says. He’s been quiet this whole time, but I knew he’d been listening. He takes one more puff of the blunt before blowing it out and glancing at me. “We hear you, but for real, Kay…when are you gonna tell that woman how you feel? It’s been years. You’re literally raising a daughter together, yet you can’t admit your feelings? What’s up with that?”
I start to say something, but I can’t, because he’s right. It wasn’t that simple. I wanted her more than anything, but I knew that even if I asked for more, she’d be hesitant. She was still heartbroken and traumatized thanks to Sasha. She hadn’t even dated or entertained anyone since that breakout. When I asked her about it once, she told me it’s because she wasn’t ready. She admitted that she wasn't sure if she’d ever been ready to date again.
Did the thought of never getting a chance to be more for her break my heart? Yes, but I knew that my feelings in this matter came second. She was the one who had gotten their heart broken in one of the worst ways possible. I can’t and would never be the type of person to rush her or pressure her into doing something she wasn’t ready for or comfortable with yet. All I knew was that if the chance ever presented itself, I would be the first one in line. Hell, there wouldn’t even be a line, because I’d make sure I was everything and more for her.
“One day,” I simply say, before settling back into my seat with a sigh. “If that time comes.”
“Whenthat time comes,” Dario corrects, and I nod sheepishly.
Everyone else just nodded as well before switching the subject, which I appreciated. We hung out for a few morehours before heading back to our respective houses. Since the orchard spanned many acres of land, it was like a family compound, thanks to all the houses that surrounded the perimeter. There was always an uncle, a cousin, or a grandparent around. We all helped around the orchard, and our family even owned a few of the shops in town, but at the end of the day, the orchard was legally owned solely by my parents.
It was their money that built up this foundation. It was their money that was invested in the other businesses that our family owned. They believed in keeping everything in the family, so they made sure that we were all set. Decades of hard work were in the soil of this land, tracing back to our family’s ancestors who were once enslaved on the plantation that once stood here. These acres of land were important to our family, and we did all we could to honor those who came before us.
I sighed as I made my way up the stairs and into the house that I owned on the property. While most of my time was spent in the city with Zseyah and Serenity, this was where I actually lived. I did have an apartment not far from Zee, but I was rarely ever there. If I wasn’t crashing in her guest bedroom, then I was here. I loved that I lived where I worked, though. I could sleep til the last minute and still be up in enough time to get business done.
“Oh shit!” I jumped as I walked into the front door, right as Zee jumped back. My hand goes over my chest, and I take a deep breath to still the pounding. “You scared the hell out of me, Zee.”
“Sorry! Sorry!” she giggles. “I didn’t mean to. I heard you coming up the stairs and wanted to open the door for you.Damn, you must’ve been in deep thought because you’re never jumpy.”
“Whatever, woman,” I laugh, pushing her back slightly.
I enter before closing and locking the door behind me. When I turn back to face her, I notice that she’s dressed in her favorite blue striped sleep set of shorts and a matching tank. My eyes take in the way it hugs her curves, and I lick my lips to stop myself from moaning. I didn’t mean to stare, but it was hard not to when she was looking this good. Damn…I was worse than my cousins, so who the fuck was I to judge them? All I could think about was how soft she’d be pressed up against me as I kissed her deeply…
“Uh…Kay…Kay…Kayla!”
