Page 60 of Kisses Behind the Spotlight

“We love you too. Make sure you’re wearing your seatbelt. I know Quincy be all relaxed with that, but them people can’t drive up there.” Q reminded her.

“Oh yeah, I got to go. You sound like mommy now,” Yarissa quipped, ending the call.

“That girl,” I giggled, shaking my head.

“Spring wedding, huh? Are you thinking this spring or next?”

“I’m happy with either,” I responded.

“I’m not trying to wait forever.”

“I think we can pull off a small May wedding. But it would have to be small,” I emphasized. “With you preparing for your tour, and me gearing up for our spring launch, we are both about to be busier than we already are. Otherwise, we can shoot for next spring.”

“You right. I don’t want to rush it. I want our wedding to be perfect,” he commented.

“Next spring it is.”

Q’s phone rang, and it was my father calling. He probably saw the post, realized we were together, and decided to go through Q to speak with me. I still wasn’t in a place to talk. Silencing the call. I took Q’s phone and blocked his phone number.

“You can’t ignore him forever,” Q asserted.

“And why not? My father has always put his work before me. Is it too much to expect for him to have my back this one time? For something that egregious? D3, my father’s artist, exploited me and my relationship for publicity. What if there wasn’t footage of me almost macing him? We probably wouldn’t be sitting right here right now!”

“You right bae. Your feelings are valid.”

“You know, when I would always be at your house when you got shot. I overheard your momma and Yaseer talking once. He was asking where the hell my father was in the midst of everything going on, and your mom said he works more than he parents. Up until that point, it never dawned on me how abnormal my life was until that day. Mama Marissa was right. But I don’t want to talk about it anymore. We both have issues with our fathers, and unless you’re ready to face yours, leave mine alone.”

Q threw his hands up in a silent surrender.

“Are you done with your stuff? I’m done with mine, and I want to relax and watch movies.”

“If you say it’s time for some QT, then that’s what it is,” Q affirmed.

He closed his laptop and turned on the TV. We relaxed in the seats, flipping through movies for the rest of the flight. The last few hours of quality time before we landed were definitely needed.

Xain and Khaleesi finally emerged just before landing and claimed the seats across from us. Khaleesi laid her head on Xain’s shoulder, still relaxed from the medication she took. I was used to Khaleesi’s routine. She’d be a little loopy for at least twelve hours after. Her eyes slid shut, and the two of them were cute together. I had to admit that.

“Everything happens for a reason,” I commented.

“Why do you say that?” Q pried.

“Look at them,” I nodded.

“D3 set off the chain of events that led to them being more than just cordial. If he didn’t pull that stunt, we wouldn’t have taken this impromptu trip, and these two wouldn’t be canoodling,” I explained.

“We aren’t canoodling. I’m just resting my eyes,” Khaleesi yawned, her eyes still closed.

We conversed through the landing process, then customs came onboard to check our passports, and we were on our way.

A call from Amill came through as we were deplaning. “Hello.”

“Jameera, is Q with you?” She inquired. Something about her tone, and the fact that Q was standing next to me and his phone never rang, didn’t sit right with me.

“Yeah, why? What happened?” I quizzed.

“Ummm, your dad is in the hospital. He was in a car accident.”

I dropped my phone. The world around me went mute. My feet stopped moving, and Khaelesi ran into the back of me. That still didn’t get my body moving.