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Considering her pops was staying with her, I knew getting that kind of dessert tonight wasn’t even possible. But I still had hope for the regular kind, following her out of her room as I trailed, “Speaking of dessert, though…”
Immediately catching my drift, Shakira responded over her shoulder, “Yes, Kendall. I made a pineapple upside down cake.”
Just the mention was enough to make my sweet tooth tingle, bringing a smile to my lips as I told her, “See. That’s why I love you.” And I honestly didn’t think anything of it until Shakira came to an abrupt stop just short of the top of the staircase, turning back towards me wearing the biggest smirk when she asked, “What did you just say?”
What did I…oh shit.
Scratching the back of my head, I faltered, “I uh… I said umm…”
“Huh? What? Cat got your tongue?” Shakira asked, her teasing making me grin as I told her, “Nah, I said what I said.”
“So say it again then, Kendall,” she challenged, using my own line against me when she added, “If you meant it enough to repeat yourself.”
Ididmean it enough to repeat myself, meant it enough to say that shit a thousand times over. But it truly felt special to look the woman of my dreams right in the eyes and say for a second time, “I love you, Shakira.”
I’d never seen her cheeks turn red so got damn fast, that reaction amusing the hell out of me even as I anxiously waited to hear what she had to say back. And while I didn’t necessarily need her to express identical feelings, I would’ve been lying if I didn’t admit how flattered a nigga was when she responded, “And I’ve lovedyousince the first fuck.”
Smirking, I pulled her closer and commented, “I thought that shit was just a joke with your friends.”
“I mean,kinda,” she admitted with a grin. “But looking back, I knew then the same way I know now,” Shakira said, pausing before she licked her lips and professed, “I love me some you, Kendall Dogwood.”
“Say that shit like that again, and I’ma forget you got company downstairs,” I groaned, my threat only making Shakira’s grin turn sensual as she threw her arms around my neck and asked, “Is that a promise?”
“You better quit,” I warned.
“You started it.”
“Let’s go before your freaky ass gets us in trouble,” I told her, Shakira giggling as she turned to lead the way down the stairs. And once we made it to the kitchen, my stomach growled instantly as I took in the spread of lasagna, salad, and garlic bread that were all neatly arranged on the countertop, the fact that Shakira had made one of my favorite meals making this whole situation feel even more worth it as I moved towards the sink to wash my hands while Shakira asked, “Auntie, where’d my dad go?”
“He’s out back on the phone,” Ms. Iris answered nonchalantly, only to change her voice to something sweeter when she moved towards me and asked, “You want me to make you a plate, Ken-dall?”
“I got it, Auntie,” Shakira insisted, giving me an out when she said, “You can go sit down if you want, Kendall.” And I was doubly grateful as I made my way to the dinner table, getting good and comfortable before I peeked back towards the kitchen to watch Shakira put the finishing touches on a plate that I knew she was getting ready to deliver to me until her dad swooped in and grabbed it.
“Thanks for making me a plate, baby girl.”
“Uhh… that wasn’t for you, Daddy,” Shakira responded, feeling like a cue for me to make my presence known.
So just as quickly as I’d sat down, I was getting right back up to greet Shakira’s father with a casual, “How you doin’, Mr. Knight?”
After setting his plate…my plate…somebody’splate to the side, Stewart smiled half-heartedly as he extended his hand my way saying, “Well if it ain’t the nigga who cost me two racks at the bookie today.” And while the mention of his gambling shit was enough to make me tense up, the way he aggressively slapped my palm before pulling me in for a half hug told me he must’ve really felt a way about the money I’d allegedly lost him; though I could appreciate him also taking at least some accountability when he acknowledged, “Guess I never should’ve doubted you, huh?”
“Some stuff we just gotta learn the hard way,” I told him with a shrug, watching as he gave a nod of respect before he grabbed the plate Shakira had made and surrendered it to me. Then he moved to make his own before joining his daughter, Ms. Iris, and myself at the table, getting right down to it when he asked, “So, Snoop. Where your people from?”
“All over Tennessee,” I answered between bites. “My mom was born in Chattanooga. Pops was born in Memphis. Then they met in Knoxville before settling in Nashville.”
“That’s where they live now?”
“My mom does,” I told him. “My dad unfortunately passed away some years back after suffering from some health issues.”
“Sorry to hear that, man,” Stewart responded with a sympathetic look that I was honestly immune to by this point. But I wasn’t nearly as unaffected by the way Ms. Iris practically put her titties on the table when she leaned in and offered, “If you ever need someone to talk to about it, I’m here for you.”
I’d never wanted to respectfully decline some shit so fast. But thankfully, Shakira was even faster than me, taking a less polite route when she warned, “Alright now, Auntie. I done already gave you one too many passes. Next time you call yourself pushin’ up on my man, I’ma forget you’re family and handle you accordingly.”
Like she was surprised to hear it, Ms. Iris raised her eyebrows as she sat back in her chair with a smirk, Stewart chuckling as he looked her way and said, “Always tryna flirt with somebody, just like your damn sister.God, I miss that woman.”
“I miss her too, Dad,” Shakira sighed, taking a brief second to mourn her mother who she’d tragically lost to cancer when she was just a teenager. But after a deep breath, she perked up to say, “Speaking of women, though. Are you ready to tell me who that random lady was that pulled up to my house last week?”
Since this sounded like it was none of my business, I found myself a little less focused on the conversation and more focused on my food as Stewart told his daughter, “Kellyn is a business associate of mine.”
