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Lumi
Whit looks pensive when he comes out of Ade’s room. I hope she didn’t give him any trouble. They make their leave shortly after, each kissing me on the cheek at the door.
“Will you both come by the rink the day after tomorrow? After school? We can have a skate together,” Yas offers.
“Ade will love that.” I smile. “I’m sorry tonight didn’t go as planned.”
“Hey, don’t be. We all had a wonderful time, especially getting to hang out with Ade,” Quilo tells me.
Impulsively, I throw my arms around him and give him a big hug. It feels so right. I release him and offer the others a hug too, which they eagerly accept. Quilo and Yas take Peewee out to the car but Whit hangs back, lingering. He looks like he wants to say or ask me something, but doesn’t. We stare at one another for a moment and I feel...something grow between us. It’s tangible, hanging in the air like a promise, but it’s not tense. And no, it’s not his penis either.
He moves closer, slowly and carefully but with intent, and I’m sure he’s going to kiss me. My pulse flutters in my neck and his eyes track the movement. I swallow. I’m not nervous—well I am a little but I still want to kiss him. He leans forward. I mirror his movement, tilting my head up because he’s so tall. Reaching out, he cups the side of my cheek in his hand, his thumb gently caressing my cheekbone, and my eyes close as my breath catches in my chest as I await his kiss.
It doesn’t come.
He gently presses his lips to my forehead instead. My eyes spring open and I feel like a fool for getting my hopes up.
“Until the next date then,” Whit says with a smile.
I’m too dumbfounded to say anything so I nod and close the door. This is such a weird situation to be in. One I’ve never found myself in before. Aside from a handful of disastrous first dates, I’ve never gotten to the stage where I need to introduce a guy to Ade.
Even though it’s never happened, I always thought that if I did get to that point in a relationship, it would be a long way down the line. I wouldn’t want a stream of men coming into and out of Ade’s life like a revolving door. So I decided in my mind at least, that the day I took a man home to meet Ade, it would already be feeling like a forever kind of love for me.
And now, here I am, watching her become attached to not one, but three guys, right before my very eyes, even though we’ve all only met and interacted a handful of times. It feels right.
Which is exactly why it’s freaking me out.
I can’t have her getting hurt. I’ve had my guard up for so long I’m scared to let it down. But a small, hopeful part of me wishes that her attachment is a sign that this is real and right. Maybe Ade’s approval is the green light I need to throw away my fears and jump into this bond with everything I have.
* * *
“Hey, is that Neve?” I ask when the phone for the Silver Springs Gazette finally gets answered the next day. It’s close to lunchtime so I figured it would be a good time to call, but it seems like I was wrong.
I had the shock of my life last night when I went into Ade’s room to tuck her in and found it full of softly glowing magical bubbles that contained a dancing rainbow of lights inside. They were so pretty but I had no idea where Whit got them from. All Ade would tell me this morning is that Whit is magic. Which could mean anything.
“Yes, I’m so sorry, I’m rushed off my feet here...hello,” she breathes out in a rush.
“No worries! My name’s Lumi and I run the local holistic studio, Alaafia?” I have no idea why I say it like a question, my mind is still caught up on my daughter and the three men who appear to have stolen both of our hearts.
“Oh, yeah! I’ve heard of you. You sell turmeric lattes, right?”
I laugh and shake my head. Maybe Zoe was right and they are making a name for themselves around town.
“I do, yeah.”
“I need to get over and try one,” Neve says in a matter of fact tone that tells me to expect her visit soon.
“You’re welcome any time. You can even give one of our classes a go if you like.”
“Oh that’s a good idea! I love a good pilates class. Okay, so what can I help you with?”
“I wondered if I could put an advert in the paper? I need to hire an assistant. I have weekend people, but I’m looking for someone more regular.”
“Okay, sure. What do you want the ad to say?”
I rattle off the details to her, including my contact number.
“Fab, and is any experience necessary for the post?”
