Chapter 12
Adora
“This better work,” I scoff as I take the final gulp of the concoction.
“It does. Trust me. I was skeptical at first when MeeMee told me to drink it after Jazzmyn but it works. It works real good,” she says, all extra.
“I can’t stand the taste though.”
“Put more pineapples in the next batch.”
“Next?”
“Yes. He’s coming in the morning, so you need to drink more tonight and more in the morning before you take the girls to school.”
“I’m not going to even ask why MeeMee knows about okra and pineapple water,” I say, then laugh.
“Don’t do my MeeMee. Her and Pops have been married for over fifty years and I still catch them hugging and kissing. The okra water works.”
“It’s the texture; I guess. It’s not too slimy but still slimy.”
“Slimy equals that wet wet,” she says and we both laugh. “Just drink it and thank me later.”
“Alright, crazy ass. I’m making more right now. This is the last of the pineapple.”
“How many okra are you putting in?”
“Three. You said three per jar.”
“Well, for this last batch, use five. Hell, how many do you have left? Just use them all,” she says.
“I only have three. I don’t ever buy fresh okra, so I only got enough for six jars.”
After lunch with Xai, I called Kandi on the ride back to the office.
That’s when she told me about this okra-pineapple water.
Her crazy ass calls it Coochie Juice. It’s supposed to improve and increase vaginal wetness.
Although I had no issues with it with Xai and his mouth and hands, none, I want to be prepared.
I had issues with it before with Rush and I’m not trying to ruin things tomorrow.
I’m really feeling Xai, a lot. Plus, it’s been too damn long since I’ve had sex. I’m ready ready.
“Three will work. I promise you. Now, don’t attack that man.”
“Hell, I almost attacked him at the hotel. The pregame was splendid. I can only imagine what the real thing tomorrow is going to be like. Plus, I like him. I’m definitely excited about putting this celibacy shit to rest but it’s more than just that.
It’s him. God.” I sigh in adoration. “He’s got this thug but businessman shit going on and it’s sexy as hell.
I’m telling you, if you would have seen how he checked Mekhi’s trifling ass, you’d get it. ”
“Hell, I can hear it in your damn voice. Hoe, you’re practically moaning.”
“I am not moaning. You just have to see it, him. Momma would have really liked him too,” I admit and find myself slipping back into sadness. Kandi lets me have my moment, but after a minute, she jumps back in.
“Well, when am I going to meet him? He has to be Kandi-approved,” she says.
“We can figure something out.”
“And what about the girls?” she says, verbalizing the one thing that plagues me.
My babies. My heartbeats. My world.
My mom never paraded different men around me.
In my entire life, I only met two and both of them were long-term relationships that didn’t happen until I was in junior high.
I’ve done the same with my girls, and since I’ve been single, it hasn’t been an issue.
Technically, I’m still single but Xai and I are building a relationship.
I want him around and being around means meeting my girls.
They’ve already been hurt by their father; I refuse to introduce another man who might leave and hurt them again. Hell, even hurt me.
“I’m scared,” I blurt, putting words to my fear.
“That’s natural, friend. They’re your babies. I get it. But you can’t let fear block your happiness. From what I already know, Xai is nothing like Rush.”
Nothing.
“He’s employed, has his own everything, and is sweet as hell to you. I’ve been married four years and bae doesn’t bring me lunch every day.”
“Don’t do Chad like that. He worships you.”
“You’re missing the damn point. Xai does that for you; men don’t do that unless they are all in. Hell, didn’t he even buy them the pizzas they like from Leonardo’s?”
“Yes. He ordered them last Friday when I got off after I told him I was too tired to cook.”
“See. He’s a keeper and you like him. Let that man meet them. But that’s just my two cents. The decision is truly yours. I got your back either way.”
“I know you do. That’s why I love you.”
“I love you too. Now drink that damn Coochie Juice.”
“I finished that jar and I’m closing the lid on the last batch for the morning. I swear it better work.”
“It will.”
“Music Fest,” she says out of nowhere.
“What bitch?” I question, confused as hell.
“Music Fest,” she repeats with a titter. “I was on Skroll. There’s a music festival happening the last Saturday of this month. We can go on a couples’ date.”
“And who’s going to keep the girls? All three of them?”
“My momma. She would love to.”
“Aww. They would love to see her too. Maybe. I can’t ask him about a couples’ date and we aren’t a couple.”
“Bitch, please. Giving up the coochie means you are a couple,” she says and I hear loud, healthy lungs in the background.
“Is that my baby?” I ask.
“Screaming like that? Yes, and you can have her,” she jokes. “Let me grab my pooh. Call me after tomorrow,” she says.
“I will. Good night.”
“Good night.”
While placing the jar in the fridge, I grab a mini bottle of water and the rest of the fresh pineapple chunks.
I sprinkle a little cinnamon on them then walk out of the kitchen.
I give my spotless living room a final look and head to my room.
Today, after dinner, I cleaned like a maniac.
In reality, my house is always spotless but my nerves had me vacuuming, scrubbing, and dusting.
On the way to my room, I check on the girls. They are both knocked out but their silent, rotating mermaid nightlight has another eight minutes on the timer. I leave it set then head to my room.
I’m tired but anxious and excited about tomorrow.
Sleep is the last thing on my mind. I power on the TV, pop a pineapple chunk into my mouth, then look up the Music Festival.
It’s being held at the amphitheater, sponsored by Sound Beatz.
It looks like a good time. Yara and Sol are performing and it’s headlined by my favorite rapper, A’so. I definitely wouldn’t mind going.
In the midst of looking at the festival info, a text comes from Xai.
Xai: Are you still up, pretty girl?
Me: I am. A little restless but in bed.
Xai: Why? You good?
Me: Yes. Real good Just excited about seeing you in my space tomorrow.
Xai: I am too. What you want for breakfast?
Me: Let’s just see how the morning goes. We can order something. Just don’t forget the condoms LOL.
Xai: Never again.
“Mommie,” Romi calls out. She stands in my doorway, barely holding her pillow that’s almost as big as her. “Can I sleep with you?”
“You sure can,” I say and she runs to my bed, throws her pillow on it, then climbs in. I text Xai.
Me: A little cutie just got in my bed. I’ll call you in the morning.
Xai: Bet. Good night, pretty girl.
“Are you okay?” I ask her.
“Yes, ma’am. I just woke up.”
“You have to use the bathroom?” I ask and she shakes her head.
I grab her pillow, adjust it next to me, and she lays her head on it.
When she turns on her stomach, I rub her back lightly.
This usually puts her right back to sleep.
As I rub, I finish my pineapples then place the bowl on my nightstand.
I plug my cell into the charging station and lay down beside her.
Her big, doe-shaped eyes look up at me and I kiss her forehead. “I love you,” I tell her.
“Me too,” she mumbles before closing her eyes.
After kissing her cheek this time, I get comfortable and close my eyes. When my alarm pulls them open hours later at six, I see I have another cutie in my bed. Averi must have eased in here while I was knocked out.
Like I do each school morning, I let them sleep in a little longer while I grab their clothes and fix breakfast. Little Einsteins has a uniform policy but Fridays are free dress days and they love Fridays.
Personally, I like to dress them alike but Averi hates it.
She’s coming into her own style and I encourage it, within limits.
For her, I grab tights, a plain skirt, and a matching red shirt.
For Romi, I choose wide-leg jeans with embroidered hearts and her favorite shirt with a huge 3D heart on it.
Once their clothes are on their beds, I trek to the kitchen to get their breakfast. This morning, I take the easy route and pop two pancake and sausages on a stick into the air fryer before grabbing their lunch boxes and placing them in their respective book bags.
Waking them up is the final step, usually after I’m dressed.
This morning, I have a few extra minutes because I’m just throwing on tights and a shirt because I’ll shower and get ready once I drop them.
I make myself a cup of coffee and enjoy a few sips before going back into my room.
When I do, Averi is getting up but I have to wake Romi.
Thirty minutes after they’ve washed their faces and brushed their teeth, they are fully dressed, their breakfast is eaten, and we are in my car. Always perceptive, Averi notices my clothes right away. As soon as I pull out of the garage, she has questions.
“Mommie, you not going to work?” she asks.
“No. I have some stuff to do today.”
“Insurance stuff?”
“No, baby. That’s done.”
“Okay. Are we still getting our hair braided?”
“Yes. Sunday morning,” I tell her. I reached out to Trista’s sister. She was booked Saturday but had openings on Sunday. I found two cute styles on her page and she’s going to do both for only one-fifty.
“At the dresser of hairs?” Romi asks and I smile.
“It’s hairdresser, baby. But no, she’s coming to the house,” I explain.
“Is she gon’ paint the eggs with us?” Romi asks.
“No, she isn’t. We are going to color them after your hair is finished and y’all are looking extra pretty,” I tell her.