Chapter 15 Lyrix
Lyrix
Pushing open the doors of my shed, I began carrying out the plywood I would need for the bench I was going to build for Grai.
Since the day she’d told me a rose garden would look nice in the backyard, I’d been putting together a plan to bring it to life.
I figured it would be a nice touch. I wanted her to have a place to sit and watch the boys play in the yard.
I chuckled as Loh came racing by on his four-wheeler.
His long, curly hair was flying behind him just like his cape.
The sun was beaming brightly in the sky, and there were some gusts of wind every few minutes.
Ace came out of the house and walked over to where I was setting up shop. “Can I help you, Poppa?”
I nodded without pause. “Of course. I’m sure there’s something you can do, even if you only have one arm for now.”
His cast was still on from his fracture.
He had a few more weeks until it’d be taken off, and he told me he was ready, even though he was getting a lot of love with the ladies because of it.
The day he came home with a cast full of girly signatures, his mom was pissed.
All I could do was laugh because this was nothing compared to what was to come. Bubbles needed to prepare herself now.
We got busy while Loh continued racing around the yard, hooting and hollering.
He was having the time of his life, and I loved that for him.
I knew they couldn’t do things like this when they lived at home with Drey.
When I bought this land, my intention was to be able to allow the country boy in me to live and explore.
This weekend, we were planning to head up to the creek to fish.
I was ready for that too. I loved spending time with my boys.
“Hand me that tape measure?” I asked Ace, who was patiently waiting on a task. He jumped at the opportunity to do something. I decided to fill him in. “I’m building this bench for your mother to sit in her garden and relax.”
Ace smiled widely, becoming excited, knowing it was something for his mother. “Can you put a heart in it?”
I nodded with a grin. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s something I can do.”
“Cool.”
We continued to work as the revving engine shut off minutes later. Kemani had given birth to her baby girl, so Grai went to see them. My mama was out living her life, doing only God knew what, so it was just my boys and me. I felt at peace as Loh came jogging over.
“Can I help too, Poppa?” I nodded without pausing my work.
“Of course. Come hold this plank down for me.”
He held one end while Ace held the other. “Should we paint the bench?” Both boys nodded excitedly. “What color?”
While we debated on colors, I continued to measure everything out.
We began putting it together, and I couldn’t lie and say I didn’t feel full at this moment, almost like I did with Grai, but in a different way.
These boys were an extension of her and would always have my covering as well.
I was there the days they took their first breaths.
They meant as much to me as their mother.
Thinking of her had me thinking of our date.
It was last weekend, but it felt like minutes ago.
I could still feel her tight and wet pussy gripping me snugly.
Every time we kissed, I felt myself ready to empty the clip inside of her.
Her body molded to mine like glue, and we fit together like puzzle pieces.
I found myself being tender with her, gentle, too, because I wanted to savor every moment. Every caress. Every stroke.
I shook my head and blew out a frustrated breath.
My feelings for Grai were so clear after that night we spent together, fusing our minds, hearts, bodies, and souls into one living, breathing organism.
I couldn’t see my life without her, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure what to do with those feelings.
Neither of us had spoken a word about what transpired between us over the week, but I knew she remembered every time she looked at me.
A blush would creep on her chubby cheeks before she’d look away shyly.
“In this life, things are never handed to men that look like us . . .” I began to speak to the boys while we worked.
Thinking about their mother was making me brick up, so it was best to change the subject to something safe.
They both perked up, listening with eagerness.
“So, it’s important for us to not be afraid to go after what we want.
At times, it may seem like you’ll never get the opportunity to be great, but you will.
You keep your faith in God and work hard until He prepares the way to better. ”
“Is that what you did, Poppa?” Ace questioned. He was the inquisitive one between the two and would surely take my words to heart.
I nodded. “Yeah, I didn’t have an easy start at life.
My father was murdered when I was a child, and my mother was left to pick up the pieces.
I didn’t always make the best decisions, but I always held myself accountable.
Y’all know what that means, right?” Ace nodded, but Loh shook his head.
“It means to take responsibility for something you knowingly or unknowingly did.”
Ace turned to his brother. “Like when you broke Mommy’s mirror and went to tell her as soon as it happened. That’s accountability.” I smiled proudly at the way he was able to make it make sense to his brother. I could tell Loh understood the example.
“Exactly. We aren’t perfect, and we all make mistakes.
As a man, it’s important to be able to hold yourself accountable for the things you do.
Always think before you act because this world won’t always give you the chance to make things better.
I lived a life that was heading toward two ends, but then God set me up to meet someone who could teach me something new.
I never looked back, and life has been good since then. ”
For a minute, there was only the sound of me hammering the nails into the bench. I figured the boys were digesting what I’d shared with them when Ace spoke up to ask a question. “Are you going to go to jail, Poppa?”
I damn near smashed my finger because his question caught me off guard. I put the hammer down slowly, then gave him my undivided attention. “I don’t know,” I told him honestly. “I hope not, but it is a possibility.”
Loh was quick to speak up. “I hope you don’t have to. You didn’t mean to hurt Daddy.”
I gave him a cheeky grin. “No, I definitely meant to hurt Daddy because he hurt y’all.
You boys mean the world to me, and I intentionally let my anger take over.
I’m not apologetic about it, because what he did to you was wrong, Ace.
I need y’all to understand that. I’m not saying for y’all to go around beating on niggas, but sometimes, a punch to the face will solve your problem.
It could also create more problems, so pick your battles wisely. ”
We all glanced up as the red car broke through the forest, and Grai came barreling down the driveway.
I stood up, looking at the cloud of dust she left in her trail.
All the windows were down, and the radio was turned all the way up, making the trunk rattle.
I chuckled because Grai loved to blast music. I expected nothing else.
I dried my sweaty hands on my sweatpants while walking to open the door for her. She smiled widely when she saw me standing there shirtless. There was sweat dripping down, which she allowed her eyes to follow until it fell to the ground.
“Like what you see, Bubbles?” I teased her.
She rolled her eyes and hopped out. “Nope.”
I laughed, knowing it was a lie. She walked past me in some jean shorts that had her ass sitting up nicely.
I licked my lips and slammed the car door closed.
Grai waved at the boys, who came racing over to greet her.
They both crashed into her at the same time, making her laugh.
I watched in awe as she placed kisses on top of their heads.
“What y’all doing out here?” she questioned.
“Helping Poppa build a bench,” Ace told her. I was proud of him for not saying all the other details. Somehow, he knew the garden was a secret.
She glanced behind her at me. “Oh, yeah?”
I nodded. “Yeah, how’s Mani and the baby?”
Grai cooed before my eyes. “They are great. She named her Grace, and she’s so adorable. When she comes home, we can all go over so y’all can meet your little cousin.” Focusing back on the boys, she said, “Would y’all like some ice cream before you get back to work?”
“Ouu, yesss!” Loh shouted excitedly with a fist pump to the air. He walked with her toward the house, holding her hand, while Ace went back over to the workstation with me.
“How’d you know the garden was a secret?”
He shrugged. “Just wanted it to be a surprise for her. She likes them.”
I smiled at how much he knew his mother. Grai did love a good surprise. “Well, when I start on the garden, do you want to help me?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’ll help you.” I ruffled his head, then tucked him under my arm.
I walked over to the radio and turned it up while we waited for Grai and Loh to come back out. They did a few minutes later, each holding two bowls. Grai brought one to me while Loh gave the extra one to his brother.
“This is homemade strawberry ice cream,” she told us proudly.
We all went to sit on the porch to enjoy the bowls. Grai had outdone herself with the ice cream. The fresh pieces of real strawberries were a nice touch and a testament to the way she showed love. “Mm, you need to make ice cream more often,” I suggested.
The boys agreed with me, causing her to chuckle. “I will, as long as all three of you are good boys.”
I smirked because the boys were quick to agree. Leaning toward her, I whispered, “I can’t make any promises.” The look she gave me told me she would much rather I be a bad boy anyway.
I wanted nothing more than to invite her to meet me in my bedroom, but I gulped down the offer.
I shoved ice cream in my mouth to distract myself because I couldn’t risk losing the friendship I had with Grai.
It was my safe space and guaranteed me a place in her life.
It was better for us both to keep things platonic, so after finishing my ice cream, I went back to working on the bench.
Distance was the answer to the urge to enter her sacred space again.