Chapter 21
Grai
“Grai, hurry up before we’re late,” Poppa called from the front door. He and the boys were waiting for me so we could head to their school for Field Day. I examined myself in the mirror one more time, then scurried to the front.
“Sorry. My hair didn’t come out right,” I fussed. As soon as we got in the car, I was going to book my next appointment. I couldn’t handle doing my own hair. The bun I’d slicked it into would have to work for today.
Poppa snatched me to him with my waist. “You look perfect, as always, baby.”
I never got used to hearing him call me that or being in his arms. Things were still new between us, but they felt right. He smacked me on the ass when I passed by. I giggled like a schoolgirl while ushering the boys to the car.
I was wearing Loh’s class shirt for his third-grade teacher, Ms. Carpenter.
They were The Caterpillars, so the yellow shirt had a simple white outline of the bug with the class name.
Poppa was wearing Ace’s class shirt, which was brown for Ms. Brown’s Bulldogs.
It also had an outline of a bulldog in white with the class name.
We both wore jeans and white block walkers to complete the look.
The boys wore shorts with their shirts though.
All four of us piled into the car, and then we were off.
We listened to R she literally stole her whole face.
The sun was shining brightly when we made it outside. It was a beautiful spring day, and there was a light breeze blowing through. The large field behind the school was filled with vendors, bounce houses, and setups for all the games. Poppa winked at me when we passed Ace’s class.
“You’re going down, Broccoli Head!” he yelled in his cupped hands.
I choked on my spit when I burst into laughter.
Very discreetly, I gave him the finger. I was rewarded with his dazzling smile.
We made it to the area marked off for Loh’s class.
It wasn’t far from where Ace posted up with his little crew.
I watched two other little black boys surround my son and stand just like Poppa. It was the cutest thing.
I swear, when he looked at me across the field, everyone else disappeared.
All the space between us no longer existed either.
My phone vibrated against my leg. Sliding it out of my pocket, I saw a text from Poppa.
I opened it up to see a song. It was “Don’t Be Afraid” by Aaron Hall.
I held the phone to my heart and snickered. He knew how to keep me smiling.
The games began soon after. Loh had me participate in the three-legged sack races with him. He’d signed up for the relay race and egg-and-spoon race with Poppa. Ace had signed me up for tug-of-war and the water balloon toss. I had to admit, I had a great time playing with the kids.
After the sack race, I was bent over with my hands on my knees. Poppa walked up to me and tapped me on the ass. “I know little Miss Pilates ain’t out of breath over here,” he teased lightheartedly.
I bumped into him with a grunt. “Be quiet, big head.”
He chuckled with a whistle and a disappointed shake of his head. “I mean, damn, you couldn’t help my boys win at least one race.”
I frowned, folding my arms over my chest. “That’s not funny. I really tried.”
He tried not to laugh when he tossed his arms around my shoulders to pull me into his sweaty frame.
I inhaled his armpits and instantly felt peace in every bone in my body.
“I know, baby. That’s why I’ma give you some dick later for your efforts.
I think I should be rewarded with some super head for winning everything the boys signed me up for, though, and maybe you could clean my toe jam for me. ”
I nearly gagged at the thought. I pushed him in the chest and stomped away.
I hated it when Poppa won because he would gloat forever and a day.
I was never going to hear the end of this, not when he was going home with four stupid medals as proof.
He’d already told me he was going to keep them in my keepsake box.
I tried to kick him in the groin, and that got him scurrying away from me, but not before laughing in my face.
Loh waved me over to the Italian ice stand.
Ace and Poppa joined us soon after. The boys were recapping the morning’s events.
I couldn’t help but rest my head on Poppa’s shoulder when he pulled me into his side.
Ace was on his right side with his arms folded over his chest. Loh was on my left side with his hand wrapped in mine.
Everything about this moment was so perfect.
Poppa might not have been the man I laid down to make them with, but he was the father they needed.
For the first time, I truly felt we were a family.
I knew my boys could tell the difference between what I had with Poppa versus their father.
At this point, they didn’t even ask about him at all.
I was completely okay with that. We were finally healing, and I wanted more of that for us.