Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Olive
“Girl, I swear I don’t even know your ass anymore. Why the hell would it take this long for me to catch up to you. It’s been weeks, Olive,” Byrdie stressed as we picked up our order from Just Wings so we could go back to the park and wait on the kids.
“Because you work like I work. Not to mention, these kids, and you have to add your husband into the mix.”
Byrdie waved me off as we walked to my car. Hers was at the park already.
“Naw, I’m not going for that bullshit excuse.
None of those things are new to the equation.
It’s that new man of yours. You know the one you still haven’t told me about how the first date went.
It must’ve been good. I mean, you even got that good dick down glow going on.
” She circled her hand around my face and now it was me waving her off as I kissed my teeth. But I avoided her eyes.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. If I’m glowing, it’s because of my new skincare routine that I’m doing.”
“Yeah, Highland’s dick, and honestly, I’m not mad about it at all.
If anyone deserves a good man and some bomb ass dick, it’s you.
I just don’t like the missing in action behavior I’m receiving and the lack of details on the situation.
” She fake pouted. I chuckled as I continued the quick drive across town.
“No, you’re right, and I’ma do better as a best friend. What do you want to know?” I asked as we made it to the park. I should’ve known from Byrdie’s devilish grin and her bugged eyes to match that she wanted even the juicy shit.
“Every fucking thing! What type of question is that?”
I laughed as we got out, with both of us grabbing our food and me getting the cooler out of the backseat that had our drinks and the after-camp snacks for the kids.
“Listen, I’ll tell you but you have to promise not to show your ass out here. Just because we’re not close to the kids, we’re still in a park full of them.” Byrdie kissed her teeth.
“Heffa, shut up and spill the fucking tea.” We picked a table closer to the parking lot. After getting everything placed so we could talk and eat, I began to tell her about the first date with Highland. I started off by telling her about the gift he gave me that I was still in awe about.
“Oh my gosh, you have to show me the gift, it sounds so cute. I love when they do shit that sets them apart from other guys. Like who the hell thinks of making messages in a bottle with real sand and seashells. And he said the girls helped? Now, if that’s not just asking you to be their stepmomma, I don’t know what is. ”
“Girl, stop! Not stepmomma. But don’t even get me started on those girls.
I swear it’s like having two little best friends now.
We even have matching toes to make it complete.
Neela stays glued to me whenever I’m around, giving me all the cuddles.
And Cece, girl, her little tail asked if me and her daddy go together now. ”
“Oh my gosh, look at y’all blending shit all up. It’s cute.”
“I know, right? The other day we swapped kids. The girls and I were hanging by the pool, having girl time, down in the Keys at his beach house. Highland and Jo-Jo were out, having boy time. Nobody told me that having little girls was like having mini mes. Byrdie, I had so much fun painting our toes matching colors and sipping on our fancy girl drinks.”
“Swapping kids? Aw shit, y’all in deep already I see. And a beach house? Liv, the more you talk the more I’m falling in love with all of this for you. Also, with you now having access to this man’s beach house, we need to set a date most definitely for our long weekend down there.”
I shook my head at Byrdie because she was adamant about this vacation. And now with her knowing that Highland had a house down there, I knew for sure that she would really push this on me.
“Byrdie, I don’t have access to anything because that’s not my damn house, but we’ll see. I’m not sure about how deep me and Highland are, but that was major for me. You know how I am about anybody keeping Jo-Jo. And girl, I passed my baby on to Highland with no problem.”
“Which is a good thing, Liv. It means you’re not only comfortable with him, but you trust Highland with more than just you. Have you told Jasiel about him yet?”
I nodded as I bit into a wing.
“Yes. He encouraged me to explore things with him.” I continued to eat my wing as I felt Byrdie’s glare burning a hole into me.
“Oh hell no, Liv! So let me get this shit all the way the fuck right. My big headed brother knew you were getting dicked down before I did? What type of shit is that? It be yo’ own people.” I looked around to see who was close as Byrdie’s voice grew louder.
“Girl, if you don’t hush, and no. I just meant that I told him I met someone.
I haven’t talked to Jasiel in a couple of days, and even then I wouldn’t tell him anything like that.
Jasiel and I are cool, but we not let me tell you how good this man cracked my back cool.
C’mon now, Byrdie, you should already know I’ma only tell you how good it was.
” I smiled at the memory from only a couple days ago in my kitchen and the way he’d fucked me too damn good on my counter.
“Oh shit! So you are getting dicked down, and it was good!” I sat there frozen for a minute before I realized what I had just let slip out. Byrdie’s laugh came out loud and deep as she took another bite of her food. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out.
“Don’t worry, Liv. I don’t think you’re a hoe because you let this man fuck on your first date.” I scoffed at her words.
“Good to know but it didn’t happen on the first one.” Byrdie’s mouth fell open as a smile began to form.
“Wait! No ma’am, you’re definitely keeping secrets and not telling ’em to me fast enough for my liking right now. Y’all already had date two? When and where? Hell, Highland ain’t playing, is he? It’s only been what, a week or two since y’all had the first one, and already two down. Pressure, baby.”
I laughed hard, tossing my head back as a raindrop hit my nose. My head shot up, but now I was looking at the sky to see dark clouds quickly appear.
“Damn, did they say it was going to rain today?” I reached for my napkin to wipe my hands so I could check the weather app and see the time.
“Oh hell no. You not getting outta those fucking details, Liv.” I shook my head, because of course Byrdie’s ass would think I was avoiding the conversation.
“No, I’m serious. I just felt a drop.” Just as I said that, another three fell before the sprinkles were steady enough for Byrdie to groan out of frustration.
“Oh my gosh, of course this would happen right when the tea was getting good. Fucking Mother Nature.” I looked at her and we both busted out laughing.
The rain was picking up so I knew camp was over.
I looked around as the kids were all yelling and running for cover under the pavilion. I knew the call was coming next.
“Girl, you act like the phone don’t work anymore. I’ll call and tell you everything later once Jo-Jo goes to sleep.”
“No, I’ll call. You forget about me when Stepdaddy Highland comes around. Let me go anyway. I gotta get to the station in a few.” She made her way over to me, pulling me into a hug.
“Love you.”
“Love you more and stop calling him that please.” We said our goodbyes and my phone rang at the same time with the camp’s number.
Byrdie left me as she made it to her car while I answered the phone and confirmed what I already knew. I immediately thought about Highland still working and made a quick decision to get the girls too.
I packed everything up and went to the car to make sure I still had Jo-Jo’s old booster seat in my trunk for Neela. After I secured it in the car, I grabbed mine and Jo-Jo’s umbrellas.
Then I made my way over to get the kids.
I walked up to the pavilion, getting Neela first since she was closer and spotted me.
Then I made it to the older kids, overhearing one of the girls calling herself telling Ceona she didn’t have a mom and couldn’t do one of the activities on Friday’s family day.
“No, because the tug of war is girls versus boys. That means mommies and daddies and you don’t have a mommy, so you can’t play.” The little girl rolled her neck with her hand on her hip.
“So, I don’t wanna play that dumb game anyways.” Ceona crossed her arms over her chest, holding her head up high, and all I could think of was Highland in that moment, training her for situations like this.
But I didn’t want Ceona or Neela to be put in these situations where they felt like they couldn’t participate in an activity or be teased by the mean girl crew. No, I was here now and ready to be whatever they needed me to be.
I went to step in, but Jo-Jo came to her rescue, making my whole heart melt.
“Leave my sister alone. We do have a mommy. So, if she wants to play, she can play. Come on, Cece, Mommy’s here.” I didn’t even know Jo-Jo had seen me until he said something.
I fought back my tears as I held the umbrella for Jo-Jo and Ceona, who ran into my body, wrapped her arms around my waist. Once she let go, I tilted her head to see the tears welling up in her eyes.
I placed my hand on her cheek, hoping she understood that she had me from now on. I smiled, causing Ceona to do the same.
“Hey my babies, are y’all ready to go?” I rubbed her back with her nodding to answer while Jo-Jo moved to open his umbrella for them, then wrapping his arm over her shoulder.
I chuckled to myself because he really was the little big brother.
Ceona had a good five inches over Jo-Jo, but he didn’t care.
I bent down to pick Neela up to make it easier to get us both there dry.
“Mommy, can we get BJ’s for a snack today?” he asked as soon as we reached the car. They hopped in first while I tried to balance both the umbrella and getting Neela in the seat.