Chapter 4
Never in all my twenty-eight years of living have I been attracted to a woman to the point that everything and everyone fades into the background around me.
What’s crazy is that my body began tingling with excitement before I even entered the bookstore, which has never happened to me.
Upon entering, it only took me a minute to lay eyes on the two women standing behind the counter.
One of them had eyes the size of balloons, letting me know that she immediately recognized me.
The second woman’s captivating gaze instantly put me in a headlock, preventing me from breaking eye contact with her.
Beautiful is an underrated descriptor for the woman who seemed to silently beckon me toward her.
Kyelle has the same mahogany skin as mine, but hers has a bright glow that had my blood pressure rising simply by staring at her.
Her long black curls hung over her shoulders like a blanket.
Her high cheekbones against her oval-shaped dark brown eyes made me anticipate her smile.
I’ll be damned if my heart didn’t skip several beats once Kyelle blessed me with the opportunity to see all thirty-two of her pearly white teeth.
While I’m not a novice to great smiles, Kyelle’s felt like it was meant solely for me.
For the first time, I was drawn to a woman whose smile sent chills through my body and had goosebumps forming.
Witnessing Kyelle’s earth-shattering smile had me feeling like I do after tackling an offender on game day.
My chest beat rapidly, and my adrenaline was soaring, preventing me from taking in the area around me.
It took me several minutes to gather my bearings to shift my mind to form, let alone speak, upon hearing her melodic voice.
“Are you listening to me, Daddy?” Mica cuts into my thoughts, forcing me to return to the conversation.
“What did you say, Cupcake?”
My thoughts have been on Ms. Kyelle, so I haven’t a clue what Mica is talking about.
I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve been holding my breath whenever my phone rings or vibrates from a text notification.
Like an expectant Mica on Christmas morning, I’m on pins and needles awaiting Kyelle’s message.
The urge to send her a hey, big head text is becoming stronger by the minute.
The sad part is that it’s only been a day since Mica dragged me into the bookstore, so I’m sure the books haven’t even arrived yet.
What’s worse is that today is a Daddy/Mica day, and my focus is supposed to be on creating more memories between us.
“Do you think my mom misses me?” The question tightens my chest as I try not to let my initial thought of fuck your ho ass mama slip from my lips.
It’s only God’s strength that I have composed myself whenever Mica asks random questions about her mother.
While I work hard to keep Mica busy, entertained, well-fed, and everything else, I can’t erase her trauma over Meshay walking out on her.
It makes me resent Meshay more because I wish she would have left before Mica was old enough to feel her absence.
“I’m sure she does,” I say after several beats of silence. Although I’m sure Mica is the last thing on Meshay’s mind.
“Hm. Ms. Kyelle was pretty. She could be my new mommy.”
Record scratch . . . Wait, what?
Looking down at Mica, my heart rhythm jumps out of sync when her hazel eyes are peering into mine with an unmovable expression.
This is the first time since Meshay left that Mica has said anything along these lines.
My eyes blink slowly, and the palm holding onto Mica’s begins to perspire as I attempt to respond.
“Yuck. Your hand is wet, Daddy.” Releasing my hand, Mica’s nose twists as she wipes her hands down her skirt.
One thing about my daughter is that she is a girly girl who doesn’t like getting dirty or even thinking of it.
Today’s attire is a matching skirt set and white sandals courtesy of one of my teammates’ wives.
A couple of the WAGS periodically shop for Mica because they are under the impression that her wardrobe will be a lost cause if I’m left to shop for Mica myself.
My baby girl has been blessed with a head full of long hair that I would have tangled in varying lengths if I had to tackle it.
Thankfully, Jaleel has an on-again, off-again thing with a chick that works for Zi’s Beauty Palace.
“Yo, ain’t you C. Evans?” an unfamiliar male voice asks, shifting my eyes from Mica to the young guy who appears to be in his mid-twenties.
One of the drawbacks of my career is being recognized on days when Mica is with me.
Trying to provide her with normal life experiences often has me avoiding the presence of bodyguards.
I thought the baseball cap that’s sitting low on my head would be able to disguise my features since Mica and I are at an unpopular trampoline park.
But this guy posing the question lets me know that my ploy wasn’t as effective as I hoped it would be.
“No. He’s not,” Mica snaps before I have a chance to speak, which causes my lips to twist as I fight the smirk forming because of Mica’s snappy retort.
“Oh, wow. You look like him. Sorry to bother y’all.” With that, the guy walks away, his shoulders sagging and his head hanging.
“I’m done playing. Can we go before somebody else sees you?” Mica whispers, looking around, causing me to chuckle lowly.
“It’s your world, Cupcake. I’m just existing in it.” Shaking my head, I connect our hands and head toward the exit.
After introducing me at the bookstore, Mica must have sensed something with the guy because her shutdown was quick and surprising.
Usually, baby girl can’t wait to brag on who her father is.
That thought has my thoughts returning to the brown-skinned beauty whose face is rushing to the surface.
Maybe spending the past few years single is time wasted, and I need to consider changing my status.
“Did you enjoy the trampoline park?” Without giving Mica the presence of my eyes, I remove the fried chicken tenders from the grease and place them on the wire rack.
I’m making chicken tenders and fries for dinner, per Mica’s request. Knowing how much she loves them, I’ve finally finished frying the second batch, much to my delight.
My hands can now recover from the flour and buttermilk with egg mixture used to create the crunchy coating.
This will be my only cheat meal this week since it’s almost go time with the season.
While I don’t restrict Mica’s diet or anything, I try to avoid as many fried foods as I can during the season.
I don’t need any issues with my skills during a game and giving Coach Sumlin another reason to check me for being off my game.
“I always have fun there. Thanks for taking me, Daddy. Even though that man bothered us and stuff.”
A low chuckle escapes my mouth at hearing Mica confirm her annoyance with the unknown guy.
“Why didn’t you tell him I was me like you did at the bookstore? You were sharing my name like you were getting paid to do so with those ladies.”
“That’s because they were pretty, and I wanted my books.” That response has me turning to look at Mica, whose eyes are already on me. “What? I did.” Shrugging, Mica picks up her juice box and sips without breaking eye contact.
“Hm. So you don’t draw the line at pretty ladies, just men interrupting your fun play?”
“Mhm.”
“Noted.” Returning to the stove, I move around the fries before determining they’ve reached doneness, allowing me to remove them from the grease. “If you’ve drunk all that juice, you’re cut off for the night.”
“Aw, man. It was so good though. Pl—”
“Nope. You’re at your limit for today. Once we finish dinner, it’ll be bath and bedtime. I don’t want you to have an accident because you had too many liquids beforehand.”
“I don’t pee the bed, Daddy.”
Smirking, I turn to look at Mica, whose face is twisted as she heads to the sink to wash her hands.
“Tonight won’t be the night we test that theory, Cupcake.”
While Mica hasn’t had an accident in a long time, she’s been drinking a lot of juice today, so I don’t want to tempt fate.
With nothing else to add to my statement, I grab plates and add portions for Mica and me.
After an enjoyable time at the trampoline park, I’m ready to climb into my bed and unwind with thoughts of Kyelle.
“I want four chi—”
“I know, Cupcake. You eat the same amount every time I make them. Are your hands clean so we can eat?”
“Yes, sir. I’m ready.”
“Alright, let me hear it.”
Turning with both plates in my hand, I take two steps to the island, setting one down in front of Mica before taking my seat next to her as she bows her head. My chest expands and warms with joy when she begins speaking.
“Hi, God. It’s me and Daddy. Bless this food. Thank you, Uncle J. Thank you for Daddy. A—oops, your turn, Daddy.”
“Savior for life, health, and the ability to provide this meal, thank you. Block out any impurities and let it nourish us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Amen.” Mica co-signs before picking up her tender and taking a dainty bite while dancing in her seat.
Mica and I have been working on dinner and nighttime prayers, so I let her begin our ritual. Hearing the various things she speaks in prayer always fills me with an abundance of pride because it’s something she’ll hopefully continue with her children one day.
Ms. Ky:
Good evening. This is Kyelle from Echoes of Kyelle. I’m just letting you know that your books are in. Our policy is to hold all pre-orders for seven days before they are made available for other customers. See one of the staff members to pick up your order.
A goofy grin rests on my lips as I reread the business message Kyelle sent to my phone.
After going through Mica’s nighttime routine, I walked into my room after showering and washing the day away.
The low vibrating on the nightstand alerts me of an incoming text.
I understand Kyelle’s desire to treat me like a regular customer, but the feeling isn’t mutual.
If Kyelle wanted us to keep things on business terms, she should have kept her soul-stirring smile to herself.
Since she didn’t, I’m about to be on her ass like bees on honey.
With that thought, I type out a message, grinning harder with each word my brain conjures up.
Me:
Well, good evening, Ms. Kyelle. I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this single moment. Thank you for putting me out of my misery. It gives me great pleasure to know that I’ll be laying my eyes on you soon. Until then . . . never mind you’re about to find out. *winking emoji*
Exiting the thread, I lock my phone as I climb into bed and under the covers before rubbing my feet together, pleased with myself.
Another quick vibration sounds from my phone, causing me to pick up to see who’s messaging me.
A Joker-like smile expands my lips upon seeing Kyelle’s name flashing on the screen.
Ms. Ky:
What do you mean? All that’s between us are the books I’m now holding for your daughter. Behave, Mr. Evans.
My dick hardens, causing the blankets I’m under to tent since I haven’t bothered to put any underwear on due to the first text I received from Kyelle. Desperate to continue the conversation, I hit the phone icon and my pulse thumps wildly when the call connects a second later.
“Hello.” Kyelle’s voice is like pecans in vanilla ice cream, a bonus most don’t appreciate from the confectionary pleasantry.
“If you don’t mind the interruption to your night, I thought we could remove the barrier of things being misconstrued between us, Ms. Kyelle.” The goofy grin on my face can only be summed up as an involuntary twitch that I refuse to correct.
“I don’t mind,” Kyelle says lowly, and my dick twitches upon hearing how sultry her voice sounds in my ear.
“So tell me, do you have a man?”
Giggles flow through the line as I hold my breath awaiting her answer because I probably should have asked her from the beginning. Nevertheless, I need to know because pursuing her is definitely my plan.
“Isn’t that something you should have asked during our initiation conversation when you were coming on stronger than a caffeinated drink?”
“Maybe I should have but my question remains the same, so tell me something good.”
Settling in my bed, I rub my feet together while burrowing further in the covers hiding my bare body. Making the decision to call Kyelle instead of continuing our texts just might be the smartest decision I’ve made in months.