Chapter 14 #3
Kier pulled my chair closer to him and stroked his beard. “Years down the line, huh? You telling me I got more than a summer with you?”
I looked down in my lap, took a deep breath, then looked back at him. “I’m telling you, I’ve fallen for you, hard as hell. I’m in love with you, Kier, and I didn’t realize it until we arrived in Houston, and I got sick at the thought of sharing you with the world again.”
Kier took my hand, pulling me closer to him, then sitting me on his lap. He caressed my cheek, then said,
“I’m in love with you too, Sibley. Everything about you. Last night hurt a nigga because I thought I lost a real one. I won’t mishandle you like that again.”
Suddenly everything from last night evaporated, Maya included.
My heart dropped in relief knowing he felt the same way.
I leaned into him. His hand came up to meet me halfway, steady at my jaw as he closed the distance the rest of the way.
Our kiss started slowly. It felt like neither of us was trying to rush past what had just been said.
His hand stayed steady against my face, while mine pressed softly against his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breath.
We’d conquered lust and transitioned into love.
“Um… maybe I should come back?” Naomi’s voice cut through our small bubble of passion. We both pulled back at the same time, foreheads still pressed together as a quiet laugh slipped out between us.
“Yeah… you probably should,” I said, not even looking in her direction.
Kier exhaled softly against my skin, shaking his head. I felt him, shit the moment had been interrupted too soon. Naomi stepped in anyway, hovering. Between my attitude and Kier and me kissing, she probably didn’t know whether to stay or leave.
“What’s up? You need something?” Kier asked, glancing past me toward her.
“Yeah… I just finished,” she said, clutching her notebook.
“Let’s hear what you got,” Kier said, tapping me on my hip. That quickly, he’d pivoted back into work. I slid off his lap, smoothing my hands over my thighs as I stood. My lips still felt warm, and even though I wanted more, I knew he had to get back to work.
The line outside The Breakfast Klub went by quicker than I expected.
By the time we got seated, the place was loud, and I kept hearing people toasting shouting ‘Sunday Funday’.
It was no different from the brunch spots in Chicago.
Plates clinked, people laughed, and waitresses weaved through tight spaces while music blared over the speakers.
Naomi glanced around, taking it all in. She wouldn’t be so amazed if she stepped outside her apartment more.
“This is nice. I’ve never been to Houston before.”
I kept my eyes on the menu. “Mmhm.”
“What’s good?”
“I don’t know, Naomi, just order something. This doesn’t have to be a thing.” I snapped. I didn’t mean to, but I was past playing nice.
She looked at me for a second longer than I wanted, then leaned towards me in her seat. “Are you still mad at me from the other day?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Sibley, I said I was sorry.”
“You didn’t actually.”
“Well, I am.”
I didn’t look up right away. Instead, I searched my mind for the last bit of patience I had with her. “I don’t think you are, Naomi,” I added, trying not to raise my voice.
“You said some hurtful things to me too, Sibley.”
I finally looked at her, setting the menu to the side. “No, you don’t get to put this back on me right now. I will apologize for how I spoke to you, but first, we will deal with how you handled this entire situation.”
She leaned back a bit, exhaling. “Sibley, judging by the way you were moaning at the top of your lungs this morning, I’d say you and Kier are on great terms. Let’s just get past this.”
I stared at her. “You lied on me, put Kier in an impossible position, caused tension between us, and put my character in jeopardy. Why?”
“You talk about taking advantage of opportunities, so that’s what I did.”
“You didn’t have to lie, Naomi.” That didn’t sit right with me.
“I didn’t think I could count on you to help me. You treat me like I’m an annoyance. I’m your big sister!”
“Then be my big sister! That means you cheer me on, you support me, and you do it without running a guilt trip.”
She went quiet. “I don’t know how,” she said after a second.
She finally looked at me, and a tear slipped down her cheek.
“I don’t know how to be there for you without resentment.
I know you’re not the reason I’m where I am.
It’s easier to put the blame on you. Can’t blame mom and dad—it’s not their fault they died.
And I can’t blame myself because that would mean I’d actually have to take responsibility for my own decisions. ”
She got my attention there and my eyes watered before I could stop it. Naomi had always held it together. Even when everything fell apart, she found a way to keep moving. Hearing her say that out loud opened my eyes allowing me to see her differently for once.
“Naomi…” I paused, attempting to be careful with my words. “You’re a lot, but you are my sister, and I love you. I want to help you in any way I can. But you gotta communicate better and you have to respect me as not only your sister, but a grown woman.”
She agreed, wiping at her face. “Alright.”
“And you need to get your job back.” I glanced down at my drink.
She blinked in shock. “What, you didn’t think I sounded good in the booth yesterday?”
“I thought you sounded incredible, but even if your career takes off, it won’t be overnight. You got bills, Naomi.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You right.” Our drinks came, and condensation formed on the glasses. She grabbed her mimosa and gestured toward mine. “To improving our relationship.”
“And respecting each other,” I added, clinking my glass against hers.
I hoped this was a real truce, and if I wanted it to be, I’d have to truly work on myself.
Naomi left the next day, and everything slowed down afterwards.
Kier and I spent the rest of the week in Houston without the noise of the industry.
We went out, stayed in, laughed, and relaxed into what felt normal for us.
He took me to the Houston Museum of Natural Science one morning.
And on another night, we spent the evening walking past the lights near Discovery Green, stopping for dessert along the way.
Houston didn’t give me answers, but it did give me perspective.
There were too many moments that didn’t quite line up, and too many things I had to sit with instead of push past. Kier felt the same, but his world didn’t and that was the part I couldn’t ignore anymore.
Yet, I couldn’t carry on through this blindly, not when I was starting to understand what came with him.
But I also couldn’t pretend I wasn’t attached to how he made me feel when it was just us.
That was the conflict. That was the line I was standing on.
And I hadn’t decided yet which side I was going to fall.