Chapter 7 #2
Inside the donut shop she took in the nostalgia of it.
Photos hung on the wall from entertainers who’d patronized the business.
Actors, directors, and music artists who’d filmed their movies or music videos here.
She took it all in. And then she spotted a photo of her father.
She froze, her eyes taking him in. Black and blue checkered flannel buttoned around his neck, all that hair he had out and free, the set of rings she retrieved every time they were evicted.
She didn’t care about losing her clothes and whatever else they had, but his rings, his albums, and anything else she could get her hands on after his passing – she held on to them with all her might.
The bitterness of grief began to rise like the tide and flooded her chest and eyes. She cleared her throat, nodded, and pulled herself together. She was the daughter of a L.O. legend hiding in plain sight.
“You know what you want?” Cairo’s baritone fully pulled her out of her silent observation.
Kamilla withdrew herself from the photo of the man she shared a face with and placed herself by Cairo’s side. “What’s good here?”
“Depends on what you like. It’s a neighborhood staple ‘cause Gary been here since the Azuls started but his shit is top tier,” Cairo spoke, motioning to an older man kneading dough. “He don’t play about his shit.”
Kamilla read the marquee. Each special was named after a Los Oceania legend. The Husten Boys dozen, Alley Op Alson 3 peat, KP Azul Confetti – a tiny smile appeared on her lips. The sweet memories of the blue icing donut with sprinkles that survived the ride up the coast when he visited.
Kamilla could still hear the timbre of his voice when he handed it to her with pride. “I made that nigga dip it in blue just for you, Mariposa.”
“I’ll take the KP Azul Confetti. Just one, I don’t want to be dragged to your den or anything,” she quipped making Cairo chuckle. “Maybe a coffee, I’m tired.”
“I got you, take a seat,” he directed with a nod thrown toward the booths.
Kamilla remembered the quick lesson from the night before.
Somewhere he could see everything. She slid in and continued looking at the walls.
So many celebrities and notable community figures had grace this small donut shop.
The fact that her father was photographed in a nearby booth solidified that attending OSU was the right decision.
Moments later, Cairo joined her in the booth with two donuts and a hot coffee for her.
“I know you said one, but it’s KP month and he makes a mariposa donut and latte.
Figured you’d like it,” Cairo shared, taking her in as she took in the photos.
He found himself in a trance every time he looked at her not because she was green and innocent but because she held something she didn’t even know was there.
An energy that made a nigga like him stop and stay in the moment.
A dimple pierced her cheek, an offering for her and a reward for him. “That was thoughtful.”
Cairo shrugged as if it were nothing. “I be thinking.”
She chuckled softly. “You think music is going to put you on these walls?”
His nod was slow, his eyes watching her take a bite of the lavender doughnut dough decorated with white chocolate glaze and drizzled with blackberry syrup. Kamilla’s eyes closed after the first bite and she hummed.
“It’s good?” he asked, locking that sight of pleasure in.
“Yeah, that’s really good actually. Anyway, answer my question,” she muttered with a mouthful.
Cairo chuckled, took a bite from his array of doughnuts, and obliged her request. “Yeah.”
“That yeah didn’t sound too confident,” she muttered.
“Nah?” Cairo mused.
Kamilla swayed her head. “I’ve been kidnapped two days now and you just seem a little bit more confident than that. Let me find out you’re shy.”
He waved her off. “Girl, stop playing with me.”
“I’m just saying. You said you want it to get you out of here,” she added.
Cairo leaned back and studied her. “What you asking me all these questions for?”
Kamilla frowned. “I-”
“What I meant was you typically aren’t this talkative. You play difficult and run away. What’s going on?”
“Nothing is going on. I just-”
He swayed his head. “Nahhh, Kamilla. You want me to keep it real with you, you got to keep it real with me.” Cairo leaned up, holding eye contact with her. “Talk to me.”
Kamilla nipped the inside of her lip and sighed. “There’s a lot that’s happened in the past two weeks and I just want to distract myself from it all.”
“You don’t have to distract yourself. Tell me, I’m not a gossiping ass nigga.”
“Eh,” she groaned. “Maybe later. It’s too heavy for the first thing in the morning and I have to go to work and deal with your girlfriend.”
Cairo’s face twisted. “Never was and never will be.”
“But there was someone. Anyone I should be looking for my shoulder for? I heard these L.O. girls don’t play about their men and I can’t fight so…” Kamilla replied, earning a chuckle.
“I’m free and clear. Wouldn’t ever put you in that type of position. Any nigga that does ain’t a nigga you should be offering time to.”
“Noted.”
“Good, eat up so I can get you to work on time.”