20. Kenyon
20
Kenyon
E very crate had been double-checked, and every package was accounted for just as it was supposed to be, so I could get out of here.
"Keep the rotation tight. We don’t need any unnecessary attention right now. I’m out. Hit Kross if you need anything,” I said, slapping hands with Nolan.
“Go enjoy our picnic.”
“Everybody’s got jokes, huh?”
“I’m just fucking with you, bro. Growth looks good on you,” Nolan smirked, dusting off my shoulder.
“Save the sentimental shit.”
“I forgot, that’s only for Babygirl . Tell Sis, I said wassup.”
Brandy’s car went down, adding to her string of bad luck, so she had Zara’s. That left me to play chauffeur, but that worked to my advantage today. This morning, I dropped Zara off at the hospital while I ran a few last-minute errands. Now that I was done at the warehouse, I left to pick her up.
Strolling down the hallway, I was glad I didn’t run into her aunt again. I wasn’t even sure if she’d come back. She reminded me a lot of Aunt Delores. They were always around when it was time to gossip or have fun, but when it was time to show up for family, they were ghosts.
“Banana Girl,” I greeted her with a hug and kiss as if we’d known each other for a lifetime.
“Oh, please. You can call me Lily.”
“You’ve never let me call you Lily,” Zara replied, throwing her hands on her hips.
“And I never will,” she quipped, causing Zara to scoff.
“Are you behaving yourself today?” I asked after wiping the slight pout off Zara’s lips with a kiss. Even though it was just Banana Girl, a part of her was still jealous.
“I’m always behaving myself.”
“Except when you refused to eat your lunch,” Zara tattled, wearing a twisted expression.
“I wouldn’t feed that nasty shit to a dog,” Banana Girl groaned, causing me to chuckle.
“We talked about this, Lily . Not eating won’t get you home faster. Do what they ask you to do.”
“Something tells me that’s the pot calling the kettle black Soul Snatcher.”
“What do you want to eat tomorrow? I’ll hand deliver it myself. We’ll make it a date,” I offered, learning firsthand where Zara got her stubbornness.
“Chicken from Chix On The Beach.”
“I can make that happen for you,” I winked, causing her to blush.
“She’s getting a date before me?” Zara whined.
“If you were my girlfriend, it would’ve happened by now, but you keep giving me a hard time. What's up with that Banana Girl?”
“That’s just who she is. She doesn’t take anybody’s shit. Not even mine, so you better get used to it if you plan on sticking around,” she replied.
“Noted. In that case, sorry to cut girls’ day short, but we have a date.”
“A date?” Zara repeated.
“Please, get her out of here.”
Zara’s head whipped around at Banana Girl’s comment, “I’m starting to get offended by how you keep handing me off to him.”
Banana Girl leaned forward a smidge, examining me before relaxing with a mischievous grin.
“From the looks of it, you’re in good hands. Where are you taking my baby?” I walked over to the bed and whispered my plans in Banana Girl’s ear while Zara stared at us with her arms folded. “You did good Soul Snatcher. She’s going to love that.”
Zara jumped up on her legs and hugged Banana Girl, eager to find out what I had in store for us.
“I’ll be back tomorrow with lunch. Behave yourself,” I reminded her before Zara and I left her room.
She waited until we pulled out of the parking lot to ask, “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“How do I get dressed if I don’t know where we’re going?”
“Dress comfortably.”
Zara didn’t reply, so my neck turned to find her glaring at me in the passenger seat. “Zara Nicole doesn’t like surprises, I see.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Who doesn’t like surprises from their almost boyfriend?” I asked, slapping my hand on her thigh.
Zara laughed, shaking her head, but she didn’t bother answering my question. When we got to my house, I watched Zara rummage through her overnight bag, trying to figure out what to wear. She walked into my closet after the two options she picked didn’t meet her standards.
“If you need to go shopping, just say that,” I reclined on one elbow, watching her sift through t-shirts in nothing but her bra and panties.
Zara rolled her eyes at me before deciding on a dress shirt that sparked my curiosity.
“I’m bloated and don’t have anything else to wear here. Another reason I hate surprises,” she complained.
“That’s why you’re so snappy today, huh?”
“You try having one good week a month in your own body.”
“What are you going to do with that?” I asked, nodding at the shirt in her hand.
“You just have to wait and see.”
“Dressed or not, we’re leaving in fifteen minutes,” I announced, heading to the kitchen.
Babygirl’s mood had me nervous about my own damn surprise. The last few weeks had been a lot for her and me, too. Sydney still hadn’t returned a call or text, likely not wanting to hear my mouth after that interview. That was inevitable whether I had to pull up on her or not.
Zara finally waltzed downstairs with three minutes to spare. Pride replaced my nerves at how she turned my dress shirt into an off-the-shoulder look that she held together with my brooch. If I hadn’t seen her take it off the hanger, I would’ve never guessed it was a men’s shirt.
“I’m ready.”
“Is anything my own anymore?”
“Nope,” she flashed a sarcastic smile, hanging her purse on her shoulder.
We climbed into the car, and Zara could not calm her nerves. She wasn’t lying when she said she didn’t like surprises. At one point, I had to put my hand on her thigh just to keep her from shaking it. We reached the parking lot, and she hesitated to get out.
But her expression when we reached the door was everything I didn’t know I needed. Zara’s eyes widened, and she just stood there, taking it all in like she couldn’t believe it.
“Really?" she finally said, a mix of amusement and curiosity. "I didn’t take you for a guy who’d be into flower arranging.”
I couldn’t tell her that I’d be anything she wanted if her smile was the reward. Instead, I shrugged, playing it cool while holding the door open.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
She laughed softly, shaking her head and making herself comfortable at our station. The instructor handed out supplies while everybody began picking various flowers for their arrangement. My presence garnered a lot of compliments and giggles from the women because there were only two men in the class, and I was one of them. Much like me, he didn’t look like he knew what the fuck to do either, but we were here.
Zara started snipping stems, more focused and calm than I’d seen her in days. Meanwhile, I was just trying not to embarrass myself but holding my own. I looked at Zara again and noticed she was watching me. Her lips pressed together like she was fighting back a smile.
“What made you pick Tulips?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
I leaned over to her ear, “I like how yours tastes.”
Zara tried to play coy, adjusting the flowers in her vase, but the way her cheekbones hiked up gave it away. “You’re disgusting.”
“I was referring to your tattoo. Now, whose mind is in the gutter?”
“You’re not too bad at this.”
“I’m good with my hands.”
“Yeah, you are.” She giggled, a sound I hadn’t heard enough from her lately.
My neck bucked, and she tried to shift her back toward me.
“Now, whose mind is in the gutter?”
Zara rolled her eyes and went back to arranging flowers. Every now and then, I caught her sneaking glances at me. And for once, I didn’t feel I had to have all the answers. Right now, I could just be here with her, doing something I never thought I’d enjoy.