Chapter 15
Kateri
Pulling up to my house after work, I had to blink a bunch of times to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me.
There was no way in hell Cairo Romano was standing outside smoking with my brother Mike.
There were also four black suburbans lined up as well but no other person was out of those.
Parking my car on the side of the house since him and his people had all the spots blocked, I blew my breath, grabbed my things to get out and slammed the door.
I’m not even sure why I had an attitude when he hadn’t done anything yet, however I knew it was coming.
“You don’t see me standing here.” Cairo’s voice sent chills down my spine and not in a scary way. The bass and how he demanded respect did something to me.
“You’re not here to see me so why should I…” He didn’t even let me finish my sentence before making his way to me. Well, I could’ve finished but stopped when he moved away from Mike.
“Who am I here for then? Your mom, Mike, the older couple on the first floor or that nasty ass nurse bitch.” Shocked to know he was aware about everyone who resided here but concerned at the same time because why did he know that.
“Ok, you see me. What did you want to talk about? Did I forget something on vacation or are you here to make jokes about the knot that was on my forehead?” It was a week and half since the airport incident and my third day back to work.
I asked the doctor for a note to stay home some extra days just in case the knot didn’t go away.
“Why you always talking shit Kateri? He didn’t even say anything and you were rude walking up.” Mike interjected which pissed me off.
“Yea. That’s right. Why you talking shit?” I closed my eyes for a few seconds to think before speaking. Not only was Mike taking up for Cairo but he was entertaining the shit by trying to be funny. How did they even know one another?
“Mike does mommy know you’re down here smoking in the open knowing someone could call the cops?” I tried to make him feel bad. Cairo put his hand up to stop Mike from responding.
“First off, weed is legal in the state and what type of sister snitches on her brother. Nevermind the fact you walking around like you’re better than him knowing you smoke too.
” My mouth fell open. Yes I smoked from time to time but not enough to call myself a weed head like Mike. He turned to my brother.
“Mike let me talk to Kateri alone.” Mike gave me the finger and left me. Even the guys who stood outside the suburbans when I got out the car hopped back inside. It was just me and sexy ass Cairo.
“Why you staring at me?” I asked because he was making me nervous.
“Waiting to see if you’re whooping my ass again telepathically.” Sucking my teeth, I waved his comment off. If he knew the nasty thoughts in my head right now he’d probably curse me out.
Cairo didn’t seem like the type of man to feel flattered by nice commentary though.
No, he would probably tell me to fantasize about sleeping with him because it would never happen.
Therefore, I’ll keep those thoughts to myself.
At least I’m giving myself a chance with that manic even though it would only occur in my dreams.
“I stopped by to find out why you sending messages for me to stay away.”
“Umm.” Sariah and Rosalina became cool and were on the phone one day talking. His sister asked if I had a crush on Cairo and I told her to tell him to stay away but who knew she’d really do it.
“Is that what you really want?” He moved into my space and I could smell the cologne perfectly.
When he spoke, the mint he popped in his mouth overpowered the weed and all I wanted to do was stick my tongue inside his mouth.
What if our tongues played together and we ended up having sex in the truck or upstairs in my room?
“Aye! You good?” I snapped out of the daydream he put me in being that close.
“I’m fine and yes, let’s stay away from one another.” He leaned down to whisper in my ear. I swear goosebumps formed on my entire body.
“You want me to stay away yet your breathing increased with me standing next to you. Your eyes are about to close and the hairs on the back of your neck are standing up. So, I’d say you don’t want that at all.
” Licking my lips to make sure they weren’t ashy, all I could do was stand there.
He had me frozen with lust and the desire to wrap my arms around his neck.
“You wanna fuck Kateri.” Cairo’s whisper was so damn sexy. It’s like he had me in a trance and I’d do whatever he ask.
“Yesssss.” I moaned when his fingertips touched the top of my shoulder.
“Too fucking bad. I don’t want no bitch with a cast on her wrist because how would you jerk me off.
And like I said before, you don’t even look like you can suck dick.
” Flabbergasted about how that turned out, I stormed inside, up the hallway stairs and opened the door to my house.
Throwing my purse in the couch, I went in the kitchen to put the Tupperware from lunch in the sink only to turn around and see Cairo standing there tossing green grapes in his mouth from the fruit bowl.
My mother always said there should be some sort of appetizers out for guests whether they’re unannounced or not.
“These grapes good as hell. Grab me a water and where she get those from.” Instead of arguing and in hopes that he’d leave, I snatched the fridge open to get the water and slammed it shut making the two cereal boxes fall off the top.
Applejacks poured out all over me. I just stood there looking stupid because what else could I do.
“You clumsy as fuck.” He stood there shaking his head while I stood there waiting for him to leave.
“Just drink the water and go.” He twisted the top of the bottle to drink and I finally moved to get the broom. Feeling my arm being tugged in his direction, I took a deep breath when my body hit his. We were chest to chest; well I was to his chest as he towered over me.
“You pop a lot of shit for someone easily offended and intimidated by me.” Not knowing what to say because he was right, I stood there in silence. What was I supposed to say? He did intimidate and offend me every time we graced each other’s presence.
“Look at me.” His index finger tilted my head back and looking in those sexy eyes had me feeling bold.
Standing on my tippy toes, I took a chance and puckered up for a kiss.
When he leaned down to stick his tongue in my mouth, I panicked.
Wrapping my arms around his neck and waist like a wild animal, I let our kissing game speak for itself.
Of course he would be a good kisser and I’m sure an even better lover.
“I know damn well you’re not about to fuck in my kitchen.” My mother’s voice scared the shit outta me. Wiggling my way out of Cairo’s arms, I swear he held me tight on purpose.
“Ma, you’re not supposed to be home for another two hours.” Fixing my clothes, I quickly tried to sweep the cereal up as she made her way towards us.
“And you are?” She questioned Cairo right away.
“Cairo Romano, Ms. Coleman. Pleased to meet you.” I wanted to gag when he bent down to kiss her hand. The fact she started blushing pissed me off even more. It took her a few seconds to gain her composure. I’m telling you, Cairo had that effect on women.
“Aren’t you the man that broke my daughter’s hand.” That’s right she better get him.
“I would never put my hands on a woman. My mother raised me better than that.” I couldn’t believe he just stood there and lied.
“You see, I was handling business and your daughter Kateri walked up interfering. Unfortunately, she fell walking away somehow and must’ve hurt it that way.” He was smooth telling that lie. I would’ve believed him too.
“Kateri what I tell you about minding other people business? That’s why you and Sariah stay in some shit.” My mom snapped, shaking her head. How did him breaking my hand turn into us staying in some shit?
“And I told you to stop being so damn clumsy. How you gonna blame that man for your actions?” Cairo was cracking up standing behind my mother.
“Ma, are you serious?” I used the dustpan to pick the cereal up and throw it away.
“He don’t know me to lie.” She turned to him and he shrugged. I was so damn mad.
“Oh yea, she jumped on me a few minutes ago that’s why you caught us in an uncompromising position. I don’t know what it is with her. It’s like she wanted me so bad she couldn’t wait.” I was at a loss for words staring at him.
“I think she’s killing me telepathically again with her eyes. Maybe I should go.”
“KATERI!! What I tell you about saying that dumb shit. People are going to think you’re crazy.” Cairo used his finger to circle around his head. It was the gesture people made when they called you crazy.
“I’ll see you later Kateri and it was nice meeting you, Ms. Coleman.” Cairo closed the door behind him.
“That man was fine. You better get with him and don’t bring me no grand babies too early.” She patted my face and went to her room.
Walking away myself, my phone rang with a blocked number. I knew it was Cairo and didn’t want to answer but did anyway.
“My mother is having a 65th birthday party in a few weeks. I’ll send a car for you and clean your pussy well in case we fuck after.” The phone disconnected. That man was crazy but I bet I’m ready for the party and sex.
“Hi, can you remove your jacket and lift your sleeve?” I asked the patient sitting in my chair to have blood taken. Turning around to get the correct vials to collect the blood, I heard the zipper coming down. The guy was sitting in the chair waiting when I turned back around.
“Ok. You want me to lift my sleeve too?” Didn’t I just tell this man to do that? Instead of catching an attitude I answered, took his blood and sent him on the way.
For the next four hours, it was nonstop patients needing blood work and we were short so I had to do their insurance paperwork as well. When it was lunchtime all of us took a break together in order to make sure no one would get swamped. Lisa put the sign up saying we’d return in an hour.
Heading toward the cafeteria, some big dude started to follow me.
I paid it no mind until he pulled my arm to stop me from getting in line.
Forcing me into a corner of the cafeteria there was a long table set up with a nice linen tablecloth and food on a tray that was covered by lids.
One guy stood behind the food with a chef like jacket and another guy was at the end with two different salads in front of him.
“What is that?”
“Mr. Romano said you need to eat healthy and that the cafeteria food was shitty and processed.” The big guy responded.
“Hold on. Did you say Mr. Romano?” I was shocked to hear he sent anything for me.
“Yes and he said you can have those three dirty women you work with eat as well so you’re not lonely.” I crossed my arms.
“They are not dirty.” I was offended for them. Cairo didn’t even know those women to say that but then again, he made assumptions on a regular basis.
Lisa had OCD really bad and I’ve been to her house. You could literally eat off her floor. I think it was one of the reasons she was lonely. No man wanted to deal with that.
Tanya had two kids and stayed with her mom who only let the kids play in their room and outside because she had a white living room.
And Halo, well she was a tad bit questionable at times, especially when her clothes smelled like mildew more times than I could count.
“I’m just repeating what he said.” The guy’s hands went up.
“Tell Mr. Romano, I said thank you but this was too much.” The set up was really nice but I hadn’t seen what was inside the chafing racks yet.
“Just eat the damn food. I have to make sure your insides not rotten when we fuck.” Cairo’s voice was loud and when I turned around, there his sexy ass was on Facetime. The guy handed me his phone and stepped away.
“Who said we were?” I tried to play hard to get.
“It’s either eat healthy or hear about me fucking one of those bitches you work with.” I’ve come to the conclusion that he really didn’t give a fuck about no one but himself.
“You make me sick.” I asked the chef guy to lift the lid and my stomach growled while my mouth watered at the sight of how amazing the food looked. There was fried chicken, greens, yams, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and string beans with potatoes.
“That is not healthy.” I took the phone off facetime and answered when the phone rang back.
“It’s healthy enough to cleanse you out.
I can’t have you farting and it smelling like shit because you have all those toxins in your body.
” I hung the phone up on him for real that time, told the chef what to put on my plate and called the girls over.
It was so much food, I had the guard grab a plate, the chefs and a few doctors on duty.
I wasn’t feeding none of those nasty ass nurses.
“Your man must love you.” Lisa said, stuffing her mouth.
“He’s not my man.” I smiled thinking about Cairo being my man one day. I wonder if that would ever happen.
“Yet.” Halo joked, getting up for salad to go with her food.
“We shall see.” We stayed there having a good time and once lunch was over, I had them take a plate home so the food wasn’t wasted. We helped Tanya make a plate for her kids and mother too. I guess the only thing to do was thank Cairo properly and hopefully he’ll appreciate it.