“You better tell her to stay away from him and if she kisses him or anybody else again before she turns eighteen then we're going to have some major problems.”
I rolled my eyes at him, walked into the bedroom and shut the French doors that closed it off from the rest of the suite. Xavier might not have a kid of his own but he was definitely a parent. It made me laugh but I knew to tread lightly because his sister was his world and he meant every word he said no matter how ridiculous it sounded. I’m sure he knew that he had absolutely no control over the decisions that she would make when it came to boys but it was definitely not going to stop him from trying.
I rejoined Xavier about twenty minutes later after Leigh brought me up to date on her life’s current events.
“You shouldn’t worry so much about her. She actually a pretty smart girl.” I said and then sat down on the sofa next to him. He glanced at me and then right back to the TV but didn’t say a word.
“Seriously, are you really mad at me?”
“What do you think?” He said still not looking at me.
“You have got to be kidding.”
“Trust me I’m not, and what did you tell her anyway?”
“I told her that not every guy that shows her attention isn’t worth her time and that any decisions she made needed to be her decision and not theirs. I also told her that she was way too young for sex and that if a guy even Brandon came to her like that then they were definitely not the one for her. I told her that it was okay to have a crush and like someone but that she should just chill and be friends for right now because she’s too young to get real serious with anyone. She agreed one hundred percent by the way in case you were curious.”
Still nothing. He just sat there watching TV. “Hello?” I waved my hand in front of his face.
“What?”
“Did you hear what I said?”
“I heard you.”
“And?”
“And she’s still too young to be kissing boys and it better not happen again.”
“Good luck with that. I’m sure it will work about as well as it did when my parents told me not to kiss boys and here we are.”
“You’re nineteen.”
“Haven’t always been though.”
“I wasn’t kissing you when you were fourteen.”
“Maybe not me but you were kissing someone and for the record you did way more than that.”
“That’s different?”
“How?”
“It just is.”
“Well Leigh is a good kid and not interested in any of that so just be glad that she’s talking to somebody instead of just making stupid mistakes trying to figure it out on her own.
“Yeah, whatever.”
“You’re welcome.” I said and kissed him on the cheek.
Xavier Lee
I checked the time for the millionth time as if it were going to be something drastically different from the last time I checked. 3:22 AM still wide awake I had been laying there staring into the dark for hours with Kya next to me sleeping peacefully without a care in the world. My mind was all over the place and no matter how hard I tried to shut it down the thoughts kept rushing in keeping me wide awake even though my body was screaming for relief. The room was cold which felt good to me but I figured Ky was probably freezing. She had the covers pulled up over her head like she always did when she was trying to escape the air hitting her directly in her face.
When I finally gave up and surrendered to my thoughts I decided that it was pointless laying there because I wasn’t going to sleep anytime soon so I slowly pulled away from Kya, stood up and stretched. My body was so stiff and sore from training and injuries that even when I had a break I still felt like I had just finished an intense game. I looked around the room trying to figure out what to do next before I decided to head into the living room. I turned on the TV and flipped through the limited channels that were available and then turned it off when I couldn’t find anything that could hold my attention. I walked back into the bedroom, unplugged my cellphone and sat down in the floral printed armchair that was in the corner of the room.
I had several new text from girls I had dealt with in forever and some unsaved numbers so I deleted them. It was crazy to me how persistent they could be and it seemed like it got worse the second they found out that I was rocking solid with Ky. If she knew half the stuff they said and did she would probably lose her mind.
I really needed to go to sleep but my mind kept jumping all over the place. We had to be at my father’s house for lunch in a few hours and I wanted my mind to be clear and not sleep deprived. I wasn’t quite sure how it was going to go but I figured functioning off of little or no sleep wasn’t going to help the situation. Damn, I needed to go to sleep Kya rolled over, stretched and then lifted her head when she didn’t feel me in the bed next to her.
“Why are you up?” She mumbled still half asleep.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“What time is it?” She flipped her pillow over and then balled it up under her head.
“Three something.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just can’t sleep.”
“Come lay down with me.” Her voice groggy and whiny from having just woke up.
I plugged my phone back in and lifted the covers throwing the comforter off of my side on top of her so that I was only under the sheet. She moved close to me so that were face to face with her forearms pressed against my chest and her fist balled up under her chin so I kissed her forehead.
“Whatcha thinking about?” she asked.
“A little of everything?”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Nah, I’m good. Let’s just go to sleep.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“Okay.”
A few minutes later I could feel her breathing slow down and knew that she had fallen back asleep, so I closed my eyes and tried by best to do the same.
“Shssssh. You’re gonna wake him up.”
“Girl you could bomb this entire hotel and he wouldn’t budge. I’m not gonna wake him up.”
I was still half asleep but I could here Kya and Toni talking in the living room but I was too tired to move so I just laid there with my eyes closed hoping to go back to sleep.
“True but still just chill a little.”
“So what’s up with you two anyway?” There she goes always minding grown folks business.
“We’re good.” Ky sounded cheerful.
“You’re version of good or his version of good.”
I knew I wasn’t going back to sleep now so I decided to listen to their conversation even though I knew Ky would kill me if she found out.
“We’re good Tee.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Saying what?” Kya asked.
“Every time you get comfortable, he does something stupid.”
Damn Toni, don’t be all in her head like that.
“It’s complicated.”
“You’re right. It’s real complicated. You respect him and always do the right thing while he shows you how much he appreciates it by laying up with every trick that smiles at him. So ya right boo. It’s complicated!”
I think I need to put an end to this conversation. The last thing I need is Toni filling her head with doub.t
“He’s not that bad.”
“You’re right but that doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve somebody who cares about you just as much as you care about them.”
“And what about you?” Kya asked Toni.
“What about me?”
“You want everybody to have their happily ever after but your still on the fence with Ant and Ethan?” I knew it, she better hope Ethan doesn’t find out!
“Boo me and Ethan have months in, you and Zay have years plus so yeah, I might still send a text every once in a while but I’m not crossing that line. Zay on the other hand has crossed the line, jump
ed over the line, hell he did a back flip over the damn line. Never once feeling any kind of way about it. You boo have never even gotten close to that line even after you caught him with his pants down. And I do mean literally caught him with his pants down.”
“I don’t know, I just want it work and it’s not that easy to just walk away.”
“I’m not saying you need to walk away, I’m just saying that he needs to get it together and keep it together. If he doesn’t, well then Mr. Uncomplicated needs to get a call, a text, hell a messenger pigeon will work but either way you need to give somebody else a chance”
Mr. Uncomplicated, who the hell is that?
“Well it won’t be him because he’s creepy but your right. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it but for now, I’m giving this a chance.”
“I just want you to be happy.” Toni said.
“Me too, so no more being on the fence for you and I’ll leave Zay if he doesn’t get it together.”
“You’re such a liar but I love you anyway. Real talk though Ky, he’s either with you or he’s not. No more in-between so don’t let him. Deal?”
“Deal. As long as you stay away from Ant and give Ethan a real chance. He’s good for you Tee so don’t mess it up.”
“Aye I’m good as long as he keeps those hoes at bay but the first time I catch him slipping, that’s a wrap.”
“Now who’s the liar, you’re not walking away that easy either miss ‘I only have months in’ so stop frontin’. He’s the first guy that has ever been able to get you in check and you’re loving every minute of it.”
“No comment but, I’m out, just remember what I said.”
“Mmhm, I thought so, by girl.”
I heard the door open and then close again so I figured Toni was gone. A few minutes later I could hear the shower start and then Ky moving around in the room. Something landed on the end of the bed which I figured was her bag because shortly after I felt items hit the bed and then the bathroom door shut so I decided that it was safe to get up. I didn’t want Ky to know that I heard her conversation with Toni especially since it was mainly about me.
“Hey you’re up.” Ky stepped out of the bathroom dressed in sweat pants and a tank top.
“Yeah, I just got up.” I lied.
“Are you ready for today?” She climbed on the bed and sat down next to me.
“Yeah.”
“You heard from him?”
“Not yet but it’s still early.”
She reached over me and picked up her phone off the bed. “Its ten what time are we leaving?”
“It should only take us about fifteen minutes from here so I guess like 12:45.”
“Toni just left so I’ll text here so that she can get Ethan up.”
A few house later we pulled up in front of what was supposed to be my father’s house and I parked on the curb. There was an X5 in the driveway with a pink toddler sized bike next to it. The house was a two level brick lined with perfectly shaped shrubs that looked like someone invested a lot of time in caring for them. It reminded me of Kya’s house the way the yard was groomed to perfection even in the middle of winter with the dead grass looking like it had just been recently edged.
“So this is it.” Toni said looking toward the house “Kind of looks like your house Ky.”
“I know right.” Ky said checking out her surroundings.
Just as I opened the door to get out I heard a tiny voice yell, “Hi.”
I looked towards the house to see a little girl coming down the front stairs dressed in a pink dress and blue leggings with pink polka dots on them waving at us with the biggest grin on her face.
“Kenzie, come back here.” A very pregnant woman stepped on to the porch after the little girl who ignored her request as she continued towards Kya who had just stepped out of the passenger side of my Jeep.
“I’m Kenzie.” She said with a grin.
“I’m Kya.”
“Are you our vis-ters, mommy said we’re having vis-ters today so I have to behave?”
Kya laughed and then looked at me as I walked up next to her, while Ethan and Toni both got out and joined us.
“I guess we are.” Kya said and smiled at the little girl clearly amused by how cute she was.
Kenzie turned to Ethan and Toni and repeated her introduction. “I’m Kenzie.”
By then the pregnant woman had waddled down the stairs and made her way over to us. She looked down at the little girl and frowned.
“McKenzie, didn’t I tell you to stay on the porch.” The little girl looked up at her and smiled clearly not moved by her mother’s words.
“But mommy these are our vis-ters.”
The woman looked at all four of our faces smiling politely.
“You must be Xavier.” She said to me.
“Yes ma’am.”
“I’m Pam, Pleased to meet you. Gosh you look just like Jackson and your mother.” She said and smiled. My mother, how did she know my mother? I guess she read the question on my face because she continued. “I’ve seen pictures of Victoria.” She gave me a reassuring smile. “Your mother was a beautiful woman.”
“Thank you.” I retuned a smile even though it felt awkward hearing her talk about my mother. “This is Kya, Toni and Ethan.” I said and glanced at each of them as I said their names.
“Welcome, I’m glad you guys are here. This one has been waiting all morning for you guys.”
“Do you want to see my room?” Kenzie said and slipped her tiny hand into Kya’s first and then Toni’s. She began moving towards the house dragging them behind her.
“Kenzie leave these young ladies alone they do not want to see your room.”
“Its fine Toni said and over her shoulder and smiled at Pam. I could tell that they were both over thrown by her cuteness and willing participates. I couldn’t help but to smile as the disappeared into the house.
“Come inside please.” Pam said to Ethan and I.
She smiled at us and then turned to waddle towards the front porch. She struggled as she moved which made me want to offer help but I refrained. She looked like that baby was going to come any minute now even though my father had mentioned that she had another month to go.
When we entered the house I looked around at the décor which had warm earthy look. The two rooms that I could see from the where we were standing were covered in a deep khaki with colorful earth tone prints hanging all over the place. Candles lined all of the tables and there were wicker baskets that held toys and magazines strategically placed along the walls and at the end of the brown leather sofa that she was guiding us to.
“Please have a set, Jackson ran to the store and should be back any minute now.”
Ethan and I took a seat on opposite ends of the sofa while she carefully lowered herself onto the ottoman that sat beside it.
“So you found us okay?”
“Yes ma’am. GPS. Brought us right to the house.”
“Please don’t call me ma’am. It makes me feel old. Pam works just fine.” She smiled at us. She was pretty with her dark chubby face which I attributed to the fact that she was pregnant. Her long dark brown hair was pulled neatly back into a ponytail that brushed the back of her neck as she moved her head from me to Ethan. “So I understand that you guys stayed at the Villa yesterday, how was that? They have a great spa, not that I think that you guys would care much about that but maybe those pretty young ladies got a chance to check it out.”
“No we just kind of hung out but we did check out the pool for a little while.” Ethan said.
“Well you guys are young so I’m sure you found plenty to keep you busy. I miss those days. Young and carefree. I told Jackson that you guys wouldn’t want to be cooped up in this house with us all weekend.” She smiled.
“I just figured that it would be better for us to stay somewhere else since it was four of us.” I didn’t know why I felt a sudden urge to explain why I refused the offer but I sensed that she was a little disappo
inted that we had chosen not to take them up on the offer to say at their house.
“Oh don’t worry, its fine. I understand.” She said and then gave me a reassuring smile. “I would have done the same thing.”
“So I better go check on your girls. Kenzie will have them in a full blown dress up fashion show if I don’t save them soon.”
She scooted to the end of the ottoman and attempted to lift herself but had a failed attempt so Ethan and I both stood up and reached towards her to offer help. She accepted and we each took a hand and carefully pulled her to her feet.
“One more month to go, I don’t think I’m going to make it. I feel like I might explode if I get any bigger.” She placed her hand over her enormous belly and then laughed. “I’ll be right back make yourself at home.”
“You good? I know this probably feels weird.” Ethan said as soon as she was out of the room.
“Yeah it does. It’s like walked into the Huxtable’s house.”
“Bruh, I hope that baby doesn’t come before your dad gets back. She is huge.”
“I know. There’s no way she’s gonna make it another month or she won’t be able to fit in this house.” We boht checked the door way to make sure she hadn’t snuck up on us.
“Is she having twins?”
“I don’t think so.”
I could feel my phone vibrating in my pocket so I pulled it out to see who was calling. Leigh
“What’s up squirt, everything okay?”
“Where are you?”
“With Ethan, Ky and Toni why?”
“I called you like three times.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know, is everything okay?’
“Ethan looked at me trying to figure out what was going on.
“Guess what?”
“What?”
“Guess.” She sounded excited so I relaxed a little and I remembered that she had mentioned it was time to pick the all-star team for her travel basketball league.
“You made the all-star team.”
“Sure did. First pick and guess where they championship game is?
“Just tell me.”
Kya & Xavier: It's Always Been You (Life As We Know It Book 1) Page 23
