Page 32 of Only a Gemini Will Do
I paused. “Because . . . that’s whathisname starts with.”
“And exactlywhois he, Sawyer?”
“It’s a long, complicated story,” I answered.
Soleil gasped. “Oh shit, like a scandalous story? Is he already married? Famous? Your boss?”
I sucked my teeth. “None of the above, ho. Damn!”
“Then who is this mystery man, and why are you being so secretive about him like he’s the president?”
I huffed. “I’ll explain everything to you later. But you’ll actually get to meet him. He’s waiting back at my apartment with Butta,” I announced.
Soleil clutched her chest like Fred Sanford. “Oh shit! Y’all are living together? How long has this been going on? You really should’ve dropped a hint or two before I left North Carolina because I need to emotionally prepare myself. Should I be the intimidating big sister or go easy on him? Should we stop at the store and get some wine? Shit—your ass can’t drink. What’s he look like? Is he tall? Is hefine?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’ll find all that out when you see him. Just promise me you’ll be yourself . . . On second thought, scratch that. Don’t be yourself. Just take a fucking chill pill because if you come in firing off all those questions, you’re going to kill the vibe.”
She nodded. “Okay, okay. I got it. I’ll be on my best behavior, but I’m not promising to go easy on him. You know how scary I can get behind the people I love.”
I smirked. “Oh, I know.”
I pulled away from the airport with my heart thudding in my chest with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Once we got back to my apartment, the truth would come out, and I was willing to bet money that this Christmas would be one I’d never forget.
Half an hour later,I stepped inside my apartment with Soleil in tow. She was cheesing, still riding the high of the news that she was going to be an auntie as she wheeled her suitcase inside. Like clockwork, Butta came racing to the door, greeting me and sniffing around Soleil and her suitcase like a four-legged detective.
“Okay, where is he?” she whispered to me.
“Kareem?” I called out.
At the sound of his name, he came walking down the hall toward us. He sailed into the living room with ease, wearing a simple, crisp white T-shirt and black joggers.
He flashed a disarming smile. “You must be Soleil.”
“And you must be the mystery man who knocked up my baby sister,” she replied, eyeing him.
He dipped his chin while extending his hand. “Kareem,” he introduced himself. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Soleil smiled. “We’ll see if you still feel that way after a few hours. So that you know, I’m not the cute and friendly big sister. I’m thewhat the fuck did you saybig sister. But I promise, I’m nicer than my face lets on.”
I interjected. “Can you not scare off my man with disclaimers in the first two minutes of meeting him?”
Kareem shook his head. “It’s cool. She warned me you’d come in hot. I can take the heat,” he told her.
Soleil smirked before pointing to Butta’s Christmas stocking. “Is that for the dog? The one she takes PTO for his birthday every year so that he can spend the day living his best life at the dog spa?”
Kareem chuckled. “It’s wild, right? The other day, she asked me to mount a small screen in his crate because he likes to watchSpongeBobwhile he eats, and we don’t always feel like changing the channel.”
“She’s going to dress the baby and the dog alike, just watch,” Soleil said straight-faced. “Probably get professional photos taken and everything.”
He nodded, feeding into her theory. “I think she’s secretly already got the date penciled in on her calendar.”
“Um, hello, I’m still standing here listening to y’all hating asses,” I interjected while folding my arms across my chest.
Soleil turned to me, laughing. “Sorry, Sawyer. I like him. So far so good, baby sis.”
Hearing her say those words, even if her feelings were preliminary, made me feel all warm and fuzzy deep inside my chest like a sense of perfection, of stability, of all the pieces to my crazy ass puzzle finally falling into the right place.
Later that night,Soleil and I were sitting cross-legged near the Christmas tree, surrounded by balled-up wrapping paper and a plate of half-eaten Snickerdoodles and Reese’s peanut butter cookies—our all-time favorites. Butta was on the couch snoozingin those adorable reindeer antlers that he’d somehow come to tolerate. Mariah Carey, the Queen of Christmas, was playing in the background through the Bluetooth speaker.