Page 29 of Out of Bounds (Atlanta Demon Series #4)
Shutting down my office computer, I pushed my chair back from my desk and stood.
I had less than fifteen minutes to be out of the building and in the car to head to the kids’ school.
Maddie Claire had a dance recital tonight, and Kreed was tasked with getting them to the school in time.
This was the opening night for Maddie’s dance company, and I refused to miss her solo.
Swiping my purse and phone off the desk, I walked out of my office. “Hey, Daniel. I’m gone for the evening. I won’t be in tomorrow until after noon,” I said to my assistant.
“Okay. I’ll see you when you get in.”
“See you tomorrow.” I smiled and hopped on the elevator.
When I reached my truck, I slid in and pulled out of the parking lot. I purposely left the office early because I wanted to be able to see my baby before she went on. Hitting the button on my steering wheel, I answered the incoming call.
“Hello.”
“Sai, where you at?”
“On 285. I’ll be there in like fifteen minutes. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Kreed sighed. “Bug was wondering if you had made it yet.”
“Oh no. I’ll be there to see her before she goes on.”
“She’s uh…” He hesitated, then finished. “Having a makeup crisis.”
“Is my mom not there yet?”
On my way to work this morning, I ordered Maddie an arrangement of flowers and set it up so they would be delivered to the dressing room.
I’d also had my mom stop by the mall and pick her up a gift.
Being a working mom meant having to rely on my village to step in and help me out a lot.
I was forever thankful, but that was another one of those things that would take some time getting used to.
“Nope, she’s running late.”
“Okay.” I inhaled and then exhaled. “I’m on the way. Tell her I will be there in a second.”
“Aight,” he said before ending the call.
Dialing my mom’s number, I dropped the phone in my cup holder and continued moving in and out of traffic. “I’m pulling up now,” she shouted into the phone after answering.
“Maddie is having a makeup crisis. Can you go back there with her until I get there?”
“I got you. How much longer you got?”
“I should be there soon.”
“Okay. Be careful. She’s going to be okay.”
“I know. I’m just… ya know.” I bit my bottom lip.
“You’re going to make it, Masai. Focus on traffic, and we will see you when you get here. Be careful.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I muttered before hanging up the phone.
When I timed how long it would take me to get from my office to the school, I knew with traffic it would take thirty minutes.
However, Atlanta’s traffic was unpredictable, so I allotted for extra time.
When I thought about everything that could go wrong, makeup was the least of my worries.
I had to show up on time, or that would be something else Kreed fussed about.
Instead of the predicted fifteen minutes, it took an extra ten for me to make it to the kids’ school.
As soon as I parked my truck, I hopped out and raced into the building.
When I made it to the dressing room, Maddie Claire was off to the side, sitting Indian style on the floor, putting her hair into a ponytail.
The room was packed with the other girls from her company and their mothers.
My baby was the only one alone, and I hated that I was late, but I was here now.
“Bug!” I called out, gaining her attention.
Without looking up, she said, “I just finished curling it. Can you pin it for me?”
I dropped my bags in the corner and took a seat next to her. “Yes, baby, I can. Your dad said you was having trouble with your makeup?”
“I can’t get my eyeliner like you do.”
“Oh.” I sighed in relief. “That’s an easy fix.” I smiled at her.
Once she was done securing her ponytail at the top of her head, I used bobby pins to secure her curls so they would last during her performance.
“Now, let me take a look at this makeup.” Grabbing her chin, I tipped her head back.
She’d done a good job with the application.
The only thing missing was the wing on her upper lid.
Popping the top on the eyeliner, I told her, “You did an amazing job. I love how you did your lips. Can I make a suggestion?” I asked while applying the wing to her lids.
“Since you’re going to be under the bright lights, I think you should leave the lipstick matte.
I think the gloss takes away from it. Also, let’s try this instead…
” Using a makeup wipe, I cleaned her lips.
“I like the red on red, but… I think… we should use Night Moth liner and the Ruby Woo lipstick. We can give your lips that ombre effect so that you don’t need the gloss to make it stand out. ”
“Can you do it for me?”
“I most certainly can.” I pecked her lips.
I relished in this moment while fixing her lip combo.
My Bug was growing up on me, and there wasn’t anything I could do to slow down time.
Pretty soon, we would be picking out prom dresses and colleges.
The thought alone had my eyes misting. “Here… tell me what you think.” I held the mirror out for her.
“I love it!” She beamed and tossed her arms around my neck. “Thank you, Mommy.”
“You’re welcome, Bug. Are you ready? Think you rehearsed enough?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” I crowed. “Need me for anything else?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Okay.” I stood from crouching on the floor. “I’ll be back here when you come off the stage.” I pecked her forehead before asking her again if she needed anything else. When she confirmed that she didn’t, I slipped out of the room and went to the auditorium where Kreed and the kids were.
Slipping into the seat beside him, I expelled a deep breath.
“Y’all got everything worked out?” he asked, looking over at me.
“Yes. Thank God it wasn’t anything major.”
“I didn’t mean to freak you out. You know my ass don’t know shit ’bout no makeup. I offered, and she told me to get out.”
“My baby didn’t want to go out on stage looking like a clown.”
“Right.” He chuckled. “I’m glad you made it.”
“Me too.” I patted his hand. “Me too.”
Maddie Claire and her dance company put on an amazing performance. Their first show was dedicated to Michael Jackson. My baby’s solo was to “Rock With You,” and she killed it. When she finished, everyone was out of their seat, applauding.
Because she had an incredible performance, we decided to go out to eat as a family. Koya, Deuce, and Jrue had all come to see her perform. Jream was the only one missing, and that was due to her not being able to get out of work.
Kreed had called ahead and got us a private room at Morton’s Steakhouse.
Everyone had eaten and was now sitting around the table talking.
Kreed and I were even talking. As of lately, our conversations were geared directly towards the kids or something to do with them, but tonight, we’d been kicking it like we did back in the day.
Our past was still there, of course, but it didn’t dominate the space.
Instead, we chatted like old best friends because, after all, that’s what we had been to each other for years.
Us being able to converse without the tension made things less awkward at the table.
Everyone wasn’t on edge as they had been these past few months when around us.
It proved we could continue doing things as a family without there being any awkward energy.
Rising from my seat, I tossed my napkin on the table. “I’ll be right back. I’ve gotta use the restroom.” I excused myself and exited the dining room. I’d been sucking down dirty martinis since we arrived, and they were starting to tap dance on my bladder.
Immediately after using the bathroom, I stood at the sink and washed my hands. After combing through my hair with my fingers, I pushed the door open and left the restroom.
“Excuse me,” a deep baritone-like voice called out, snatching my attention away from the ground. Had he not spoken up, I would’ve run right into him.
“Oh, my bad.” I laughed subtly. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
“It’s okay.” He chuckled and held his hand out. “Lamar.”
“Masai.” I met him halfway and placed my hand in his outstretched palm.
“Pleasure to meet you, Masai.” The way my name rolled off his tongue was sensual. My eyes did a quick dip before they fully took him in.
Lamar was at least six-foot-one, and his skin was the color of espresso. His skin was deep, smooth, and dark, almost mimicking a shadow. He had a set of pearly white teeth that almost looked like a perfect set of veneers, but I could tell by the slight crook in the bottom row that they were his.
“Pleasures all mine.” I smiled and stepped around him.
“Masai…” At the call of my name, I stopped and turned toward him, listening for his next words. “If I’m being too forward, please tell me. Are you spoken for? Because, if you’re not, I would love the opportunity to get to know you.”
The words “I’m married ” were on the tip of my tongue, but that was no longer my truth. Instead, I pushed out, “Not spoken for, but I am newly divorced.”
“I see.” He nodded. “My offer still stands. I would love to get to know you, even if it’s on a friendship level. You can even take my number and reach out when you feel like you’re ready.”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. “I left my phone at the table.”
“Good thing I have mine.” He smirked and fished it out of his pocket. Holding it out, he added, “I’ll text you so you can have my number, and again, you can reach out when you’re ready.”