Page 18 of Solid
“Even when I get to college?”
Chuckling, I nodded. “Even when you get to college. Even when you’re thirty!”
“Thirty!” she yelled. “Miss Anderson, that’sreallyold.”
“Hey! That’s how old I am.”
She laughed as I tickled her, and when I stopped, she hugged my neck. I held her close, wanting to tell her I’d be her mommy in this lifetime and the next. But I couldn’t. That wasn’t my place. I’d treat her like she was my daughter, though, and make sure I showed up for her as if I’d given birth to her myself.
Later that Evening
My day had already been emotionally draining after my conversation with Miley. Though I was honored that she’d asked me to be her mommy, it made me sad when I dropped her off. I wished I could be her adoptive mom and give her and Mateo the love, nurturing, and stability they deserved. I told myself having her younger aunt and uncle might help them both, and that was the only thing keeping me from bursting into tears and kidnapping them both.
All I wanted to do was grab a few items from the grocery store to cook for my unofficial man. I needed him to love on me even more. Seeing Kenya made me groan and roll my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was deal with his mouth, or the guilt of feeling like I was doing something wrong because I was dating his brother.
“Hey.” He spoke, walking toward my basket with a surprisingly warm smile.
“Hi,” I replied skeptically. “You’re mighty chipper today. Hot date tonight?”
Kenya chuckled. “Nah, but I heard you got one.” His smile wavered slightly, but it was still there when he added, “Kayne told me about the two of you.”
“Oh.”Shit. “Um . . .”
“It’s fine, JJ,” he promised, taking my hand into his. “Y’all are better for each other anyway.”
Relief filled me as I nodded and squeezed his hand. “You sure you’re okay with this?”
“Would it matter if I wasn’t?”
“Yeah. I’d still date him, but we’d just hide it from you,” I joked, causing him to laugh. “Seriously, though, I love Kayne and would never do anything to intentionally hurt him. I know being at odds with you would do that, so if you aren’t cool with this?—”
“It’s fine, Jayla. For real. You both deserve to be happy and loved well. If you find that with each other, I will never stand in the way of that.”
I appreciated the sentiment, so I thanked him, and we hugged. We walked down a few aisles together and talked, and I didn’t mind the company. He asked me if I was cooking for his brother, and I confirmed. Kayne was a true meat and potatoes kind of man, so I was going to make steak, baked potatoes, shrimp, and a zucchini and squash mix with cherry cheesecake pie for dessert.
After I checked out, I stopped byCharlene’s Winehouseto get a bottle of red wine for us to have then headed home, and I couldn’t wait to be in Kayne’s arms and on his lips tonight. I knew being with him was probably the only thing that would make me stop obsessing over the kids and wanting to go get them. A part of me wanted to ask Sonny if he’d mind if I kept them at least on the weekends.
I felt like the logical thing to do was wait and see how things would go with them spending time with their aunt and unclesince they were younger than Pearl, but right now, I wasn’t thinking with my mind. I was thinking with my heart. And my heart wanted those kiddos at home withme.
“Who am I kidding?” I chuckled. “I don’t even have enough space for them in my apartment. Well, I guess I could turn my home office into a bedroom for them to share, but that wouldn’t last long with Mateo being in middle school. Ugh. I’m nowhere near ready for that responsibility, but Lord knows I want to be.”
Nibbling my lip, I could only laugh at myself for trying to find a solution to a problem that I’d created myself. For now, they were safe and being taken care of by Pearl. It may not have been the most fun house, but she was their grandmother, and Sonny wanted them with her. For now, that would have to be enough.
“Aww, baby. These are beautiful.”
Jayla gushed as I handed her the bouquet of red roses. She looked radiant in a white dress with her thick, coily hair pulled up into a bun.
“Not as beautiful as you.”
“Thank you, pookie.”
After we hugged and kissed, we went to her office instead of straight to the kitchen, which was a surprise. I was hungry and looking forward to the meal she planned to cook for me.
“The potatoes are in the oven and the vegetable mix is already done,” she announced, looking around her office. “It won’t take hardly any time for the shrimp and steak.”
“Uh, bae?”
“Hmm?”