Page 119 of Steel

Hearing that stung a little, but I shook it off.

“Between Ms. Rachel, me, his grandparents, and his aunt, he’s gonna get it. Jaeda and Quaid have been teaching him sign language, though.”

“That’s adorable. Has he caught on to it?”

“He knows milk, eat, and more. As you can see, he lives up to his name. Right, Fat Man?” I poked KJ’s stomach, causing him to giggle. “He’s gonna take after me and Smoke’s big ass.”

Neha turned him around so he could see everything. He rested his fat self against her, kicking his feet like the happy little guy he was.

“He really likes you,” I noted. “I don’t have him around too many people that aren’t family, but I’ve never seen him be this friendly.”

Neha grinned. “Babies love me. Babies and dogs. I don’t know what it is.”

I smirked. “He likes laying up on them titties. Like father, like son.”

She playfully slapped my arm. “Shut up.”

“For real, though. Look at him. Lil’ man is chilling without a care in the world.”

And he was. As we floated around the river, he was acting like this was a five-star vacation after working seven days a week for months.

“I like him too,” she admitted.

“I guess it’s a plus he’s comfortable with you, since you’ll be around.”

“To let you tell it, we are just friends. Maybe a little more.”

She giggled. “The more was what we did the other day. Friends don’t fold me up the way you did, and they don’t bite friends’ asses.”

I laughed. “Listen. There are things I’ve witnessed Salima and Shar do that I didn’t think women did with their friends. I don’t put anything past y’all. Besides, we ain’t the same kind offriends they are. And for the record, you’re wearing the fuck out of that bathing suit.”

She blushed. “Thank you.”

When I took that sarong off her, it took everything in me not to have her spread eagle and bury my face between those thick ass thighs. She wore a leopard print swimsuit. The top was a halter style and had the peekaboo opening in the middle, showing off a sliver of her breasts. The high waist bikini bottoms accentuated her hips and ass. It didn’t help that they weren’t full coverage in the back. Her semi exposed cheeks were taunting me, and that was why I bit them.

“Hey, Daddy!” Nayelli said excitedly as she and Jaiden made their way into the river with their tubes. An older couple, I assumed her parents, waited nearby while they caught up to us, before leaving.

“Hey, lil’ bit.” She jumped to hug me as she neared me. “How are you? You weren’t around when I pulled up.”

“I’m good. Jaiden almost lost his glasses in the funhouse when the big bucket tipped over.”

I mushed Jaiden’s head. “I told you to put the straps on those things. You know you’re just as blind as your sister and uncle.”

Jaiden frowned. “I’m not blind. I just can’t see that good.”

“Same difference.”

He splashed water on me, then rushed to grab a double tube for him and Nayelli. They forgot all about us as they hopped on and floated around ahead of us. Neha had her phone in a waterproof pouch, so she snapped several pictures of us and the kids. They were having the time of their lives, and it was good to see them so happy.

It wasn’t long before the kids were complaining about being hungry. We got out of the lazy river and made our way back to our area. In true Emelie fashion, she’d made friends with Dinahand Nayelli’s parents. They were all chilling by the kiddie pool, chopping it up and playing with her.

“I see y’all got to meet,” I said.

Pops nodded. “We did.”

“Mom, Daddy, this is Kerrion and his son, KJ,” Neha said, introducing us.

Her parents offered us a warm smile, and her mother stood to hug me.