Page 96 of Zimyra

I walk over and speak to Nykendy and Kaden. When I see Zimyra’s mother, Zayda, I walk over to her.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Zayda.”

She stands up, hugs me, and says, “It’s good to see you again, Axel. Wait—it is Axel, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. I’m so bad with names. I’m surprised I remember my own.”

I grin while she laughs.

She says, “FYI, I bought a couple of pies over. Make sure you get yourself a slice before you leave.”

“Oh, yes, ma’am. I will.”

“Hey, do you know everybody?”

“Um…I’ve met Nykendy and Kaden. I know Zander, Zavier and—”

“You know me, too, big dawg,” a guy stands up and says. I remember his face, but I don’t remember why.

He says, “I’m Jeremiah. I saw you at The Promenade with Myra.”

“Oh, that’s right. How are you doing, man?”

“I’m straight. These knuckleheads are my brothers Jaysant and Jacob.”

“Sup wit’cha,” Jacob says.

“Ay, Jeremiah, who’s this cat, yo?” Jaysant asks, looking up from his phone.

“This is Axel—Zimyra’s friend.”

With a frown, he turns and resumes what he was doing on his phone. I grin. Zimyra’s cousins must be on the same thing Zander is on. Doesn’t bother me much. I came to this barbecue for one reason and one reason only – to see Zimyra.

I have yet to lay eyes on her, and it’s really irritating me. That irritation wanes when I watch her emerge from the house and join her friend at an umbrella table on the patio. I remember that’s the girl she was out to lunch with.

I hadn’t meant to stare, but after a week, something just seemed so different about her. She has her hair up in a bun, something she rarely ever does and she’s wearing a long dress with blue, white and turquoise stripes. A dark pair of sunglasses hide her eyes, so I’m not sure if she’s looking at me even though her body is turned in my direction.

“Excuse me,” I say to Jeremiah and his brothers and head over to Zimyra’s table. I introduce myself to her friend saying, “Hi. I’m Axel.”

She reaches to shake my hand saying, “I’m Capri. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you as well.”

“My fiancé is floating around here somewhere. I’ll introduce you later.”

“Cool,” I say, then I look at my girl and say, “Hi, Zimyra.”

“Hi, Axel,” she responds. That’s it. She doesn’t smile – she barely even looks at me.

I ask, “How are you?”

“I’m good. You?”

I’m not good because I don’t know if you are.

Instead of saying that, I say, “I’m okay. It’s a beautiful day.”

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