Page 39 of Another Constant

“I’m pretty much done, pretty girl. But you can do the most important job of all. Are you up for it?”

Excitedly, she nodded. “Yes, what is it?”

“Help me plate the food or go wake up your grumpy uncle.”

She thought about it for a minute, eyes moving from the food to the doorway that led to the stairs. “Um, I think I’m gonna wake up Uncle. Can you make my plate though?”

I laughed. “Yeah lil mama I got you.”

She raced from the kitchen to Kinga’s bedroom while I removed the plates from the cabinet. I made plates and listened to the TV talk until I heard his voice. I placed Kinga’s plate on the island then went to make Aja’s. It didn’t take long since she didn’t even eat half of what her uncle ate.

“He’s up!” she squealed, running back into the room.

I nodded, then got her situated at the island, waiting on her uncle.

Kinga entered the kitchen a few minutes later shirtless, in a pair of basketball shorts and Gucci slides. His hair flowed freely, bringing heat to my cheeks. This man looked so good that sometimes I couldn’t help but admire him.

“Can I have some syrup, Harlem?” Aja’s voice interrupted my trance.

“Uh yeah.” I turned around and grabbed it for her before placing it down on the counter. She was a big girl, so I knew she didn’t need me to pour it for her.

He was at my side, frame to my shoulder blade. “You can’t be doing shit like this, lil mama. I’ma fuck around and get used to it.”

I laughed.

“I’m dead serious, but you’ll see when I’m walking around pissed off ’cause you ain’t making me breakfast.”

“It’s not that serious.”

“The fuck it is. Like I said. You can’t let me touch you like I do and make me breakfast in the morning. I’ma mess around and get used to this.”

I couldn’t hold the smile that found its way onto my face. When it came to him I couldn’t hold much of anything. That probably should have scared me, but it didn’t. I liked him too much too fast.

“You spending the day with me?” he asked.

“Uncle, Sabastian’s birthday is today. He asked me to come. Can you take me?”

“Who the fu… who is Sabastian?” He corrected himself because Aja hated when he cursed. He said she even asked him to put a swear jar in the house. I found that so funny even though he was pissed.

“My friend at school. He’s really nice and he’s older. We met in the office on my first day.”

“Hell nah. I know the fu—” he started, but I elbowed him. “Don’t fucking elbow me. Are you talking about that lil bad ass boy?” His attention was set on his niece.

She nodded, still digging into her food. Baby girl didn’t even know she was in danger.

“How the fuck you know his birthday, Aja?”

“We Snapchat, silly.”

“’Bout fucking what?” He tilted his head to the side and I immediately closed my eyes. He was about to have a fit and I knew it. He had that protective look about him.

“Go get the fucking iPad, Aja,” Kinga roared and that was my cue to find a corner and sit in it.

She looked confused when she realized he wasn’t the joking uncle she was used to but instead a pissed off caregiver thinking he’d given her too much freedom.

“Um. I’m going to go to your bedroom. I’ll clean this up in a fe?—”

He cupped my chin, bringing my lips to his. “Nah, stay yo’ ass right here. As a matter of fact, get up here.” He then helped me onto the counter and stepped between my legs.

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