Page 97 of Don Caselli

I smirked when he referred to me ashisguy. “Actually, he’s right here. We just hiked a trail to see the views of the island.”

Navy smashed her face next to mine and put the camera in our face. “What up, Pimpin’? Happy Birthday!”

“Ain’t nothing, Old head. Thank you.”

Ro chuckled. “I feel it, I feel it.”

“Happy birthday, Landy Pooh!” Avril teased. “You both look tired. Was the trail that hard?”

“Mommy, it was so?—”

I tickled her. “Thanks, Ma. Don’t even lie like you walked up the rest of the way. I carried you.”

“Snitch.”

“Navy Bleu, not you being a fibber.” Navy started laughing. “Anyway, we got you both a cake so when you come home, we’ll have dinner and cut your cake.”

“Awe, thanks, Mommy! What flavor?”

“Red velvet one side and banana on the other side. Split down the middle for you both since Landon wanted to yell and I quote, ‘Red velvet is the goddamn best, fight me,’ when he was drunk.”

I did a slight laugh, as she continued to talk with her parents. “Excuse me, Pooh.” I removed her from my lap and then walked back over toward where everyone was standing.

People were between taking pictures or in the gift shop that was near the top of the view. Navy was still talking to her parents as I shoved my hands into my pockets feeling overwhelmed. They gotmea cake.

A shared cake with their daughter.

It was expected for them to get her a cake; she was their child. Their entire world and since meeting Navy, birthdays were special to her family. They didn’t just go all out for her birthday. Greene and her younger cousins got the same treatment. They loved and honored the children in their family, even though Greene and Navy were technically grown.

Seeing how they called to wish me a happy birthday had my chest tight. I couldn’t figure out the feeling that I was feeling, but the shit had me sweating bullets and feeling lightheaded at the same time.

“Baby, look at me.” I felt her hand slide up my back, and I turned to look down at her. “What’s on your mind, tell me.”

“Can’t even tell you how I feel, Pooh.”

She hugged me and looked right up at me. “You feel loved… that feeling of knowing someone cares about you, thought about you, and wanted you to know it.”

“Why they do that?”

She smiled up at me. “Because they see exactly what I see.”

“What’s that?”

She hugged me tighter. “A good man that wants to love and be loved. You want to feel what you’re feeling, but because you’ve never experienced it before, you’re scared.”

“Scared as fuck.”

She reached up and pulled my chin down to look at her. “Hey, that’s alright… love is a bunch of things, and fear is wrapped in there, too. I’m scared, too.”

“Tell me why.”

“You told me that you love me, Landon. Took me away to this beautiful island and have been fucking me every way from Tuesday. I am pregnant and told you my plans already. I’m scared that if I continue to keep falling that I’m gonna hit the ground.”

“Could never let that happen to you.”

“How are you so sure?”

It was my turn to grab hold of her chin and lift her head to look me in the eyes. “I don’t damage the things or people that I value, Bleu.”

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