Page 81 of Burdens
I gently placed a hand on hers and faced her. “It’s my nephew Jamal.”
Her eyes softened at that and I saw a tinge of nervousness in them. I’d never seen her nervous about anything and it brought a half-smile to my face. It was the first time she was meeting someone important in my life.
I just wished it were under different circumstances.
After unlocking the door, I pulled it ajar to find Jamal, Kai, and Valentina standing on the other side, all staring at me and Amalia.
Before I could usher them in, Valentina strode in with a large black bag over her shoulder, swiftly removing her shoes and giving me a curt nod before pushing past us.
Kai was next to step inside. He gave me a large smile and brandished his hand forward. “Nice to see you again, Noah. You’ve been a little MIA.” He glanced at Amalia over my shoulder. “Guess maybe this is why.”
I shook my head and let out a small laugh. “You too, Kai,” I replied, taking his hand in mine, the other landing on his shoulder to give it a small squeeze.
Jamal didn’t really have friends growing up since we’d spent the majority of his years after the accident in Blackwell at the Academy, so I’d always liked Kai especially because he seemed to bring a lighter side out of Jamal.
Finally, I came face to face with my nephew, a mix of concern and apprehension painting his features. But I ignored it for now—even if it was only for the next few seconds before everything changed—and wrapped my arm over his shoulders.
I grabbed the large black duffel he held in his right hand and pulled him into a side hug, tugging him farther inside. “It’s good to see you, favorite nephew,” I greeted him, squeezing the back of his head.
We never really were physically affectionate people—I’d even go as far as to say we avoided most of it—but I’d take any opportunity right now before the seemingly inevitable.
It took him a few seconds before he placed his free arm around my waist. He gently clapped my back a few times in response, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, you too3ami?1,” he huffed out, shaking his head.
Amalia moved to close the door while I guided Jamal into the living area where Kai and Valentina were standing, their bags at their feet and arguing in a hushed tone.
The moment we came into view, both of them snapped their heads up and Kai immediately plastered a smile on his face.
“Is everything all right?” Jamal asked them, raising a brow and pulling himself away from my side.
I instantly wished I could rewind the last few seconds and keep repeating in a loop to avoid the upcoming conversation. I’d evaded it over the last twenty years and I knew I had to tell him, but I felt overwhelmed.
Although I didn’t regret telling Amalia everything—a part of me even felt relief after—it didn’t stop the conversation fromemotionally and mentally draining me, especially after being off my regimen for so long.
I wasn’t one for communicating my feelings and most of the time I avoided them—even in therapy. It was just easier to do so than having to face them, despite knowing it was the better option.
But avoidance could only get you so far.
Kai cleared his throat. “Yes, everything is impeccably fine.” He placed his attention on me. “Noah, will you finally tell us who that beautiful woman next to you is?”
Amalia was standing next to me, the side of her hand brushing against mine. I subtly interlocked my pinky finger with hers, knowing she wasn’t a big fan of public displays of affection, and looked over at her while I said my next words.
“This is Amalia,” I told them, introducing her because there wasn’t an appropriate enough word to describe who she was or what she meant to me.
Girlfriend, partner, love of my life didn’t feel good enough because she was so much more. But calling her my everything in front of practical strangers to her felt a tad too intimate.
Besides, she’d probably hit me if I did.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amalia,” Kai said with a large smile on his face. He held out his hand and when she grabbed it, he raised it and brushed his mouth across her knuckles.
I might have been slightly jealous under different circumstances if I hadn’t known this was just who Kai was and if he wasn’t already completely enamored with the woman who was standing right next to him.
But it didn’t mean his gesture didn’t grate against my nerves. “All right, Kai. Pleasures have been had,” I told him, a sharper edge to my tone.
Amalia lightly chuckled under her breath as she removed her hand from his grasp. She placed a hand on my bicep, glancingbetween Jamal and me. “I’ll let you two talk,” she said before squeezing my fingers once. She then gave Jamal a small nod and made her way to the courtyard.
“Yeah, we’ll… we’ll go get to know your girlfriend,” Kai said, nudging Valentina to follow where Amalia was heading.
Once they were all outside, the door closing behind them, Jamal faced me and my stomach dropped at the expression on his face.
