Page 10 of Love's Instant Replay
“Oh my gosh. Look how big this place is, Mommy.” The sound of a little boy’s squeaky voice entering the bookstore serves as cold water hitting my face as I jump slightly and back away from the counter like I’m avoiding getting burned.
“Kaeden Evans! Mommy, it’s Kaeden Evans!” The little boy’s high-pitched tone has a slight grin easing into place as I give Kaeden a subtle nod of acceptance.
“Bet. I’m gonna run, but I’ll text you this evening,” Kaeden tells me before turning to leave and greeting the little boy on his way toward the door. “What’s up, little man?”
“Mommy, he talked to me,” the little boy says cheerily.
I miss the mother’s response as my eyes follow Kaeden to the door as if I’m in a trance, and a pain in my chest forms when Kaeden exits. A thought enters my mind when I come to and prepare to resume my workday.I just agreed to attend Kaeden’s practice. Oh shit!
Kaeden leaves and Tracy didn’t waste any time teasing me about what she’d just witnessed much to my chagrin.
“Looks like I’m gonna have to find someone to spend time with because I’m about to lose my bestie,” Tracy says.
“What are you talking about? I’m not going anywhere.”
“From the looks of things, you’re in the path of pound town and passionate kisses.”
Rolling my eyes, I continue stocking the shelves with the new inventory that came in this afternoon. I’m not about to engage with Tracy and her foolishness, especially when it has no merit.
“Oh, so you’re gonna sit here and pretend like you and Kaeden weren’t makingfuck mefaces and googly eyes today? You are two shakes and a trip from being involved with that man. But if you want me to act as naïve as you are, I’ll oblige you until I have to watch y’all drooling over each other after his practice.”
My heart starts beating like a bass drum at the image of Kaeden upon hearing Tracy’s words as I fight the cheesy grin begging for clearance. It’s crazy how I tried shutting down his advances in text only to fold like a pretzel when he was in my presence. But Kaeden is a level of fine that would even make a nun renege on her vow of celibacy. A tremor enters my body when a flash of Kaeden’s face as his beard drips with my nectar, slams into my mind.
“Damn,” I whisper.
“Don’t forget I’m in the room, Kyelle. What are you thinking that has you fanning like that?”
My eyes blink continuously as I note my right hand moving back and forth in front of my face.
“Nothing. It’s h?—”
“Girl, bye. You keep this place like an ice box, so don’t even try it. Your eyes are dazed like you’re thinking about the possibility of pop, lock, and dropping it on that man’s dick. He’s a cornerback which means he’s an expert at rushing opposing individuals. I feel sorry for your little neglected kitty.”
Me too.
My eyes balloon at the two-word response in my head instead of what Tracy has said, because there’s no way I can think about sleeping with?—
Tuh, with a man like Kaeden, the last thing you want to do is sleep.
“Let’s just finish this inventory so we can get out of here. I’m tired.”
“Mhm. I know you have a phone date with your boo. You ain’t gotta light a fire under my ass, bestie. Trust me, I get it, and I’m here when you’re ready to share those kinky details.”
“Whatever.” It’s the best comeback I have since I feel like I’m losing in a three-way tennis match between Tracy, my conscience, and me.
“Splish, splash, I know good and damn well your fine ass ain’t taking a bath.” Kaeden’s tone and statements have me laughing hard as I bend over releasing the stopper from my tub.
“Man, this shit ain’t funny. Why did you answer the phone if you knew you were surrounded by bubbles, Kyelle? You are wrong for this.” Kaeden continues ranting as my laughter heightens, causing water to slip from the corners of my eyes.
“I-I’m not in the tub, Kaeden,” I say while trying to slow my giggles, but every time my mind replays Kaeden’s words, I start back up.
“I hear water in your background. Lying ain’t the right way to start our relationship, Kyelle. I’m gonna have to get you outta that shit quick. Even God can’t bear the sight of a liar, my baby. Wow.” Kaeden begins incoherently rambling, inciting more laughter from me because this is not the conversation I expected upon answering my phone.
“Calm down, Kaeden. I just got out of the tub and was preparing to clean it.”
“Shid, you’re gonna have to clean that thang when we’re off the phone. I’m overstimulated as hell right now. Matter fact, let me call you back.” My mouth drops, and more giggles escape when I realize that Kaeden has hung up on me without waiting for my reply.
Since Kaeden hung up, I hurry through cleaning my tub before turning out the light and returning to my bedroom. A light feeling, like I’m floating on clouds, guides my path toward my closet as I grab the first nightdress I come to. I race through moisturizing my skin and slip the dress over my head without putting on underwear, before climbing into my bed just as my phone rings again. A giddy feeling fills my belly as a lopsided grin forms as I connect the call. “Do you feel better now?”
