Page 42 of Love's Instant Replay
“Hm. I guess I don’t have to worry about anything hitting Undercover Room now. Stupid mothafuckas. I’m about to erase all their little footage and throw this shit in the river by my crib.”
Sighing, a small smile forms as the tension creeping into my shoulders immediately dissipates at the knowledge of escaping another dramatic headline on the gossip blogs.
“Thank God!”
“You ain’t have nothing to worry about, because one way or the other, those idiots weren’t leaving this store with candid shots of us. Are you hungry though? I ain’t ate since . . .” His words trail off as his head and chin tilt while his eyes fill with bafflement.
“I could eat,” I say.
“Me too. Food first, then you after Mica’s bedtime.”
Shaking my head, I provide a rebuttal as my thighs clench tightly, causing a slight ache in my nether region.
“Nope. Until I’m no longer aching, you’ll be using your hands to get off.”
“Tuh. I'd better take you to your crib then because if you're in my bed, I’m sliding between those thick ass thighs. Ain’t no way in hell you’re about to ice me with my pussy. You tripping, my baby.” The deep frown and eyes that blaze with frustration have me giggling before returning the onesie to the rack and following a grumbling Kaeden toward the exit.
“How long do you think you’ll play football?” I ask.
“As long as my body allows me to. I don’t want to play so long that injuries force me into retirement though.”
“Hm. Have you been hurt before?”
“Only in college. I have been blessed to not have any injuries since playing in the league. However, I try to play smart and not act like I’m a mythical creature like some players,” Kaeden tells me.
Laughing, I take another bite of my loaded mashed potatoes, taking the time to swallow my food before speaking again.
“Why mythical creatures?”
Kaeden and I are having dinner at one of the popular franchise steakhouses since I have a taste for Parmesan-crusted spinach dip. The manager sat Kaeden and me in the back of the restaurant away from prying eyes, instantly putting me at ease about avoiding the other patrons. If my stomach wasn’t creating a loud and embarrassing soundtrack, I would have tried to talk Kaeden out of eating in public. But hunger won, and here we are, eating dinner out and talking like we’re the only people here.
“A lot of players act like stunt devils during games and then wonder why they find themselves sprawled out on the turfshedding tears. I do my best to play it safe while still doing my job. The last thing I want or need is Mica seeing or hearing about me being carted off the field. Now that I have you, and you occasionally attend games, I keep both of you in mind during games. Not causing y’all to shed tears I can prevent is always in the back of my mind.”
“Yeah, that would be horrible to witness.”
“For sure. How are things coming along at your bookstore? Do you have frequent traffic coming through there?”
“Things are great, and the traffic is fine, I guess.”
Kaeden stops eating, and I squirm from staring into his eyes that appear to be searching me for what my lips aren’t communicating.
“You guess?” he says as more of a question than a statement, and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Honestly, some days are better than others. I’m owning and operating a bookstore as a black woman competing with well-established ones, which isn’t an easy feat. I love the people who patronize my business, so I don’t think it’s smart to complain, because no one could be walking through my doors.”
Kaeden nods without speaking as his eyes continue assessing me, making me wonder what he’s thinking in this moment. I know that I need to do more in terms of marketing so more people can discover Echoes of Kyelle, but I’ve been spending time trying to stock the shelves to meet the demand that more customers could potentially demand.
“Where do you see Echoes of Kyelle in five years?”
Tilting my head, I bite my lip while pondering the question, because outside of my parents, grandmother, and Tracy, no one has asked me or seemed interested in my answer. Kaeden’s eyes are soft like a gentle caress as he awaits my response, making me feel warm all over from his inquiry and genuine interest.
“I see myself with an entire staff that handles first and second shifts due to the influx of business. I see smiling children utilizing the area I carved out for their ultimate enjoyment. I see the lower level expanding to provide a beverage nook for the adults who come in and need someplace to read without interruption. I see the need for me to potentially relocate to a bigger space because I’m rapidly outgrowing my current location. I see growth.”
The visions in my mind while talking about where I’m hoping Echoes of Kyelle is in the future fill me with immense joy.
“Say less, my baby. Tell me something though . . . Why you ain’t include me in that outlook?” The smirk and light in his eyes give way to Kaeden’s unserious inquiry, and my lips upturn as my conscience stands up, ready to play.
“In five years, I plan to be on to the next profe?—”
