Chapter 18
“What Randy?” I asked as I shut Shayla’s door.
“How was your movie date?” He teased.
“You interrupted Shayla and I to ask how my movie date was?”
“Yeah! How was it?”
“It was great. Easily one of the best nights I’ve ever had.”
“Why do you sound so sarcastic?” He made a face.
“I’m not.”
“What did y’all do?”
“We watched Star Wars and I almost kissed her.”
“You almost kissed her?!”
“Yeah… Why are you so surprised?”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Something happened in the movie and she wanted to find out.”
“Dang, Mike. You got played!” He laughed.
“Not really. I’m actually going to try again tonight actually.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah and I’m going to kiss her this time.”
“Let’s hope you do before I do,” he laughed and walked away.
“You wish…” I mumbled and made my way back into Shayla’s room. I found her laying under the covers in her bed. “Is Shayla sleepy?” I whispered, sitting on the edge of her bed.
“No. Just cold,” she answered.
“Cold?”
“Yeah. My nose is freezing.”
“Your nose?” I laughed. “I’ve never heard that before.”
“Are you parents here yet?”
“Let me go check,” I ran downstairs just in time to find them coming into the house. “Hey, mom and Joseph.” I stood by the door. “Toy told me you all went out to dinner.”
“Yeah. It was rather quick though,” mother shot a look at Joseph.
“I said, I’m sorry, Kate! I can’t miss the game!” Joseph apologized. I tried to hold in my laughter. “Quit laughing, Michael.” He snapped at me.
“Sorry,” I giggled.
“Michael, your father took me to this wonderful restaurant. There were candles on the table and everything. But as soon as we sat down, your father said, ‘Kate, we have to hurry, I don’t want to miss the game.’ You can only imagine how upset I was. I had to rush to eat because your father wants to watch sports!” She huffed and went to her room.
“Katie!” Joseph groaned as he followed her. I shook my head, laughing as I went back to Shayla’s room to find Randy.
“When Michael was younger, he used to sneak out into the audience and look under the girl’s skirts to see what color panties they were. See, Shayla, I’m not like that,” he smiled as he looked in her eyes. She laughed, holding her stomach.
“Just so you know, Randy, that was part of the routine,” I faked a smile.
“Sure, that’s what they all say, Michael,” he shook his head. “Anyway, Shayla, as I was saying-”
“Randy?” She interrupted looking at me.
“Huh?”
“I think you should get going. Michael is getting pretty upset over there.
He looked back at me to find me glaring at him, “we’ll talk later, Shayla.” He smiled as he ran out the room.
“I’m sorry about my ignorant little brother,” I sighed.
“It’s okay. He’s quite the charmer.” She stood up.
I rolled my eyes, “my parents are here.”
“Great! I’ll go greet them!”
“Um, not isn’t the best time. My mother is upset with Joseph.”
“Why?”
“He rushed her to eat so that he could watch the game.”
“Oh... I’d be upset too.”
“So now she’s giving him a piece of her mind.”
“I don’t blame her.”
“On the bright side, we can go to the roof now. Want to go?”
“Sure!” She put her sandals on and followed me.
“You really like it here?”
“Yeah, it’s beautiful up there,” she said and watched as I unlocked the door to the second flight of stairs. When we got up to the roof, I held her hand and led her to the bench. “I don’t want to sit just yet…” Shayla let go of my hand and walked around. She folded her arms, inhaling the fresh air.
I walked over to her, hugging her from behind, “are you still cold?” I whispered.
“A little…”
I rubbed her arms, “I’ll warm you up.” She turned around, looking me in my eyes. I looked down at her lips and leaned in to kiss her.
“Michael! Is that you?” Someone shouted form below. I looked past Shayla to see Jermaine pointing at me with a smile on his face.
“Oh gosh. Come on.” I hurried downstairs.
“Who is that?” Shayla followed behind me.
“Jermaine and Rebbie.”
“Oh, great! I finally get to meet them,” she smiled.
“Yep… You sure can,” I forced a half-smile. Will I ever get a chance to kiss her?
Once we got downstairs, Rebbie and Jermaine was just entering the front door. “Michael, what on earth were you doing up there?” Rebbie asked me.
“Nothing.”
“Who’s your friend?” Jermaine asked me as he looked at Shayla.
Shayla introduced herself, “hi, I’m Shayla-Elizabeth. You can call me Shayla.”
Rebbie pulled her in for a hug, “Hi Shayla! I’ve heard good things about you,” she smiled.
“We were wondering when we were going to meet you,” Jermaine mentioned.
“I was hoping to meet you all too!” Shayla smiled. As happy as she seemed, I could tell that she wished they had come at a later time.
“When did you get here?” Rebbie asked.
“Yesterday.”
“Yesterday? Wow! We should have come then, Jermaine!” Rebbie laughed.
“Why are you two here together?” I asked curiously.
“Well, my car broke down. Nate and the kids went out, so I had Jermaine bring me here so I could talk to Mother.”
“You probably don’t want to do that now.”
“Why?” Both of them asked.
“Joseph took her out to dinner and when they got there, he told her to hurry so he could catch the game.”
Rebbie sucked her teeth, “are you kidding me? I’m going to talk to her. That’s ridiculous.” She made her way to their room.
“Well, I’m glad to meet you, Shayla. Do you like California?” Jermaine asked.
“Yeah, it’s nice,” she smiled as I took her hand in mine.
“Which reminds me,” he began, looking down at our hands. “What were you two doing on the roof and how did you get up there?”
“Nothing,” I said a tad bit too quickly.
“I saw you too getting lovey dovey up there,” he teased. My palms began to get sweaty. “It’s okay, Mike. I’ve been there. Y’all behave,” he advised as he went upstairs.
“Whew! That made me nervous!” She laughed nervously as she hurried back to her room. Yeah… Very much so.