"Can you not make them so bunched up together?" Myla mumbled to Anai from across her black marble kitchen counter, who was focused on putting cupcakes on the display to go out on the back patio with the rest of the food.
In the distance sparklers and early fireworks could be heard along with the laughter of chatter from the kids playing to Mylas others guests outside.
Anai eyed Myla with her blue eyes as she washed lettuce after opening the plastic bags they came in, "I am not bunching them."
"Yes you are." Myla looked down in the sink.
Anai puffed air out of her mouth making her hair blow out of her face, "Want to switch then?"
"Nai..." Myla looked up from the lettuce putting it in the huge clear salad bowl next to her on the counter, "Relax."
"I am relaxed." Anai went back to spreading out the vanilla cake cupcakes with red white and blue frosting.
"No you're not. Eventually y'all will talk shit out. I'm seriously about to ask Landon to bring his good shit for you to smoke." Myla responded moving on to opening a bag of cherry tomatoes.
There was no amount of THC in Anai's mind that could remove the anxiousness from her body in the attempt of conversation she'd try tonight. The fact that Myla was so calm about it mostly because she didn't believe any of it, kind of made Anai wonder if she was just in denial of it all with her family.
"He hasn't talked to me since we got off the ship a week ago." Anai muttered slickly with a grimace staring down at the cake.
"Y'all have to had talk, hello Mayson." Myla leaned both her hands down on each side of the counter shrugging her shoulder in her pretty red white and blue tie dye halter top sundress.
"About Mayson yes, but that's it." Anai looked from Myla back down at the cupcakes, "When are they suppose to get here?"
"Big brother said six so in about thirty more minutes or less." Myla answered cutting up a cucumber she had previously peeled already to fall into her salad bowl.
"What about Erica and Jalil?" Anai wipes frosting that got on her finger on a paper towel.
"Said they'll try to make it." Myla answered continuing with her task of building her salad.
"I'll be surprised if he actually shows up." Anai muttered finishing with the display of placing the cupcakes, she picked it up off the counter to take outside.
"If who shows up?" Bryce asked walking into the kitchen to kiss Myla's lips placing a huge plastic bag full of family sized chip bags on the counter. In a light denim jean jacket he had on jeans to match with a black V-neck shirt and low top all black vans.
"Hey." Myla kissed him back wrapping her arms around the back of his neck.
"Hey Bryce, nothing I just-"
Joe walked in behind him in a red tank and dark blue denim shorts that stopped to his knees with high top white forces, Malikai in tow wearing all black from his snapback dawn to his low top converses, also holding bags of their own, "Yo, what's good ladies?"
Placing the bags down on the far counter along with Joe, Malikai bit down on his bottom lip showing the deep dimples in his cheeks looking from everyone out onto the patio behind his Gucci lenses, "Hey, kids outside?"
"Um yeah." Anai nodded raising up the cupcake display, "About to put these outside on the table."
"Need help?" Malikai asked looking back at her.
"Nope got it, thanks." Anai gave a quick smile his way.
"You got frosting on the bottom of your shirt." Malikai told her making Anai swiftly look down at her blue shirt she had on and saw some on her shorts as well.
"Shit." She muttered putting the display back down on the counter to grab a paper towel off the roll on the counter.
Looking back at the display Malikai nodded with a small smile before setting his sights back out to the patio, "Got a lot of guests sis."
"Not that many." Myla did a forced laugh in the awkwardness suddenly in the kitchen.
Joe looked between them both raising an eyebrow before looking towards the patio to follow behind Malikai who started to walk off, "Mayson where you at!?"
Bryce moved his lips to the side looking over at Anai, "Damn."
"Babe." Myla hit his chest lightly.
"See even Bryce and Joe peep." Anai smiled at Myla following behind Bryce to go outside on the patio.
"I haven't peeped anything." Bryce spoke going to follow the guys.
"Nai." Myla called after her stopping at the patio doorway.
"Hey My." Jasmine walked up behind her with a tray of food in her hands and a warm smile.
"Hey Jazz, thanks for coming. Melo?" Myla gave her a hug following her back into the kitchen.
"He'll be here in a bit." Jasmine breathed placing her tray of buffalo dip down, "This is the best dip you're ever going to eat."
"Oh is it?" Myla chuckled at her, wrapping up the top of the salad bowl to go in the refrigerator with saran wrap.
"Yess." Jasmine cheesed looking around, "Good decorating its pretty."
"Thanks boo." Myla sighed looking to see Kaylee walking into the kitchen in a striped sun dress of red white and blue.
"Hey girls." Kaylee waved with just her phone and purse on her.
"Hey Kay." Jasmine got a hug before Myla did.
"Flying solo huh?" Jasmine asked with a conniving grin, looking out to the patio.
"Jazz leave her alone." Myla pointed at her going to her freezer and fridge, "Y'all want a jell-o shot?"
"Why not." Kaylee shrugged putting her purse and phone down looking out at the patio.
Playing with Mayson, Joe seized his feet seeing Kaylee in the kitchen thirty feet away leaning against the counter watching him. Giving him a quick wave with her hand he nodded back sizing her and she smiled bashfully looking away.
"Damn he must have you really sprung in only a week." Jasmine peeped staring at Kaylee.
"It's not like that, we are taking things slow." Kaylee shook her head.
"I know you fuckin' lyin'." Jasmine exclaimed suddenly while Myla took the shots out of a big plastic tufa ware bowl she had.
"Auntie Jasmine, language." Mayson walked inside the kitchen with light red silly string all over his head.
"Oop." Kaylee laughed downing her red jell-o shot.
"Hey Mayson." Jasmine eyed him as he got a capri sun out of the cooler by the kitchen counter with a towel around his waist from swimming in the pool.
"Hello, when is Uncle Mel getting here? Dad and Uncle Bryce didn't know." Mayson asked looking up at her.
"Soon hun." Jasmine answered him with a sure nod.
"Okay." Mayson ran back outside.
"What are we going to do about those two?" Kaylee asked seeing Anai at the food table by herself overlooking everything.
"Let them work the shit out themselves." Myla answered.
"It must be something really bad I've never seen them fight this long." Jasmine commented.
"All will be well." Myla sighed making Kaylee look at her like she knew something that they didn't.
"Yes this would be our second year living in Los Angeles but I think we're going to move to somewhere more soon maybe Seattle." One of Mylas neighbors she invited name Shelly talked to Anai with her husband and another woman from Williams company.
"I'm here!" Kenneth walked out to the patio to join the group giving Anai a hug.
"Hey daddy!" Vanessa yelled sitting on the edge of the pool with a kool aid smile and a popsicle in her hand.
"Hey sweetie." Kenneth smiled at her, "I brought the change of shorts you needed for Mayson.
"Thanks I appreciate it Ken." Anai smiled at him gratefully.
"Whatever you need." Kenneth smiled back genuinely.
"Where is Kai?" Kenneth asked looking down at the bags in his hand to put them down on the table everyone was huddled around.
Across the lawn Malikai held a bowl by both hands with bubble liquid in it to place back on the ground so that the kids could play after he refilled it, looking over at Anai's smile on her face with the appearance of her friend Kenneth. Looking down at her plastic red cup of kool aid Anai looked across the lawn gluing her eyes with Malikai smiling at their son having a good time. In a flash he looked at Kenneth with murder in his current dark grey eyes with a devilish smirk on his lips before looking away.
"Fuck." Anai muttered under her breath looking back down at her cup.
"What you say Anai?" Shelly asked making everyone look her way, Kenneth rose his eyebrows at her.
"Nothing." Anai smiled putting her sights on Mayson and Vanessa playing with the other kids.
"Can we please talk about this." Anai walked into Malikai's suite before dinner on the boat soon with everyone else.
Buttoning up his tan Tom Ford short sleeve shirt while looking in the mirror in his bathroom Malikai looked at Anai through the reflection with grey eyes of razors, "What is there to talk about? You want to distance yourself while I figure out my shit like always."
"You're making it seem like I want to break up with you, and I still don't even understand why you're mad Malikai." Anai shook her head at him in her simple short black dress with spaghetti straps.
"You talked to someone else about our problems instead of talking to me about them first or whatever was bothering you with the situation at hand. On top of it all you're deciding to distance yourself instead of being by my side while I'm going through shit with my family I didn't ever have any control over. Like I chose any of this. Don't even know everything yet." Malikai explained to her calmly as he finished up with his shirt.
"Kai I...you rather I talked to Kenneth about this than Summer?" Anai snapped and immediately regretting it seeing the shock in Malikai's eyes by her question.
Silence went on for about thirty seconds that they could hear the ocean outside with the patio doors to the suite being open.
"Wow...are you asking this to hurt me? Or make me jealous of him?" Malikai asked breaking a small smile for two seconds before looking confused with full of anger.
"Kai I didn't meant it." Anai sighed, "I just, I'm here."
"You did mean it, and right now you're not honestly I don't feel you at all right now. I'd like you to just leave while I finish getting ready for dinner." He breathed walking out the bathroom to go to his bedside dresser.
"Anai, go now." He looked back at her with a serious glare, "I mean it."
"I'm sorry." Anai whispered before walking out to the hallway where security as usual stood by.
The tears fell down her cheeks before she could even here the lock click of the door as she bypassed James with an awaiting look.
As the sun started to lower little by little while the kids were ushered inside to change and get ready for more fireworks and fun out of their bathing suits. Sitting at a table with Jasmine and Myla, Anai saw a woman that she assumed was a neighbor of Mylas walked up talking to Malikai from across the lawn in the skimpiest outfit for Fourth of July you could think of out of nowhere. Not knowing how she was going to fix what she had damaged between Malikai and herself, Anai knew it needed to happen soon before she lost Malikai for good and had nothing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you so much for staying with this story and characters, 5 books in! I appreciate the love and feedback and happy that you all have fallen in love with these characters as much as I have. Or just plainly found them interesting, to come back and read again and again to fall in love all over again! Know I said I'd wait till July but this will be the first official until then. -VL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|Anai(30) Myla(30) Jasmine(31) Kaylee (29) Erica (30) Summer 32)|
|Joe(34) Landon(32) Melo(31) Jalil(28) Bryce(33) Malikai(33)|
"Are you serious?!" The woman exclaimed before laughing at whatever Malikai had said with a deep grin on her naturally tanned olive face.
It had only been about five minutes since she initiated conversation with him and to Anai it felt like five million years, any more and she felt like she'd be sick.
Standing out of her chair Anai walked to head back into the kitchen, "I need another drink."
"Myla who the hell is she and why did you invite attractive neighbors?" Jasmine asked while Anai was still in hearing range as she continued to head back in the kitchen.
"Shut up Jazz you're going to make my neighbors not want to come to any of my future invitational gatherings." Myla responded.
Taking a deep sigh Anai leaned against the sink once she finished closing her eyes and mentally counting to ten to calm herself down.
"It's like he knows almost every pretty woman in California or something." Anai muttered to herself wondering if that was another one of his past clients.
"Mom!" Mayson yelled running into the kitchen making Anai turn around at the big grin on his face, "Look at the cool laser tag guns uncle Joe got us!"
"Oh wow that's cool Mace." Anai leaned her back against the sink not hiding her surprise by the gift.
"So awesome!" Vanessa ran around the corner with other kids running behind her to back out on the patio.
Looking out the window in Myla's kitchen that overlooked the backyard at the sink, Anai looked to see the woman Malikai had been talking to moved on to mingling with other people along with having a dress on now over her bathing suit.
"Anai you know where Myla put her corkscrews?" Jalil asked walking into the kitchen.
Turning towards his way briefly she shook her head saying, "Nope." Continuing to look back out the window.
"Well thanks so much for helping me trying to find one." Jalil retorted opening up drawers on the opposite side of the kitchen.
"You're welcome." Anai sighed wishing he'd stop talking to her at the moment.
"I don't know why you think being mean is going to help your situation of whatever you got going on but it doesn't. Fix your shit instead of looking out of windows." Jalil told her while finally finding a corkscrew.
Anai looked over at him as he walked back at the kitchen, "I deserved that."
In her sights out the window she didn't see Malikai anymore, "Where'd he go?"
"You hiding in here?" A voice spoke from behind Anai making her look over shoulder seeing Malikai in the refrigerator with his back to her.
"No." Anai breathed, "Is she.....a friend of yours?"
"Yes you are." Malakai stared Anai down seeing right through her, "Her son is currently in the children's cancer ward, I met her visiting the kids after making preparations for an upcoming donations charity event at the hospital."
"Oh, wow." Anai felt like taking twenty shots of tequila in that moment and that Malikai was too good for her.
"Mhm...why the look of surprise?" He asked taking the cap off the water bottle he got out the fridge raising to his lips to take a long swig.
"I'm not surprised at all, I wouldn't expect anything else from you when it comes to that." Anai shook her head at him, raising her arms to hold herself.
"Right..." Malikai did a small nod at her with a squint behind his gold frames.
"Can we go somewhere and talk. Please." Anai bit her bottom lip inhaling slowly.
Moving his light grey eyes from her face over to the patio entryway, Malikai put his attention on Mayson running his way before he could answer.
"Dad come play laser tag with us please before the fireworks start." Mayson requested holding an extra blue toy gun in his hands while his own of red color was strapped around his torso laying against his back.
"Of course Mace we can, I'll be right out okay? Give me two minutes." Malikai placed a hand on top of his son's head.
"Okay." Mayson smiled up at him before running back outside.
"I don't think right now is the appropriate time to talk," Malikai spoke calmly, still watching Mayson run back outside before placing his eyes back on Anai.
"Then when exactly Kai?" Anai took a deep sigh, "I'm serious about this."
"I'll let you think on that and you can let me know once this gathering is over." Malikai answered before beginning to walk out the kitchen without another word.
Turning back towards the window she watched him go towards the kids, "At least he didn't say no."
Taking a deep breath Anai eventually went back out to join everyone before Joe and Bryce gave the word for the fireworks to go off across the lake in Mylas backyard.
Slowly Myla came and sat where she decided to chill until the fireworks show started looking at Malikai play with the kids running around like he was literally one of them it made her smile.
"You don't hate me do you?" Myla asked turning towards Anai with a nervous grin.
Laughing at her Anai shook her head, "What are you talking about crazy why would I hate you?"
"I just know you got upset when Nia went to talk to Malikai for awhile longer than you have had a-"
"It's fine and I don't hate you for inviting anyone My. Malikai told me that her son is in the cancer ward at the same hospital that he had his operation at." Anai crossed her arms over her chest.
"I knew that but I didn't know they even knew each other or that Kai knows her son Leo. Wow." Myla took a deep breath sitting back in her chair a little.
"I think I'm officially done assuming shit with other women when we have our disagreements and rifts in our relationship." Anai looked over a Myla with a serious face.
"That's a good idea." Myla agreed with her tone.
"It's just the fact of how you almost said she talked to him longer than we've talked in a week. That's what made me annoyed." Anai raised her left hand to rub against he left side temple of her head.
"So when are y'all suppose to talk anyways? I saw he went in the kitchen shortly after you did. Because I'm over this with you two." Myla expressed biting her upper lip.
"He told me I could decide when and where just not here at the party because he rather play laser tag with Mayson for the holiday." Anai smiled with a chuckle, "I'll let him know later when it's time to go."
"Okay, fireworks gonna start in another ten minutes I'm going to go get some of Jasmine's dip, you want anything while I'm in the kitchen?" Myla asked standing out of her chair as the sun officially started to set on the horizon.
"No I'm fine, thanks My." Anai told her before she walked away from the table giving a nod in response.
Putting her sights back on Malikai, she was ready for the celebrations to begin soon.
"Look mom!" Mayson pointed to the sky happily like it was his first time seeing fireworks it made Anai laugh.
"I know they're so pretty huh?" Anai looked down at him as he started jumping up and down in one spot.
"Happy fourth." Erica yelled with everyone doing whoops.
Anai looked over to see Malikai coming to stand beside her and placing his hands atop of Maysons shoulders looking up at the sky. Not being able to contain her smile she looked back up at the sky hopeful for their future as a family in that moment.
"Ay we headed out to get ready for the after party downtown." Joe announced in the kitchen as Myla's guests and their kids left to share celebrations with other plans they had as well.
"Alright Joe y'all be careful out there." Myla spoke while putting up left over food and trying to give it away as people were leaving.
"You're not going out tonight My?" Anai asked while helping her prepare to go plates and clean up in the kitchen while Jasmine and Melo helped Erica outside.
"No ma'am, I have to work tomorrow of all Fridays it's important that I do." Myla sighed, "I want to though."
"I know you do, and I honestly want to stay in and-"
"Please don't finish the intentions you have for your future husband who's my brother." Myla spoke swiftly.
"What intentions?" Malikai asked coming around the corner with a sleeping Mayson in his arms.
"Nothing." Anai huffed grilling the side of Mylas face.
Giving them both a confused look of suspicion, Malikai adjusted Maysons weight in his arms lifting him up more for his head to lay on his left shoulder, "He zonked out like five minutes ago."
"Oh, I'm not surprised been running around all day he'll be out for the rest of the night." Anai told him with a nod of surety of no distractions between them.
"I'm going to go ahead and put him in the car, head home." Malikai started for the door like he wasn't interested in the possibility of talking.
"Okay good night Kai." Myla whispered, "Go now."
Anai looked at her best friends face of seriousness with a nod of her head towards the front door.
"I'll walk you out." Anai took the hint grabbing Maysons book bag with all his over night clothes and toys from Malikai's free shoulder following him outside.
Walking down the driveway behind him, she couldn't be more happy and a little turned on at the same time seeing him be a dad it made her grin hard out of nowhere watching him put Mayson in the backseat of his all black Hellcat Challenger. This wasn't nothing different of routine involving transport of their son, yet every time filled Anai with the same amount of joy. It was imperative that she made up with Malikai but didn't know how yet.
Looking her way to get Mayson's book bag Malikai caught her in her own world written on her face, "What you smiling so hard about?"
"Huh?" Anai snapped out of her daze focusing back on where she was gripping Mayson's book bag tighter in her arms.
Leaning against his car Malikai crossed his arms over his chest giving Anai a squint with his eyes, "You ok?"
"Oh I'm fine, I just," Anai took a breath, "Am grateful for you being in his life he really loves you."
Looking at her for a few seconds like he was thinking about something, Malikai looked away, "Do you still?"
"Of course I do." Anai took another step further towards him, "You shouldn't have to ask."
"Have you decided when we're suppose to have this talk?" He asked looking back her way letting his arms hang by his sides.
"Yes, I can come tonight." Anai spoke without thinking about it, only because he seemed like he was open fully to the idea.
A slow smile spread across Malikai lips as he looked away from her, "I meant when we had time alone together, taking Mayson tonight remember? I just literally put him in the car."
Anai sucked her teeth, "Shut up, trying to be a smartass."
"Well? When? Smartass." Malikai rose an eyebrow leaning up off his car taking the four steps to be closer and right in front of Anai, his shirt touching the book bag in Anai's arms.
Swallowing slowly the lump in her throat that came with him being so close, she could feel her skin getting warmer, "Tomorrow after I pick Mayson up around one I'll come back in the evening to your house."
Raising his hands upward he grabbed the book bag making Anai stop breathing, taking it out her hands, "Okay."
"Okay." Anai repeated watching him walk back towards his car, the warmth she hadn't felt in a while going along with him.
The next morning Anai volunteered to help Kenneth at the YMCA since he was short staffed, all while Vanessa participated in the summer activities they had for the children for the day.
"How you doing?" Kenneth asked while they stood by each other handing out the different food options for lunchtime to the kids following in line to receive down the table.
"I'm good." Anai nodded handing out the option of a ham or turkey cheese sandwich on wheat bread packaged in saran wrap.
"Just so you know if he hasn't said anything I talked to Malikai last night at the party." Kenneth told her making Anai freeze on what she was doing.
When the hell did they talk last night and why didn't she see it when it happened? Anai was sure she had her eyes on Malikai all night.
"You what?" Anai turned towards him, "What did you say this time Kenneth?"
"Turkey sandwich please." A little boy said that was waiting for Anai to give him his food.
"All I said was nothing is going on between you and I, geez calm down and give that boy his sandwich." Kenneth side eyed Anai holding a red apple in his hand waiting to give it to the boy next.
"Anytime today lady." The boy said with a sarcastic tone.
Taking a deep breath Anai turned from Kenneth to give the boy a ham sandwich and a smile, "Here you go."
"I said I wanted turkey." The boy said while inspecting the sandwich that Anai handed him.
"We're out of turkey be grateful for what you have kid." Anai spoke to him and the little boy gave her a mean look before receiving his apple from Kenneth.
"Nahh." Anai stuck her tongue out at him as he walked away to go get a juice at the next table.
"You are so childish you know that?" Kenneth shook his head as they continued handing out food to the kids in line that bypassed them.
"Starting to think after trying to keep my shit together for my son's sake for as long as I have, the bowl of maturity is starting to tip a little with Malikai finally waking out of his coma." Anai muttered as she continued handing out sandwiches.
Kenneth looked over at her silent not knowing what to say, "Nai-
"What did he say after you told him that?" Anai blinked rapidly cutting him off from responding to what she said feeling her heartbeat slowly go back to normal.
"That he appreciated me coming to him man to man knowing that you two are trying to get back in sync after being apart for seven years." Kenneth responded, "Promise it was a good conversation, don't need another black eye from the guy or worse."
Anai smiled with a chuckle looking over at him, "That you really don't."
"I actually have to go out of town later on today and won't be back until Sunday night. Another center needs help and the pay I just can't turn it down, I just got the call like twenty minutes ago. Do you think you can watch over Nessa for me?" He asked looking her way once the line of kids had ended.
"This weekend?" Anai asked taking her hair down from her ponytail knowing she had to head to Malikai's house after she and Kenneth were relieved of their duties at the center.
Of course even though Kenneth was grateful for being provided a roof over his head for him and his daughter, Anai understood he was trying to get his own place soon for them.
"Yeah...why you have something you need to do tonight?" He grabbed an apple out of the bowl on the table taking a bite.
"Um, no it's okay. I can watch Nessa." Anai nodded knowing that Malikai would understand she couldn't come over later on like she had planned to.
"Thank you, you're a life saver I don't know any babysitters I could ask at the last minute." Kenneth spoke through chewing.
"Just think of it as a thank for what you said to Malikai last night." Anai smiled looking down at her phone to go to her text threads.
Anai: on my way shortly 12:15pm
"I will. Thank you for today as well." Kenneth started to pack up things on the table with other workers.
"You're welcome anytime, see you later going to go get Mayson." Anai grabbed her purse to head out of the building to her car in the parking lot. Feeling her phone chime in her lap as she push started her red Tesla she opened her phone to see the text notification.
Kai❤️🔥: see you soon 12:19pm
Smiling at the text Anai took a deep breath hoping they'd still be able to talk with the kids in her care, she couldn't imagine waiting until Kenneth got back Sunday night.
Pulling up to the gate at Malikai's house, Anai immediately saw James standing with another guy apart of the security team in an all black suit. Nodding at Anai behind his sunglasses James had the gate opened for her to pull up the driveway.
"Thanks James!" Anai yelled out her window.
"Of course Ms. Ericsson." James did a small smile her way as she drove pass.
Parking her car she got out headed to the front door, grabbing both handles to the mahogany colored double doors she opened them walking inside and closing them back behind her. Walking through the foyer Anai smiled smelling something that made her stomach dance since she didn't eat lunch like usual at the center. Heading to the kitchen she saw Malikai standing over a big orange pot at his stainless steel stove and Mayson was coloring in a book at the island in the kitchen sitting on a high stool. The sight made her smile that she stopped her feet from moving just to take in the sight for a few more seconds.
Raising his head in feeling her presence first Mayson turned in his chair, "Hey mama, dad mama here."
"I know, James let me know." Malikai continued his task of pouring whatever was in the orange pot into a huge glass Tupperware bowl.
"Hey." Anai smiled walking to stand next to Mayson getting a hug from him.
"Mom." Mayson smiled up at her.
"Yes?" Anai rubbed up his back with her hand looking back at him.
"Going to dad's job is so awesome, everyone listens to what he says all the time and not the other way around!" Mayson yelled excitedly like he had a fun day.
Anai looked up and to Malikai seeing he was smiling down at the pot he was now washing in his sink, "Mace."
"What come on it's true, dad really is a CEO of Williams Conpany and my last name is Williams isn't that cool?" Mayson asked with a laugh.
"You are so silly and I guess that further makes me the CEO of you, go get the rest of your stuff wherever it is young man." Anai shook her head at him as he climbed down the stool.
"Yes ma'am." Mayson sighed, "Shot out the sky again."
Anai held her mouth open never hearing him say that expression before, "Did he pick that up from Joe or Landon?"
Malikai looked over his shoulder at Anai, "I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"Mhm." Anai put her purse down on the counter.
"How was your day?" Malikai asked placing leftover food in the refrigerator.
"It was good, how come you not at least making me a to go plate. Please I'm hungry too Mr.CEO." Anai pouted her lips looking at Malikai's back.
Slowly he turned his head back to look at her with a glare her way and a smile on his lips, Anai chuckled at him, "I would figure I don't need to since you're coming back over here later."
"Mom I got my stuff." Mayson announced coming back into the kitchen.
"Okay, mama needs to talk to dad. Go wait for me outside with James alright?" Anai looked down at him as he started putting his coloring book and utensils into his book bag.
"Alright." Mayson responded heading out the front door once he had all his things packed.
Watching him go out Anai turned back to Malikai who was starting already to make a to go bowl for Anai, "So-"
"I'm listening." Malikai looked up from the food to her with a nonchalant look before looking away.
"Kenneth is going out of town tonight and I have to watch the kids...so I was thinking you could come-"
"Our talk was suppose to be when you're free." Malikai interrupted her closing the lid down tightly on the smaller version Tupperware bowl from the previous one.
"Kai we can still talk while they are entertained or after bedtime is set, I don't understand why we can't do that and you come over." Anai shook her head not understanding.
"Nai, let me ask you a question." Malikai requested.
Taking a frustrated sigh Anai bit down on her bottom lip, "Yes Malikai."
"In the past when we've had disagreements in our relationship and needed to talk things out, make up right?" Malikai asked her leaning against the counter.
"Yeah...so?" Anai still didn't understand.
"What ends up happening after that?" He turned his head to the side staring her down.
Squinting her eyes at him she shook her head, "We come to terms in our relationship and live happily ever after."
"Are you trying to be funny?" Malikai picked up the bowl and grabbed a brown paper bag with handles out of a cabinet to put it in.
"No I'm not." Anai shook her head as Malikai walked closer and closer to her.
"I'm not either, there are things that need to be discussed besides what you think with my mother and we need complete privacy." He said outstretching his arm to give her the bag with the food in it.
"Kai." Anai could feel herself becoming more annoyed because he was still being stubborn.
"Nai." Malikai breathed, "Let me know when you're actually free I can wait."
"I can't." Anai breathed deeply, "Please come."
"Mayson waiting for you and Kennth is probably almost ready to go, you should get back home." Malikai spoke walking back to his sink to put the other bowl with food back in the fridge.
Closing her eyes briefly Anai decided to just leave and not push it any further, she just didn't understand. Malikai made it seem like they were going to be throwing crap around all over the house after making up. The only upside of it all was the fact that he was looking forward to talking things out to move on and start their future together without anything holding them back anymore.
Once they made it back home, upon walking in the house Kenneth was coming down the stairs with his all black suitcase and a red duffle bag over his shoulder.
"Hey." Kenneth spoke as he made down the steps.
"Ken, where ya going?" Mayson asked putting his book bag on the couch.
"Daddy has a business trip it's just you, me and Anai this weekend Mace." Vanessa filled him in.
"Oh, have a safe trip. Nessa want to go play on the Xbox?" Mayson asked her.
"Sure." She shrugged as they went on their way like a usual Friday evening during their Summer break.
"Thank you again Nai seriously." Kenneth told her with gratitude.
"Anytime, be safe." Anai waved him off by herself, then she closed the door leaning on it with her back frustrated with Malikai.
To distract herself she decided she would watch a movie with the kids but it didn't help, snuggled in between both of them on the couch all she could think about was him. Picking up her phone off the comforter that covered them all while Mayson and Vanessa kept watching Kung Fu Panda 3 after watching the first and second movies, she went to her text threads to his.
Anai: are you seriously not coming over so we can talk, i have a whole backyard of land! 11:55pm
Slamming her phone down after not getting a response for ten minutes, Vanessa looked over at Amari with worry.
"Anai are you alright?" She asked.
"Yes I'm fine, sorry if I startled you Nessa." Anai told her feeling foolish all of a sudden.
When past midnight hit, she put the kids to bed and retired up to her room laying on her back in her bed in the darkness in her room staring up at the ceiling. Picking her phone back up that laid by her side she went back to Malikai's thread seeing he didn't respond still.
"Looking good in the playoffs this season Mel." Landon told him while sitting at a round table with the guys having poker night.
"Ain't that the truth." Bryce mumbled with a blunt between his lips looking at his cards.
"We trying man, gotta get through the nitty gritty, y'all should come to one of the games for next season." Melo offered.
Joe walked out his kitchen putting some chips in a bowl on the table in front of Malikai who wasn't playing, "I'm down for that."
"Kai you playing a hand tonight man or you just chilling?" Landon asked looking over at him briefly while dealing cards.
Looking at his phone and the voice message that was three minutes long that Anai just sent him, he looked up, "Uh, nah I'm good."
Summer: for the love of peace go talk to her! 2:55am
"Alright, let's go bitches taking all y'all money. Joe sat down at the table sliding the bowl of Dorito nacho cheese chips closer to him popping one in his mouth.
Malikai stood out his seat to head to the bathroom, closing the door behind him he pushed play on the audio message after turning on the light.
"Kai, I understand you wanting us to have privacy and I not babysitting so I'll wait until Sunday if that's what you want. But I just want you to know that I love you and I don't care about decisions your mother made in the past. What matters right now is us, our family and being with each other anytime we can because we've had so much time already taken away from us. I won't text you anymore about it and just come to your house on Sunday evening."
Everything he had decided only hours ago with when and where of them talking out their fight went straight out the window instantly. Taking a deep breath, closing his eyes and hitting the power button Malikai bit his bottom lip wishing he hadn't listened to the message until Sunday, "Fuck."
Heading out the bathroom he went back to the fellas at the table. Joe and Bryce looked up only at him while Landon focused on being the dealer of their game.
"What's up?" Bryce asked with a curious expression.
"His ass going to go make up with Anai." Joe chuckled looking back down at his cards.
"Finally, fuck, y'all don't know just how much it affects the group with that shit." Landon muttered squinting his green eyes at the card deck.
"Lan shut up." Bryce looked over at him with an annoyed glare.
"What? Don't act like y'all ain't been complaining about the shit too." Landon exposed them carelessly.
"I'll holla at y'all later." Malikai told them raising his right fist to dap them all before leaving.
"Alright, go make an another kid nigga, Mayson need another sibling." "Bryce chuckled showing his teeth while looking down at his cards.
"You're one to talk, I'm surprised you haven't knocked up Myla yet." Joe looked over at him.
"Say she ain't ready yet, "Bryce shrugged, "I'm not rushing shit."
Malikai shook his at them before walking towards the front door of Joe's house, not even having the care to comment on the subject. The time on the dashboard of Malikai's parked car said fifteen minutes past three in the morning while he pondered on if he should go inside Anai's house after being parked on her street for almost thirty minutes.
"You're fucking crazy man." Malikai sighed taking his key out of his ignition opening his car door.
Giving James and his security team the night off he walked up to the front gate putting the code in to enter inside the residence. Once getting to the front door he used the spare key Anai gave him in case of emergencies. In his mind at the moment it definitely was an emergency that couldn't wait until Sunday evening. Closing the door behind him once he was inside, it was pitch black downstairs luckily the stairs he remembered where right at the foyer entryway on the right of walking inside of Anai's home once entering. Taking off his sneakers leaving them at the door he started for the stairs hearing a door open once he made it to the top.
Ducking down low like he was a burglar he leaned against the wall, "Shit."
Looking further down the hall slowly he saw it was Mayson going to the bathroom across the hall. Closing his eyes he waited until he closed the bathroom door to go halfway back down the stairs for cover and waited until he went back into his bedroom closing the door behind him.
"Nessa, please don't have to go to the kitchen right now." Malikai whispered in a prayer tip toeing fast towards the end of the hall putting his hand on the doorknob of Anai's room turning it to open the door.
Walking through and quietly closing the door behind him, his eyes adjusted to Anais's room more slowly since hers was darker than the rest of the house. Walking up to the end of Anai's bed he looked over her as she slept in a ball as always for a few seconds before looking around at her room. Going to her dresser he saw she kept things from her experiences since first starting college and being his student. Remembering the box she kept the jewelry he gave her years ago in her closet he went to go look for it and see if she put other trinkets of their time together in it.
"Curious." Malikai mumbled grabbing the box and sitting on the carpet of the closet floor he turned on the flashlight of his phone seeing first the keychain he bought her in Las Vegas.
Waking up the next morning around eight thirty-ish Anai stretched out in her bed not understanding that she hadn't been woken by Mayson like every Saturday morning for pancakes.
"Is he sick or something?" Anai got out of bed checking her phone seeing she still didn't have any responses from Malikai.
After doing her hygiene routine, and changing out of her PJ's into a worn orange Naruto shirt with blue denim jean shorts Anai went downstairs smelling bacon first before anything and then coffee. Not believing the scents that her nose was telling her she was currently smelling she moved faster to the kitchen trying to figure out who the hell was cooking in her house.
Rounding the corner she yelled, "What is going?!-
"Good morning mama, I was going to wake you but daddy told me to let you get all your rest." Mayson greeted her while sitting at the dining room table with Vanessa eating pancakes and strips of bacon.
Moving her eyes to her stove she was shocked in seeing Malikai standing at it making pancakes, "Kai?"
"Good morning Nai." Malikai turned around in a black long sleeve button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, the first three buttons undone, and dark denim jeans on.
"Good morning." Anai walked to sit down at the table next to Vanessa.
"Morning!" Vanessa smiled, "How come you didn't tell us Malikai was coming Nai?"
"Um, I forgot?" Anai answered looking over at Malikai who turned back to the stove to flip another pancake and a smile on his face.
"Mom seriously, just say you wanted to surprise us cuz Ken went out of town." Mayson wiggled his eyebrows at her.
"Surprise Mayson." Anai stared him down shaking her head at him.
"Haha." Vanessa laughed at them.
The kids went outside to play in the backyard after breakfast leaving Anai alone with Malikai on the patio for a while, not knowing what to say she decided on saying the obvious first.
"I'm guessing you're here because of my voice message I sent you last night." Anai looked over at him.
"Yeah, and because I don't want to be alone in that house by myself another night." Malikai told her looking out at the view of the backyard, "I forgot how big this yard is."
"Tried to tell you we can have all the privacy we want back here." Anai sighed, "I wasn't kidding, you're silly."
"I see." Malikai chuckled, "Summer hasn't stopped blowing my phone up telling me I'm being an ass for being mad at you."
"Regardless of everything, I meant every word I said in my message Kai, it doesn't matter what you end up finding out. I just want to be with you." Anai turned towards him in her chair.
"I know." Malikai looked over at her with a small smile, "I wasn't expecting you to take what I told you lightly Nai."
"In the past I know that I got upset with you for not sharing my tribulations...because I want you to trust in me to be by your side. I made a mistake in talking to someone else about it further before you, but it never made me not want us anymore." Anai felt tears growing in her eyes.
Leaning up in his chair Malikai moved his hand to hold Anai's fingertips barely having a grip, "For a moment I thought you felt different."
"No." Anai shook her head.
"Glad to hear that." Maliki sighed.
"I'm also glad to hear you and Kenneth had a talk." Anai rose both her eyebrows at him.
"Yeah...he's a pretty good guy like I assumed from the beginning about your happiness." Malakai nodded surely.
"Told you." Anai breathed, "Nothing going on, I just said the wrong thing at the wrong time, involving him."
"I kept hope in that." Malikai took a deep breath, "Dammit."
"What?" Anai studied his expression wondering what was bothering him.
"Nothing it's just we've talked and now I don't want to talk anymore." Malikai looked in Anai's eyes giving her a look she knew too well.
"You always do that." Anai sighed laying back in her chair.
"Do what?" He asked looking away from her.
"When we're talking about something serious you change the subject quick or try to make a joke." Anai told him, "You can talk to me."
"I'm fine, I just... you're my therapy remember?" He asked biting his bottom lip.
Slipping her fingers out the grip of his hand, she smiled back at him, "Babysitting. Your cravings that bad?"
"Over a weeks worth." He replied looking away from her shaking his head.
"Hmm what should we do about that as an alternative? Want some lotion?" Anai joked, speaking in a teasing tone deciding to let up and not push him.
"Shut up." Malikai muttered looking over at her not amused.
"They're playing, not focused on us right now. You have all the time in the world in the bathroom." Anai continued leaning back in her chair staring Malikai down.
"The more you taunt me right now, the worse it's going to be for you later. Keep that in mind." Malikai spoke with a sure resolve in his words.
"You started it, besides I can take it." Anai whispered.
Biting his bottom lip Malikai stood up out his chair bypassing Anai to go back in the house, "Sure...you lucky I had restraint last night."
Not thinking she heard him clearly Anai stood up too, following Malikai back inside the house to her kitchen, "Last night?"
Going into her refrigerator pulling a bottle of water out Malikai turned her way with a look of seriousness suddenly, "I take back what I said."
"About what?" Anai looked at him with concern.
"There is an older sibling." Malikai confessed to her abruptly.
"What?" She blinked fast at him.
"But it's not your older sibling, only mine." He continued.
"Oh my gosh." Anai said lowly putting a hand to her mouth, "Have you..?"
"I went to meet her, lives in upstate New York , and found out she knew about me, Myla even the twins but decided she never wanted anything to do with us." Malikai shrugged.
Not being able to speak Anai just walked straight into Malikai's arms giving him a long hug, "Oh baby."
"I'm alright I haven't told Myla yet but, your father wasn't the only man my mother was with outside of her marriage to my father." Malikai squeezed Anai back with his hug.
"I'm so sorry." Anai whispered against his chest.
"Makes sense now why my father was so ready to marry your mom before his time was up." Malikai muttered placing his chin atop of Anai's head.
"That's so sad, just when I thought that I couldn't not like Ebony even more. She's caused pain to a lot of people in your family Malikai." Anai kept holding him tight closing her eyes hoping he wasn't trying to put up a front of being alright with this news about his mother.
"There's a possibility that this information will get leaked to the press and media about my family Anai." Malikai held her closer.
Opening her eyes she leaned back to look in his face, "You mean our family?"
"I...just know how past occurrences involving people making their assumptions and opinions known about us really affected you. " Malakai shook his head looking over her head taking a deep breath as Anai put her cheek back against his chest.
"I've grown from that in knowing whether I care or don't what they say, it'll be the same outcome. What affects you does the same for me now as well, remember?" Anai asked with a smile closing her eyes back.
"Which is why moving forward I'm saying an extra prayer for my grandmother that's protected me all these years." Taking a deep sigh Malikai chuckled.
Anai raised her face off of his chest again to look up at him, "Same but, how can you laugh right now?"
"Because I'm right where I wanna be." He looked down at Anai before connecting his lips to hers, kissing passionately, moving his hands down her backside to grip tightly.
"Mm." Anai feeling lost in his kiss and hands smiled holding him tighter leaning back to look at him, "PG-13 we have kids to look over for the next twenty-four hours."
"After what I've learned in the past week, think I'm going against my better judgement within that time frame." Malikai said moving his lips back against hers making her smile.
"Dad can I have a capri sun!" Mayson yelled from the patio.
Anai raised her hands pushing Malikai off of her so fast he hit the counter behind him hard while she dashed for the fridge, "Sure thing, give one to Vanessa too!"
"Ow." Malikai groaned bending down to rub his knee as Mayson walked in the kitchen.
"Dad you alright?" Mayson asked grabbing the capri sun from his mom.
"Doing great." Malikai answered before looking over at Anai with a look of disbelief.
Anai eyed Mayson's departure with his juice until he was out of ear shot, "Last night though?"
"Huh?" Malikai asked squinted at her beginning to walk closer her way.
"I know you heard me Malikai Williams." Anai rose one eyebrow at him and trying to play dumb.
Continuing walking her way until his chest was touching her arms crossed over her hers, "That audio message..."
"What about it?" Anai looked up at him with a smirk trying to keep her composure.
"You should know by now that if you ever call out for me, like that, I would come running." He gently replied.
"I was..." Anai was taken aback by his words seeing the power of just how in love he was with her.
Malikai rose his left hand to his glasses, slipping them off his face, "I kept myself at bay but your wrists were going to be tied to your headboard, so I can take my time ravishing your body."
Feeling her pulse in her eardrums as she continued keeping her eyes locked with his grey pupils that were suddenly turning darker Anai swallowed slowly taking a step back to keep her wits about her, "Stalker."
Breaking into a charming smile on his face Malikai put his glasses back on his face, "Still mad?"
"Yes, you broke in here." Anai leaned against the counter, "And almost..."
"Almost what?" Malikai leaned on the counter next to her.
"That key is for emergencies only. So happy you enjoyed my groveling audio message." Anai stated trying to stay stern with her tone, it low key slipping away with every second Malikai kept smiling at her.
"You can try to poker face me all you want Anai, you can try to be mad..." He slowly moved down the counter, "Only because you know I'm the only one that can do it, on top of that you knew what you were doing."
"I ought to take your key away from you." Anai threatened with a smile, feeling a little annoyed that he effortlessly saw through her.
"Who says I don't have a spare?" Malikai grinned evilly.
"Change my locks then?" Anai suggested missing bickering with him so much, he was breaking seven years of more walls down that she didn't even know she had up. That she was safe with him around again in the end the thought warmed her chest in realizing it.
"Like you'd really go through the trouble of having to explain to anyone why you would. Just say you're happy I'm here and stop fronting Nai." Malikai sighed deeply taking a step closer to her.
Out of all the people in the world he knew her the best, the fact that made Anai speechless the most is she had dreams of them having conversations like this throughout the seven years of Malikai being in his coma. In the end she was grateful that they weren't just dreams anymore. As much as she tried to find reason on being creeped out that he snuck inside her home instead of just plainly coming as a welcomed visitor reminded her of when they first both realized they couldn't live without one another no matter what came their way. If there were a more perfect world than the one she was currently experiencing, she couldn't see herself choosing anywhere else she wanted to be in a millions years.
"I-" Anai pointed at him before seeing the kids walk up from the patio, making her half her words.
Looking from her to Mayson, with a smirk on his face Mailikai smiled genuinely happy for the first time since waking from his coma glad suddenly that he didn't wait until Sunday to listen to Anai's voice message she had sent him.
"What are we doing today mom?" Mayson asked Anai with Vanessa standing curiously beside him sipping from her juice pouch and looking back between her and Malikai.
"Yeah, what we doing today mom?" Malikai asked with a conniving grin.
Anai squinted her eyes at Malikai and his audacity in knowing she couldn't be mad at him for what he did if she wanted, "Let's figure that out kiddos."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
💜Thanx for reading and having patience!-VL💜
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
pixelskylines
discoholicmusic
kaledo-art
origamiaround
romaincrisis
snowghoul
yousharknotpass
