The chimes from the door bell sounded through the house and being closest to the foyer, Kiki made the offer to get the door. She ambled to the front room and looking through the peephole, she automatically smiled. “Hey. You made it.” She said upon opening the door and stepped back to let him in.
“I said I would.”
Not even trying to hide it, Justin look her up and down, liking what he was seeing “ a cute little bikini halter top and some shorts covering the bottoms. Thank God for pool parties.
Kiki saw him blatantly checking her out with that dark sensual look of his and she shifted awkwardly, not liking how it was making her feel. Which was warm, excited, a little tingly even. Shaking it off, she said.
“Well “ welcome. You can follow me. We’re all back here.”
Walking ahead of him, Kiki ignored the fact that Justin was purposely trailing behind her, his eyes now burning up and down her back, no doubt lingering on her ass most of the time. Her bright pool party idea for Sunday dinner was starting to look really stupid.
Seeing her daughter return to the kitchen alone, Nina asked. “Who was it hijita?”
“A nobody.” She smartly replied and Justin light kicked her butt, making her giggle.
“Hello all.” He finally stepped into the room, moving over to his mother, who was closest and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Hey Nima.”
“Hi sweetie. I’m glad you could make it. I know from your mother that your schedule is getting tight.”
“Not enough for me to miss this.” Nina smiled warmly and went to the island stove to drop what looked like a bundle of burritos into a pot. Curious about what Nina was cooking up this time, Justin leaned over to get a peek. “What’s that you’re making?”
“These are tamales. You’ve have them before right?” He nodded and she declared. “Good then you’re about to find out I make the best ones.” She winked and he chuckled in return.
“Hey honey “ I didn’t talk to you yesterday, how did your meeting go Friday?” Lynn asked, turning from the dish she was preparing.
“Good. You know that we already started planning for all the promoting. It was just a matter of setting everything into stone like the club tour.” Lynn’s eyebrows piqued with interest as did the listening ears of Tami, Maya and Kiki, seated at the kitchen table. “A couple more weeks of rehearsal and next month we hit the rode.” He answered. “Oh hey Tami, do me a favor?” He asked with a sly conspiratorial look in his eyes as he slid into the empty chair in between her and Kiki.
“Drop a little dime about you at work?” She guessed.
“A very subtle one. I mean it’s no secret that I’m working on a new album or that I’m doing a club tour, but the exact when and where I wasn’t even sure about until recently. It’s all set in stone now. The album’s pretty much ‘done’, you know?” He hinted and Tami nodded having an understanding of fickle artists. Additions - ie. bonus and hidden tracks - were always a likelihood. An album could even start out as one set of songs and then be turn into something completely different. “There’s been a lot of speculation and anticipation building and I’d have been stupid not to use that to my advantage. So we’re leaking a little info here and there before we announce the release date or when the club tour starts, which is kind of in a random city to, to honestly….watch and see-“
“People flock.” Maya finished and he grinned smugly, getting a laugh out of her. “What a conceited ass.”
He wasn’t about to dispute that, only laughed with her and the other girls sitting at the table, but Tami pointed out to her adopted sister. “Pot. Kettle. Black, My.”
And Kiki co-signed. “Exactly.”
“Pffh.” She blew them off and posed to Justin. “When will you have a show in town?”
“There are two of them, but I can’t remember the dates off the top of my head. I’ll just give you guys some copies of the schedule. Just keep it on the low for awhile.”
“I think we’re pretty much experts on keeping your secrets.” Nina teased and the whole kitchen tittered as Justin blushed.
“Touché, touché.”
“So are you prepared for this?” Lynn asked him obscurely, but Justin knew what she was referring to.
She wasn’t talking about all the press he’d be doing and being on the road again. He’d been doing that since he was a teen. No, they had this discussion before and it was about the new responsibility he’d have to juggle with all the demands of his career, especially the traveling. That was Cheyenne. Even out on the road he still had a primary obligation to his daughter and he had to act accordingly.
“I got it all covered Ma. Me and Kiki have a pretty good idea about how we’re gonna work this out. Right?”
“Yup. It involves webcams, a lot of frequent flier miles and unlimited calling.”
Chuckling at her daughter’s sense of humor, Nina said. “Well its good to see to you guys are being smart about it and have a plan for handling this new situation.”
“Yeah, but we still have to break the news to Cheyenne.” Kiki said with a grimace.
“Uh oh.” Maya voiced what they all were thinking.
All kids experience separation anxiety, but in this case, with Cheyenne so recently being united with her father, on top of her sensitive nature, some serious crocodile tears could definitely be expected when she found out Justin wouldn’t be around consistently for some time. The day he left would probably be worse. The thought alone of both of those occurrences, upset Justin and he grumbled in response. “Yeah, not gonna be fun. Where is the little rugrat anyway?”
“In the pool with my Dad.” Cheyenne had been in and out of the water with her and her sisters since they arrived. This time around with her famous “poor me” wide eyed look, she scammed Frederick into being her swimming partner. “I hope you brought some shorts because as soon as she sees you she’s going to ask you to take her swimming.”
“I figured that much. I have some in the car….Oh your sweater’s in there too. The one you had on when we went to dinner last weekend.” He clarified when she gave him a confused look.
“Right. Okay. I’ll grab it before you leave.”
“That reminds me Justin. I know I sent you an email, but I want to thank you again for the beautiful Mother’s Day flowers. That was so nice of you.”
“You’re very welcome.” He smiled at Nina charmingly.
“Kiki’s gift was gorgeous too. Ms. Lynn you taught him well.” Maya complimented.
“Excuse me, but that was all my expertise. If you need me to, I could teach Sage a few things “ have you all starry eyed and amazed by me “ like your sister was.”
“Oh whatever” and “please” were Kiki and Maya’s respective responses while the others giggled.
“Don’t even pretend like tears weren’t rollin’ down your face.” He teased Kiki.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Sitting at a booth in a somewhat secluded area of the restaurant Justin and Cheyenne had brought Kiki to for Mother’s Day, they had just finished their dessert and were sipping on some coffee - hot chocolate for Cheyenne, when Kiki was given her gifts. Justin placed the gift bag on the table in front of her and Cheyenne bounced across the circular bench to hug her around the neck fiercely.
“Happy Mommy’s Day, Mommy!” She said over excitedly and left a big sloppy kiss on her cheek.
“Thank you baby.” Kiki returned the hug and kiss. “Do you want to help me open it?”
“Mmhmm.” She happily agreed and together they opened the bag, first pulling out a hand crafted Mother’s Day flower pot.
“I made it for you Mommy.”
“Oh honey, it’s beautiful. I love it so much. I’m gonna put it right on my desk so everyone can see it.” Cheyenne beamed with pride. “Thank you babyheart.” They shared another hearty hug, but Cheyenne quickly pulled away.
“You have more presents.”
“Ok. Let’s see what else I got.” Kiki reached in and pulled out a multi-green make-up pack that had a bunch of MAC products inside.
“I pick that.”
“Oh I bet you did.” Considering it was green there was no question who and why this was pick as a gift for her, but little did her daughter know, her innocent reasons for choose this make-up pack was actually a very useful gift. Kiki’s reply had made Justin laugh and she turned to him. “And you actually let her get this didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “You think I could stop her? Besides don’t you women love that MAC crap?”
“Yes we do. Thank you baby.” She told Cheyenne and kissed her cheek again.
“You have a ‘nother one from Daddy.” She informed and started reaching into the bag before her mother, lifting out a wrapped box.
Once the paper was removed, Kiki saw the unmistakable baby blue jewelry box. Justin couldn’t help his slight blush when Kiki gave him an incredulous, yet touched look.
“Don’t okay? You deserve it. Plus you haven’t even opened it yet.” He extended his arm and tapped the underside, signaling for her to go on.
“Yeah open it Mommy.” Cheyenne piped up and reached in between Kiki’s hands to start the process.
“Excuse you. This is my gift.”
Cheyenne dropped her arms and huffed. “Hurry up peas.”
Justin laughed and playfully, Kiki pinched her nose before preceding the open the box. As soon as she saw what as inside, she gasped and whipped her head up to look at him.
“Oh my God. This is….” At a sudden loss for words, she swallowed thickly, feeling tears building in her eyes. “This is so amazing Justin. Thank you.”
“Here let me put it on for you.” She handed it to him and kept her arm out so he could clip the platinum diamond and pearl bracelet around her wrist. “I thought it was about time you had a piece of mother’s jewelry and this one is a little different. Special.”
Examining the bracelet on her mother’s wrist, Cheyenne gave her approval. “It’s pretty.”
“Yes it is. Very pretty. And do you know what it means?” She shook her head. “It means me and you because I’m a pearl and you’re a diamond.” Kiki leaned in to press their foreheads together and Cheyenne snuggled into her. Over her head, Kiki smiled at Justin. “Thank you Justin.”
Knowing she was referring to the bracelet, but more so to the beautiful, priceless child in her arms, he returned the same feelings of gratitude for the same gift that changed his life and couldn’t measure up to any other, ever, in either of their lives.
“Thank you Kiki.”
*********************************************************************************************************************
“I was in tears. I’m not even going to try and lie about that. The bracelet is absolutely beautiful and so thoughtful.” She honestly confessed and Justin grinned triumphantly. “That’s right “ live it up while you can because you only get one of my compliments once a month.”
Suddenly, the pitter patter of little feet hitting the ground and giggling was heard before Cheyenne came flying through the patio door. Her wet fishtail braids slapped against her shoulders as she whirled around quickly to close and lock the sliding door. Frederick popped up in front of the screen and Cheyenne pointed at him.
“You miss me Grampy. I lock it.” She giggled.
Behind her Justin had silently rounded the table, swiping her hooded towel from the back of Kiki’s chair as he crept up behind her.
“I can’t get you, but he can. Hey Justin. ” Frederick waved.
“What’s up Freddy?”
Cheyenne whirled around to see her father ready to pounce. “Eek!” She cried out and Justin scooped her up, blowing raspberries on her stomach, making her giggle madly.
Once she was almost breathless, he shifted her in his arms and they shared a hug while she calmed down.
“Hey baby.”
Cheyenne pulled back and through her lingering giggles, she replied. “Hi Daddy.”
Reclaiming his seat with her in his lap, Justin inquired. “So I hear you’ve been out there swimming like a little fish.”
“Yeah! I run and jump in the water and come out - whoosh!” She explained animatedly. “It was fun. You come swim with me?”
“How about you take a break for a little while, then you can go swimming with Daddy.” Kiki suggested, feeling like it was time for her to take a little breather from the pool.
“After I eat?” She asked.
“Yeah that’d be good.”
“Okay. Can I put my dress back on?”
“You sure can.” Kiki grabbed her beach cover-up and once Cheyenne climbed out of Justin’s lap to stand in front of her, she dried her off thoroughly before slipping the dress on.
Taking note of Cheyenne’s swimwear for the first time, Justin frowned. “Nice bathing suit Cheyenne’s got on Kiki.” He gave her a pointed look to which she just rolled her eyes.
“Oh relax, it’s just a tankini. Probably not the first or the worse of many two piece bathing suits she’ll wear in her lifetime. You might as well get used to it now when she’s got nothing to show.” Using the dry towel hanging on the back of her chair, Kiki wrapped Cheyenne up in it and sat her in her lap to help acclimate her to the air conditioned house.
“You’re lucky she’s got both pieces on. Usually she gets irritated by the straps and swims around with just the bottoms on.” Tami stated casually. Justin’s response was anything but.
“Excuse me?” He balked.
“Is okay Daddy. I don’t have boobies like Mommy yet.”
The content of her comment was funny enough, but the addition of her serious, straight-laced tone had everyone cracking up in the room, even Justin, who really couldn’t argue with that logic.
“You are too funny sometimes Pixie face.” Kiki giggled and kissed her temple.
With all the tamales she’d prepared cooking in the steamers, Nina brought over a bowl with a spoonful of the remaining beef filling and a cup of juice for Cheyenne to snack on. After Kiki sat her in her booster set next to her, she contently went to munching.
When knocking from the screen door sounded through the room, Maya leaned back in her chair to unlock it and not one, but three people flowed in. First Frederick with a tin full of cooked food to warm in the stove until it was time to eat. Following him was a sweaty Rhea and Joey.
“Ey J. Rhea’s whimpin’ out on us. Come take her place.” With Derek and Sage, they had just finished only their first round. Justin’s timing was perfect for them to get at least one more game in.
“Oh so you want me to go back out there and embarrass you again?” Rhea volleyed back as she got herself a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Where’s my money?” Tami quickly demanded from her boyfriend. Begrudgingly Joey pulled out of his back pocket the 20 he had already prepared to give up. “Thank you very much. I knew you’d represent chica.” She slapped five with a triumphant Rhea.
“You know what give me my money back.” He tried to yank it out of her hand, but she jerked away and tucked it into under her leg. “That shit shouldn’t even count. You had someone else do your dirty work.”
“Ooh bad word Uncle Joey.”
“Sorry kiddo.” He amended.
“It’s okay.” She pardoned him, pushing her empty bowl away and stood up in her seat to grab her coloring supplies that she had been using earlier, from the middle of the table.
Leaning on the counter next to his wife, Frederick asked, when he saw that Cheyenne had apparently moved on from the pool, “so you’re done swimming little girl?”
“No.” She replied, not taking her eyes off of the book as she flipped through the pages looking for her next masterpiece. Frederick inaudibly groaned at the thought of getting back into that pool, regardless of how much he loved his granddaughter. But she wasn’t done yet. “My daddy take me after I eat. I don’t need your help no more.” She looked up with a grin only long enough to say, “thank you Grampy,” and went about scribbling on her chosen picture.
Frederick chuckled at yet another one of her classic reply. “Well don’t I feel dissed and dismissed.” He answered in mocking offense, but showed his true colors when he murmured. “Thank God for small favors.” Nina rebuffed him with a slap on his side and smirking, he stood up straight and kissed her forehead. “I’m gonna go change.”
“Thanks Daddy.” Kiki said as he walked passed her towards the doorway.
He winked, “anytime baby,” and exited the room.
At the same time, Paul opened the patio door and leaned in to inform his wife that someone forgot to bring ice.
“Whose job was that?” Lynn questioned the room and they all gave her the same “not me” look.
“How much you want to bet it was my dumb husband.” Rhea spoke up with a shake of her head. “I’ll go get some.”
“Oh no honey.” Nina quickly refused as did Lynn.
Kiki also threw in her opinion stating, “uh no. He forgot, make him go.”
“No it’s okay. I have to grab a few things for work tomorrow. He won’t get the right stuff so it’ll save me the trip of stopping before we go home or before work in the morning.” Rhea turned down the suggestion, but with a sneaky grin on her face, she added. “Besides it’s perfect leverage. He’ll owe me now and I always get what I’m due.”
Her sister-in-laws hooted and laughed in celebration for her.
“Triflin’. All of you.” Justin teased.
“Shut up.” All the girls shot back, effectively zipping his mouth and even Joey’s in case he had something to say in addition.
Laughing at their pouts along with the other women in the room, Rhea said. “I’m going to go change and then I’ll run out to the store.”
Cheyenne heard “to the store” and her coloring went out the window. “Ooh can I come?”
“I don’t know CJ. You have to ask your mom and dad.”
Immediately she turned to Kiki and Justin with her little hands pressed together in a pleading manner. “Can I go peas?” They both gave their permission and she exclaimed, “yes,” and wiggled out of her chair until she was planted on the ground underneath the table.
Both her parents looked at each other, laughing and shaking their heads at their crazy child.
Cheyenne crawled out and moved over to her aunt’s side, more than ready to go. Rhea told her to wait there, she’d be right back and went up to Derek’s old room to shower and change.
In the meantime, per her mother’s instructions, Cheyenne went out to the patio to retrieve her jellies. She came back in and as Kiki was preparing her for her trip, something dawned on her.
“You know we probably should put a pull-up on you first. Come on sweetie.” She stood and pointed her towards the guest bathroom.
Look up at her mother, Cheyenne pointed and reminded her. “No diaper Mommy.”
“That’s right cause you’re a big girl now and you don’t wear those anymore.” Cheyenne nodded and trotted out of the room. Potty training had started for her and she’d progressed to the underwear fashioned “diapers”. Same difference as far as her mother was concerned so with the roll of her eyes, Kiki followed her lead.
With their departure, Tami and Maya went back to chatting with Nina and Lynn while they continued to cook. And after a call from Sage and Derek waiting outside, Joey and Justin went out back to play ball.
Rhea and Cheyenne soon left and once they returned, everyone assembled out on the patio ready to eat.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dinner came to an end and after some dessert, the parents went inside to play some cards around the kitchen table and talk about “grown folks business”. The others stayed outside, anticipating Cheyenne’s request to go swimming again and planning on joining her, but she didn’t seem too interested in the pool anymore. No one was going to complain though especially Justin, so they left her to whatever game she had created and was playing in the yard as they talked. However what she really was up to was soon discovered when Maya spotted the very familiar red and white stick she was swinging around.
“Ooh Derek, Cheyenne’s got your kane again.”
“What?” His line of vision followed her pointing finger. “CJ!” He exclaimed and Cheyenne immediately froze.
She looked at him and her lips formed the perfect “O” before she darted off in the opposite direction from her advancing uncle.
“I told you not the leave that thing in your car where you know she might see it.” Kiki yelled at him.
Derek had taken chase and one would assume a grown man could easily catch a little girl. “Come here you little munchkin.” But Cheyenne was quick and little so she was able to dodge him.
Preferring to watch the hilarious scene unfold rather than help, the others sat back and just laughed at the racing duo.
“I just don’t get it, she’s like obsessed with that damn thing.” Kiki commented and when Cheyenne zoomed past the table, she yelled. “Cheyenne give that back to your Uncle right now.”
She hadn’t heard a word her mother said, too focused on keeping the stick in her possession. When Derek reached the table, trailing behind her, he just stopped.
“Oh fuck it. I’m just going to get her one of her own.” He plopped into his seat huffing and puffing. “I can’t keep chasing her around like that. She’s getting too fast.”
“And you’re getting too old.” Tami quipped and he glared at her.
Kiki briefly laughed right along side the others until she questioned Justin. “That reminds me actually “ you’re still going to be in town next weekend right?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay then you can get me a ticket for the show.” She said to her brother.
“Hold up, hold up. I’ll get you your ticket, but you’re just going to pedal your kid off on him like that so you can go out? How do you know he doesn’t have plans? Maybe he would like to go to the show. You ever think about that?” He mockingly came down on her.
“Yeah.” Justin lamely jumped in to egg him on.
Looking between the two men, Kiki’s brow knitted. “Wait you’re standing up for him? Since when are the two of so tight?” Sure Derek and Justin had buried the hatchet, they were cool, but she’d never seen them like this.
“Since Justin whooped his ass on the court.” Joey laughed in harmony with Sage.
“Seriously?” Maya spoke up with a big grin on her face. “He beat you? You “ Derek Miguel Lewis, master of all that is basketball? Huh, well damn you just became my best friend Justin.”
“I warned him not to underestimate Justin. He didn’t listen so he kept on getting shook and J was just taking him for three pointers and lay-ups.”
“Nice.” Kiki praised Justin.
“Man forget all of ya’ll.” Derek grumbled.
“Oh be quiet. That’s exactly what you get for being cocky all the time.” His wife teased.
“That’s alright we got a rematch planned. I’ll beat his ass then.”
“Oh you think so? Wanna put somethin’ up?” Justin dared with a confident, almost arrogant smirk.
“How much?”
“200.”
“4.” Derek countered.
“Really? Alright. Bet.” Justin accepted and they finalized the deal with a clutch.
“You so gotta tell us where and when. I wanna see this. Either way, I’m a winner.” Maya quipped.
“Once we schedule it we’ll tell everyone so they can watch J get schooled.” Justin dismissed him and his cackling with the roll of his eyes. “In the meantime, my frat is having a step show, you want tickets? For you and Cameron.”
“Yeah I’d love to go. I’ll just ask my mom to watch Cheyenne for the night.” Justin surmised. “Oh and you only need to get me one ticket. Cam’s out of town that weekend I think.”
“Cool.” Derek said before turning to his wife who said something to him.
“So, it’s just gonna be the two of you next weekend?” Kiki asked Justin.
“Yup and that’s probably a good thing.” He chuckled, but she didn’t.
“Why?” She frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“No, no. Not really. It’s just that “ well you know how the last time Cheyenne was with me for the weekend I had been gone the week before.” Kiki nodded. “Well you were right.”
Remembering that she had warned him when he picked Cheyenne up that Friday afternoon that she had missed him terribly and how that had the potential of making her a little attention possessive, Kiki groaned. “What did she do?”
Justin chortled. “Well, first she….”
*************************************************************************************************
It was Saturday afternoon when he, Cameron and Cheyenne were out shopping in Beverly Hills. He was walking in between the two ladies holding each of their hands until Cheyenne suddenly stopped in her tracks. In turn so did he, followed by Cameron.
“What’s wrong baby? You tired of walking? Want me to carry you?”
“No!” She yelped and dropped his hand roughly.
Justin watched in confusion as she circled around his back until she stood between him and Cameron. She grabbed their still clasped hands and forcefully pulled them apart, gripping his now free hand in both of hers. Just like that her smile was back and like it was no big deal, she continued walking, pulling her shocked father behind her.
*************************************************************************************************
Kiki groaned. “Oh no she didn’t. Poor Cameron.”
“No she was cool with it. She thought it was funny. So did I, until….”
“Until what?” She asked suspiciously. “Wait you said first she did this. What else did she do?”
*************************************************************************************************
Later that night, Cheyenne had been bathed and dressed in her pjs after dinner and now she was relaxing in her bean bag watching Chicken Little. Justin and Cameron were behind her curled up on the couch together.
Cheyenne started laughing during a scene in the movie and she turned around to see if her father thought it was funny too.
Justin saw her turn towards them and watched as her smiling happy face morphed into a deep scowl. “What’s up Pix?”
She stood up leaving Duke in her bag and approached him and Cameron. She proceeded to use all her strength, groaning and grunting the whole time until she pushed Cameron away from her father far enough for her to squeeze in between them.
“Pix what are you doing?” Justin asked as he chuckled, thinking she wanted to cuddle with them.
Boy was he wrong. Once Cheyenne was comfortably seated she turned to Cameron keeping her body twisted as if she was shielding him and jutting out her chin, she proclaimed possessively. “My Daddy.”
“Cheyenne.” Justin admonished in shock. She never acted this way the other times that Cameron spent the day with them. “Don’t do that. It’s rude.”
Jutting her defiant chin out at him this time, she ignored his reprimand and returned to her movie. She had made her point and it was final.
*************************************************************************************************
“I can’t believe she did that. I mean I know I warned you, but that was very disrespectful of her.” Kiki frowned feeling a little embarrassed. “I feel like I should call Cameron and apologize.”
“No it’s okay. She understood once I explained things to her.” Justin replied and to put her at ease he said. “And I put Cheyenne in time out for it.”
Not buying it since he hated chastising her, Kiki asked skeptically. “For how long?”
“For like a half hour.” She stared him down not believing him for a minute. “Ok 10 minutes.” Again that didn’t seem right to her either. “Ok five.” He said, finally giving her the truth.
Kiki was shaking her head pitifully, thinking he’d probably let Cheyenne get away with murder one day, when the little imp approached the table. After returning her Uncle’s kane because she was done with it, she squeezed in between her parents’ chairs to reach her water bottle.
“Hey little girl, you can’t do things like that to Cameron.” Kiki scolded. “You have to share.”
“No she doesn’t.” Justin joked, but when Kiki glared at him, he amended. “Not me at least. I’m her Daddy aren’t I?”
“Yup.” She finished her drink and cheesed up at him.
As Justin leaned down to give her an Eskimo kiss, Kiki shook her head at the pair, not knowing what she was going to do with them. They were a trip, a two person mutual admiration society and no one could tell either anything different.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was getting pretty late and everyone had work tomorrow, so they started packing it in. Once everything was cleared and straightened out, Justin was the first to say his farewells. Kiki still had to get her sweater out of his car so she walked him out.
They were just approaching the curb in front of the house where Justin’s Mercedes was parked when Cheyenne came outside.
“Bye Daddy!” She yelled from the porch, her hand waving fiercely.
“Bye baby girl. I love you and I’ll see you soon okay? Go back in the house now.” She nodded in compliance and with the bang of the screen door, disappeared back into the house. “We made quite the kid.”
“Yeah I know. Everyday my thoughts go from ‘we’re so lucky to have her’ to ‘what the hell did we do in the past to deserve this’.” Justin laughed out loud, fully relating to the same daily thought process. “And you’re gonna leave me here all alone with that bonkers little girl.”
“Sorry, but hey “ I got a consolation prize for you. A little bit of info to leak for your ears only.” Circling her, he opened his car and after grabbing her sweater from the passenger seat, he pulled something out of the glove box.
When he placed the mystery item in her hand, Kiki squealed with excitement once she identified the circular object in the clear jewel case. “Is this what I think it is?” He nodded affirmatively and she bounced and squealed in delight, throwing her arms around him. He wrapped his around her waist and laughed at her excitement. Grinning like an idiot, she leaned back and clarified. “And I get to hear it before any of your adoring fans?”
“Mmhmm.” He nodded feeling awfully euphoric about holding her in his arms.
“I guess those baby mama privileges really do come in handy.” She joked. “Thank you Justin.” Gripping his arms, she rose on her tip toes and kissed his cheek.
“You’re welcome, but you know I’m expecting a detailed critique from you.” Her arms were still around his waist and if she wasn’t going to remove them, he wasn’t about to remove his.
“Oh you know even if you didn’t want one, I was gonna give you one.” She informed sassily. “This is so exciting I can’t wait to listen to it.”
Look at her beaming face, he thought. “Man I wish I could be there to see your reaction.”
“No, no it would only make us both paranoid. So you go home now, then I can go home and enjoy my sneak peek.”
“Yes Ma’am.”
“I’m a Miss thank you very much.” She said cheekily, then giggled. “Thanks for coming to dinner tonight.”
Realizing that it was time to part ways and that his arms were still around her body while she was still holding on to his side, with reluctance come from both ends, they slowly released each other.
“I had a good time…As always.”
“Good.” She smiled and for a few moments they stood in silent just looking at the other, not really ready to say bye.
Justin was the first to speak up, knowing he could stare at her for hours on end. “I better get out of here.” His door was open but he still didn’t get in and Kiki stepped closer to him. “I’ll see you soon?” The wind outside had picked up, blowing a few strands of her hair in her face and he reached up to move them behind her ear.
“Yeah call me tomorrow. And we’ll plan for dinner sometime next week. It’s your turn to cook.”
“Yeah, yeah I know.” He leaned down and tenderly kissed her cheek. “Bye Kik.”
“Bye.” She backed away as he climbed in and closed the door, driving away moments later.
Kiki stood back and watched until his car disappeared around the corner. She turned around to head back to the house. A smile grew on her face as she looked at the CD in one hand and touch her cheek where his kiss fell with the other.
“What are you grinnin’ so hard about?” Maya startled her sister, appearing out of nowhere from her car parked in the driveway.
Kiki jumped out of her musing like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. “Nothing. I’m happy. Can’t I smile when I’m happy? Can’t I be happy?” She snapped.
“Um first of all, calm down I was just asking a question. Geez.”
“Sorry.” She knew she was being rather defensive and for a reason she couldn’t really pinpoint.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
For a minute Maya took a really good look at her sister and speculated “You know I never expected that.” She said with a nod towards the scene she’d witnessed between her and Justin. “For the two of you to get along so well after everything that went down between you.”
Kiki shrugged as she moved to the porch steps. “Well things are different now and all that is in the past.... Oh! Mamí said there were some more éclairs left. I gotta get another one before Joey eats them all.” She hopped up the staircase and entered the house, leaving Maya behind.
Eyes squinted in suspicion, Maya watched her leave in quite a hurry. She had a feeling her sister was feeling a little pressured by her questioning. She hadn’t seen her and Justin’s relationship first hand, yet her gut told her what was going on between them on the curb just now, was no different. Where the two of them were concerned with the level of intimacy between them, one that went beyond friendship, it looked as if their past was back in the present.
“Oh hermanita I hope you’re not about to walk back into a world of trouble.”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
The end of the month arrived and on Sunday he was leaving to start the club tour and promote the album, so Justin decided he wanted to spend his last day at home with his girls. They planned to play the day by ear, but top it off with a good old fashion sleep over “ movies and junk food all night.
“Ok guys what are we going to do first today?” Kiki asked her daughter and Justin as they finished their breakfast. She and Cheyenne had arrived a little over an hour ago for breakfast and all set to have a good time.
“Well we have to go get our junk food and movies. We can do that later though I guess.” Justin suggested. “Until then we could maybe go to the zoo or Chucky Cheese….the course, hitafewholes.” He threw that last option in rather fast and with his head averted coyly.
Standing by the counter getting another cup of coffee, Kiki cocked her hip and an eyebrow as she gazed at him. “I was wondering when you were going to bring that one up.” He grinned appealingly, but she just rolled her eyes. “Luckily I’m in the mood to be outside.”
“Yeah?” He perked up.
“Why not? I’d like to see what you’re working with on the green.” A surprised rather than self-assured look came over him. He had no idea she even knew how to play. “Just because I don’t particularly like golf doesn’t mean I can’t play. As you know my dad loves it and he thinks it’s an excellent networking tool so he made sure we all at least knew the basics.” She enlightened him. “Who knows I just might end up beating you.”
“Tssh. We’ll see about that. Pixie, you up for some golfing?”
She nodded as she swallowed her hash browns. “Can I bring my soccer ball?”
The last time they went golfing she brought her ball along and it kept her well entertained once the fun of the course wore off so he agreed.
“Ok so that’s decided. What about the rest of the day? The zoo or Chucky Cheese?” Kiki questioned.
“I go to the zoo at school.” Cheyenne stated.
“That’s right she did just go on a field trip there.” Justin said to Kiki. “Chucky Cheese then?”
“Yeah! We play games and eat pizza!” She cheered.
“Sounds good. And hey, it’ll be about lunch time when we get off the course.” He said more to Kiki than his daughter.
Kiki bobbed her head as she added it all up. “And after that we can go get our supplies for tonight before we come back home.” Justin nodded in agreement. “Alright then if we’re done eating, let’s get outta here.” She beamed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After a lively game of golf, resulting in Justin gloating over his victory throughout the day, then with the help of her parents, Cheyenne racked up some toys from all the tickets she collected, there fun filled day was coming to a close. The trio just finished picking out probably more movies than they could watch in a single night and had moved on to the grocery store. And as with much of the day so far, it took a little longer than intended for them to get there choice junk foods and makings for the stir fry for dinner because of excited fans stopping them for picture and the like. It was taken all in stride since they pretty much expected it. Same could be said for the pack of paparazzi following them all day seeing dollar signs at the photo op they made. Everyone was well behaved so Kiki didn’t have to growl or bare her teeth at anyone.
When all their supplies were gathered, they climbed into the car and made their way back to Justin’s for the night.
On the drive to the house, Cheyenne fell asleep in her car seat for a much needed nap in preparation for the night. In the front of the car, sitting in comfortable silence as the radio played softly, Justin drove while Kiki watched the passing scenery.
The silence between them was broken when the station’s DJ introduced the next song on the playlist. Justin and Kiki immediately turned towards each other and their matching grins turned into matching giggles as the first bar of Cry Me a River played.
“Talk about perfect timing.”
“Yeah, you know.” He reached forward and cut the radio off. “Its been a few weeks since I gave you that draft and you still haven’t told me what you thought about it.”
“I know. It’s just that…well first I hat to go out and buy a new copy of Justified so I could compare and contrast.”
“Right because you took a hammer to the first copy you had.” He teasingly brought up the one revelation about the aftermath of their break up that she had no problem gloating about.
“You should be happy I didn’t track you down and take a hammer to you.” She glared.
Grinning roguishly, he went back to the subject at hand. “So you’ve been doing some research?”
“What’s the point of me giving you my opinion if its not honest and well thought out?” She shrugged. “It actually reminded me of the projects we used to do in high school. I had fun and it was long overdue since certain people have been holding out on me.”
He chuckled. “You surprised me you know.”
Turning to sit with her back to the door and her legs crossed so at least she’d be facing him as they talked, she questioned. “How so?”
“I didn’t expect you of all people would be so amped to hear my new material.”
“Justin, despite the fact that you’re an asshole.” She proclaimed, only half joking and ignoring his sneer. “I still think you’re a great artist and performer. I like your music, I just don’t like you.” She teased with a cheesy smile and he snorted. “No seriously. This new album of yours is good, really good.” She stated with complete honesty which he expected and could definitely see. “It’s different from Justified, but different in a good way.” His silence told her he was looking for specifics so she went on to give him her “full report”. “You have a nice mix of genres, its not a majorally R&B based album like I assumed. But I like when genres are mixed, it shows your creativity and range.”
“Range? You’re probably the only person who thinks I have one of those, especially when it comes to R&B.”
Knowing what he was hinting at, Kiki went on the defense. “Don’t let it bother you that closed minded people can’t accept that a white boy from a boy band can do R&B. That’s total bullshit and petty jealousy. God I hate when people put gender or race or any other bias on music. It’s so fucking ignorant.”
Watching her get all fired up for him as they sat at the red light for a portion of her rant, Justin felt all stupidly giddy.
“I say do whatever makes you happy and fuck everyone else.”
“That’s the exact mind set I was in while making this album. As long as the music I was making made me happy, that’s all that mattered to me.” He said. “Don’t let them steal my joy right?”
Kiki’s eyes brighten and beamed at the little pep mantra she used to say to him. He remembered. “Absolutely and I think its going to pay off.”
“Yeah? So you like it? You like my new album?”
As much as she usually resisted stroke his ego, she gave credit where credit was due.
“Yes. I like your new album. I like it a lot actually.”
“What’s your favorite song?”
“Oh there’s a few.” She responded casually, but again, Justin wanted details. The what and the why so she went through each track that she liked telling him about what she thought of his musical composition, use of different original beats, and his lyricism, particular the sexual undertones in almost every song.
“I’m glad to see you’re finally letting the world know how much of a dirty slut your mind is.” He laughed out loud not even disputing her claim. He had no shame especially when she was the star of a lot of those baser thoughts. “You’re a filthy old man Justin Timberlake.”
Keeping one eye on the road, he leaned over and whispered wickedly. “Yeah but you like my filth don’t you?”
“That may very well be the case, but that’s beside the point.” Justin gave her a hot glance that said, “no that is the point,” and she giggled. “Stop looking at me like that, let me finish. I have more to say.” Since he had plenty of time to tease her again tonight, he sat back and slid his straight face back on. “Now I have a second opinion for you - for the few songs that were appropriate for your daughter.” He peered at her from the corner of his eye with a grin on his face. “She really liked them.”
“Yeah? Was she dancing or anything?” He asked anxiously, glancing at the sleep toddler through the rear view mirror.
“Yeah, but get this “ she knew it was you singing before I even told her.”
“That’s my girl.” He smiled victoriously.
“You’ve made a little fan out of her.” She said and then briefly turned to glance out the window.
Justin hesitated for a moment before he worked up the nerve to ask. “So what about you?”
“Hmm?” She responded, distracted by her nosiness over the sight of somebody being pulled over by a cop. Still Justin continued.
“As a fan.” He paused and reaching a red light, he looked over at her. “Have I gotten you back?”
Out of her daze, but completely clueless about what Justin was really asking her, she turned back to him with a bright smile on her face. “Yeah. You have.”
In the back of his mind Justin knew they were on two different levels, but he didn’t care. She was smiling at him like she used to. It may not be in the way he wanted her, but he did have her back in his life. There was always hope inside of him that one day he would truly get his Kiki back.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Returning to the house, Cheyenne woke from her nap and then after dinner, they settled into the den to watch movies and eat their junk food. Hopped up on sugar, the three managed to stay up and watch more movies than they original thought they’d get through, but that sugar crash eventually came. Sprawled out on their make shift camp site in front of the TV, one by one the trio succumbed to their exhaustion and were out for the night.
