Page 37 of Waiting for Friday Night

Thankfully, Quinton didn’t hesitate a beat. “Yeah, come on, Zachariah.” He walked over and grabbed Zachariah by the elbow and pulled him away.

Gregory looked ready to ask another question, but Robbie, as loud and impatient as usual, was already hollering for someone to help him pull the grill. Gregory gave her one last glance before hurrying to help. Once the guys were clear, Halle pinched Kayla’s arm.

“Ouch! What was that for?” Kayla rubbed her arm.

“Because you’re messy and starting stuff,” Halle shot back, not feeling an ounce of guilt for the pinch. “Please keep your mouth shut.”

“Why, isn’t that why he’s here, for everyone to know what’s up?”

“He’s here because he’s helping Cyril,” Imani jumped in. “That’s it.”

Shania crossed her arms. “I don’t know why we can’t just tell everyone. He’s here because he said he wants to be in my life.”

Halle took a long breath. “And he can be, but the cousins’ day cookout is not the day to tell the story.”

“Then when is the day?” Shania asked.

“Yeah, when?” Kayla followed up. “Because I can’t keep this secret forever.”

Halle barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. “It’s not a secret forever. It’s just not the topic of conversation for today, okay? Now, keep this quiet or else I’ll tell Zachariah about all the boxes you ship to my house.” Kayla loved trying out new sex toys, but Zachariah hated when she used them, which Halle thought was dumb, but when Kayla asked if she could ship them to her place, Halle had agreed.

Kayla’s eyes narrowed. “You wrong for that.”

“And you’re wrong for blurting out my business like that. Now zip it.” Halle ran a finger across her mouth and twisted as if zipping her lips and locking them.

Sighing, Kayla threw up a hand. “Fine. Just for today.”

“Thank you. Now, will you go help your sister with her bags? She just showed up with her kids.”

Kayla pursed her lips but turned and walked away. Shania immediately came up to her. “Mom, are you going to keep this a secret from everyone?”

Halle placed a hand on Shania’s shoulder. “No, baby, but today, like this, isn’t the time or the place. Let’s enjoy the day and I’ll let everyone know soon.”

“I can’t pretend as if I’m not happy that he’s here.”

“I’m not asking you to. Just let everyone think it’s because he’s your coach. We’ll figure this out, okay?”

Shania sighed. “I don’t get it, but fine. I’ll go help him and Mr. Cyril set up.”

Halle watched her daughter jog over to Zachariah and Quinton. Imani wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Are you going to make it?”

“No. Did you know Quinton was coming?”

She’d hoped he wouldn’t show up. Prayed even, but she’d seen the look in his eye. The look that said she wasn’t going to ignore him. He wanted to be involved in Shania’s life, and honestly, she wanted him to get to know Shania. But she wasn’t sure if she was ready to have Quinton in her life.

Imani tilted her head to the side. “I didn’t, but I’m not surprised. I saw the look in his face yesterday when you said you wanted to keep things quiet.”

“What look?”

“It’s hard to describe it, but I think he likes you.”

Halle scoffed. “Quinton? Nah, he dates Instagram models and pop stars.”

“The man dated one R and B singer and they broke up. Why would that mean he doesn’t like you?”

“Because. I’m not his type. He told me.” Numerous times. The look in his eye the day before—that was just a challenge. Not because he really was into her. He’d lose interest in a day once he realized she didn’t give a damn about football that didn’t involve Shania, and that she was just as boring as people expected high school principals to be.

Imani bumped Halle’s hip with hers. “Yeah, well, the way he looked at you the other day said otherwise.”

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