Page 33 of Beyond The Stars

“You mean watch me beat you like I used too?” Qamar jested, lifting Esmeray from her swing.

Noodle jumped from her moving swing. “I want to race too.”

“Me too.” Already, Esmeray wanted to follow behind everything Noodle did.

Siasia snickered, still making sure to capture everyone in their natural states. When they lined up, she became the finish line. “Wait right there so I can get this shot first,” she called out to them, snapping the perfect image with the full moon sitting behind them perfectly.

Lately, God had been giving her perfect and beautiful days and nights. The glow of the moon was a photographer’s dream. A cluster of camera flutters sliced through the air before she gave them the signal to take off. Running with all their might, they were still no match for Qamar. Even after he’d practiced his heart out. Laughter filled their bellies knowing full well he was going to smoke them. Siasia captured it all on video after she put the camera in record mode.

Bent over to catch her breath, Malaysia snorted. “You ain’t shit… you didn’t even let your daughter win.”

Lightly jogging around them, Qamar got in Esmeray’s face. “She gotta learn early. The world won’t let her win, she gotta work for that shit.”

Esmeray grunted, hating when she wasn’t the victor but instead of running into his arms, she went to Noodle. “Hold me, Noodle.” She faked tears.

“Come here, Es.” Noodle coddled her while giving Qamar angry eyes.

“Oh, my lord.” Malaysia rolled her head. “Already, she got you wrapped around her little fat fingers.”

“Don’t call my baby fat, Malaysia,” Noodle fussed. “My baby just chunky.”

“But why you sounding like a person five times your age?” Siasia teased. “Just yesterday you were my baby and now you got a baby.”

“I’m still your baby, SiSi. Always.”

“I know, Noodle.”

“Aww y’all so damn cute.” Malaysia wrapped her arm around Siasia. “Who does your hair?” she asked. “I been meaning to ask you all day.”

“I do,” Siasia said like braiding your own hair past your butt was no big deal.

“Can you do mine before I leave tomorrow night?”

Siasia looked at Qamar who only shrugged. “Um, I guess.”

“Oh, thank you sister wife.” Malaysia laughed. “It’s destined to be. Both our names end in sia.” She wagged her tongue. “Yea, I like her, Qamar.”

“Yea, me too.” He winked at Siasia, making her blush. “Noodle, you staying the night?”

“Um, don’t you think you need to be asking me?” Siasia rested her hand on her hips.

“Nah. I know you gone try to say no. My baby, Noodle, always down to chill with me.”

“She has school in the morning.”

“Okay, I’ll take her,” Qamar said like it was no big deal.

“Please?” Esmeray fluttered her big eyes at Siasia.

Malysia placed her hands in the prayer motion. “Yea, please?”

Kissing her teeth, she stalled them out like she really needed to think it over. When it came to being under Qamar, there was no other place she’d rather be. “I guess. But she still has to be in bed by her bedtime.”

“Thank you, SiSi!” Noodle hugged her as best she could since Esmeray was still in her arms like they didn’t almost weigh the same amount.

Making their way to their cars, Qamar pulled Siasia back, planting his juicy lips on hers. “I been dying to do that all day,” he growled.

Siasia moaned in his mouth, savoring his taste. “I been waiting for you to do it all day.”