Page 25 of Steps

Kenya doesn’t have work on Saturday. She’s beencurious about my new living situation, so I invite her over around noon.

Daniel and my mom are in the kitchen, packing apicnic bag to have lunch in the park nearby. Kenya arrives before they leave.

“Girl, this place is awesome,” she gushes, peeringaround outside.

“Wait until you see the house.”

I like her tank top and denim shorts. Her braidsare up in a ponytail, and she’s hardly wearing any makeup. Her chocolate-tonedskin is glowing.

Leading her into the kitchen, I introduce them.“Ken, this is Daniel Kirby. Daniel, this is my best friend since childhood,Kenya Jackson.”

They shake hands. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Kirby.”

“Please, call me Dan,” he says, offering hisgenuine smile.

“Hey, Miss Lisa.” She waves to my mom.

Mom takes two bottles of iced tea from the fridge.“Hey, Kenya. How are you doing?” She sets the iced teas inside a mini igloo.“How’s your mom?”

Kenya tenses a bit, never in the mood to discussher mother’s state with anyone. “She’s hanging in there.”

Daniel chimes in, “Well, you girls have fun. We’reoff to enjoy the day.”

“See you later,” I tell them.

“Nice meeting you, Kenya,” he says before headinginto the garage. Mom waves at us and follows him.

The second she closes the door, Kenya says to me,“Where’s your hot stepbrother?”

“Sheesh.” I roll my eyes. “He probably left. Hedoesn’t hang around here much.”

Her plump lips form a playful pout. “Hm. Too bad.And Alison? You say she’s at UMD?”

“Yeah. She’s coming home tonight.”

A smile appears. “Show me your room, girl, andthen that pool you told me about.”

We scurry downstairs. She pauses to take in thevast open space before continuing to my bedroom.

Her mouth drops. “Oh shit, Toya. This is huge! Asuper upgrade from your last.”

“Yeah. It’s really nice of Daniel, huh?” I admiremy room once more, still in awe.

“Hmm.” She checks out herself in my dressermirror. “Next, the pool.”

I giggle. “Yeah yeah. Come on.”

We go out the sliding doors in the family room andamble up the concrete steps to the backyard.

“This is the shit!” Kenya squeals as we strollacross the unreal looking grass and saunter alongside the rectangular pool.Sunlight dazzles on the water. “Girl, can I move in when you leave forCalifornia?”

“Ha!” We laugh. “If this works out for my mom.”

She shakes her head. “Damn. I’m jealous.”

We’re about to go back inside when something catchesher attention on the other side of the house.

“Ooh, yes,Lord.” She halts in her steps,brown eyes twinkling with lusty fascination. “Toya, you live with allthat?”

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