Page 25 of Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer

“I get that…truly, I do—it’s hard when you try to do everything right, and it still doesn’t work out your way, isn’t it?” He stayed in the same position, but now his gaze assessed me. Not sure what he saw, because I was a hot ass mess right now, but in his voice… I heard kinship. I recognized that long-ago pain of doing everything to be seen and loved and not getting what I needed in return.

“Yeah, it sucks. But you wake up the next day and you do it again. And as long as you are at peace and harmony with what you need for yourself, then the rest will fall in place.” I nodded to him, hoping to alleviate some of his concerns. Even now, knowing he wasn’t the man I thought, I still felt connected to him.

“I guess…listen. I did not abandon my kid. I…met this girl a few summers ago. She was the daughter of my old neighbor. And we chilled for the whole summer, every summer. We got to know each other, mostly as friends, but you know…”

“Well, yeah, there is a five-year-old out there, so I do know.”

“Yeah, well, we never had plans for long distance or anything like that; we were both clear with our expectations. We…probably did it a couple of times, and we used a condom all of them, so imagine my surprise…”

“Did the condom break?”

“Well, yeah, that one time, but I hadn’t finished yet! I changed it, and we were good money,” Orlando explained, looking scared and worried but oddly excited. That…that right there was the man I had seen with my boys.

“So, you really are out here just trying to reconnect with your girl and your kid?”

Orlando shook his head, stopping my train of thought.

“Nah, not reconnect with her. We were cool and all, but she kept me out in the dark. I have no beef with her, but I’m not looking to establish anything but a connection with my daughter. I cannot wait to be a father to her. That’s it. I had to find out from her grandmother.”

I nodded along, finally understanding the whole thing. He’d come early to search in private. His friends would probably not understand. He had a plan, and I was trying to derail it, and still, he was looking for ways to accommodate me.

“Listen, this what you are telling me is way more important than me getting back to New York to get to Milton.”

“Oh…your man is waiting for you?” Orlando’s disappointment could not be louder in this room full of sunshine and unspoken thoughts. And the reality was Milton didn’t even know what had happened. He hadn’t checked on me once; I didn’t feel like disclosing the boys did this. It would sour him even more to them. My boys were my boys. They did wrong, but damn if I let anybody speak on them who barely knew them.

“I…let’s say there are many reasons why I am looking to return early, but none of them are as important as you finding your child. Your deal is more than fair. I’ll help you out today. And hopefully I’ll find my solution along the way. Who knows, we might meet some people with more resources!” Somehow, the anger that had taken over earlier had dissipated in the salty sea air and the company of Orlando. Somehow, hearing his story, even though abbreviated, made me feel like we were partners in crime. Even if just for today, both searching for something/someone.

Both searching.

TWELVE

Trinidad

The scenery around us took my breath away as Orlando navigated what they now called Little Ofele. A sense of otherworldliness infused every plant, every building, every rock in the town.

Usually, Florida during the summer is all blue skies and bright sunshine. Here in Ofele, the blue skies were present, same as the sunshine. Still, there was another color that beautifully blended it all. Some type of muted beige, that I would have difficulty describing to anyone. It was as if here, the sun shined but still protected our melanated skin. As if the air knew to take care of us, as if the water was extra clear and blue and shallow for us to feel comfortable in it. I might be desperate to leave for New York, but for this moment, I allowed myself to observe and enjoy Ofele and all it had to give.

“It’s gorgeous, isn’t it? I’m usually a go-go type of guy, but the place got me. I drove around earlier, trying to get acquainted with the town, and got sprung.”

“Young people still say sprung?” I stared at him in the driver’s seat. He’d changed to slightly longer pants, not quite hooch shorts but almost, and a T-shirt, baseball cap, and shades. It suited him.

“We don’t, but I gotta ensure you can follow.” He kept his eyes on the road, but his lush lips were losing the battle, wanting to burst out in a smirk.

“Listen, if it weren’t for my generation, y’all wouldn’t have any swag.”

“So old people still say swag, then?”

“I’m not that old,” I grumbled.

“I know you’re not. We are ten years apart, right? So, I’m not sure why you keep trying to put more age between us. I mean, I respect it…but still, I don’t think you’re old at all, just older, and there ain’t nothing wrong with more experience, maturity, and…knowledge.”

Oh, why did those three things sound so…sowhen he said them? Like they had way more weight than I gave them credit for.

“Well, yes, I am more experienced than you, but you’re right. The boys are not here this weekend, so maybe I can relax the Sra. Velasquez intensity a bit.”

“You’d do that? For me? Wow, I’m honored.” Orlando clasped his free hand to his chest.

“You’re so full of shit.”

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