Page 23 of Follow Me to Your Heart
“Don’t be dramatic, Cage. You know she saw you. You’ve literally only been gone for like half an hour. You had all the time with her last night. Plus, she had to see about her future daughter-in-law first.”
“Whoa, Symone. What did you just say?” I questioned with my hand cupping my ear. I’d heard her loud and clear, but I wanted to see if she’d repeat it with the same confidence as before.
With a kiss of her teeth, Symone expressed, “You heard me. I don’t know why you and Korren try to act as if your feelings for each other aren’t deeper then only being friends. The two of you are in love, brother.”
“Of course, I love her. She’s my best friend.”
“You heard exactly what I said. I saidinlove. I know y’all love each other, but being in love is different.”
“And how would you know? Got something you need to tell me?”
“I’m not even on that type of time with any of these boys. I know from watching the two of you. It’s the way you look at her. It’s the way you talk to and about her. It’s the way you show up for her. It’s all that plus more, and she does the same for you. Any woman would be lucky to have you, Cage, but be realwith yourself and admit everything you do for Korren is because you’re in love with her.”
Symone’s words had my mind in overdrive. While I’d come to terms with my feelings for Korren being deeper than what I let on, being in love with her never crossed my mind. Mainly because I’d never been in love before. My actions toward Korren were natural for me. I never had to put any thought into anything for her, just as I did for my mother and sister. Without a doubt, my love for them were beyond what words could express. I thought it was the same for Korren, but Symone had me second-guessing.
I washed my hands and set the table as my mother, Korren, and Taylor trickled into the kitchen. Korren introduced Symone and Taylor, and they immediately hit it off. They were engrossed in their own conversation, so Korren came over and finished helping me set the table.
“Why are you so quiet, Cage?” she interrogated with her head tipped to the side.
“It’s not much to say when you’re the only male present. Keith should be here soon, and I won’t be alone.”
“You’re dramatic. We’re not that bad.”
I playfully bucked my eyes at her, and she threw a spoon at me. My first reaction was to run around the table to her. She squealed as I chased her, laughing as she continuously called my mama’s name until she appeared.
“Cage! Leave Korren alone. Why are you in here chasing her?”
I pointed at Korren. “Tell her what you did, KoKo.”
“Told him he was being dramatic.”
“And? What else?”
“Nothing,” Korren lied, smirking. “That’s how you know he was being dramatic.”
Before Mama could open her mouth to speak, I was running around the table again. I caught up to Korren and pulled her into me, trapping her in a bear hug. She laughed and wiggled until her face was red.
“Okay, okay!” She surrendered, trying to catch her breath. “I threw a spoon at him.”
Mama snickered with her hands up. “I can’t help you there, Korren.”
The doorbell rang, so I quickly kissed Korren’s temple and freed her before going to let Keith in. I dapped him up and gave him a brotherly hug. “What’s good, my man?”
“Not shit. Thank you for inviting me. It smells good in here.”
“Mama and Symone always throw down in the kitchen. I think everything’s ready, so come on.”
I led Keith to the kitchen where they were putting the food on the table. Keith stopped in his tracks, tapping my chest with the back of his hand. “Aye, who is that?”
My eyes followed his, and my lips curved upward. “That’s Taylor, Korren’s best friend. She came home with her for the week.”
“Let me make sure I sit across from her.”
Keith and I shared a laugh as we joined the ladies. He gave Mama, Symone, and Korren love, then I introduced him to Taylor. She had the same look in her eyes as he did. All throughout dinner, I caught them gazing at one another. Korren and I kept hitting each other underneath the table anytime they locked eyes.
Once dinner was over, Mama sent us to go get dessert while she and Symone cleaned the kitchen up. We went to her favorite frozen custard spot downtown. Keith took that as his opportunity to pull Taylor to the side, leaving Korren and me to share a sundae at the opposite table.
“Look at them. Why didn’t we think about putting them together before?” Korren giggled as she popped a cherry in her mouth. “They would be cute together.”
