Page 87 of Devanté
CHAPTER TWENTY
It was weird being back home in San Francisco. It was even weirder being back in my parents’ house. I promised my mother I would help plan her fiftieth birthday party. I’d managed to help from afar but now that we were two days away from the party, I had to be there in person to make sure things went smoothly.
Thank God Devanté came back with me. He told me he was getting ready to close on a house in LA and he needed to pack up his place. He could have paid people to do it but he was hell-bent on doing most of it on his own.
“Your mother will be back from her spa day with Liza in a little while,” Dad said, glancing at the clock on his phone. “Before she gets here, you two have something to tell me?” He looked at me first because he knew my eyes could never hide anything from him. My gaze darted to Devanté standing beside me.
Damn, he looked good.
I made fun of him for wearing all white for the trip home. I told him he looked exactly like an extra in Jodeci’sStayvideo. I only said it to keep myself from fucking him while we were on the plane. Of course, he knew that. His arrogant ass.
But Jesus, that white linen looked good against his skin.
“We’re friends again,” Devanté said, tossing his arm around my shoulders. Daddy looked unconvinced.
“Something is different between you two. You can spill it now or later but you know your mama can’t keep a secret,” Dad said pointing at Devanté. “And your mama can’t pass up the chance to hear a secret.” He pointed at me next.
“Maybe we’re a little more than friends,” I said sheepishly. I wasn’t alone in my apprehension. Normally, Devanté was forthcoming with everyone and everything. He was an open book for whoever wanted to read but with my father, things were different. Especially when we had to tell him that we were in a relationship.
“Maybe?” Dad said, raising his eyebrows. “I need some clarity.”
“Wearemore than friends now, Mr. Remington.” Even though he tried to look Dad in the eye, he ended up staring at me and touching my cheek.
“It happened out of nowhere,” I said. Nervous laughter threaded through my words.
“Out of nowhere?” Dad chuckled. “Blake, y’all been in love since Devanté’s big-headed ass came to play in the backyard.” He waved his hand at us and shook his head. “This thing between you two is years in the making. I’m glad you stopped holding a grudge against that boy.”
“I guess we were the only ones who didn’t know we belonged together,” I said, looking up at Devanté.
“Speak for yourself, Blake. I knew since I brought my big-headed ass over here to play in the backyard.” He laughed along with Dad. “Speaking of the backyard…you guys didn’t get rid of the rainbow playset, did you?” His eyes were full of nostalgia.
“Nope. It’s still there.” The second the words left Dad’s mouth, Devanté took off toward the backdoor and I ran after him. It was the nineties again and we were eight years old.
“Stop running through my damn house like crazy people!” Dad fussed after us but we were faster than his words and already outside soaking up the sun in the backyard. I came to a full stop in front of the rainbow playset and looked at Devanté.
“I can’t believe you thought they got rid of the playset,” I said.
“Well, we’re not little anymore so…” He shrugged.
“They still let the neighborhood kids come over and play so they’re not running around in the street. Sometimes, I come out here and sit.” I sat at the picnic table that used to be white a long time ago before the paint chipped and flaked away leaving bare wooden spots peeking through. Devanté sat beside me and took my hand.
“Damn, this brings back so many memories.” He looked around the backyard. “Doesn’t seem as huge as it did when we were little.”
“I know. Like you said, we grew up, Jodeci.”
“When the hell did that happen?” He laughed a little then kissed the back of my hand. “I remember when coming home after school meant sitting right here with you eating the snacks we saved from lunch then playing right there.” He turned around and looked at the colorful rainbow playset.
“All fucking day until we smelled like outside. My mother hated that shit,” I remembered. “Or, we’d end up at your house playing Sega.”
“I let you win at Virtua Racing, just so you know.”
“You did not. I was a better player than you.”
“Nah. Never. But you used to do this little dance when you won and…” he shook his head and pressed his fist to his mouth. “That shit used to make my dick hard.”
“Oh my god! You’re a pervert!” I squeaked, hitting his shoulder with my balled-up fist. He flinched once then grabbed my hand and before I knew it, we were hitting each other and laughing until our stomachs ached and our cheeks twitched.
“Oh, there you two are.” My mother’s voice disrupted me and Devanté’s playful tumble down memory lane.
