Page 6 of Calculated Kisses with a Scorpio
I’d moved out at seventeen for college, and this was the first time I’d been back as a resident, so my parents had plenty of time to use that table for something other than its intended purpose.
“Daddy, you need help. I’m about to call that lady so you can sit on her couch.”
I grabbed my fruit tray and padded out of the kitchen.
“Don’t be a hater, Munchkin!” Daddy called behind me.
“Bo, cut it out. I can’t believe you said that to our daughter.”
I giggled, hearing my mother chastise my father because I knew what would follow: him sweet-talking her until she was smiling and giggling again.
Even after so many years together, my parents were very much still in love. It was the kind of love that you could feel just being around them. I thought I had that in my ex-boyfriend, Benny, but it turned out whatever I had been feeling was all in my head. Just one year ago, if someone had told me that Benny and I would be broken up, I would have laughed in their face.
Now though, the joke was on me.
“Alright, little beauties.” I squatted down to peer into my flower bed. “Let’s see what you have for me.”
My schedule had been so jam-packed that it had been a long minute since they had a good pruning. Every morning, I came out here to have my coffee, but it had been a while since my babies got the care they were used to. I went over to my chest to grab my apron, gloves, and shears.
“How have you guys been this week? Are you enjoying your new shade, because that was a big purchase, so hopefully, it’s doing its job in this Texas sun.”
I started near my hibiscus—they could stand up to eight hours of sun, but the mechanical shade felt like a good purchase on those extra brutal days.
I smiled at their growing beauty.
“Are y’all thirsty?” I picked up the spritz bottle I kept near their planter and sprayed the soil.
I continued to spend time with my babies and talked to them about my crazy day.
There was just something so peaceful about being out here in my garden. Once everyone got the attention they deserved, I rinsed my hands at the outside sink my daddy built me. I’d worn my gloves, but they always made my hands sweaty. I watchedas the water ran over my feet and between my toes. The visual gave me a thought, so I patted my hands dry, grabbed my fruit tray, and walked over to my small fountain. I sat on the edge and placed my feet inside of the water.
Every Saturday, Daddy changed out the water, and I appreciated him so much for it.
“Knock, knock.” Mommy stuck her head outside and said, “Munchkin, you have a guest.”
Frowning, I turned to face her and was confused by the googly eyes that stared back at me.
“Oh, God. It’s not Benny, is it?” I could feel my anger bubbling because I just got to a calm place and would probably murder him if he showed up to my parents’ house unannounced.
“Chile, no. You know damn well if that boy showed his face around here, your father would be on his way to prison.” She scoffed. “It’s Kairo Moore.”
My eyes bucked at hearinghisname leave my mother’s lips.
What was he doing here? We all watched the video together, so he couldn’t be here with a change of mind. I gulped and looked around my garden.
There was nowhere to hide, and it would be rude to leave him outside or have my parents send him on his way.
“Does he look angry, Mommy? Do you think he’s here to finish what Camille started? I?—”
“Munchkin, calm down. He is calm, smiling, and extremely relaxed. I’ll send him back here and bring you two some strawberry lemonade.”
“Mommy—” I hissed when she smiled and walked back into the house.
I sighed and prepared for Kairo Moore, a man I’d had no interactions with before today, to enter my safe space.
Climbing out of my fountain, I moved over to the gazebo. Our backyard had a little oasis for everyone, and the gazebo was mymother’s. My father had a little he-shed that was a man cave, but many times, Mommy would be inside with him. Their cuteness was nauseating.
Just as my butt hit the seat, I heard the patio door slide open.
