Page 59 of Where We Found Our Home
“Hmm okay. Well let’s go then.”
“Let’s go what?”
“Shower.”
My dick is immediately at attention. “Angel, you’re gonna make us late.”
She gives me her most innocent shrug, and let me tell you, it’s not innocent at all. “Nonsense. I’m just trying to save water. Besides, shower sex is highly overrated. I don’t want to fall on my ass. No funny business. I promise we won’t be late.”
We are most definitely late. Fun fact, shower sex is not at all overrated.
“Okay, so I lied. But say that wasn’t fun.” I can feel her smile burning the side of my face. “Plus, it’s your fault I had to get dressed twice, I’ll remind you.” Ciara walked out to the living room wearing an off the shoulder yellow dress that hugged to all of her curves perfectly and then flared out at the bottom with a slit on the side to showcase her toned thigh. I yanked the dress right back off of her for another round, and now we are really, really late. I’m trying to find a fuck to give about that, but I can’t find it anywhere.
Ciara doesn’t ask questions as we drive to our destination. She just sits back and enjoys, intertwining her fingers with mine. We pull up to Sasha’s shop and I wait for her reaction. “We’re going to Sasha’s for our date?” She doesn’t seem disappointed by that fact at all. In fact she seems sort of excited and that just makes me love her more.
“No, we just need to make a quick stop here first.” I bring her knuckles to my lips for a kiss and escort her out.
We walk in and I watch Ciara’s jaw drop to the floor. Before she can even register what’s happening, she’s being wrapped in a hug by her favorite people in the world—her mom, Brittany, Sarah, and Simone. She turns to me but she’s still speechless.
“You…you did this?” She seems to be warring with her emotions. She looks like she wants to kiss me and kill me at the same time.
“Yeah, lover boy and your new bestie, who we’ve now claimed as our new bestie, called us and arranged everything,” Simone answers, giving credit to Sasha and me. I’m too caught up in Ciara’s eyes to answer further. She steps into my space, grabs my face, and kisses me hard and deep. I guess kissing won out.
“Thank you,” she mouths. I nod and spin her back toward her friends. She hugs her mom extra tight then picks up Nevaeh and gives her a huge squeeze before hugging Sasha and Nina.
Isaiah walks in at that moment. “Hello ladies, your second chariot has arrived.” He and I are driving everyone to dinner tonight. Isaiah makes eye contact with Nina, but she looks away and walks out with Simone.
Ciara, Ms. Angela, Brittany, and Nina ride with me. Sarah, Simone, Nevaeh, and Sasha ride with Isaiah. Ciara holds my hand the whole way to the restaurant, and she and Nina tell her mom and Brittany all about Texas life. I make eye contact with Ms. Angela in the backseat and she winks at me.
Our party commandeers a corner of the Tex-Mex restaurant we’re in. There are fajitas, nachos, and chili con carne everywhere. Nevaeh has made a complete mess on herself but she doesn’t care. She’s too busy focusing on the conversation to worry about the food actually getting into her mouth. “So you’ve been friends since you were ten?” Nevaeh asks. She is obsessed with Simone. She thinks she is the funniest person she’s ever met, and she’s trying to soak up every gem Simone unleashes.
“Yep! I kind of bullied Brittany into being my friend first, and then Sarah and Ciara wormed their way in there.”
“Ooooh, bullying is bad.” Nevaeh’s jaw drops. She looks like she’s been let in on a huge adult secret and she can’t get enough.
“Yeah, Simone. Bullying is bad,” Brittany admonishes.
Simone chuckles. “Bullying is very bad, but I had good intentions. Brittany was so quiet and shy. She was sitting all by herself and I didn’t want her to be lonely, so I made her sit with me. It was the best thing to ever happen to her.” She reaches over and pulls Brittany in for a side hug, laying a big kiss on her cheek, and Brittany smiles.
“No, actually I think that was the kiss Grant Kimball planted on me in the sixth grade.”
“Not Grant Kimball!” Sarah shrieks. Ciara smiles but doesn’t add to the conversation. She’s been watching her family with love in her eyes all night. I’m so glad they’re here. I know she has me and my family, but she needs them.
The waitress delivers a drink to Ciara that she didn’t order. Her eyes fly around the restaurant only to go back to the waitress in confusion. The hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. The waitress explains that she thought it was Ciara’s birthday. Ciara thanks her and winks at me, but something doesn’t sit right with me. I ask her if I can try it. It’s tequila and pineapple juice which doesn’t interest me at all, but I want to see if it tastes and smells right. It seems fine, but I’m still on edge as Ciara’s mom stands up.
“I’d like to make a toast.” Ms. Angela raises her glass and everyone follows suit.
“To you, Lincoln. To Sasha, Nina, and Isaiah. And to you, little Ms. Nevaeh. Even though my daughter is over a thousand miles away, I feel like she’s finally come back to me. And I think I owe that to you all.” Ciara’s eyes water, and she squeezes my leg under the table.
“I second that, and I’d like to propose another toast. To Ciara. I knew the moment you walked into my coffee shop that we would be friends, and I could not be happier that you’re now not only my friend but my family too. I thank you for being a badass my daughter can look up to.” Nevaeh raises her finger, but Sasha cuts her off. “I’m not starting a swear jar, little girl.”
“Ciara,” Isaiah stands. I really didn’t think this was going to turn into a night of toasts, but I’m interested to hear what my brother has to say. “My brother was lost for a long time. You know why. You’re bringing the old Lincoln back to us, and for that I will forever be loyal to you. It’s an honor to know you.” Well, shit.
Everyone takes turns showing love to Ciara. Even Nevaeh jumps up to thank Ciara for being so cool and showing her how to play TV tag because it’s the one game she’s better at than Malcolm and Niecy.
Ciara is the last to speak. “This night was completely unexpected, but it’s exactly what my soul needed, and I’m so glad to be here with all of you. I don’t know what I did to deserve this or any of you, but I’m grateful.” She turns toward her mom, and Ms. Angela’s eyes immediately start watering. “Mom, you raised me to be this confident, fearless queen, and I allowed a monster to steal that away from me. Thank you for believing that the woman you raised was still in there somewhere.” Ms. Angela doesn’t speak, but she nods and taps her heart in gratitude. Ciara turns to look at Simone, Brittany, and Sarah. “Petty squad, we’ve been riding together for eighteen years now, and we’ll keep riding until the wheels fall off. I could not have asked for a better crew.” Simone lets out a loud “we love you, girl” while Brittany gasps out a sob and Sarah blows her a kiss. Ciara winks at them before turning to Sasha and Nevaeh. Nevaeh sits up taller in her chair, waiting for her praise. “Sasha and Nevaeh, thank you for seeing in me what I couldn’t see in myself. Without you, I would’ve faded away to nothing in this city.” Nevaeh beams at her compliment, the pride evident in her eyes. Sasha gently squeezes her shoulder, and Nevaeh flashes those bright teeth at her. Ciara chuckles and turns to Nina. “Nina, thank you for taking a chance on me. You inspire me to find that badass Sasha thinks I am again.” Nina waves her off, but you can see her eyes are glistening. Ciara turns to Isaiah, and he looks nervous. “Isaiah, thank you for being the brother I always wanted. Your loyalty means everything to me.” He nods at her with respect. She stops and turns to me, and the look she hits me with would knock me on my ass if I weren’t already sitting. “Lincoln, you are a dream I long thought impossible. Thank you for dragging me out of my darkness and into your light, and thank you for allowing me to carry your darkness too. I’ll treasure it the way you treasure me.” Knocked. On. My. Ass.
“Cheers!” Everyone raises their glasses. I join in, but my eyes never leave Ciara’s and hers never leave mine.
