Page 24 of Keyoni & Sage
Or at least, the part I saw.
“Kaiser,” Keyoni called out. “Look who’s here.”
Although he barely acknowledged me, it didn’t stop me from doing what I came to do. I looked him over with a visual assessment, relaying my findings to Keyoni. “He looks okay, but I’m sure you’re well aware that looks can be deceiving.”
“You ain’t gotta tell me,” he cosigned, leaning against the wall. “I know.”
Something about his words told me we weren’t talking about the same thing. I let it go though, since I was there for Kaiser and not to figure out Officer Keyoni Green.
I retrieved my bag from the living room, returning to Kaiser with an apology as I prepared the syringe for his vitamin K injection.
“I’m sorry, buddy.” I patted his head before lifting his coat, sticking the needle through his skin. I released the medication quickly. When the syringe was empty, I pulled it out and rubbed the spot. He turned his head in time to see my mouth move to say, “All done.” My attention shifted to Keyoni. “Has his appetite picked up?”
“Yeah, a lil bit.”
I nodded. “That’s good. As long as it’s increasing, we should be okay.”
“We?”
“Y’all,” I corrected, but the way he looked at me made me feel uncomfortable. I lifted from the floor, changing the subject. “Is dinner ready?”
He laughed. “You said you were here to work. Not to eat, remember?”
My tongue danced at the corner of my mouth. “Yeah, well…I worked up an appetite tending to Kaiser.” I couldn’t keep a straight face at the blank stare that followed.
“You barely did anything.” The intensity in his eyes softened. “But a lot at the same time. I appreciate it. Thank you for coming.”
My mind went straight to the gutter.
I didn’t cum yet.
“Don’t thank me.” I looked him over, smirking when I stopped at his face. “I bill by the hour.”
“Might as well get my money’s worth.” Keyoni looked at his watch. “I still got forty-three minutes left.” His lips parted into a smile. “Let’s eat.”
I couldn’t stop staringat Keturah’s nails. They were at least an inch long and bedazzled.
“It’s time for a fill-in,” she noted. “But I gotta wait until I’m back with my mom.”
“Why?” I asked curiously.
“Because I ain’t paying for it,” Keyoni chimed in. “She’s thirteen. She don’t need all that.” He pushed his plate away. “But her momma lets her do what she wants.”
I found that hard to believe. Jami didn’t seem like that type.
“No she lets me be me and express myself the way I want,” Keturah corrected.
“Expressing yourself has nothing to do with those long ass nails. Nobody needs nails that long?—”
“Ms. Sage got long nails.” My hands went under the table. I wasn’t in it. “And she’s a doctor.”
I felt his gaze penetrate the side of my face. I refused to look his way.
“She’s also a grown woman who doesn’t depend on her parents to pay for everything. There’s a difference.”
Keturah groaned. “My dad doesn’t appreciate my freedom of autonomy.”
I laughed. Keturah was serious.
