32. Another Day, Another Daughter 👯

This was the second time that I fell asleep in A.B.'s bed. Technically, it's my bed, but... yeah. According to the alarm clock, it was 6:30 a.m. I picked it up to make sure it wasn't broken. I definitely went to bed early to wake up at this time. I pushed the cover off of my body and went to the bathroom. Soon after, I made my way to the kitchen.

I quickly slowed my pace when I saw A.B. asleep on the couch. He looked so at peace.

"Good morning, Jamie."

I jumped out of my skin, my shadow, and my existence. "Sir!" I loudly exhaled. "Thought you were sleeping."

A.B. chuckled, "It's hard to sleep on this couch." He pointed at his legs that were hanging off the arm of the sofa.

I grew concerned. "What time do you have to be at work?"

His eyes were still closed. "My uncle called me last night and told me to take the day off."

Yep. Now, I feel even worse. "A.B., you can have the bed. I slept like a newborn."

"Only if you mean it."

I playfully rolled my eyes. "I mean it."

A.B. nearly leaped off the couch. His eyes were barely open, but he was looking at me. "How do you feel though? Do you feel better?" He stood in front of me.

"Yeah." Crazy enough, I actually do feel better.

He gave me a hug. "I hope you feel a lot better."

Without thinking, I hugged him back. "Thank you, A.B." His body was warm, and I could never get tired of his scent.

He released me. "I might be sleep for the next three hours, but wake me up if you need anything. Okay?"

I wanted to ask could I get another hug.

Instead I said, "I am not waking you up. Go get some rest."

A.B. went to the bedroom, closing the door.

He could've left the door open. It's not like I'm going to watch him sleep. I shook my head.

I went to the kitchen to make some breakfast - milk and cereal. I saw my bags by the coffee table, and I grabbed my purse. I opened it to retrieve my phone. It had a low battery. After putting it on the charger, I checked four missed calls and texts. You guessed it - Monica. I finished eating my bowl of cereal before calling my cousin. Her phone went straight to voicemail.

"Ugh, Monica..." I whispered.

I sent her a text to call me in all caps and exclamation points. Before I could put my phone down, she called me back.

A satisfyi smile appeared on my face. I waited until the third vibrate to answer. "Good morning, Monica." My voice was light and nonthreatening.

"I don't want to hear all that. Why are you sending me emergency texts at 7 o'clock in the morning?"

"Because it's an emergency." I told her everything about my song situation.

"I was just jamming to that song the other day! When are going back to California?"

"Tomorrow."

Monica clapped her hands to every word. "I'm going with you."

While A.B. slept, I took my bag to the bathroom and took a shower. When I was all freshened up, I walked out the bathroom to see that A.B. was still sleeping. Now, I wish he had to work today just so he would be up. I left the bedroom, closing the door.

Back in the living room, I decided to get on my phone and play a game. That lasted all of three seconds when the music blasted from the game. I quickly closed it and looked at the bedroom door. I don't like having to be so quiet. I decided to go outside to get some fresh air.

As soon as I walked outside, I heard "Girl, where you been hiding?"

Her voice made me smile. I haven't seen my neighbor in weeks. I waved at her. "Hey, Paulette! How you been?"

She threw her hand in the air. "Girl, same ol' same ol'. Just taking it day-by-day. You know I was wondering who is that handsome man that's been in there." She arched her brow at me as her eyes shifted to my apartment door.

I hesitated. "Who?" I headed toward the stairs.

Paulette put her hands on her hips. "I wasn't born yesterday. I'm older than your mama's mama."

I chuckled, "Paulette, you gotta be more specific."

"You know that man in your apartment." She pointed at me.

I took a few steps down the stairs. "Oh, that's my friend. He's like family."

"Family. Friend. Boyfriend. Girl, you better not play with that. I saw him carrying a Bible. He saved. He ain't like them bad boys, up to no good and whatnot."

I nodded my head. "I know. I gotta go, though. It was good to see you, Paulette."

She waved at me as I continued walking down the stairs. I didn't plan on walking, but talking to my neighbor was definitely not the plan. As I was making my way down the sidewalk, my thoughts made it the perfect time to bother me.

What are you going to do when you get to California?

What are you going to say when you see Zeke?

What if Zack is the thief who gave your song to Aja Frost?

You can't trust anyone in Hollywood! You should've just stayed in the background like a songwriter.

Actually, if you would've stayed in East Grove, you could date A.B.

I loudly huffed, "Argh!" I made eye contact with an old man who probably thought I was crazy. I forgot I was outside where all the neighbors of this small complex can see me. I politely smiled at him before looking straight head as I continued to walk. On another note, it was nice to get some exercise.

Upon my return to my apartment, I saw A.B jogging down the stairs. Our eyes instantly met. Why am I looking at all the men today? A.B. smiled at me, and I smiled back. We met face-to-face.

"I was about to go looking for you. You left your phone." A.B. handed it to me.

"Thank you. I thought I had it with me." I put it in my jean's pocket. "How did you sleep?"

"A lot better," A.B. stated, "Now, I'm starving."

I chuckled, "I had a bowl of cereal, but I could definitely eat some real food."

A.B. told me he knew the perfect place. After we loaded my luggage into his uncle's truck, we got on the road. We ended up talking about how much fun we had yesterday. I really wish we could've stayed longer. After a while, I started to notice the direction A.B. was taking.

"Umm... what restaurant are we going to?" I inquired. Suddenly, we were in my old neighborhood. "Oh, this is smart. We're gonna drop off my stuff first."

A.B. remained quiet.

I glanced over at him to see him smiling, cheesing, honestly. I narrowed my eyes at him as he parked his truck in my parent's driveway. We got out the car before he carried my bags to the front door. It was wide open.

I paused. "Daddy? Mama?" I called out.

Monica popped up like a clown. "Cousin!"

"What are you doing here with this door all open?" I stepped inside.

"Your daddy burned the toast. So, I was trying to get the burnt smell out."

"Hey, A.B.!"

"Monica, it's good to see you."

They greeted one another.

I went in the kitchen to see my parents in front of the stove, cooking breakfast together. They both looked at me and abandoned the food to welcome me back home.

"How was Yellow Sand Beach?" My mom asked me.

"It was fun," I answered.

My stepdad shook A.B.'s hand. "Jace, my wife told me all about you. Good to meet you, Son. Y'all can sit down in the living room. Food is almost ready."

Monica linked her arm with mine. "Let's talk!" She pulled me out of the kitchen and down the hall to my bedroom.

"Tell me everything that happened. I want to see pictures, too." Monica sat on my bed.

I stood in front of her and folded my arms. Then, I felt someone behind me. I looked to see A.B. holding my bags. "Thank you, A.B." I took my bags and threw them on the side of my bed.

"You're welcome! Sorry, I didn't tell you we were coming here. Your mom text me last night, asking if we were coming back. I told her you had fell asleep and that we were at your apartment. That's when she asked if I would bring you back in the morning so we could all have breakfast," A.B. explained.

Monica said, "A.B., you are officially a part of the family. Come sit." She patted a spot beside her on my bed.

This is getting weird. Just the thought of Monica treating A.B. like she treats me was enough to make me ask, "Monica, what happened to your--"

A.B. interrupted me. "Not to cut you off Jamie, and thank you Monica for claiming me as part of the family, but I'm going to talk some more with your parents." He touched my arm.

"Oh, okay." I watched him walk out of my bedroom and closed the door.

"Tell me politely to shut up. Okay, A.B. I see you!" Monica clapped her hands.

I looked at her with my eyes wide and my lips tight.

Monica took a deep breath. "Please tell me y'all kissed."

"No!"

"So, y'all did?"

I rolled my eyes. "We didn't kiss. We did hug. I saw his muscles. He is so fit." I was just as bad as Monica.

She pulled me on the bed, next to her. "Show me pictures." I pulled out my phone to show her.

As she swiped through them, she said, "Y'all look like a couple. You know he likes you, right?"

I shrugged.

"Do you like him?" Monica asked me.

I thought to myself.

"Food's ready!" I heard my mom shout.

I quickly got up and left my room with my cousin close behind.

From the kitchen to the living room, the setup was pretty obvious. There were three plates at the kitchen table and two plates at the small living room table. It was normally covered with decorations as it occupied one of the four corners of the room.

"Why I can't eat in the living room?" Monica asked my mom.

"How many chairs can fit at the table?" My mom asked her.

Monica took her place at the kitchen table with my parents.

"Y'all ain't slick," I gritted my teeth as I pointed at my stepdad and mom.

"Girl, go in there and keep Jace company." My mom shooed me out the kitchen.

I joined A.B. at the small two-seater table.

"I apologize for my family." I sat down.

A.B. held his hands out to me. "No need. Let's pray."

I joined hands with A.B. as he prayed over the food. Afterward, we said in unison, "Amen."

"I like your family. They remind me of my family."

"You got a nosey cousin, too?" I asked him as I began to eat a plate of grits, scrambled eggs, ham, bacon, toast, and chopped potatoes with orange juice.

A.B. smiled, "I do."

Lord, help him! A replica of Monica is a lot to handle. That's probably why A.B. was able to navigate around Monica.

A.B. ended up spending the late afternoon with my family. Yes, they pulled out the baby pictures and the high school pictures that nobody asked to see. A.B. kept saying how pretty I looked and that I still looked the same. I was trying not to blush, but then Monica had to point it out.

After A.B. left, Monica and I talked about our flight for tomorrow. I was glad that she could go with me. For a destination like the one to come, I was going to need all the support I could get. Even though I was going back to California for a career that I've always dreamed of having, part of me wanted to stay in East Grove.

"Are y'all ready for tomorrow?" My mom asked as she stuck her head in my bedroom door.

"Yes, Auntie," Monica replied.

"Alright. Well, y'all get some sleep. Love you both! Goodnight!" She headed to her bedroom.

"Love you! Goodnight!" We told her.

Monica yawned, "Goodnight, cousin." She rolled over on the left side of my bed.

I eventually closed my eyes to dream about my life in East Grove.