Page 93 of Lyric Squared

“From that head of hers,” Laike interrupted.

With a shake of my head, I decided against responding to either of them. I didn’t have the words, anyway. Luca’s eyes caught my attention instead. They pierced right through me, concern scribbled in the round, brown circles. Lifting a thumb, I assured him that I was fine. With a nod, he accepted myresponse to his non-verbal communication before digging into his plate.

My phone vibrated between my legs, scaring me half to death as I piled the salad onto my plate. Though there was a rule prohibiting phones from the table, I always kept mine near. Once I was satisfied with my proportion of salad, I unlocked my cell with my passcode being that I couldn’t lift it to my face for facial recognition. I’d be caught red-handed.

The black heart that rested beside the word Babe hiked my heart rate. The vessel drummed against my chest as I struggled to release the stream of air necessary for the continuance of life.

Tighten up.

My eyes found his a half-second after reading the simple instruction. With a nod, I agreed. The gray bubble formed as his eyes fell from mine and down toward his cell. I waited with bated breath as he began typing again.

Tonight is the perfect night,he suggested.

Beads of sweat formed underneath the layers of clothing I wore. I could feel the moistness of my skin as I perspired, my pores opening and allowing sweat to surface.

Two weeks,I responded, swiftly.

The last thing I wanted was Keanu getting any ideas. I at least had that left. He’d given me the time, and I wanted to reserve every second of it.

Two weeks, he replied.

Sighing in relief, I finally picked up my fork and dug into my salad. From across the table, his lips turned upward into a smile – one that hardly concealed the disappointment that radiated from his bones. And, just a bit more, I shrunk at the thought letting him down again. Before I was able to get too caught up in my feelings, I heard the screeching of Ever’s chair as she slid back and stood.

“Where are you going?” Luca asked, standing, too.

The pair was in sync, so much so that it was hilarious. I wasn’t even sure if they noticed, but they’d truly become one. My brother was head over heels for the dirty blonde bombshell and I couldn’t blame him. Hell, I was in love with her too and had been for the last decade. She was addictive, her and that angelic spirit of hers. One couldn’t help but grow attached.

“Remember that thing,” she said, lowly.

Nodding, Luca seemed to have quickly been reminded of whatever she was referring to. He tossed his dinner napkin on the table and followed behind her. The two disappeared around the corner in seconds, leaving my mother with a smile on her face and my father shaking his head.

“He just can’t stay off the poor girl. Her little body won’t ever catch a break.” My father huffed.

“Did you forget that we have three children, all two years apart? Meaning, that there was only about a year in between all three of my pregnancies? 34. 36. 38.”

“I haven’t forgotten. I made them,” he sassed.

“Then, act like you know,” my mother responded, “and get ready to see her with a few more swollen bellies because your son made it clear from a very early age that he wanted a family twice our size.”

“Yeah. I remember that, too.”

“Him and Lyric are our only hope, anyway.”

“Y’all not going to start talking about me like I’m not at the table,” Laike interjected, munching on the stuffed salmon that was almost completely gone.

“Well, it’s true.”

“For all of y’all’s information, my time is coming, too. All these kids and all this love got me feeling a way. Even Lyric done settled for a lame. So, maybe I’m y’all’s only hope.”

Everyone at the table burst into laughter. It seemed as if Laike had consumed too many of Luca’s bar contents. Keanu’sface was unchanging. Hearing Laike refer to Collin wasn’t exactly funny to him, especially not when it was actually him whom I’d settled with.

“This nigga,” he spoked, shaking his head.

“Oh, son, you’re right behind him. I ain’t getting shit out of you, either. Birds of a feather flock together,” my father tittered.

“I’m well on my way, old man,” Keanu stated as a matter of fact.

My mother’s eyes found mine quickly. I closed mine, immediately, praying to God that Keanu didn’t continue. He, too, had been drinking whatever Luca was feeding their bellies before we all sat down to eat.