“Lila’s stepped up already to help out with the girls until we can find a replacement, but she won’t be back in town for a couple of days. I need someone to pick them up from school today and watch them for a couple of hours until I’m done with this photo shoot.”
“I gottem’,” Byron said without thought. “They’re off at twelve-thirty today, right? Early day?”
“Yeah, I dropped them off and Ali was insisting she could pick them up but—”
“No, way,” Byron said before his already relieved sounding brother could finish. “Tell her I got this.”
They discussed a few more details about the girls, and Beast’s schedule for the rest of the day before he got off the phone. Exhaling loudly once off the phone, Byron wondered if it’d be too weird for him to ask Vannah to come with him to pick up the girls at school. They could all go grab something to eat together after. It was either that or cancel their lunch date which had him groaning already. No telling when they’d both be free to meet up again. Especially since her family had pretty much confirmed they’d for sure be in town all weekend.
Glancing at the clock, Byron bit the bullet and called her. It was still a couple of hours before their scheduled meetup. He could at least not cancel last minute if in fact she passed on hanging out with him and his nieces. He knew his Little’s would be full of questions for him after, but he’d be willing to comply if it meant seeing Vannah again.
“Hi,” she answered cheerfully and that alone had Byron smiling immediately.
“Hey, how we doing?”
“Oh, my gosh,” she huffed. “I’m rushing around as usual.”
“Busy, busy, huh?”
“Yes, my family will be here soon and I’m trying to get a few things done before they get here.”
“Ah, so they’re finally making it out.” He frowned in disappointment because he knew what that meant, it’d be even longer until he’d see her again. “No cancelling this time?”
“No. They’re on their way as we speak. Should be here around lunchtime.”
“Speaking of.” Byron cleared his throat a little nervous about suggesting she hang with him and his nieces on this only their second date. “My brother needs me to pick up his girls from school today. Their sitter’s come down with something and they get off early today—half past noon.”
He left it at that for a moment to get her reaction since that’s when they were supposed to meet. She was quiet for a moment before responding. “Oh well, it’s probably for the best. My dad was kind of disappointed about me blowing him off for lunch today. My other siblings are doing their own thing for lunch, so it would’ve been just me and my parents. I lied and said I had a class I couldn’t get out of, so I could see you and then meet up with all of them later.”
“Uh . . .” This was not what the response he was going for, damn it. “I—”
“It sucks that our plans keep getting put off. But after this weekend my schedule should go back to normal.”
Before Byron could respond that he did not want to wait until after the weekend to see her—regardless of sounding pushy or a little too anxious—Vannah added something else that surprised him.
“I miss you.”
It’d been less than a week since he’d last been with her and he’d worried he was getting way ahead of himself by missing her lips, her touch, that bright smile and laugh so much. Hearing her say she missed him, and as genuinely as it sounded had him smiling again.
“I miss you too.” These were not friends-only admissions and it had him smiling even bigger now. “I’m not waiting until next week to see you again, Vannah. You gotta squeeze me in your schedule sometime this weekend.”
Hearing her laugh softy relieved him to no end. As much as he’d attempted to bring it down a notch and make that last request sound playful, he knew it was bordering on the demanding.
“Today and tonight will be out of the question. My dad was pretty adamant that I meet up with them as early as possible. So, since our plans have changed, I can acquiesce him now. He’ll be happy about that. But the one thing I had agreed to do since yesterday was the show in Hollywood, he bought tickets for tonight. Not sure how late we’ll be out, and I didn’t ask about their accommodations, so I have no idea who’ll be coming home with me to my dorm tonight. But I don’t think they have any solid plans for tomorrow. I can figure some way of sneaking away I’m sure.”
Byron cursed himself for not having had the balls to just invite her to lunch with his nieces to begin with. He only had himself to blame for giving her an out. But at least the conversation had taken a turn. Despite their amazing time on the beach last week, all week he’d been careful to not sound too pushy—too needy—too much like already he wanted more than the just-friends relationship, she’d made all too clear is the most she was willing to do. Even his associates and more-than-friends crap, had obviously been an avoided topic all week.
She’d made the first move by admitting she missed him. That couldn’t be something she said to all her friends, right? And as busy as she’d been all week, when else could she have had time to sneak in anything with anyone else? Despite the all day-long texts, phone calls, and video chatting they’d done this past week, she’d pointed out she was doing it on her very limited down time. So, like Byron was doing with her, any available time she had from her busy life, clearly, he’d been her priority as well. Including every night they’d spent talking until lights out.
Ever since their night at the beach, Byron hadn’t so much as considered calling back or even returning any texts from any other girls who’d reached out that week. As much as he was trying to not just make assumptions, it had to be a given that Vannah wasn’t making time for anyone else either, right?
After regrettably confirming he wouldn’t be seeing Vannah again today either, since she had plans with her family all day and night, they were off the phone. But she did promise to try and work something out so they might get together tomorrow.
With a busy morning at the shop, the time to pick up the girls came around before Byron knew it. He washed up and headed out to their school pondering on where he’d take them to lunch. The last couple of times had been Olive Garden and it was getting old. He knew they liked Mexican and decided King Taco it was. Their street tacos were the perfect size for his two Littles. He’d taken them there before and they liked it. Though, like a lot of things they were complete opposites when it came to how they liked their tacos.
You’d think Elsa who was the oldest would be the bravest, and more willing to try new stuff. But she always asked for her tacos plain. Lucy, on the other hand, liked hers with plenty of cilantro, onions, and green sauce. It always made Byron chuckle when he’d watch her eat tortilla chips. She’d dip each one into hot salsa, and after taking a bite, she’d suck air into her puckered little lips, because it was so spicy. Then dip it right back in for more.
Lucy and Byron were at the salsa bar at the busy taco place, while Elsa saved them a booth a few feet away. “I want some of that.” Lucy pointed at the bowl with the pickled carrots and jalapeños.
“The jalapeño escabeche?”
Calling it by its real name had Byron pressing his lips together and breathing in deep. His mother was the only one who ever used the proper name for it. Everyone else he knew just referred to it as his first thought, pickled carrots, and jalapeños. Shaking off any more thoughts of his mother, he glanced back at his niece’s big eyes as she nodded.
“That’s some spicy stuff, mamas. You sure?”
“I’ve had it befoh,” she said wide eyed. “I like it.”
Never being one to say no to either of his girls, Byron reached over for a container and grabbed a little of the stuff for her, since it was out of her reach. Glancing around for a bigger lid since the container for this stuff was bigger than the smaller ones for the salsas, he did a double take when something caught his eye. There was a couple headed out of the restaurant hand in hand. For a moment there, he thought it might
be Vannah and was hit with a lightening like bolt of heat instantly, but it wasn’t her.
It couldn’t be.
“Uncle, B?” Byron turned to Elsa who was holding up the receipt for their food. “They’re calling our number.”
Pulled out of his thoughts about the couple walking out, Byron and Lucy walked over to Elsa. He motioned for Lucy to take a seat by her sister and took the receipt from Elsa. “I’ll be right back.”
He rushed over to the counter where the lady had his tray ready. When he turned back toward the booth where the girls were, he glanced out into the parking lot. Once again, he did a double take and froze.
“No fucking way,” he muttered under his breath feeling his insides ignite as he watched Vannah peck the guy on the lips and smile big before getting into the passenger side of a small sedan.
There was no mistaking that smile. It was her alright. Swallowing hard, Byron watched as the guy walked around his car, got into the driver side then proceeded to lean into Vannah for an even longer kiss.
Despite his insides detonating, Byron remembered his nieces, and he turned back to them. They were both staring at him in question as he stood there in place where he’d frozen, so he started toward them again. If it weren’t for them, he knew damn well he’d already be out in the parking lot very much causing a scene.
Once he put down the tray on the table in front of his nieces, his attention was on the parking lot again. It wasn’t until the car drove right by the window they sat at, and Vannah turned in the direction of the restaurant that he realized his delusional ass was still holding out hope it wasn’t her.
But it was.
Their eyes didn’t meet, and he was pretty sure she hadn’t even seen him, but he’d seen her face full on. There was no question about it. It was her. What’s more, she was laughing now. While he couldn’t hear it, there was no mistaking that infuriatingly beautiful twinkle in her eyes when she laughed so heartedly.
“Is that someone you know?”
Byron glanced down at Elsa who was looking out the window as the car Vannah was in drove out of the parking lot. Lucy’s sudden reaction to biting into one of the pickled carrots distracted them both as they watched her suck the straw of her horchata.
“I told you it was hot, baby girl.”
“But it’s still good,” she said after guzzling down half her drink.
Elsa crinkled her nose. “Spicy food hurts my belly.” She sprinkled a little salt onto her plain taco and proceeded to elaborate on all the other foods that hurt her belly.
Thankful for his niece’s short attention span, Byron had dodged the question about Vannah. But his insides were still ablaze. Was he really that delusional to think she’d felt for him what he was already feeling for her after just one week? Was she really that good about making more than one guy feel they were special?
In the past he’d always made it a point to give his nieces his undivided attention whenever he was on Uncle B duty. Rarely did he answer calls or respond to texts when he was with them, unless he knew it was absolutely necessary. But instinct had him pulling his phone out of his pocket the moment he took a seat in the booth across from Elsa and Lucy.
No way would he be having the conversation he knew would be laced with F bombs right in front of them, but he needed answers. Only despite the incredible connection he thought they’d made this past week; he wasn’t entirely sure suddenly he was entitled to any. Yes, they’d had one unbelievably romantic evening together. Yes, his gut had screamed Vannah had to be feeling everything he was after their day-long texts and nightly video chats they had that entire week. There was no way she was that good of an actress. He’d seen it in her eyes, heard it in her voice and felt it in her touch and kisses on Monday. Yes, she’d sounded hands down genuine when she said she missed him. But she’d also made it abundantly clear she didn’t do the boyfriend thing. She’d been upfront and honest about it from day one and followed up by reiterating that fact in one subtle way or another even as they’d made out and throughout the week.
As much as Byron attempted to keep up with his niece’s endless questions on everything from food ingredients, astronomy and even farm animals, his thoughts kept wandering off. But he was thankful for the minor distraction to his infuriating thoughts. It was because of them that he hadn’t already fired off all the scathing texts he kept rewording and then deleting.
There was no shortage of his nieces waving their little hands in front of him, giggling as they tried to get his attention because it was such a struggle to stay focused on them. His mind kept rewinding this past week and all the times Vannah’s family’s pending arrival had derailed any plans to get together. By his sixth or seventh deleted text he decided he should just wait. Not only did he owe it to his two Littles to give them his undivided attention, but he also needed time to think this through.
What did Vannah owe him? Nothing. Right? Just like he still didn’t owe her anything either. Even though he hadn’t so much as considered hooking up or even responding to anyone else’s calls or texts since his first taste of those lips, would she protest if he had? Clearly, she was doing so. It’s not like she even thought she might need to do it on the downlow. His shop was right down the street from King Taco for fucks sake. He’d even mentioned to her more than once how often he and the guys at the shop went there. Though he’d been vague when the guys had questioned the girl who brought him food the day she did, they’d gotten a good look at her. They’d watched him walk out hand in hand with her, and even teased him about looking dazed when he’d walked back in after she left. Surely, they’d mention to him if they saw her out with another dude. Even if they thought it wouldn’t matter. Apparently, she wasn’t worried about any of that.
“You didn’t like your sopes, Uncle B?”
Byron glanced down at his still full plate because of Elsa’s comment. Lucy was looking at the food he’d barely touched as well.
“You always finish way before me and I’m almost done,” Elsa added.
“Yo not sick ah you, Uncle B?” Lucy asked looking concerned. “Mommy says she always knows when we’uh getting sick because we stop eating.”
Byron shook his head even though he sure as fuck was feeling sick to his stomach. “I’d already eaten when your dad asked me to pick you guys up—” He lied. “—I don’t even know why I ordered anything for myself. But . . .” He stood up wanting nothing more than to distract from his obvious sudden lack of appetite. “No harm done. I’ll just take it home and eat it later. Be right back.”
His phone dinged just as he stepped up to ask for a box at the counter. His insides were back to boiling again the moment he saw who the text was from. She was texting him while she was hanging out with that other dude? Curiously, he clicked on the text message as he headed back to the booth with the box he was handed.
Thankfully, the girls were eager to box up his food for him and he took the moment to read the text.
Well, no surprise today and tonight are out. I’ll be with my family all day and night. =( But tomorrow I can squeeze in some time with you in the day or the evening if the afternoon is too early for you.
As if he wasn’t already feeling completely disgusted with her, this was even more infuriating. Squeeze in some time for him? She may’ve pulled the rug out from under his dumb ass, but he’d die before he’d let on just how fast this little girl had nearly brought him to his knees. Without further thought, he hit reply and started tapping at his screen.
Nah, I’m good. I made plans with another friend. In fact, any plans with her always turn into an over-night thing. So, I’m covered for the rest of the weekend. Enjoy your family time.
He read it back once and sent it before he added any obscenities like the ones he was so tempted to. It was immature and he knew it but hey, if she had those kinds of friends, so could he, right?
Squeezing his phone a little tighter as the visuals of her with that dude continued to assault him, he was once again, grateful for his two ni
eces. If it weren’t for them, he would’ve already hit the call button and called Vannah out on her blatant bullshit. But he knew he’d get loud and ugly and he wasn’t about to do that in front of his sweet Littles.
He needed to hold it together. In all reality, even though Vannah was a girl whose connection he’d too suddenly felt so much more profound than with anyone else he’d ever met, she was still just another chick he’d only known for a week. So, what if his delusional ass had sorely misconstrued every one of their conversations this week, day and night being deeper than they’d really been? So, what if he’d never texted a girl and hung on her every response all fucking day and night, like a twelve-year-old for a straight week? He knew better now. He was just another one of her friends, like the ones she’d had no qualms about admitting she had and sashayed around with so openly. Only question now was why the fuck would she lie about it? If she really felt like she owed him nothing, why not just admit she’d so easily found a replacement for their cancelled lunch date?
Managing to get through his time with his nieces he got them home to their mother Ali who was now peering at him strangely as she lay on the sofa across from him. “Everything okay with you?”
It was the second time she’d asked something similar because like with the girls earlier, he’d lost focus of what they were talking about—more than once—in the short time he’d been there.
He kept fidgeting with his phone looking down at it often. Curiously, it’d remained silent since he’d sent that last text to Vannah.
“Yeah, yeah,” he said nodding and trying to play it off sticking his phone back in his pocket. “I just have a couple of big projects going on at work that my mind keeps wandering too.”
There was no way he was sharing about the girl he’d been obsessing over for weeks. A girl he’d kissed then made out with one time, kept him glued to his phone all week and now he was on the verge of a raging jealous fit. He was almost afraid of what he’d do once he was free to roar in the privacy of his own car or apartment.
Not Even Close (A New Generation) Page 12