He smiled down at me then leaned against the back of the shelf, pulling me with him. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve found everything I need.” His hands moved down to my hips, caressing them. “Just one kiss, pretty girl, then we can find your book and study.”
He lifted his hand to my neck, trailing his fingertips there and making me shiver.
I glanced around nervously, sure someone would discover us any minute.
His touch was too intoxicating not to give in.
I stood on the tips of my toes to reach him better and granted his request. No matter how many times I kissed him I couldn’t get enough of his yummy cinnamon lips.
He pulled back enough to smile at me and brush his thumb along the side of my face.
I trembled as always.
“I want you forever, baby,” he whispered to me, brushing my lips with his.
“Me too,” I whispered back.
I didn’t think it was possible, but he pulled me closer, even though our bodies were already glued together. So close that I could feel him poking against my belly. It felt good. He felt good.
The sweet cinnamon of his tongue slid against mine. I sighed breathlessly into his mouth, tingling from head to toe. Whenever he kissed me it was like the whole world ceased to exist. It was just me and him and this moment in time. Our own private universe that no one or nothing could infiltrate. Nothing at all.
“Kirby!”
I jumped in Keem’s arms and snatched away from him. A look to my left confirmed my worst fear. I’d hoped I’d imagined her voice. But no, Saige stood at the end of the aisle, an incredulous look on her face.
Heart racing, I eased out of Keem’s hold. “Saige…I…” I stammered to explain, but her eyes weren’t on me. Her expression had turned angry and she had it trained on Keem.
He looked between me and her and was the first to break the terrifying silence. “Hi,” he took a small step toward her. “I’m Haikeem.”
“I don’t care who you are, get away from my sister.”
“Excuse me,” he retracted the step he’d taken.
“You heard me, you creep, get the hell away from her.”
“Saige–” her glare cut me off.
“Kirby, get your things, we’re leaving.”
“But Saige–”
“Now, Kirby!”
The loudness of her voice made me jump. I glanced at Keem as tears filled my eyes and spilled over then went toward Saige.
Before I could get far, Keem grabbed my hand. “She doesn’t have to go anywhere with you.” He turned to me. “You don’t have to go, baby. You can make your own choice.”
Saige grabbed my other hand and snatched me toward her. “She is leaving, and you’ll be lucky if I don’t have you brought up on charges.”
“Charges!” Keem practically shouted. “Charges of what?”
“Whichever ones fit. You’re back here groping her and God knows what else she doesn’t have the mental capacity to consent to.”
Keem’s expression turned dark, almost scary. I’d never seen him look that way. “Fuck you, I’d never lay a hand on her without her consent. And she has the mental capacity to do a helluva lot more than you and Raina give her credit for.”
Saige narrowed her eyes at him. “You don’t know her. You don’t know–”
“About her Asperger’s? Think again. What I also know is that there’s a wide spectrum and despite whatever issues she may have, Kirby is very capable of cognitive thought. But I guess you wouldn’t know that since you’re so busy treating her like she’s five and trying to control every aspect of her life.”
“Whatever, I don’t have time for this. Kirby, come on.”
“Kirby.” Keem’s eyes searched mine.
I wanted to go to him, agree with all the things he’d said to Saige, but my voice was lodged in my throat and my body had frozen in place.
Saige dragged me behind her. Half way down the aisle, we were met by a security guard. He looked between Saige and I, then behind us where I could only guess Keem was. “I’m going to have to ask the three of you to leave. This is a library and you’re keeping up way too much noise.”
Keem’s voice made more tears well up and fall. “We apologize, sir. We were just having a little misunderstanding. We’ll take it elsewhere.”
Saige looked back at him, I’m sure still scowling.
The guard looked me over. “Is everything okay here?”
Keem responded again. “Yes sir.”
He narrowed his gaze at Keem, something in his eyes that I couldn’t quite place. “I was speaking to the young lady.”
I thought that he meant Saige until he focused his attention on me and closed almost all the space between us. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
I glanced over at Saige then dropped my gaze to my boots. I couldn’t look at Keem, even though I knew once Saige spilled the beans to Raina this would be the last time I’d see him.
I nodded for the officer and sniffled.
He stood there a little longer, not speaking but I could feel him looking at me. Finally, he stepped aside. “You two can go. And then you,” he said to Keem.
“I didn’t do anything.” I heard Keem say.
“Yeah, that’s what they all say,” the officer replied.
Their voices drifted away as Saige dragged me further and further down the aisle.
In the car she was silent, but I could see the steam coming off her. “You are in so much trouble.”
I sat ringing my hands together. I tried to prepare myself for Raina’s yelling, but nothing ever could. “But why?”
“Why?” she glanced from the street to me. “How about, I just caught you in a library with some man’s tongue down your throat.”
“Saige, Keem is nice.”
She scoffed. “Sure.” She shook her head. “Kirby, you don’t know the first thing about college guys, or men period. You don’t know how they are.”
“But he really is nice.”
“How old is he?”
I started to lie, but there was no point. She couldn’t possibly hate him anymore than she already did. “Twenty-one.”
She hit the brakes hard at a red light causing my back to slam into my seat. “Twenty-one,” she screeched. “Kirby, you are barely eighteen. You have no business with someone that much older.”
We started moving again and she shook her head. “I’m starting to see why Raina was so worried about you going to college. You weren’t ready.”
More tears welled in my eyes and I sobbed silently beside her.
~ ♥ ~
The silence was killing me. I’d tried repeatedly to explain things to Saige on the way home, but she refused to listen or even let me speak. Now we stood in front of Raina, waiting for her to say something. Her blank expression made me uneasy. Saige had long since explained the events at the library to her but she’d yet to speak. The only reprieve I felt was that at least her eyes were on Saige and not me.
Raina sat back against the sofa with her arms crossed. “What is it you want me to do about it, Saige? I’m too hard on her, remember?”
Saige’s face fell flat. My eyes ping ponged between the two. Saige glanced at me a quick second then refocused on our older sister. “Raina…”
“What?” She plucked a magazine from the end table and started to flip through it.
Something flashed across Saige’s face that I’d never witnessed before. She looked as helpless as I felt. She pushed out a hard breath mixed with a growl. “Fine. Kirby, go to your room until I figure out how to deal with this.”
I sulked off confused about what exactly she had to deal with. So, I had a boyfriend. Why was that such a problem? And why couldn’t they just let me be? I couldn’t believe the things she said to Keem, accused him of. I was mad at myself for not speaking up for him. I felt like a bad girlfriend, especially after all the times he’d been there for me. I should’ve defended him.
I flopped down on my bed with a huff.
I was even angrier with Saige. It wasn’t fair for her to judge him that way without knowing him or even giving him a chance. If she would just listen I could explain to her how amazing Keem was, all he’d done for me, how he understood me. But of course she never would. They never did.
The more I thought about it the more upset I became. I was so sick of being silenced and treated like a baby. Tired of them dictating every part of my life.
Heat rose in my chest and I sprang from my bed and marched back into the living room. Saige was beside Raina now, still trying to convince her to punish me in some way.
I stood in front of them both with my arms cross. “No more.”
They both jumped at the volume of my voice. I even scared myself a little.
Raina’s wide gaze raked over me. I could tell she was about to speak, but I cut her off.
“You two don’t get to decide what or who is good for me anymore! How am I ever supposed to learn with you trying to protect me from my own shadow? If I’m making a mistake, it’s mine to make. And Keem is not a mistake.”
“I guess she told ya’ll.”
All three of our heads whipped toward the door at once and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “Noelle?”
A big grin spread across her face. “In the flesh.”
I literally ran to her and threw myself into her arms. “Sissy!”
She hugged me back tight. “Hi, baby girl.”
I didn’t care if Raina and Saige wanted to hug her too, I wasn’t letting go. I just kept squeezing her to make sure she was real and crying into her shoulder. “You’re back.”
She rocked us back and forth. I could hear tears in her voice too. “Something in my spirit said you needed me.”
~ ♥ ~
Four sisters sat around the kitchen table, reunited at last. Even Raina was smiling as Noelle filled us in on her two years away. I didn’t miss that she conveniently left out the part about her husband.
“So,” she took my hand across the table. “Tell me about this Keem.”
I blushed despite myself. I didn’t mind at all speaking with Noelle about my love life because I knew she’d be happy for me. However, Saige and Raina sitting at each end of the table made me nervous. Surprisingly, both were silent.
I kept my gaze away from them though as I chewed my bottom lip. “Haikeem is amazing. He’s sweet, and funny, thoughtful. And he understands me. He likes me even though I’m all messed up.”
Noelle kissed her teeth long and hard. “Ain’t nothing messed up about you, baby girl. But I’m glad you found someone who understands you. We all need that.”
I nodded, smiling again. “He has a sister like me.”
I saw Saige lean forward from the corner of my eye. “He does?”
I glanced at her but only briefly. “Not like me exactly. She’s Autistic, high functioning. And she’s really nice. Keem is always there for her, and for me too. He understands.”
Taking a chance, I looked at Saige.
Her attention was on Raina who was still silent. “How do you feel about this? Don’t you have anything to say?”
Raina sighed. “I don’t...like it, but it might be…fair to at least…” each of her words seemed like a struggle, “meet this guy before passing judgement.”
All eyes went to her. Noelle narrowed hers. “Who are you and what have you done with my controlling, judgmental, and irrational older sister.”
Rai rolled her eyes. “My…therapist suggests I think things through before reacting, and that I should work on my…anger issues.”
Again, we all gaped at her, but Saige spoke up. “You’re seeing a therapist?”
“Yes, and it’s not a big deal, so drop it.”
I didn’t understand why it would be a big deal, I’d seen several kinds of therapists and specialists since childhood. I guess it was different when you were one of the normals.
I wrung my hands together on top of the table. “You want to meet Keem?”
Saige and Raina exchanged a look. Raina spoke. “I suppose you could have him over for dinner.”
I was up from my chair before she finished her sentence and hugging her around the neck. “Thank you. Thank you.” It was her therapist I really wanted to hug. If this was the Raina that resulted from speaking with a professional, I hoped she never stopped.
I plopped back down in my seat, bubbling with excitement and took a deep breath. Now was a good a time as ever. In one breath I blurted out, “I want to change my major next semester and apply to Ringling for the fall.”
I was met with a deafening silence. Raina immediately looked stressed and I didn’t want to glance in Saige’s direction. Maybe that was too much too fast.
Noelle grabbed my hand and stood. “Why don’t we save that subject for later? Let’s me and you go talk.”
I followed her to my room, leaving our older siblings to recover from the multiple bombs I’d just dropped.
Sissy hugged me as soon as we were inside. “Soooooo proud of you.”
Chapter Twenty - Nine
~ Haikeem ~
Pacing back and forth in my room, I wasn’t sure if I was more hurt or angry. I didn’t want to be mad at Kirby, but I couldn’t help the disappointment I felt that she didn’t stand up for herself, for me, or for us. I’d thought she was strong enough now to do so. I had to confess that I was a little let down by it.
It didn’t change how I felt about her though. Nothing could dim the light of my Sunshine. If I had to, I’d convince her sisters myself. And if she needed me to, I’d be Kirby’s strength.
Just thinking those words, I knew it was wrong. Allowing myself to be her crutch made me no better than her sisters. The most I could do is encourage and help guide her. I couldn’t take over the independence of her decision making. I just had to sit and hope the one she made included me in her life. That what we shared was strong enough for her to fight for.
I eased down onto my bed and leaned forward with my head hung low, wondering why there always had to be some type of drama when it came to relationships. Why couldn’t love ever be easy? I’d been in it enough times to know it never was. But then again, my feelings for Kirby made me wonder if I ever truly had. Nothing had ever hurt as much as the thought of her not being in my life.
I heard the door open then close but didn’t bother looking up. Not even when Jayson said hi to me.
His bed squeaked as he sat down. “Hey man, you alright?”
Pushing my fingers through my hair, I sighed. “Not really.”
He was silent, I’m sure contemplating the same thing I was; if it were cool to talk about it. We hadn’t spoken all that much since the night he’d given me advice about Kirby. The atmosphere around us had shifted though and we exchanged pleasantries in passing.
“You and Kirby didn’t break up, did you?” He wasn’t privy to our relationship, but had walked in on me and Kirby kissing or cuddling enough times to put together that we were much more than ‘just friends’ now. He’d even once given an approving nod.
I sighed again. Jayson and I were hardly friends, but I could use someone to talk to right about now. I was tired of keeping everything in. “Not exactly, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t over.”
“I don’t follow.”
I lifted my head and had to pause when I noticed Gabi leaning against his night stand. “Oh…hey Gabi. I didn’t know you were here, too.”
She flashed an odd smile and shrugged. “We went to my dorm, but there was a sock on the door, so… If me being here makes you uncomfortable…”
“No, it’s fine.” Any residual feelings I’d had for her had faded. Kirby’s energy around me had done a good job of vanquishing them. And with Jayson as my roommate for the foreseeable future, her being around was something I’d have to get used to. He had as much right to invite his girlfriend over as I did.
I moved my attention to Jayson. “Kirby…her sisters don’t exactly approve of our relationship. One of them caught us kissing in t
he library and freaked, dragged Kirby out of there.”
Jayson nodded thoughtfully while kicking off his shoes. “Do they not like you or something? Or do they know about…”
I caught onto what he was asking, and not asking, my guess, to respect my privacy in front of Gabi. And I respected him for it. Feelings or not, I didn’t want her thinking I was a dog. “Nah. Today was the first they’ve known about me. They don’t approve of her in a relationship at all.”
Confusion marred both Gabi and Jayson’s faces and I knew they were asking why before it left their mouths.
“Kirby’s…different.”
Jayson mimicked my position, leaning forward with his arms on his knees, clearly invested in what I was saying. “How do you mean?”
While I didn’t feel it was exactly my place to speak on her condition, I had no shame in him knowing. “She has Asperger’s. Her sisters treat her like a kid. Can’t seem to see past her condition. Sometimes I feel like she can’t either.”
“What do you see?”
I looked past him, at nothing in particular. “When I look at her, I see everything. She is everything.”
“Aww.”
My gaze moved to Gabi, where the dreamy sigh had come from. Jay shook his head at her.
The look she gave him was incredulous. “What? That was sweet. And have you seen those two together? Me and you are a cute couple, but them, they’re freaking adorable!”
He laughed, still shaking his head at his girlfriend. “Actually, I have, and I admit, they do kind of put us to shame.”
I couldn’t help my chuckle, and to admit to myself, now that there was no jealousy clouding my vision, they did make a good pair.
Someone knocked at the door and Gabi hopped up. “I’ll get it.”
Jayson looked to me. “Things will work out, man. Sometimes the love you have to fight for is the one most worth having.”
“Oh hi.”
“Um…”
The soft voice coated in confusion perked up my ears. I stood, taking the few steps toward the door in record time. That speed couldn’t beat out my heart though.
Somebody to Love Page 20