This was what was important.
This was his future.
The late-afternoon sun stretched low across the neighborhood. It brushed everything in a honeyed glow that made the area gorgeous for a fall day. The air was crisp, definitely sweatshirt and legging weather. It still reminded her of a faint summer with the warmth that was experienced today. Kids’ laughter echoed somewhere down the street, and every now and then a leaf skittered across the pavement.
Tachina sat on the porch steps, sneakers kicked off, enjoying the gentle breeze on her freshly paintedtoes. After work, she had stopped by the nail shop for a manicure and pedicure that was much needed. Bedside her, Addison lounged, sipping on a steaming cup of chai with her hoodie pulled up over her hair.
They watched Kian pedal furiously down the driveway on his bike. His tiny little legs pumped like he was training for the Tour de France.
“He looks like he’s fleeing the scene of a crime.” Addison chuckled.
Tachina laughed with her.
“He rides that fast because he feels he can beat any of the cars that are going down the street.” She sighed. She’d had this conversation with her son in the past. He swore up and down he could go faster than any other vehicles.
“Well, I doubt it. Are these cars even doing the speed limit?” Addison asked.
A car had just sped down their neighborhood that had both of them hollering at the driver. Not that the person probably heard them with as fast as they had flown by.
“Don’t let him hear you say that. It will be like issuing a challenge,” Tachina muttered.
“Maybe they need to put a speed bump on the street,” Addison suggested.
“We’ve petitioned for one. Haven’t received the approval yet. Plus, I don’t know…the kids might think it will be fun to run over it with their bikes.” She chuckled.
Kian skidded to a halt and glared at them suspiciously. He tilted his head to the side and studied them.
“What I do?” he asked.
“Nothing, baby,” Tachina called out. “You are looking good out there.”
“I know,” he said proudly, then pedaled away.
“Okay then, little man,” Addison sputtered. She shook her head then took another sip of her chai. She waited until Kian wasn’t paying them any mind. She then leaned over and nudged Tachina with her elbow. “Spill it. What’s wrong with you?”
Of course her bestie would detect that something was bothering her. It had been a minute since they had just sat and chilled together. Even though they’d seen each other at the party, it had been a working event for Addison. After the party, they’d both been quite busy with work and other things.
Tachina glanced down at her fingers and blew out a deep breath. She reached out and picked a few pieces of lint from her leggings.
“I did something dumb,” Tachina admitted.
“I knew it,” Addison squealed.
Tachina whipped her head around to her friend who immediately caught what she’d said.
“I mean, not that you did something dumb, but I knew there was something bothering you.”
“Yeah, smooth that out,” Tachina teased. She smiledand blew out another deep breath. “You ain’t got to act so excited about it.”
“Nothing cheers me up more than watching another grown woman have issues she needs worked out who isn’t me,” Addison said. She took another sip then turned her body to face Tachina. She waited, but when Tachina hesitated, she rolled her eyes and gently shoved Tachina’s shoulder. “Don’t make me wait fifty-eleven years. Out with it, woman!”
“I caught feelings for him,” Tachina mumbled.
“For Vic.” It wasn’t a question but a statement. Addison knocked her hood off her head and tucked her long, thick hair behind her ear. “Girl, we knew this was going to happen.”
“Who the hell is we?” Tachina gasped. “And there were no feelings before this. We were co-parenting, mature, worked as partners, all for the good of Kian.”
“And the both of you always eye-fucked each other the moment you were in the presence of the other,” Addison added in.