Chapter 4

chapter four

nox

E veryone was at the location bright and early, setting up for the day. We knew that there would be tons of readers at the event, so we included barbecue salads on the menu. The quantities were limited, but if they were a hit, we planned on incorporating them into the summer menu.

With all the chaos and buzz at each food truck, you could sense the excitement in the air. Caramel Cove was gearing up to host the Indie Love event for the first time, and I'd heard it was a major success in other cities.

A flash of pink in my peripheral caught my attention. I turned just in time to see Ami rolling past me. I looked at her feet, thinking I would see skates, but she was wearing Heelys, the shoes with the retractable wheels.

I smiled as I watched her place the bags she had in her hand on the back of the truck, click her heels to retract the wheels and step into their truck.

Ami and I had spent several hours together at my place after dinner, just talking and getting to know each other. We both had a lot to do to get ready for today, so we had to cut it short. She sent me a text when she arrived home, and we texted each other while we worked.

I enjoyed her and her company. I couldn't wait to ask her out on a real date. I'd already committed to something this evening and it was too late to back out. If I would've been able to cancel it, I would've asked her out this evening.

"Hey, Nox," my mother said as she and Peaches walked up to the truck.

"Hey, Momma. What are you doing here?"

She pointed to her black polo with Smoked and Spiced embroidered on it. "I came to work."

I expected Peaches to attend, but I had no idea my mother would join her. It was a pleasant surprise.

Mom continued, "I heard it was a big event. I know y'all are going to be busy. I can't work the register, I'll leave that to Peaches and Bray, but I can fix plates and watch the meat."

"Cool, I appreciate it."

"We walked past the line the get into the building. It's already long and the doors don't open for another hour. Y'all are going to be busy today," Peaches said.

"I know we are. Peaches, let Brayden know you're here. He'll let you know what he needs help with."

"Okay," Peaches said and stepped onto the truck. "Mom, do you remember where we keep the Styrofoam plates and the bags?"

"In that cabinet near the door?" Mom answered.

"Yes, if you can get that stuff out and start stacking them. I would appreciate it."

Again, Ami caught my eye as she busied herself with the sign in the front of their truck.

"Hello?" Mom said.

I pulled my eyes away from Ami and said, "Yes?"

Mom followed my eyes to Ami.

"Oh, she's pretty," Mom commented.

"She is very pretty," I replied. "But what were you saying?"

Mom pointed and said, "Is that her food truck? It's nice and bright."

"Yes, it's hers."

Ami looked up from organizing the cupcakes, and we made eye contact. She smiled and waved.

I waved back.

"Mom, can you do me a favor before we get started?"

"Sure. What do you need?" Mom responded.

"Put a brisket plate to the side. Add all the sides and put it in the back of the warmer with my name on it."

"I can do that," Mom said.

"Thanks. I appreciate you being here."

"No problem," Mom smiled and said.

My mother was a teenage mother who was barely mothered herself. My father was never in the picture, so she did the best she could with me. I've never held that against her, though. She shows up when she can.

A mother's love is crucial, but a father's discipline is equally important. Since I didn't have a father or father figure in my life, I turned to the block. The block taught me the rules of the game and made me feel like I belonged. I learned my sense of loyalty and my work ethic from the block.

Camilla (Ami) ?? Webb:

I hope you have a super successful day.

I smiled when I read her text message.

Lennox:

Same to you. Don't forget to pick me up on your way to the event.

Camilla (Ami) ?? Webb:

How could I forget about you, Lennox Young?

I'm sure I looked like a fool staring at my phone and grinning. This girl had me ready to buy a ring, and I'd just met her.

" T hat's it for the brisket," I yelled to Brayden.

"Got it," Brayden yelled back.

It was crazy that we'd gone through all that brisket. I'd prepared twice as much as we usually did, thinking that more people would get an opportunity to try it, but we sold out pretty quickly. I made a mental note to look into hiring someone to help with the brisket prep for large events. That way, we could prepare more and not run out so quickly. However, running out was not a bad thing. It spoke to the quality of our food that no matter how much we prepared there was never enough.

When the Indie Love event first started, the line was steady but not busy. It seemed like I blinked, and we were swamped. I overheard the customers in line, holding green tote bags with the Indie Love logo prominently displayed on the front, talking about the books they'd purchased and the author panels they were going to attend.

"I like the break we have in the panels this year so we can check out these food trucks. It was a great addition to the event," I heard one woman say to another.

"Yeah, it gives us time to eat and not miss anything," the woman with her replied.

I glanced over at the girls' truck a couple times and saw they were just as busy as we were. I thought about Ami saying how much she enjoyed watching people try her cupcakes for the first time. I hoped she had that experience more than once today.

"Hey!"

It was as if Ami popped out of my mind and stood right in front of me. I stopped myself from saying, "I was just thinking about you." Instead, I replied, "Hey. How's it going over there?"

Her bright smile made her eyes twinkle and lit up her entire face.

"It's going really well. I asked Lee to cover for me for about thirty minutes, so I could pop into the event. Can you get away?"

"Yeah. Give me one minute." I stepped into the truck and said, "Hey, I'll be back in about thirty minutes. Can you watch the last of that chicken that's on the grill, Mom?"

"Yes, I can," Mom replied.

"Alright. I'll be back."

I took off my black apron, washed my hands and followed Ami into the event.

Upon entering the large event space, we showed our vendor badge before entering the main room, where music mixed with excited conversations. I saw groups of people taking pictures in front of the step and repeat backdrop while others were dancing on the 360-photo booth stage.

Camilla looked back at me and smiled.

"What?"

"Nothing, just making sure you're keeping up."

"You can't shake me that easily."

She smiled.

Each author had their own space that they decorated to fit their vibe. At each table, Ami stopped, and she talked to the author like they were best friends. She spoke about the book characters like they were real people. She smiled and took selfies and pictures with the authors before moving to the next table.

Ami checked her watch and said, "I can only hit one more table. I need to get back out to the truck."

We navigated through the crowd and arrived at a line. While standing in the line, Ami said, "Okay, this is the author I was telling you about. Her name is Bella Roe. I've read all her books. I think you will like Ego Season."

"She looks familiar."

"You've probably seen her on Views I had missed what Jordan said.

"I didn't hear you. What did you say?"

"No worries. She's a beautiful woman, inside and out," Jordan said.

"So, you know her?"

"Tysha is from Lake Grove. They were friends there. When Camilla moved here, they continued their friendship. She's a great friend to Ty and an all-around good woman," Jordan answered.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Have you tried her cupcakes?"

"I have. They're phenomenal."

"Man, delectable! And I'm not a cake-type dude, but I will put those cupcakes back," Jordan said. "I ordered some for Dad for his birthday."

"The old man had them?"

"He tasted one and wouldn't share the rest with anyone but Mom," Jordan explained.

Jordan was my mentor, Thurston Powell's son. Thurston was the one who helped Brayden and me get Smoked and Spiced up and running for real. He taught us how to market and brand the business as well as financial management and planning. He took us to the suit tailor and taught us about the importance of having one good, tailored suit for business meetings. I learned about shirt types, ties, and, most importantly, how to remove all the tags and tailor tacks to clothes.

Thurston always said you could tell a man who didn't know anything about clothes by the way they walked around with tags and tailor tacks still in place.

Thurston and I still have regular meetings. His advice had been invaluable in my life and business.

Jordan was just like his dad, always willing to help and lend a hand. We hit it off and became friends. When Jordan mentioned his idea of starting UrbanEats, I agreed, although I knew that I wouldn't make all the dinners due to my work schedule.

"You know what, he did mention some good cake for his birthday. I hadn't thought any more about it," I recalled.

"That was Camilla," Jordan confirmed.

"It's a small world."

"Can I help you, gentlemen?" the bartender asked.

"I'll take Macallan on the rocks," I answered.

"Twelve years?" the bartender asked.

"Eighteen years. I also take an Aperol Spritz," I finished.

Jordan ordered the drinks for Tysha and him.

"How is business?" Jordan asked.

"It's going well. I would like to hire a staff member who could run the truck for us or even run another one in a different location."

"And have two at the same time?" Jordan asked.

"Yeah, eventually, I want it to make money while I'm off doing something else."

"That's a great goal. You know you'll just have to invest the time in making sure you have someone that can run it on the same level you and Brayden do," Jordan answered.

"That's the hard part. I'm committed to growing and succeeding, so I'll do what it takes," I said.

"Let me know when you're ready to do that. We could set up some sort of interview fair or even some small-scale competition," Jordan said.

He and his father could pull business ideas and solutions out of the sky. It seemed like their brain were always on business.

"Cool, I will," I answered.

"Hey," Tysha said as she and Camilla arrived back at the bar. Jordan and I made space for them to stand between us.

I handed Camilla her drink.

"Thank you," she said.

I watched her lips while she spoke, wishing I could lean in and kiss her again. I had to remind myself that she wasn't mine, yet. I didn't plan on that being the case for too much longer.

"Of course," I replied.

W e met the rest of the UrbanEats group for our reservation at 12 Tables. Caleb, Lucas, Riley, Willow, Scarlett and Arthur all joined us there. I'd met Caleb and Riley before, but everyone else was new to me.

I chose a seat at the end of the table and pulled out the seat next to mine for Ami. Again, my actions seemed almost like muscle memory. In my mind, she wouldn't sit anywhere except next to me.

"Thank you," Ami said before sitting down.

We went around the table and introduced ourselves. I wasn't the most social person, but I knew networking was one of the keys to successful entrepreneurship.

No one else at the table was a part of the food industry except Ami and me, but everyone seemed to have a love for food and trying new things.

"I ordered a sampling of wine and appetizers for the table," Jordan announced. "You'll just need to order your entrees."

We had lively conversations that started with questions like, 'What's the worst advice you've been given?'

"Don't worry about your student loans; everyone has them. They'll figure themselves out eventually," Riley, a cosmetics chemist, answered.

Everyone at the table had something to add about how terrible student loans were. They shared stories of forbearance and ballin' out on the refund checks. I couldn't relate to the student loan stories for myself, but by paying for some of Peaches' college bills, I understood the financial strain college could be.

While the conversation continued at the table, I leaned close to Ami and asked, "What are you ordering?"

"I'm torn between the sea bass and pork chops. I'm leaning towards the fish. What about you?"

She looked at me, and I saw that twinkle in her eyes that I saw earlier when she smiled.

"What?" Ami asked.

"Nothing." How did I explain that every time she looked at me, I got lost in her eyes? I would sound like a creep saying that to a woman I'd only known for a couple days. "I'm getting the chops."

"Well, that solves my dilemma. I'll get the fish if you're willing to let me taste your pork chops," Ami said.

It was the first time we'd had that conversation, but it felt like we'd had it a million times before. There was no question that I would share my food with her.

"Of course," I answered without hesitation.

Ami did a little shoulder shimmy. "Yes," she replied and smiled.

After dinner, we sat and chatted another hour or so before we called it an evening. I looked forward to the subsequent UrbanEats events.

ami

Dinner at 12 Tables was terrific. Jordan had curated a good group of people to dine with and talk to. The conversation was non-stop and lively. With everything going on around me, I was still very much aware of Lennox- his cologne, laughter, and proximity. Especially when we held private conversations, I found myself leaning towards him, like we were a couple accustomed to sitting that close. His arm draped over my chair felt familiar yet foreign, and his breath brushed my cheek as he leaned in to be heard over the multiple conversations. It felt routine, like part of our cadence, despite this being our first dinner out together.

I pulled up the rideshare app to see how long it would take a car to arrive.

"Where did you park?" Nox asked.

"I used a car service. I knew I would be drinking and didn't want to risk it."

"I can take you home," Nox volunteered.

"Are you sure? I don't mind calling a car."

"I'm sure," Nox responded with a smile.

"Okay. Thank you."

Everyone hugged as we left the restaurant.

"Text me when you get home or whatever," Ty said, winking after we hugged.

"I will."

Lennox and I walked to the parking lot.

"This dress is beautiful on you. I've been meaning to tell you that all night," Lennox said, his eyes lingering appreciatively.

"Thank you. You clean up well, too," I replied.

"I'm surprised I didn't get something on this suit. I'm not a fan of all-white, but you know we love some all-white," Lennox said with a chuckle.

I laughed. "I said the same thing earlier! We look good in all colors, but for whatever reason, our go-to is all white!"

We both laughed. I expected his black pickup truck, but instead, he led me to a blue BMW coupe. He held the door open as I settled into the plush, red leather passenger seat.

"This is nice," I said once Lennox got in.

"Thanks. I don't drive it much because I'm usually in the truck. Every once in a while, I get to take it for a spin, though."

I relaxed as Lennox navigated the car to our side of town.

"Lee told me you brought a plate to the truck after I left."

"Yeah, brisket, mac and cheese, green beans and a leg quarter," Lennox answered.

"Thank you. I can't wait to try it."

"No problem. Let me know what you think when you try it."

"I will. So, you know Jordan?"

"Yes, and Ty. I was with him when he met her," Lennox said.

"Really?"

"Yeah. You grew up with Ty?"

"I did from elementary to high school. It's funny we know some of the same people but have never met," I mused.

"It is, but I'm glad we've met now," Lennox said.

"I am, too."

Lennox pulled up to my house.

"This house is huge," he commented, looking up at the facade.

"Yeah, it is. My aunt and uncle entertained a lot and always had guests over, so they needed the space."

"I'm glad we were able to hang out tonight. I enjoyed dinner with you," Lennox said, turning to face me.

"It was an unexpected surprise. I agree. It was nice. Thank you for saving me at the bar."

"If I'm being honest, my goal was to save you but also scare away anyone else who planned on trying their pickup lines on you."

"Really?" I replied, feeling a rush of giddy excitement. Before I got carried away, I needed to make sure he was saying what I thought he was saying. "Why?"

"I'm digging you, Camilla. You're easy to be around. I'm enjoying getting to know you. I would like to learn more," Lennox said, his gaze steady.

"I like you, too, Lennox. Would you like to come in? I mean, unless you have other plans."

"I don't have any plans. I would like to come in," Lennox replied.

I waited for him to walk around the car and open my door. As he did, I felt a flutter of anticipation, wondering what the rest of the night might bring.

After we walked into my house, I said, "You can have a seat in the living room."

I pointed to the couch.

"Thanks. I like how a lot of the historical charm of the house is still here," Lennox said while looking around.

I kicked my heels off and felt immediate relief. I slid my feet into my pink slippers that I kept close to the front door.

"It's our goal to maintain as much of the original house as we can. Would you like something to drink? Or maybe desert? I have a couple cupcakes I baked the other day while playing around with recipes."

"Do you always have cupcakes baked?"

I chuckled, "Not all the time, but on the weekends, I probably will."

"I'll take water and a cupcake," Lennox said. "May I use your restroom?"

"Yes, it's down the hall. First door on the left."

While Lennox was in the bathroom, I grabbed two cupcakes from my stash and grabbed two bottles of water. I noticed the Styrofoam plate in the fridge and grabbed it, too.

Lennox returned from the bathroom. I asked, "What's the best way to reheat barbecue?"

"Do you have an air fryer?"

"I do."

"Put it in there for about eight minutes. Keep the temperature around 270 degrees," Lennox explained.

"I'm not hungry, but I really want to try this food, so I'm going to heat up a little."

"Okay."

After taking out a small portion of everything in the Styrofoam, I put it in the air fryer and turned my attention back to Lennox. He had pulled out a chair at the kitchen island. I placed the cupcakes and water in front of him.

"Okay, before you taste these, remember they are experiments. I've never sold either one of these because I'm still trying to perfect the recipe. So, if it tastes bad, just remember that."

Lennox removed his jacket and folded it neatly on the chair next to him.

"I'm sure it won't taste bad," Lennox replied. "What are the flavors?"

I pointed to the chocolate cupcake. "This one is chocolate bourbon. I've been trying to create a line of grown folks' cupcakes that people would want to order for dinner parties and whatnot based on cocktails. That's why I've been working with the rum as well. So, it is a chocolate cake filled with chocolate bourbon sauce. Chocolate buttercream frosting with a caramel drizzle and chocolate sprinkles.

"This one," I pointed to the yellow one, "doesn't have a formal name yet, but it's vanilla cake soaked in pineapple juice. That's a strawberry-pineapple swirl buttercream with a dollop of strawberry compote. With this one, I wanted to mimic a daiquiri."

"They both smell delectable," Lennox said.

I handed him a fork. He tasted the strawberry pineapple one first. I carefully examined his facial expressions, trying to figure out his response.

"Wow," he said after finishing the first bite. "This is delicious. I can taste the pineapple and vanilla. I thought the pineapple would overpower the vanilla, but it doesn't. The strawberry on top is refreshing."

I smiled. "So, in your opinion, does it need anything? Is it too sweet or not sweet enough? Would you order them for an occasion, or would one off the truck be enough?"

"It doesn't need anything. I thought it would be super sweet with the pineapple and strawberry together, but the flavors don't really exist on my palate at the same time. It's like, after the pineapple and vanilla fade, the strawberry emerges. It's perfectly balanced. I would order them for any type of party, but for marketing purposes, I could see them during Mother's Day or for any type of girly occasion like brunch or even bridal showers."

"Humph, I like it. Okay, taste the chocolate one."

He took a healthy forkful of the chocolate cupcake. Again, I watched him, trying to gauge his reaction. He had a sprinkle in the corner of his mouth. His tongue slowly emerged to collect the sprinkle. For a brief second, I wished I was that sprinkle. I wanted to know what his tongue felt like on me.

"It's rich, moist and decadent."

Nox words brought me back to the present.

He continued, "It's exactly what I expect from chocolate cake but without the extreme sweetness. I think it's for a mature palate that can appreciate the bourbon flavor in the filling."

"Mature palate-is that a bad thing?" I asked.

"No! Not at all. I'm saying if you want to do the cocktail-inspired line, this is the perfect addition," Nox explained.

"Oh, okay. I thought you were trying to tell me it was terrible."

"No." Nox laughed. "I would tell you if I didn't like it."

I squinted my eyes, "Would you?"

"You said you would trust me until you had a reason not to. This doesn't feel like trust, Camilla," Nox said before popping the rest of the chocolate cupcake into his mouth.

"I mean," I shrugged. "Trust but verify."

Lennox finished both cupcakes and his bottle of water.

"Thank you for tasting them. I typically use Lee, but she always says everything tastes good. I know she thinks they're good, but I want them to be great."

The timer went off on the air fryer. I put my food on a plate and joined Nox back at the counter.

"Your barbecue doesn't have any sauce on it?"

"No, good barbecue doesn't need sauce. You want to be able to taste the meat, not the sauce. I did put a couple of containers of sauce in there for you to try. The darkest one is our house specialty. Brayden makes it. That's why I needed the rum."

"I'll taste the meat first and then see if I need some sauce."

I took a forkful of the chicken. I looked at it to make sure I didn't see any pink meat. I didn't play with undercooked chicken. Satisfied with the doneness, I put the forkful of meat into my mouth.

The seasoning penetrated the skin and the meat. The hint of sweetness in the smoke combined with the seasoning and tenderness of the chicken was superb.

"Yum! This is terrific!"

Next, I tasted the brisket. I popped a piece in my mouth, ready to chew for a few minutes. It was so soft it nearly melted in my mouth. I had to try another piece just to be sure it was really that tender. It was.

I was fully aware that brisket was a cut of beef, but it melted in my mouth like cotton candy. The smoke and seasoning were perfect.

"Nox, this is really delicious. I've never had a cut of beef that tasted like this. How long does it take to get it this tender?"

"It depends on the size of the brisket. The rule of thumb for me is one hour per pound plus two hours. It can take about twelve to eighteen hours," Nox explained.

"It tastes like it. This is absolutely divine. Did it take you a long time to learn how to make this?" I asked while finishing up the food on my plate. It was all tasty. I looked forward to finishing the rest tomorrow.

"It's taken me some time to perfect it, but I learned from my grandfather," Lennox answered.

I took a drink of water to wash it all down.

"Your maternal or paternal grandfather?"

"My maternal grandfather. I don't know my paternal grandfather or his son," Lennox said.

"He's never been around?"

"No. My mother raised me to the best of her ability. Like I said before, she's a good person and a great friend, but she's not a good mother. She was young when she had me, and I guess that sit-down and chill mom thing never kicked in for her. I'll do anything for her, and she'll do anything she can for me. She just has limitations, which is why I take care of Peaches."

"Parents can be difficult."

After I cleaned up the kitchen, Nox and I went and sat on the living room couch.

"Are you competitive with everything or just cupcakes?" Nox asked.

"You think I'm competitive?"

"Maybe competitive isn't the right word. Perfectionist?" Lennox amended. "You bake the best cupcake I've ever tasted. I'm sure Lee and I aren't the only people who have told you that, but you still doubt it."

I stared off into space for a few minutes, thinking about what Lennox said.

Was I a perfectionist?

Did I set unreasonable goals for myself?

Had my parents rubbed off on me?

"Hey," He touched my arm. "I'm sorry. Did I use the wrong word?"

"No, you didn't. I'm probably a little- or hell- a lot of both; a perfectionist and competitive. When you are raised in a household where a B is considered a failure, then you probably would develop those traits."

"Your parents were like that?" Lennox asked.

"My parents are like that. That's one of the reasons Caeli and I moved away from Lake Grove. Our parents had plans for us from birth to be like them. My father is an emergency medicine physician, and my mother is a human resources manager. They wanted us to be prim and proper, well-educated and fit into their fake society. Both Lee and I had other plans for our lives, including not working a traditional nine-to-five. I don't want to punch a time clock for anyone but myself.

When we didn't follow their path for our lives, it caused tension and now, we don't really see them or speak to them. I will call everyone once in a while to check on them, but the reception is always so dry. The first question they ask is if I'm back in college to get a real degree. They don't think my credentials from the culinary school count. I know my cupcakes are good, but it's always that internal battle of wondering if my parents were right. That thought then turns into this competition with myself to make the next thing better than the last."

I took a deep breath to try and swallow the lump that formed in my throat.

"Aye, parents will really mess you up. I get it."

Lennox reached for my hand.

"But," Lennox continued. "I really do think you have the best cupcakes I've ever tasted, and I'm not really a sweets-type dude. These two and the ones you gave me the other day were exceptional. I mean that."

"Thank you, Lennox."

He pulled me closer, and we hugged. When he wrapped his arms around me, all my anxiety that had built up from the conversation just melted away. I closed my eyes for a few moments, enjoying the peace I felt in his arms.

After we separated, I said, "You give good hugs."

"So do you."

"Why does this feel so natural? Why am I so comfortable around you?"

"I don't know, but I feel the same way about you," Lennox said.

Our lips met in a quick, tender kiss. I tucked myself into his side while he put his arm around me.

"So, you grew up in Caramel Cove?" I asked.

"Yeah, I did."

"Tell me about it."

nox

Opening my eyes, I looked around and realized I was not at home. I was fully clothed, minus my jacket and shoes, laying on Ami's living room couch with her tucked in right beside me, lightly snoring.

I didn't remember lying down, but I was exhausted after the long day at Indie Love and dinner afterward. I slowly lifted my arm to look at my watch. Seven-forty-five in the morning. Ami and I had talked all night about everything from our childhood memories to our hopes and dreams for the future. I found out she doesn't like beef liver, which happens to be one of the worst things I ever tasted in my life. I also learned that she likes any movie that has cooking in it. She said one of her favorite movies was Soul Food, not because of the storyline but because of the Sunday dinners. I was a big fan of Soul Food as well.

I wasn't sure which one of us fell asleep first. I think the conversation just trickled off, and we both went to sleep. Even though I was fully dressed and sleeping on the couch, I had some of the best sleep I'd had in years.

Although I had several things I needed to accomplish, like making sure Peaches made it back to campus and doing some yard work, it all could wait. I didn't plan on moving until Ami woke up.

Chuckling to myself, I realized I'd not only opened up to a woman I'd just met, but I was also sleeping on her couch, and I never liked spending the night. I'd created my home just the way I wanted it, with all the comforts I needed. In my last relationship, she always complained that I wouldn't stay at her place. I always made the excuse that my bed was more comfortable so we could stay at my place. However, I was completely comfortable on this standard-size couch with Ami next to me.

Ami asked why we were so comfortable with each other. I had no idea why we were, but it felt good.

"Oh no!" Ami said and sat right up. "Did I fall asleep on you and trap you here?"

She was beautiful even with her eye makeup slightly smudged and her pink hair smashed on her head.

"No, I'm sure I could lift you if I needed to. I just woke up, too," I explained.

"Oh, okay." Ami extended her arms over her head and stretched. "I was sleeping good! I don't even remember dozing off."

She moved, allowing me space to sit up. I stretched and said, "Yeah, I don't remember falling asleep either. Sorry for crashing on your couch like a homeless person."

Ami chucked. "I fell asleep on you. It's not like you had much of a choice." Ami stood up and stretched again. "Although, you were a great pillow. I feel refreshed and well-rested."

"That was some top-notch sleep," I agreed.

I rolled my neck and twisted from side to side, figuring I'd feel some ache or pain from the couch, but I didn't feel anything uncomfortable.

"There are some new toothbrushes and mouthwash under the sink in the hall bathroom," Ami said. "I'm going to use my bathroom. I'll be back."

"Cool."

I found the extra hygiene supplies right where Ami said they'd be. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, thinking about the things I needed to accomplish, but I also didn't want to leave Ami.

"I wonder if she has plans for the day?" I said out loud. "I'll ask."

I didn't want to overstay my welcome in her space, but the thought of not being with her for the rest of the day didn't sit well with me either.

I finished in the bathroom and met Ami back in the living room. She'd combed her hair and was wearing a plush white robe.

"Would you like some breakfast?" Ami asked.

"Breakfast would be cool, but I need to get home and get the day started. I have to take Peaches back to campus and handle some things around the house. What do you have planned for today?"

"I don't have any plans," Ami said.

"Why don't you grab some clothes and come home with me? We can have breakfast at my place, and I can start on my projects."

"You're not tired of me?"

"Not at all."

Ami smiled. "Okay, because I wasn't ready for you to leave either."

It was my turn to smile.

"Can I meet you at your place? I'll change here and be over in about an hour," Ami said.

"Okay."

I leaned in and kissed her.

"See you in a few minutes."

" I 'm going to be at Mom's house at noon. You better be there and be ready to go, Peaches."

"I was going to ride back with Stephanie…"

I'd given Peaches a pass by letting her stay with Mom all weekend even though I knew my mother had no idea where Peaches was, what she was doing or who she was with. Before I left to meet the UrbanEats group, I texted my mother to check on Peaches. She said she was with Stephanie. I was sure that's what my mother believed. I had to take her word for it because I didn't have time to check.

"Be ready at noon at Mom's house," I repeated.

"Nox, I'm grown enough to get myself back home. I don't need to be escorted by you," Peaches said.

"Mielle, I don't feel like arguing with you, so I'm not. You have my schedule."

"I'm not arguing with you. You're my brother, not my father. I don't need you dropping me off. Don't waste your time going to Mommy's house because I won't be there," Peaches said.

"Don't be there when I get there; see what happens. If you think I'm playing with you, try me. I'm hanging up before you say something I'll make you regret."

"Nox, I…" I heard Peaches say as I disconnected the call.

I swear, some days, she acted like she was a baby. My doorbell chimed, indicating I had a visitor at the same time, my phone vibrated with a text:

Peaches:

I was still talking!

Nox:

I wasn't. The conversation was over.

Peaches:

When do I get a say in what happens in my own life?

Nox:

When you pay for your dorm, food, clothes, medical insurance and tuition.

Peaches:

This is not fair.

Nox:

Neither is life. 12pm.

Peaches:

??

Shaking my head, I said, "She always has to have the last word." I didn't care how many emojis she sent as long as she was at Mom's house when I got there.

"Come in," I said after opening my front door.

Ami smiled and stepped inside. She'd changed into an orange short set and wore brown strappy sandals that showed off her pink painted toenails. She smelled like flowers and fruit.

"I brought fresh juice," Ami said while holding up a container of orange juice.

"Cool, follow me."

She followed me into the kitchen. I'd already taken out everything to cook breakfast.

"What can I help with?" Ami asked.

"I've got some champagne in the pantry if you want to mix it with the orange juice."

"Yeah, that sounds good," Ami said.

Ami returned from the pantry with a bottle of champagne.

"What's wrong? Your energy is different," Ami said. "Did you change your mind about me being here? Am I stopping you from getting your chores done?"

"Huh? No! I want you here."

"Are you sure?" Ami asked.

"I'm good."

"No, something is different," Ami countered.

"Peaches got on my nerves," I admitted.

"What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"

I mixed the pancake batter together and said, "I told her I was coming to pick her up later to take her back to her place on campus. She got smart and said something about me not being her father."

"She doesn't want to go back to her place?" Ami asked.

"No, she just wants to do it on her own terms. I've already let her slide by spending the weekend with our mother, knowing she was doing whatever she wanted to do," I explained.

"What does it mean when you say on her own terms?" Ami asked.

I poured the batter into the skillet before I answered.

"She said she would get a ride back with her friend, Stephanie."

Ami sat on the stool on the opposite side of the kitchen island and asked, "Is Stephanie a bad influence? Has she gotten Peaches into trouble before?"

"No. Stephanie and Peaches have been friends for years. She is just as smart as Peaches."

"Has Stephanie had accidents or a history of bad driving?"

"No."

"Oh, her car is unreliable?"

"It's a newer car."

"Humph," Ami said. "How do you like your mimosa?"

I had only been around Ami for a couple of days, but I'd figured out her little 'humph' sound meant she had something else to say and decided not to say it.

I flipped the pancakes on the griddle and said, "Go ahead and say whatever is behind your humph."

"How do you know something is behind it?" Ami asked.

"The same way you looked at me and knew something was on my mind. I don't know," I shrugged. "We've got something that neither one of us can explain."

"I'm just going to say this and see how it lands. I preface it with the fact that it's not my intention to offend you. You asked me to speak."

"I've got thick skin, Ami. Go ahead."

"So, Peaches is what? Twenty?" Ami started.

"She will be this fall."

"Why do you have to chauffer her around? Has she ever given you a reason not to trust her decision-making?"

"Because I need to make sure she is where she's supposed to be. Ain't nothing good happening over in my mother's neighborhood," I responded.

"She can't just send you a text or call you and let you know she's back at her place?"

"No, I want to see her walk into the building and don't humph. Go ahead and say what you want to say," I answered.

"I wasn't going to humph," Ami said.

"Yes, you were," I countered.

"Fine. Then, this is my thought, and this is just my opinion, but as a young woman trying to find my way in the world, the last thing I would need or want is my big brother hovering over me. You make her question her decisions because she's trying to do what you want her to do instead of doing what's right for her. It's the same thing I went through with my parents. The tighter they tugged on my reins, the harder I fought back. No one wants to be controlled," Ami said.

"I'm not controlling her. I'm protecting her," I said, slightly irritated by her words.

"You're parenting her, and she's an adult," Ami rebutted.

"She's not an adult!" I snapped.

"Lennox," Ami calmly said. "I'm not trying to argue with you. I'm sorry if my words made you angry." She paused for a minute, then said, "Did you say a little or a lot of juice in your mimosa?"

"I'm not angry. Just a spritz of juice in mine," I answered.

I wasn't angry.

I did have thick skin, but…

Her words irritated me a lot.

"What other plans do you have today?" Ami asked.

I was happy for the topic switch.

"I have some things to do around the house, and I need to get groceries for the week. Oh, and some yard work."

"You have a full day. I'll eat quickly so you can get it started," Ami said.

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes, I do. If you hadn't already started cooking, I probably would leave. I can tell I rubbed you the wrong way."

"You didn't…" I began. I took a deep breath before I continued. "If I don't look out for her, Camilla, who will? I'll be damned if she's left to figure things out all on her own like I was."

"I think it's sexy as hell that you assumed the responsibility of taking care of your sister. I mean, really sexy. However, it does get to a point where a young woman just wants to be a young woman. You can't hold on so tight that you suffocate her. I think love means giving her some room to spread her wings.

I had friends growing up whose parents were those types of Christians who believed their kids shouldn't do anything except go to school, church and home. When they finally got a taste of freedom, they went buck-the fuck-wild. I mean ass-out balls to wall buck wild."

Camilla did a little shoulder shimmy dance to drive the point home.

"Is that what you did?" I asked.

"No, Lee and I were smart enough to be sneaky. We covered for each other and created some well-thought-out lies to tell our parents. We've always been a team. I didn't need to go buck wild because I was already out there being a kid and enjoying myself."

I plated our food and put it on the kitchen table. Ami sat across from me and placed my mimosa in front of my plate.

I reached across the table and grabbed Ami's hand. "Please, take your time and enjoy the food. I don't want you to rush to leave unless you still want to."

"You're not mad at me?" Ami asked.

"No, I'm not, but even if I were mad about something you said, I still would rather you stay and talk about it."

Ami smiled. "Okay."

"So, you think my baby sister is wilin' out on campus?" I asked after we started eating.

"I hope she is! That's what college is for. I mean, it's to learn too, but she should be able to have a good time in a controlled environment like college parties."

"I just want her to be okay. The only way I know how to do that is to be there."

"If you've been taking care of her and teaching her how to survive all this time, then you gotta step back to see if anything you said has sunk in. Also, this food is scrumptious. I would like another pancake," Ami said.

I grabbed the rest of the pancakes from the counter and placed them on the table.

"I should try to make a pancake and syrup cupcake. I wonder how that would taste?" Ami pondered.

The way she moved from topic to topic was something I admired about her. I was still trying to figure out what to do with Peaches, and she was talking about cupcake flavors.

"I've never heard of a pancake cupcake. It might be fire," I answered.

"I'll have to play around with that soon," Ami responded. "Also, if you give Peaches a little freedom at a time, that will give you the opportunity to see how she responds. If it doesn't work, pull back. If it does, then keep going."

That made sense. I wasn't sure how to implement it, but I might try.

"Why are you single, Camilla Webb?"

"We talked about this the other day, remember?" Ami said.

"I asked why you weren't in love. I didn't ask why you weren't dating," I clarified.

Ami finished chewing the large piece of pancakes she'd just stuffed in her mouth. Then she responded, "These hoes ain't loyal."

We both burst out in laughter.

"Facts!" I said while still laughing.

After we finished laughing, Ami said, "Everyone wants to play games. I don't have time to play. I'm building a business, taking care of a historic house and trying to be grown. I don't have time to chase behind someone because they haven't learned dick control. Like I said before, men, well, people in general, but since we are talking about dating, I'll stick with men - think that because I'm a free spirit, I smile, laugh, and I don't take life too seriously, that I'm a pushover or na?ve. I'm neither, actually, far from both. I pay attention even when people don't think I am, and I have intuition like any other woman. I just don't want to be the one looking through cellphones and watching a dude trying to see if he's looking at the girl walking past us. It's exhausting. So, I'm out here just passing on these hoes. I'm sick of meeting men's representatives."

"When was your last relationship?" I asked.

"About a year ago. He wanted me to stay in Lake Grove. I threw up the duces and moved here. What about you?"

"My last relationship was about six months ago. We were together for two years."

"What happened?" Ami asked.

"We grew apart. I knew her for a while before we dated. I used to be into some other things before I figured out that I was either going to die or go to jail if I kept doing them. I had to figure out a way to change my life, for me and for Peaches. I think she thought I was still that young dude that was about the parties and popping bottles. Once I had a path to legal money, I wasn't going to stop grinding until I had what I wanted. She disagreed with that. She wanted the fast pace. We tried, but it just didn't work," I explained.

Ami put one more pancake on her plate and asked, "Do you miss her?"

"I miss the companionship, but I don't miss the arguing and fighting. I don't miss the accusations about me being with someone else when all I was doing was working."

"Were you working and with someone else?" Ami asked.

"I haven't always been a grown man, so there have been times when I had more than one woman I was dealing with, but not with her."

"Why not her? What made her so special?" Ami questioned.

"She wasn't any more special than anyone I'd dated in the past. I was just ready to do something different. I was tired of playing games, and I was tired of people playing games."

"I hear you on the games. Like, I can play Uno, Spades, Simon Says or even hopscotch, but not in a relationship. It's pee in the dating pool, and I don't want to be in it."

We laughed again.

"For real."

We finished breakfast, and Ami helped me clean the kitchen.

"What time do you have to pick up Peaches?" Ami asked.

"Noon."

Ami looked at her watch.

"I guess I'll head out and let you get your day started. Thank you for breakfast."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," I replied.

Ami grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter. Something in me said, 'If you don't fix this with her now, you won't get another opportunity.'

Ami turned to walk to the door, and I grabbed her hand.

"Wait. I'm sorry that I got defensive when we talked about Peaches. You didn't say anything wrong. My reaction was terrible. I've never had anyone question the way I handle Peaches except for Peaches. She's been asking me to give her some space, but I haven't listened. I heard you, though. Thank you for being honest with me.

I like you, Camilla. In these couple of days that we've hung out, I've enjoyed myself, and I don't want any of it to end. I would really like the opportunity to get to know you better."

"You don't have to apologize for being human and reacting to something that irritated you. I get it. Thank you for being honest about how you felt about the conversation. Thank you for being honest now. I really felt like when I walked out this door, that would've been it for whatever we were cultivating. So, thank you, Lennox. I would love to get to know you, too."

I pulled her close, and our lips touched in a soft, sweet kiss until she pulled me closer and deepened the kiss.

After we separated, I said, "I'll call you after I'm done with my stuff for the day?"

"I'll answer," Ami said with a smile.