Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 124320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
“Oh, good.” Sienna, my editor, sounds relieved. “We’re so excited about this book, Ezra. The sooner we can get early copies out, the better.”
“I’m excited, too.” I close my laptop and lean back in my seat.
“No, like, we’re really excited. We’re talking Oprah’s Book Club level excited. We can’t wait to get this to her team. To Reese. All the libraries.”
“Whoa. Okay. I didn’t realize there would be such a…a push.”
“Are you kidding? Disadvantaged kids. Philanthropy. Quality education. This is Lean On Me stuff.”
“I’m no Morgan Freeman and there are no baseball bats in my book.” I chuckle. “But I’m glad you feel good about it.”
“Not to mention you.”
“Me? What about me?”
“Your own story is fascinating. Biracial. Jewish. Grew up here in Atlanta then off to Europe. Howard. UCLA for your doctorate. Returning to your roots to do good. Perfect set up.”
“We’ll see.”
“I already know,” Sienna says. “Let’s check in next week. Loved what you showed me so far and can’t wait to read the rest.”
“Great.”
When we hang up, I glance around my home office and just absorb all the good in my life. A book I wrote is being published. I wouldn’t have imagined that. My dream of serving families struggling to access quality education has more than come true. It’s thriving. I pick up one of the pictures on my desk of Aiko, Noah and me. I have a remarkable son for whom I’d do anything. And Aiko…
I’m almost there. Almost completely free and clear to start a new chapter with Kimba. Nothing will stop that. Not this time.
“It’s just me!”
The door to the backyard slams and Mona’s footsteps pound through the mudroom.
And stop.
I leave the office and head toward the kitchen. Mona’s standing in the mudroom, holding one of the shimmery wings from the dress Kimba wore last night.
“Guess she didn’t go straight home,” Mona says. “When Janet’s away, Jack and Chrissy will play.”
“It’s not like that,” I say, walking into the kitchen and leaning against the counter.
“Oh, so you didn’t fuck her?” Mona and I stare at each other, stewing in the silence left behind by her intrusive question.
“That’s none of your business, Mo,” I say softly, trying to keep my voice even, even though her comment annoys me.
“Since when?” she demands, an answering irritation in her voice. “You and Aiko are my friends. Noah is practically my godson. I love you all. I love Kimba. I don’t want to see any of you get hurt.”
“There are things you don’t know.” I draw a deep breath and then plunge ahead. “Aiko and I broke up.”
“I heard.”
“You heard? Where?”
“From Kimba after a bottle of wine. I’m sure she didn’t mean to tell me. Blame it on the alcohol and half an edible.”
“Oh.” I hate awkward shit like this. “Well then, you know that whatever happens between Kimba and me, which is our business and not yours, is not cheating.”
“Whatever,” she says, rolling her eyes and hopping up onto the counter. “Good luck with this throuple thing you’re doing with Ko and Kimba.”
“Throuple?”
“Yeah, it’s like the three of you as a couple.”
I bark out a laugh. “We are not a throuple.”
“A threesome?” She waggles her eyebrows. “The only threesome I’ve ever been in is me, Ben and Jerry, but I’m wide open.”
“Definitely not a threesome.” My smile disintegrates. “I only want Kimba.”
She closes her eyes and pulls her locs over one shoulder, the move I’ve come to realize means she’s about to lay something on the line. “I hope you know what you’re doing, my brother. Your son doesn’t even know you and his mother are breaking up, and you’re already sleeping with Kimba.”
“And Aiko was already sleeping with Chaz.”
“Chaz?” Mona’s whole expression perks up. “The cutie who went with her on the trip? That’s who she’s hitting? Nice.”
I give her the most longsuffering look I can muster.
“I mean, sorry.” She covers her mouth, but I still see the grin peeking through.
“This isn’t funny, Mo.”
“You’re right. It’s not.” Her expression sobers. “Isn’t this all happening really fast? I mean, you just saw Kimba again two weeks ago.”
“I saw her at her father’s funeral.” I shove my fingers through my hair and drag them over my face. “I knew then.”
“Knew what then?” Mona’s eyes narrow and she frowns.
“That what was between us before—”
“When you were children, Ezra. You hadn’t seen Kimba since you were thirteen years old. Come on.”
“It doesn’t matter. I know it sounds crazy to you, but until I left Atlanta, I was closer to her than to anyone else. When we couldn’t find each other, yeah, we moved on. That happens when people grow up. They grow apart, but that closeness didn’t die. It was just…waiting for us to find each other again.”
“And you think she feels it, too?”
“I know she does. We didn’t exchange numbers at the funeral because she saw Noah and Aiko, and she knew if we stayed in touch…” I don’t finish that sentence. I don’t have to. The strip of Kimba’s dress in her hand completes that thought.