The Realest Ever

Chapter THIRTEEN

THE OCTOPUS

Kyra talked to Roland a few more times throughout the following week. And of course she saw him each day when he delivered parcels to J.T. Elder. Kyra didn’t feel good about that, not at first. She was the new girl in the office, and she was also the youngest. So far everyone liked her. She didn’t want them to know she was already dating the UPS guy after only three weeks on the job.

She told Roland how she felt, and he promised not to show her any special attention at work. He kept his word. So far none of Kyra’s co-workers had caught on, even though Kyra’s arms broke out in goose bumps at exactly 10:45 every morning, around the time Roland was expected to grace their presence.

Kyra didn’t sign for his packages every time, but whenever she did Roland would smirk at her while she scribbled on his digital signature pad. Kyra would smirk at him, too, and then she’d return to her desk and carry on as usual.

Roland was a totally different animal when they talked on the phone. He kept Kyra smiling with his humor and his constant flattery. He kept her astonished with the long hours he put in at UPS, sometimes up to 16 hours in one shift. He kept her heart racing with his smooth talk and eagerness to see her again.

Kyra was nowhere near ready to have sexual relations with him, but Roland made it clear that he would worship her body and satisfy every single inch of it to the best of his abilities. He didn’t tell her this directly, but there were innuendos aplenty.

Kyra didn’t tell her best friend everything, even though Donovan wanted to know as much about Roland as possible. Kyra didn’t know what to make of it. Donovan even offered to babysit for her when Kyra told him she was seeing Roland again on Saturday night.

“That would be great,” Kyra said. “But why would you want to do that?”

“I’m not doing anything this Saturday,” Donovan told her. “It’ll save you some money on babysitting. How much do you owe your aunt by now? A few hundred?”

“A lot,” Kyra said. “One-fifty a week when I’m at work.”

“See, you don’t need to keep adding to that bill. And I want to see Q anyway. He asked if he could get online on my Xbox.”

“What about Kat,” Kyra said.

“I love Kat!” Donovan replied. “She likes me, too – she just doesn’t know it yet. The best way to make her comfortable around me is to leave her here, and let me take care of her. She’s potty-trained, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m good,” Donovan said. “I’ve never seen her crying.”

“She doesn’t cry much,” Kyra confirmed. “I’m sure she’ll be okay. It’s you I’m worried about. No man has ever volunteered to watch my kids before. I’m worried you won’t like it.”

“I’m not just any man,” Donovan said with a chuckle. “Didn’t you say you wanted me to be their godfather?”

“Yes.” Kyra’s heart swelled. She threw that at him during one of their late night phone calls. She didn’t think he was actually interested.

“Then bring my godchildren over here when you go out on your–” Donovan had to clear his throat. It was trying to close up on him. “– date. Your date.”

“Alright,” Kyra said. “I’ll call Roland and tell him I’ll meet him at the restaurant, so I can drop the kids off on my way.”

“Okay,” Donovan said. “I’ll be here.”

“You’re the best,” Kyra said. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Donovan disconnected, and then he hung his head in shame. “I’m a fool,” he said with a slump of his massive shoulders. There was no one in the house to argue against that.



≈≈≈≈≈≈≈



Four hours later Donovan’s home was filled with something he’d never heard there before: The pitter patter of children’s feet. Well, one child, to be exact. Kat was a lot less nervous about spending time with Mr. Mitchell than either he or Kyra imagined. For the first five minutes after Kyra dropped off her kids, Kat sat on the couch and watched Donovan who sat on his recliner.

Quinell was already in the den checking out Donovan’s gaming systems. Donovan feared Kat was going to sit and stare at him the whole evening, but the toddler abruptly climbed off the sofa and walked to Donovan’s recliner. She looked up at him. He smiled and raised an eyebrow, wondering what she would say. Kat looked around, and then she turned towards the coffee table and fingered one of the magazines that was stacked there. She flipped through a few pages and then looked around the room again for something more interesting.

She found it in a collection of whatnots Donovan had on his entertainment center. Donovan rushed to stop her when Kat wrapped her stubby fingers around a tiny, bronze elephant.

“Whoa, what are you doing?”

Kat looked up at him indignantly and said, “Mine.”

Donovan took the elephant from her and said, “No, that is not yours. This is mine.”

Kat stuck out her hand, palm up. “Lemme see it.”

Donovan’s smile was big and toothy. Kat never spoke to him at all, but now they were having a legitimate conversation.

“Do you want to see it or have it?” he asked.

“See it!” Katavia said. She was irresistible.

“Okay. Here you go.” He placed the elephant in her hand.

Kat’s eyes lit up, and she giggled. “Mine!” she declared and took off running, laughing the whole time. Donovan’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe he’d been duped.

“Oh, no you don’t!” He took off after her, surprised by how nimble she was on those chubby, little legs.



≈≈≈≈≈≈≈



An hour and a half later Donovan’s Saturday night was filled with much of the same. Kat continued to explore and claim the many treasures she found as her very own. Donovan stopped chasing her after the second one. He even told her, “Yes, you can have that,” to a few of the items she wanted. But Kat never played with anything for more than twenty minutes before she lost interest and continued her expedition.

Quinell was fully enthralled in Donovan’s video games. Donovan played with him for nearly an hour, but he had to stop when a visitor rang his doorbell. Ten minutes later, Donovan had to answer his door for a second visitor. This one was unexpected.

Rodney had been Donovan’s best male friend since high school. Rodney never left Overbrook Meadows, but he graduated from a local university and secured great position at the Channel 9 newsroom in Dallas.

Jonathan was a former student of Donovan’s. He graduated two years ago and was currently a sophomore at Texas Lutheran. Donovan spent a good deal of time mentoring Jonathan at Western Hills. Because of turbulent conditions at home, Jonathan lived with Donovan for a couple of months after graduation. Donovan loved him like a son.

Rodney was one of few people in Donovan’s life who knew Kyra when they were in high school. He had never seen Donovan babysit anyone’s kids before, and he thought it was hilarious. When Donovan revealed that he actually had feelings for Kyra, Rodney’s jaw dropped.

“Wha, what’d you just say?”

“I said I like her, man. I think I might, you know, I probably do…” Donovan shrugged. He rubbed his large hands together in his lap. He was sure he looked as pitiful as he felt. Donovan didn’t have a problem discussing this with either of his friends, but the look on Rodney’s face let him know he was in for more heckling.

“You like Kyra?”

“Yeah,” Donovan said. He looked around uneasily. “Keep you voice down. I told you her son’s in the den.”

Kat was in the living room with the men, playing with oversized Legos her mother left with her. She was paying them no mind.

“He can’t hear us,” Rodney said. “I’m not even talking loud.” Rodney was dark-skinned and slightly overweight. He was married with one child.

“Keep it down anyway,” Donovan told him. “You never know.”

“Alright, alright,” Rodney said. He leaned forward with his forearms on his knees. His expression was comical. “You’re talking about the woman who’s out on a date with another man? You like this woman?”

Donovan sighed and rolled his eyes. Jonathan sat on the couch with Rodney, on the opposite end. He shook his head slowly as he stared at his former coach.

“Yes,” Donovan told Rodney.

“And you’re babysitting for her, so she can go on a date with another man?” Rodney clarified.

Donovan’s chest rose and fell. He hated being the butt of Rodney’s jokes. “Yes.”

“Well,” Rodney said, leaning back in his seat. “There’s only one thing to say about that.”

“And what might that be?” Donovan asked.

“Nigga, is you crazy?” Rodney burst into laughter.

Jonathan thought that was hilarious as well.

“Say, watch your language,” Donovan said. He rubbed his forehead. “I think I’m losing it, y’all.”

“Yeah, I think so, too,” Rodney said. “And I knew you liked Kyra! I knew it when we were in high school!”

“Alright,” Donovan said. “Alright. So I like her.”

“Why didn’t you tell her when she came back?” Rodney wondered. “Y’all could’ve been together this whole time.”

“Because I was with Brianna,” Donovan explained.

“And by the time you broke up with Brianna, Kyra was already going with this other guy?” Jonathan surmised.

“No, not exactly,” Donovan said. “I broke up with Brianna before Kyra met this other cat. But…” He hesitated, knowing what they would say. “I told her to go out with him anyway.” Donovan hung his head in shame. The room was silent.

“Nigga, is you crazy?”

“Man, I told you to watch your language!”

“Alright, alright,” Rodney said. He tried to wipe the smile off his face, but it was impossible. “Okay, D. Please tell me; why did you tell Kyra to go out with another man?”

“Because I didn’t want to mess up our friendship,” Donovan said. “We always been better as friends.”

“I feel you on that,” Rodney said. “So why don’t you and Kyra just stay friends?”

“Because I want her,” Donovan said. “I don’t want her to be with nobody else.”

“You can’t have both,” Jonathan said.

“What do you know?” Donovan replied. “You’re still wet behind the ears.”

“I had a good friend who was a female,” Jonathan said. “Then we started having sex. We broke up, and now we don’t talk anymore. Like, not at all. We were really close before that. I miss her.”

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Donovan said, his eyes brightening. “I don’t want to mess up my friendship with Kyra.”

“Then quit tripping,” Rodney said. “Be happy that she’s your friend, and leave it at that. As far as you liking Kyra, you’ll be alright when you find another girlfriend.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Donovan said. That was good advice. He didn’t need to be with Kyra. He could transfer his feelings for Kyra to another woman. Wait. Was that even possible? Something about it didn’t sound right.



≈≈≈≈≈≈≈



Donovan’s friends were gone by the time Kyra returned for her babies. He answered the door and welcomed her inside at 10:52 pm. Kyra looked happy and as lovely as ever. Her brother Duke sent her $500 when she got the job at the school. Kyra used the money for new outfits for herself and the kids. Most of the clothes she got herself were for work, but she got a few dresses for after work, too. Donovan thought she looked awesome in everything he’d seen her in.

Tonight she wore a red skirt with a black top. The skirt was form-fitting. Kyra’s hips were mesmerizing. Donovan didn’t understand how it was possible from them to protrude from her body at such a degree and then quickly shrink towards her waist and thighs. Those hips were the perfect size for Donovan’s hands. Kyra’s blouse showed off quite a bit of cleavage. Donovan was both attracted to her and jealous because she dressed this way for another man. He didn’t like to think of Roland’s eyes rolling over her throat and chest and her soft, succulent breasts.

Even worse, Donovan knew he’d hear about Kyra’s whole date, from start to finish. She’d tell him how Roland looked and what he said and how she felt about it. Kyra would tell him if Roland tried to kiss her again and if she liked it and if she was starting to like him. Sadly, Donovan would be the one to pry all of these details from her. He didn’t want to, but at the same time he had to know.

“How was everything?” Kyra asked. “Did they give you any trouble?” She wore her hair down and layered. Her makeup was faint but perfect. Donovan’s heart skipped a beat as he watched her. He didn’t think she’d ever looked more beautiful.

“Everything was fine. Kat’s quite a character. She had me fooled.”

“What do you mean?”

Kat rushed into the room at the sound of her mother’s voice. This time she had two neckties in her hands. Donovan closed his bedroom door, so he had no idea where she found those.

“There’s my precious baby!” Kyra knelt to give her a hug and a kiss. “Where’d you get these?” She took Donovan’s ties away from her and placed them on the coffee table. Kat went after them immediately.

“Mine!”

“No those are not yours,” Kyra said. She picked her daughter up to keep her away from them. “Where’s Q?”

“He’s in the den. Q!” Donovan shouted down the hallway. “Your mom’s here!”

They heard Quinell’s “Aww, man!” all the way in the living room.

“Thanks for watching them,” Kyra said.

“No problem. How was your date?”

“It was great.” Kyra’s eyes were twinkling. “But I think Roland might be part octopus.”

Donovan’s smile fell. “Why you say that? He tried something else?”

“Yep,” Kyra said. “An exact repeat of last time.”

Hot coals began to burn behind Donovan’s eyes. Kyra didn’t notice because Q walked into the room at that moment. She looked down at him.

“Hey, did you have a good time?”

“Yes. Mr. Mitchell said I can have his PS3. Can I get it?”

Kyra frowned. “No, boy. You’re not taking anything out of this house.”

Q’s whole face drooped.

“It’s okay,” Donovan said. “I told him he could have it. I don’t play with it anymore, since I got my Xbox.”

“No, Donovan,” Kyra said. “I don’t like that. I’ll buy him one when I get my check.”

“You can’t pay for everything with your first check,” Donovan said good-naturedly. “Go put your kids in the car, and I’ll unhook the system for him. I wanna talk to you about your date, when you get back.”

Kyra continued to frown, but she left the house and did as he asked her. She strapped Kat into her car seat and turned the engine on so the air-conditioner would blow. Before she went to retrieve the PlayStation, she gave Quinell a hard look.

“Did you ask him for that thing?”

“No.” He shook his head fiercely.

“Don’t be going to people’s house asking for stuff.”

“I didn’t, Mama. I swear.”

Kyra narrowed her eyes and stared at him for a few more seconds before she closed the door. When she reentered Donovan’s home, he had what looked like a very expensive electronic unplugged and waiting for her. Kyra started shaking her head before she spoke.

“Donovan, that’s nice of you, really. But we can’t take that. That’s too much.”

Donovan stood next to his recliner wearing camouflage shorts with a black tee shirt. His expression was dark. He told her, “Yes you are taking it, and I’m not going to argue about it. I told Q he can have it. That’s the end of it.”

Kyra was startled by his demeanor. “Okay. I, I didn’t know it meant that much to you.”

“I don’t care about this game,” he said. “I want to know about your date. What do you mean he was part octopus?”

Kyra’s heart began to race. She hadn’t felt this way since the first time she told Donovan about Roland. They talked about him plenty of times since then. Donovan never reacted like this.

“It, it was nothing,” she said. “He was just being silly.”

“Tell me what happened.”

Kyra swallowed hard. “I, I, we went out. He took me to Maggiano’s. We had a good time. When he walked me to my car, he tried to kiss me again. I kissed him.” Kyra had to lower her gaze. She never felt this nervous around Donovan. “Before I got in my car, he said he wanted a hug, too. I told him not to try anything like last time. He said he wouldn’t, but his hands started moving. I pushed him off.”

She looked up at him. Donovan was clearly upset. And he was huge. His anger seemed to add ten feet to his height. The last time Kyra saw that look in his eyes, they were children and she told him her mother’s boyfriend tried to pull her sheets away while she was sleeping.

“Do you like him,” Donovan asked.

“I, I, I don’t know,” Kyra said. “I wouldn’t have kissed him, if I didn’t like him. But I don’t like how fast he wants to move. I can tell he wants to go way too fast.”

“I don’t want you to see him anymore,” Donovan said. He didn’t mean to, it just came out. Once it was out there, Donovan felt like a fool. What the hell was he doing? Kyra said she liked her new friend. Donovan should’ve given his advice and left it at that. Instead he practically commanded Kyra to stop seeing Roland. What would she think of him?

But without skipping a beat, Kyra said, “Okay.” She looked him dead in the eyes. Her heart was hammering. Her chest rose and fell so quickly, she knew Donovan saw it.

A cool rain washed over Donovan. His red, hot anger was immediately doused. But he didn’t feel good about what he just did.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You can keep seeing him if–”

“I’m not going to see him again,” Kyra stated. She was staring deeply into his eyes. Donovan didn’t think she’d blinked at all in the past minute.

Without warning she approached him and wrapped her arms around him. Donovan immediately grabbed her and held tightly. Kyra laid her face against his chest. She said, “Thank you, for everything.”

Donovan lowered his head until his nose and mouth brushed the top of her head. He inhaled her wonderful scents. His arms moved slowly across her back as his hands touched and clutched her flesh. Kyra’s body was on fire. The best friends hugged plenty of times since she returned, but never like this.

Donovan felt light headed. He didn’t realize what was happening until there was a mass of hard muscle between his legs. His manhood pushed against his shorts and then against Kyra.

Embarrassed, Donovan broke away from the embrace. He took a step back. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” Kyra asked. She didn’t look down at what she had felt on her stomach. She wanted to. She wanted to look so badly her heart ached. But she kept her eyes glued on Donovan’s. Her expression was daring and alluring and knowing.

“Nothing,” Donovan said.

“Then don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Kyra said. She took a few steps back. She felt pressure in her lower belly as she moved. She felt her muscles clench a little lower down. Her legs threatened to give out on her, but Kyra managed to turn and exit the house.

Donovan was enchanted by the sway of her hips as she moved. For the first time in his entire life he watched Kyra’s ass like he wanted it, and he didn’t feel one bit guilty about it. Kyra’s words were still ringing in his ears.

You didn’t do anything wrong.

Kyra didn’t realize she left the gaming system until she got behind the wheel of her car and Quinell started whining about it.

“I’m sorry. Go, go get it,” she told him. She would’ve gone herself, but her eyes were still wide, her blood racing. She sensed that if she went back inside Donovan’s house, she wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.