The Realest Ever - By Keith Thomas Walker Page 0,35
of Kyra’s head. She knew there was a nice crease between them. She couldn’t see it, but she knew it was there.
When they separated, Kyra wondered how long these forbidden feelings would last. While it was natural for her to be attracted to a fine specimen of a man like Donovan, her conscious usually kicked in when someone was off limits. Surely she wouldn’t have to go through this every time she saw him. No way was God that cruel!
“Kyra, you look beautiful,” Donovan said. “Talking ’bout you don’t have anything to wear.”
“These jeans are a year old,” she told him. “But thanks.”
“I brought those papers I told you about,” Donovan said.
Kyra took them and scanned the first page. “What do I do, go online to apply?”
“Yeah,” Donovan said. “Have you applied for any jobs in the school district?”
Kyra shook her head.
“Then you’ll have to set up an account,” Donovan said. “It’s pretty easy.”
Kat took a step into the room, supporting herself with a hand on the doorframe.
“Hey, I didn’t know she could walk,” Donovan said. He grinned at the toddler. She really was precious, the spitting image of her mama.
“Of course she can walk,” Kyra said. “Hey, bookie bookie.” She went to retrieve the little girl. “Kat, you remember Mr. Donovan, don’t you?”
The baby was not as shy today. She didn’t smile at him, but she did look Donovan in the eyes.
“Hello again,” he said. “I hope you’re not afraid of little, old me.”
He had the sweetest smile on his face. Kyra had never seen him with a child, but she knew he was good with babies.
“Hello, sir.”
Donovan turned and saw Kat’s older brother in the other hallway.
“Hey, what’s going on, big man?” Donovan went and shook his hand casually. “I heard you’re going to my old school.”
Quinell nodded. “I go to Sunrise.”
“You like it?”
Q smiled. “I like my teachers, so far.”
“You know me and your mama climbed on top of that school one time?”
“Don’t tell him that,” Kyra said, but she was smiling. “I don’t want him trying to do it hisself.”
Quinell nodded. “She already told me.”
“What?” Donovan gave Kyra a playful frown. “It’s okay for you to tell him, but I can’t?”
“I told him so he wouldn’t try it,” Kyra said.
“Yeah right,” Donovan said. “Hey, have y’all eaten dinner yet? Wanna go to McDonalds?”
“Yeah,” Quinell said.
But at the same time his mother said, “No, that’s alright.”
Quinell’s smile fell.
“Come on, Kyra,” Donovan said. “You already cooked dinner?”
“No, but we–”
“You might as well go,” Aunt Ruth interrupted. “We ’bout out of food anyway.”
Kyra’s eyes flashed with humiliation and annoyance. She turned slowly towards her eavesdropping landlord. “Auntie, we do have something to eat in there.”
She spoke calmly, but Donovan knew it was a strain. He felt like he stepped into an ongoing argument. Normally he would’ve backed out and let the women deal with it on their own, but he really wanted to get Kyra out of the house now, so she could tell him what was going on.
“Come on, y’all,” he said and opened the front door. “Y’all ready? Where’s your car seat, Kyra?”
“It’s in the back of my car,” Aunt Ruth said. “You can get it. The door’s open.”
“Okay, thanks.” Donovan took a step outside and looked back at his best bud. “You coming?”
Kyra’s nostrils flared. But other than that, she didn’t look upset. “Yeah. Go put your shoes on, Q.”
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
Donovan paid for everyone’s meal. Kyra appeared to be in a chipper mood until they finished eating and Quinell went to play video games. Kat headed for the bounce house.
“That was not cool,” Kyra told Donovan when they were alone.
“I’m sorry,” Donovan said. “Honestly, I didn’t think it was a big deal.”