Just Another Secret.

Chapter 44

Keisha

I wake up to Sergeant Simone krumping to the weirdest version of happy birthday I've ever heard.

"Dad. Get out!"

"I remember—"

Not this crap. He does this every year.

"MOM!"

She gets in here. "August she is 17–"

"Yes and she should get used to it. My daughter is 17!"

I sit up. "And so why are you celebrating harder than I am!"

The man finally stops goofing around. He sits on the edge of my bed and he opens up a long box. "It's time you had these."

When I see it I immediately pull him into a hug. "These are yours. I can't-"

"I want you to have them. I know you'll cherish them more than anyone on this earth."

Grandad's necklace and bracelet. He never took it off.

The bracelet is like leather rope with these silver cubes that spell Simone. Then the neckless has a golden compass on it.

Dad puts it on me before claiming I need to hurry up and get out of bed because there's a surprise waiting for me downstairs.

It's nine in the morning. Why can't it wait?

When I get ready for the day I walk downstairs to see my boyfriend with a bunch of flowers. And a vintage bikers jacket.

"Dude that's crazy!" I catch him off guard by hugging him.

"Mhmm. Happy birthday."

He's not hugging me back.

He's not even looking at me.

I pull back. "You are still doing this?"

He doesn't answer. So my father questions it.

I look at him. "You don't want to know."

After yesterday Kahlil refused to look me in the eye. I know I said he had two minutes but he could've stopped it at anytime but he didn't. He was a noisy mess who ruined my hair.

I grab Kahlil's hand and drag him towards the back of the house.

He speaks quietly. "I apologize for my behaviour last evening."

"Why are you apologizing? It was my idea."

"I let it get out of hand. I wasn't thinking. I shouldn't have held you like that—"

I can't help but quietly laugh. "Stop it. Why are you embarrassed about something that gave you pleasure—"

He swallows down hard and stares at the wall. "I've never made a damn sound like that ever. And I would like you to forget that ever happened."

He's really embarrassed. Now I kinda feel bad.

"Can I have a kiss?" I ask him.