Getting It Right (BOOK THREE)

Chapter 48

"Higher!" Ariana squeals, pumping her legs back and forth.

"If I push you any higher you're going to fly off the swing." He tells her.

She laughs like its the funniest joke she's ever heard. "That's what I want!"

Corey shakes his head and gives her one more big push before stepping to the side and letting her swing freely. She hums as she swings back and forth and Corey takes a few pictures of her. He's been trying to capture moments with his mom and sister because this is the happiest he's ever been in a long time.

A few feet away, Alonzo and his mother are sitting at a picnic table talking with each other. Corey never did tell his mom what Alonzo offered him, she knows what he does for a living so obviously she's ok with it. He isn't sure how she would react about finding out her husband is trying to get Corey in to the drug game, and he doesn't want to split up yet another happy family. Its not like Alonzo has been acting any different either. He still greets Corey with a sideways smile and respects him at all times, and Corey does the same in return. So he keeps what happened that day at Alonzo's job a secret just to keep the peace.

"Risa!" Ariana suddenly shouts and jumps off the swing. Corey moves to catch her but she lands on her feet and takes off. Entering the park, is Risa holding her little brothers hand. He pulls away from her when he spots Ariana and goes running towards her for a hug.

Corey walks over to them and daps her little brother before looking at her. "Are you stalking me?"

"No," Risa smiles. "My parents wanted me to get Andre out the house so I brought him here."

"I think you're stalking me." Corey purses his lips at her.

"And if I am, is that such a bad thing?"

"I guess not. It's not like I get stalked by pretty girls often so I'll enjoy it this time."

Risa shakes her head and looks down when Ariana starts pulling on her shirt. "Risa, look how high Corey can push me, Come watch!" She turns and is about to run back to the swings when she realizes that a little girl has now taken her spot. Ariana gasps, "Hey, she stole my swing."

"You got off Ari. Plus you were on there for a long time, it's time for some other people to get a turn." Corey says.

Ariana pokes out her lips and hunches her shoulders, "But I wanted to show Risa how good and high I swing."

"You can show me before we leave later." Risa tells her, but Ariana continues glaring at the little girl.

Andre pats her shoulder, "Ariana, slide!" He says, pointing to the big green slide on the play skate.

"Yeah, go on the slide with Andre." Corey encourages.

Ariana sighs, "Fine, come on Andre. Last one there is a rotten egg!" She starts running to the play skate and Andre is hot on her tail as they go.

"Lemme say hi to your mom and Alonzo." Risa tells Corey. They walk over to the picnic table and Corey's mom smiles at Risa.

"Hey sweetheart, I didn't even see you." His mom says as Risa hugs her and plants a light kiss on her cheek.

"Hi Auntie Lydia," Risa says then hugs Alonzo. "Hi uncle A."

"Hey sweetie, how ya doing?" Alonzo asks.

"I'm good, working hard at the pet shelter but otherwise enjoying myself." She tells him.

"That's good, if you ever need something I'm here." Alonzo says.

Risa cheeses at him, "Thank you."

Corey's mom looks back and forth between Risa and Corey. "If you guys want a break from the kids you can go walk around. We've got our eyes on them."