What is Love?

7.

"Ok, consider this week a week off from learning, because I know papa isn't gonna go over your school stuff with you." I told Amani as we pulled into my dad's driveway.

"Yesssssss!!!" she exclaimed, while I rolled my eyes. "Am I still gonna cheer and flip?" she asked after calming down.

"Yeah, I'll call and remind him to take you. And he'll probably teach you some more Italian." she nodded and we got out the car.

I'm going to Houston for the week to look for a building to open a new store down there. I've wanted to move to Houston for the longest, I don't know why, I just have. I don't know how Amani's gonna feel about it, since she loves it in San Diego, and I love her school. I'll figure all that out if I see a building I want.

"Thanks again, Dad!" I told him when he opened the door. I have a key, but I don't use it unless I know he isn't gonna be here or if he take too long to open the door.

"No, problem. Ready to have some fun NiNi?" he asked her and her eyes lit up.

"Anyway, I've already told her you probably won't go over her school stuff with her. But tomorrow she has gymnastics practice from 12-1, maybe 2, and on Wednesday and Friday she has cheer practice from 2-4, Saturday her game is at 10 a.m. her schedule is in her bag." I told him, but all of this is on the schedule as well as everything she's gonna need.

"Alright, and I'm guessing you have all of this written down, somewhere?" he asked knowing how forgetful he can be.

"As well as reminders set up in my phone to call you."

"You know me so well" he said and kissed my forehead. "Be safe." I nodded and kissed Mani's forehead as well.

"Be good" I told her. "I'll try to be back before your first game, but if not, I'll be here for every game afterwards."

"Promise?" she asked looking at me with those big brown eyes of her.

"Pinky promise" I held out my pinky and she linked hers with mine.

I told them I would see them later and left the house. My flight doesn't leave for like an hour and a half but I still have to get there, check in, go through security, and find me something to eat. Mani went to In-N-Out, normally I would go there as well, but after living in New Orleans for a few years, seafood has my heart, and the craving for burgers just hasn't been the same.

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"Where you at?!?!" I shouted into the phone to my cousin, Rodney. I texted him as soon as I landed, and this nigga still ain't here. Something told me to just rent a car, but he insisted I don't.

"I'm pulling up now, sorry, I got caught up in traffic." Rodney is a bisexual thot, in simple terms, so I know he was either with a female or some dude or both.

"Negro, I texted yo black ass 30 minutes ago, you live 15 minutes away by back streets. Who was you wit?" He should've known there was no need to lie to me.

"Damn! Nosey, I was with this girl and her gay best friend, if you must know."

"Should've just said that, now how long before you really get here?"

"I'm like 20 minutes away, give or take." I heard the ignition starting in the background, I shook my head this nigga just now leaving somebody house.

"Whatever, call me when you actually get outside." I hung up the phone.

I can't believe him, he had all this time to do this, he knew I was coming in town today, and he knew when I was getting on and off the plane, he should've handled his business before now.