I forgot to mention during the introduction, but Zaina is pronounced zay-nuh. Zakai is pronounced zuh-ky. Just in case anyone was wondering.
Enjoy.
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Unedited. Gibson Island, Maryland. October 31st, 2024. — Zakai's 22nd birthday. —
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ZAINA STUMBLED INTO the front door, giggling hysterically while shushing her boyfriend as she fumbled with her keys. "Zayden shhh, shut up." She pressed her finger against his big lips before pressing her own on to them. He pulled the brim of her halloween hat down, making them drunkenly snicker again.
"Girl fuck you, everybody finna hear me in a min-"
"Finish." Zantos yanked the string on the lamp harshly, making it rock back and forth when he let go. Zaina spun on her heels, immediately going sober. "Go on, finish your sentence."
"Daddy." Zaina let out a nervous breath, smiling weakly. "Hey! I, well, you're home early! I've missed-"
"Go sober up and get out of my face, Zaina." He doesn't even look at Zayden, he instead looks down at his daughter. "Which one of you drove?"
"I did." Zayden spoke up, puffing his cheeks slightly as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Daddy, please don't-"
"Sweetheart, I'm really trying not to snap on you right now." Zantos ran his hands down his face. "Please go to your room. I'll talk to you in the morning."
She opened her mouth to speak and then just looked at her boyfriend, "I love you, Zay."
"I love you more, Zai." Zayden mumbled, watching her snatch her black costume wings from off of her as she trudged up the steps. When he turned his head to see Zantos already looking at him, he pressed his lips together. "Mr. King-"
"Let's step outside, I'll walk you to your car." King gave him a small smile that ran chills down Zayden's spine. "Come on, son." He gripped his shoulder and lead him out of his house, gently closing the door behind him.
"How many drinks did you have?"
"I'm not that drunk-"
"That's not what the fuck I asked you." King snapped, narrowing his eyes. "And on top of that, there's a problem in your sentence. You aren't that drunk, which means you're some type of drunk and that also means that you got my daughter, who has never had a drink in her life drunk too."
"Mr. King-"
"And you still decided to drive instead of being a man and calling me, calling an Uber, a Lyft, something." King continued calmly. "Now again, I'm going to ask you... how many drinks did you have?"
