So Much Better

What is love?

We all had dinner outside by the pool. His family was a laugh. My stomach hurt at how much I laughed at them.

The food was to die for and everyone was nice. Even Carmens daughter was likeable.
Some time after we got there so did Kelly and Jidenna. We all laughed at how the girls looked at Jidenna. He was quite good looking to be honest, the perfect match for Kelly.
They were both so classy and educated. It was beautiful to watch a black couple growing like that.

I looked at August and smiled at him.

"You ready to go?"
"No. We can stay."
"You sure?"

I nodded.

"You liking everybody?"
"Yeah. They remind me of some of my cousins." I laughed. "Always got a joke to go with it."
"They a trip alright."

Kelly took my arm pulling me from the pool chair I was on with August and smiled at him.

"Girl talk time."
"Lea' ma baybeh alone Grace Kelly." He said holding my hand.
"Y'all siamese twins now?"
"Nah."
"Thought so. Let the girl breathe with your smothering ass."

He frowned and I caught the pout he had on just before he licked his lips.

I kissed him.

"You don't smother me." I said looking at him.

He nodded and let me go.

"You so rude Kelly." I chuckled after we were far enough.
"Girl hush. He does smother you."
"If I cared I'd complain."
"You like it don't you?"

I smiled and nodded and we went into the living room where all the women were and sat on the L shaped couch where there was still space.

"How did you meet August?"
"Wow." I laughed. "That was fast!"

Every one was looking at me eager for an answer.

"Damn though. Y'all couldn't wait? Let the girl breathe a little." Kelly tried helping me.
"Grace Kelly be quiet yours is coming."
"Well shit." She mumbled looking down at her phone.
"We... we uhm... Met... we were neighbors. I needed to get rid of some things I was too heavy to carry and he helped me out. We got along after that and grew close.
"That's cute."
"It is." His mother nodded. "What do you like about him?"
"He's caring. I haven't been cared for like that before."
"Make sure you know you the only one that he's like that to. Aug mean as hell!"

I laughed.

"I know."
"She's seen him with me."
"You guys are hilarious though."
"Live with that idiot long enough and you'll think otherwise."

I shook my head smiling.

"Nah talk 'bout that fine ginger brother sitting outside looking at you like you a shooting star." Candy said at Kelly.
"Oh my goodness." She said rolling her eyes.

Her mother smiled at her and she cheesed.

"I met him at a conference building. Our meetings ended at the same time and we met in the elevator and exchange looks." She bit her bottom lip and for the first time I saw her shy away.
"Oh my gosh he got you shy!" I laughed.

She clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. Just like August.

"Then we met at a restaurant an hour later. He smiled and we talked... I decided he was too uppity an hour into the conversation and he chased me until I agreed to go on another date with him. I actually liked him that time. We never stopped hanging and eventually we were official."
"Superficial as fcuk."
"Zip it Candy." Kelly spat.

Candy zipped her lips, and threw an imaginary key behind her.

"They love you dearly." Said their grandmother.

If only they said it. Kelly smiled.

My phone vibrated and I saw a text from August.

August: I'm outside on the car. Say you're getting some water and come meet me.
Me: I'll never get away with that!
August: Five minutes scary cat.

All of a sudden I felt anxious to see him again and couldn't keep my heart settled.

I got up and Kelly looked at me.

"Water."
"You know your way to the kitchen pretty?" Ms. Sheila asked.
"Yeah, I got it." I nodded.
"Alright."

I went into the house and slipped into the kitchen finding the front door cracked. I looked behind me and slipped out when I heard footsteps.

I ran to the car freaking out! August opened my door from the inside and I jumped in.

"Go! Go! Go!" I squealed. "There was someone coming."
He sped off just as I closed my door.

I looked at him and we both burst out laughing.

"What am I doing?" I asked myself.
"You're having fun."

I looked at him and smiled.

He looked back at the road and started speeding up.

"August!" I said strapping my seat belt on.
"Relax baby." He said taking my hand.

He stopped at a light and my heart settled. He kissed my hand and roared the engine.

"Shit." I said closing my eyes once the light turned green.
"Scary cat open your eyes. Look at the city. The lights down here are popping."

I peeked with one eye then the next and I saw everyone out and all the bright colors all over the place. The speed we were on started blurring the lights and it looked like we were going through a rainbow.

I put my hand over my mouth.

"Damn."

He laughed.

He slowed down turning into the garage of a building and opened my door for me.

"Where are we?"
"Home."
"What does that mean?"

He shrugged.

We walked over to the elevator and he pressed for the last floor.

I stepped close, closing the gap between us and gave him a light kiss. He kept his arms around me and leaned his chin on my head.

We got to the top apartment and he put his finger print on the scan to open the door.

We went straight to the balcony and there was a beach chair set up with a fluffy blanket and a bucket with iced champagne and glasses.

I smiled and pulled away taking in the view.

"This is beautiful." I said looking back at him that sat on the chair pouring our champagne.

"What are we celebrating?" I asked coming and sitting between his legs.
"Love." He said giving me my glass.

I looked at him and he reached for his phone and answered it.

"We out to get some things she forgot to pack." He lied with ease.

I squint my eyes at him and he smiles and kisses my temple. I play with the brim of the glass as he ends the conversation and looks at me.

"To love." I said holding my glass up.
"To being in love."

I got goosebumps by the way he looked at me.

I took a sip and loved the taste of it.

"This is good."
"It is." He nodded pouring us another glass.

We sat in silence for a while just enjoying the moment until he kissed me.

He opened his mouth to say something but closed it and looked away.

"Say it." I said looking back at him.

He kissed me again and I held his face in my hand. I hadn't been able to open my eyes and look at him.

"Iza?"

I opened my eyes, breath already shaky, eyes watering.

"Hm?"
"I fcuking love you." He said looking at me

I chuckled.

"I love you too."