Turnover

16.

        

Love, Kesi had never known that she would find it in Kinston , a place she didn't want to move to in order to live with a father she never knew.  She never dreamed that home could be a person and not a place and she'd always have Kinston to thank for her finding her home, at least she thought.

Her eyes opened to a steady stream of light coming in from the window. She stretched her arms out and over Brandon's empty space. She vaguely remembered his exit, he'd kissed her forehead and said he'd be back after practice. Kesi was so sleepy that she'd just made a random sound in acknowledgement and turned over.

She looked over to Aziah's empty bed and sighed , they hadn't talked in a while, nevertheless she knew Aziah probably knew about her and Brandon, Aziah knew everything one way or the other.

Roaming her hands over his spot once more, faintly inhaling the smell of his cologne Kesi sat up. She couldn't believe it felt so empty without him, she'd slept in this bed alone for months, been without him for years yet his place stayed open always. He slid right in like nothing ever happened.

She reached for her phone and looked over her two missed calls, one from her dad and the other from Kasim.

She dialed back her dad, she'd missed him and he should be back in Tennessee now. The thing about growing up with one parent present is that you grow close to them , form a special bond.

That was another thing Kesi missed greatly. The movie nights with her dad where he almost always narrowly missed burning the popcorn and they'd share a pack of twizzlers. The midnight conversations , his failed attempts at cooking that she'd have to rectify or save.  His understanding attitude towards her, Kwasi Bledsoe, her dad had saved her.

Sending her to live with him was probably the greatest thing Kesi's mum had done for her besides give birth to her.

"Well if it isn't my angel. How are you doing Kesi?"

"I'm great dad, I saw your missed call so I thought I'd see what was going on especially since you went MIA on me."

Kwasi smiled on the other end of the line as he looked from his paperwork to the framed picture of he and Kesi taken the Christmas of her senior year. When had she grown up on him?

"Work love, work and it's getting larger and larger everyday. I'll try to call more but I know you can handle yourself. Your advisor messaged me , she's very impressed with the way your handling your work. I knew you'd be amazing baby girl , after all , my blood does run through your veins."

"Ha! Whatever dad, I hope you're not overworking yourself , I don't want anything to happen to you."

Kwasi waved her off, Kesi could hear in the tone of his response that he wasn't worried at all about his stress affecting his health.

"I'll be fine Kesi."

He assured but Kesi sighed, her worst nightmare was losing her father.

"Promise me you'll take it easy."

Kwasi sighed on the other hand. Typical children, you raised them , fed them and at the end of the day when they got older they treated you like you were the child.

"I promise princess , now how's that problem you had with the boy going?"

Kwasi asked her , his tone telling. He knew something was up but Kesi couldn't figure out how, or how much he thought was going on.

"It's resolved."

Kesi said simply , vaguely and Kwasi saw straight through it.

"So you two are dating then?"

This subject was uncomfortable for both of them. Kesi was his little girl , his only child, he didn't do well with letting her go but he remembered her and Brandon, how they used to be. Inseparable, so close that he knew their feelings were shifting romantically when he pulled her away.

At the time he was relieved by the job offer a small bit because of that. He didn't want her to get too serious with anyone when she was barely a teenager but here he was again, that tall awkward boy who he'd see with his daughter everyday.

The one who sat next to her on the school bus and came over all the time. If he allowed himself to think about it , this couldn't be mere coincidence , maybe this was their fate . Kwasi shook his head , this was just a college relationship. It was healthy and fine as long as it didn't distract her.

"Dad, you still there?"

Kesi's voice took him out of his thoughts and he nodded.

"Yeah , yeah so are you two dating?"

"I said yes dad, we are. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine princess, just spaced out for a minute there. "

Kwasi took a sip of his coffee and settled his thoughts.

"Okay , if you say so."

"Yeah it's nothing , I guess I'll reintroduce myself to the boy and you'll introduce yourself to Amelia when I come down next month."

Kesi smiled on the other end of the phone , her dad was seeing someone.

"The doctor?"

"Yes, the doctor. I have a meeting in 5 so I'll call you back. I'm not done with my questions on the boy."

"He's the boy now?"

"Now that he wants to be more than friends, yes. Goodbye princess, stay safe, I love you."

"I love you too dad."

Kesi hung up and then dialed Kasim. It went to his voicemail so she tossed her phone on the nightstand and headed to take a shower.

After she was finished with her hygiene routine she ventured back to her room and changed into jeans and a crop top then headed to lunch.

She made short work of the line and then looked around for her friends.

She spotted Cartier first , then Carter, her brother Kasim and then...

Her knees went weak a bit , her mouth dropped open slightly and her tray slipped from her hands making an audible clatter as she stared at a face she hadn't seen in a long time..