This Winter

Chapter 11

Leila's POV 

"That we're back together of course," Emmanuel replied with a grin before I turned to face him, angrily.

"We are what?"

"Dating baby. Look I know you wanted to keep this on the hush but I love you too much to not tell the world," he said kissing the top of my head and I tried my hardest not to cringe before pushing myself out of his embrace.

"You know, I thought you two would never get back together," Taylor said with a sad smile and I nodded.

"Right! I was almost certain I was done with him," I said making direct with Emmanuel who scratched the back of his head nervously.

"But now that you two are back together I couldn't be happier. What a day," she said before grabbing her side, scrunching her face up in discomfort. 

"You okay momma?"

"Yeah, I just get a little pain every once and a while, nothing I can't handle," she replied through gritted teeth.

"Why don't you go sit down and relax and I'll make you some tea, Emmanuel why don't you come with me?"

"I'm good," he said with a grin before clearing his throat after catching my expression. "Actually I'll help."

"Emmanuel helping? You must really be changing him for the better," Taylor said before I grabbed Emmanuel's hand and dragged him into the kitchen.

"I can explain."

"What part of no don't you understand Emmanual! I have absolutely no feelings for you."

"But you're here-" he said before grabbing my hand. "I know you feel something between us."

"The only thing I feel between us is the urge to smack you. For the last time, I have no interest in you, I have moved on," I repeated feeling a headache beginning to form.

"Fine Leila but at least pretend, for mom's sake. Did you see how happy she looked when  I announced we were together-"

"When you lied about us being together," I corrected and he rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. The point is I haven't seen her smile like that in a long time and we caused it. I know we're not together but can't we just pretend when we're around her."

"I don't want to lie to her Emmanuel."

"It's not lying, it's making her happy," he said causing me to sigh as I thought about how much she had done for me. Growing up next door neighbors with Emmanual, Miss. Taylor had become my second mother who was more like a best friend. She knew all my secrets and had provided the best advice and I couldn't even pretend to date her son in her time of need. Great job Leila, I thought sarcastically. 

"Fine I'll do it just give me a minute to get myself together," I mumbled not bothering to look up and see his grin.

"You won't regret this Leila," he said cheerfully before rushing out of the room leaving me to my thoughts. I didn't get a chance to think over my decision before my phone rang out, the caller ID reading 'Devvy.'  I couldn't help but smile as the memory of how the nickname came to come to my mind

"You need a nickname," I announced suddenly and Devin looked up from his cell phone.

"Why?"

"Because you have so many for me and I don't have any for you," I reasoned with a shrug.

"Alright, what do you want to call me?"

"Um. How about Deedee?" I offered and he scrunched his face up in disgust.

"Hell Nah. Why don't you just call me Dev like everyone else?"

"Nope, my nickname has to be special. How about Devvy?"

"Fine," he grumbled and I squealed in excitement before wrapping my arms around his neck before he placed a kiss on my forehead chuckling. "Only you."

The familiar sound of Devin's ringtone snapped me out of my daydream before I answered the phone.

"Hey Devi,"

"Hey, beautiful, how's it going?"

"Not great."

"Well you're with E so I don't know what you expected," he said and I couldn't help but laugh. "Tell daddy Dev what's going on."

"Daddy Dev?"

"Damn I like it even better when you say it," he said and I shook my head at his silliness. "But forreal, what's up?"

"Basically I have to pretend to be Emmanuel's girlfriend for his mom."

"Tha' fuck for?"

"She's always been there for me and if pretending to be with her son for a little bit will make her happy then I'll do it." A minute or so passed before Devin spoke.

"You know what I like about you, your so amazing and you don't even realize it."

"So your not mad?"

"Nah, do your thing and tell ma I said wassup but remember whether we official or not; you're my girl," he said and I bit my lip to keep from smiling.

"You're amazing too."

"Look I gotta go, I'm supposed to be going to Joseph's but text me later alright?"

"Alright bye," I said before hanging up. What a man!

"Hey Leila, you coming?" Emmanuel asked peeking his head in and I nodded before heading back the living room when Taylor was watching TV. I sat beside her and she smiled before we broke out into a conversation about everything she had missed in the past few year. The conversation was light and easy and I couldn't stop laughing.

"Are you going to come visit me again?"

"Of course."

"Even after the surgery?" She asked raising an eyebrow and I nodded. 

"Yes, even after the surgery ma and my friend Devin said to tell you hi," I threw in before noticing Emmanuel's face drop slightly.

"Is that who you were talking to on the phone?"

"Yeah."

"Is he cute?" She asked before Emmanuel cleared his throat. "We'll talk about this later looks like Emmanuel is a little jealous."

"I'm not jealous."

"Yeah and I'm Janet Jackson, Miss Jackson if your nasty," she said before I burst into laughter ignoring the death glares Emmanueal had been sending my way.