Nouveau

Chapter 56: Laive

'The trees are about to show us how wonderful it is to let dead things go.'
Author: Unknown

-Faith, Baby Girl

The cool crispness of the late night air swarmed her cheeks as she stood on the balcony with her eyes closed. The breeze softly carried rustling leaves while all five of Laive's senses conformed to the imagery in her head.

The soft touch of a cashmere sweater paired with fluffy socks. The smell of pine needles and fresh wood being added to a mild fire. Envisioning the vast hues of oranges, yellows, browns, and few evergreen oak leaves falling from the trees. The scolding tastes of froth from melted marshmallows atop a mug of hot cocoa on the chilly mornings and some-what warm afternoons...

It was Autumn.

And Laive missed home.

The Louisiana State Fair would bring in the end of October in her hometown. Laive's heart smiled in familiarity at the visuals of jumbo shrimp on a stick, turkey legs, and funnel cakes. A few of the staples L just had to have when she attended.

I wonder if Tremaine would go?

Laive giggled. He'd probably pig out on the food and over-do the rides and haunted houses. Was there any way she could bring Tremaine home and not introduce him to the family? She hadn't prepared him for their introductions. Laive always did a crash prep course due to how naturally outspoken and blunt her people were. They all said whatever was on their minds. Things normal human beings would hold in until the person's absence allowed them to say otherwise.

Not her people!

Tough skin was a requirement to handle all their strong personalities at once. But that would come along with her own transgressions. Laive would have to formally meet his family in return. She wasn't ready to do either, but the holidays were coming up, and L didn't know how much longer Tremaine would put up with her excuses.

She'd pray on it.

Cuffing season staunched the air and L wanted her babe around just as much as anybody.

I'm so needy these days!

It was unbelievable how greedy Tremaine made her in terms of affection. Hugs, touches, cuddles...and kisses. God she loved his kisses...

This shit couldn't be normal to miss someone so much. Usually her horoscope would give hope on the subject, but lately it proved of no use. Love and tenderness were listed underneath the frustration column for the past couple of months, and babygirl  couldn't become one of those women. You know, the ones who get so caught up in affection and the presence of a man that they lose focus on their own goals.

That's what happens when you've never been in love.

You want to be covered in it. Surrounded by it at all times. The man just made Laive feel good. But with Venus in retrograde, Laive wouldn't take any chances. She was determined to stay focused.

Stepping back inside, Laive closed the transparent double doors. Getting situated on the room's sectional, she connected to Apple TV and resumed a series from her MacBook.

-Insecure Season 3, Episode 8-

'Hey,' she said.

The camera panned to an ex, 'Hey'

"Awww nawl! She dating Lawrence!" Typical plot twist. Just when things were finally looking up for the main character of Insecure. The woman she sourced to help for the block party confessed being freshly divorced while on a date with her ex. L was eating plain lay chips as the screen switched scenes, "She just can't catch a freakin' break. Now Nathan! Where your tail been at? Missing for three episodes now you wanna come back."