SAPPHIRE (Book #1 Of Fire Series)

XIX

"I really think me and Daniel are going to get along, if he's like this all the time, of course." I say.

Stefano and I walk side by side to his matte grey G Wagon as the chauffeur, Thomas, holds the door open for us.

"He is just a light in all of our lives even when in jail. Just by a few kind and funny words," Stefano smiles.

Then suddenly his phone rings, blaring "Freak on a Leash" by Korn.

He purposefully let's it play a bit longer while looking at me with a smirk, when he sees I'm surprised at his taste in music.

I'm not saying I didn't like it but I'm more of a 9 by Willow Smith feat Sza to a No brainer by Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper type of person.

He answers the phone eventually and looks pleasantly shocked.

He begins to smirk and talk sarcastically while looking at me from outside the car window.

"Hello to you too and yes she is here with me...
My day was just fine thanks for asking...
it was nice talking to you too."

He opens my door with a smirk and hands me the phone.

"Uhm hello?" I say awkwardly into the phone.

"Nandipha Zondi! You better get your butt here immediately. Tell that Thomas guy to hurry the fuck up. I need to see you. Now!" Ethan whines at the other end of the phone.

I giggle at his words and squeal at the sound of his voice, "Ethan! You're finally awake! I had such a weird day today I'll tell you all about it when we get there! And you better not be putting too much strain on yourself!"

"Okay okay. Just come already!" He chuckles.

"Okay coming! See you." I giggle excitedly into the phone.

"Now come, quick! Bye!" He says excitedly, chuckling uncontrollably.

"Bye," I giggle back and then hang up, smiling like an idiot when I hand Stefano, who is sitting in the passenger seat, his phone back.

He smirks back at me then says to Thomas, "Take us passed Spur for some take aways for early dinner, since we didn't have lunch."

"Yes, sir," Thomas nods then starts the engine.

I grin widely and look out the window as Stefano turns on the radio and Dandelion by Tevin Campbell plays.

******

"Ethan!" I squeal as I run down the hall to the room where he is.

I reach the room, open the door and pause.
We look at each other and almost break down.

I walk slowly towards him with my hands over my mouth, "Ethan," I say with a quivering bottom lip.

"Hey Nana," He says as he slowly opens his arms with a bit of a pained expression that he's trying to hide.

"You look like you're in so much pain. It's okay put your arms down." I say softly with sadness and guilt.

"No, no, come," he says stubbornly gesturing for me to come closer. "Love me." He announces.

I lean down and hug him tightly but not too tightly because he winces a bit.

"I almost thought we had lost you. You flatlined you know?" I say with tears now forming like dew drops on my lashes.

"Wow, I died for a bit? I took the "die" part of die hard way too seriously," He jokes.

"Yeah, and the rest of us were pooping our pants," I roll my eyes.

"Aww, you were scared you'd never kiss this handsome face again," He smirks at me.

"That... isn't the... only reason I was feeling sad." I say blushing slightly.

"You're so mean. I thought you loved me for my humour and my intellect and not forgetting my gourmet cooking skills," He whines faking a hurt expression.

I nearly fall over laughing when he says 'gourmet cooking skills', "Boy, please. You call burning pancakes 'gourmet cooking skills'?"

"That is ancient history Nana," He mumbles, rolling his eyes.

"It was 2 weeks ago," I cock an eyebrow at him.

"See! Ancient history. Ugh! People who hold onto the past," he says melodramatically in a flamboyant manner when Logan enters with only sweats on.

"Here's someone, miss, who you should take lessons from. You see this guy? The best person I know, besides me."

Logan and I roll our eyes at the same time and then Logan says flattly, "Don't involve me in your married couple disputes."

I narrow my eyes at him then try to bite my lip slightly.

He gives me a slight, sly smirk then winks at me before tossing Ethan an energy bar and walking back out.

******
"I can't believe you won't let me feed myself," Ethan whines to Susanne.

"No. You aren't well. You can't use any of the energy you have, you need to rest. Now Nandi, pumpkin. Can you be a darling and feed this fine young man and this whiny baby." She says fine young man while pointing at Lani and whiny baby while pointing at Ethan.

"Okay Ma'am," I salute her and take the bowl on the dark grey, new-looking, Tucsan style, black tourmaline and golden counter.

"I'll be in my room if you need me," She calls out as she walks up the stairs.

"I need you now!" Ethan calls to her patronizingly but she ignores him and continues to walk gracefully up the stairs and I think I see her smirk a little when she looks back at us.

I turn around and look at him and he is smirking at my outfit.

"What is it with you and these vintage fashion things these days?" He says gesturing to my mustard, flared jeans and my white vest, with my red All Star's.

I look at him blankly.

"Open up babies." I announce to both Ethan and Lani who are sitting side by side completely ignoring his question.
Ethan is in a very comfortable looking wheelchair and Lani in his little elevated baby chair.

"Shut up...." Ethan mumbles under his breath until he sees me glaring at him jokingly.

"Yes Auntie Nana," He says with a smirk.

"I will push you off that wheelchair and wipe that smug look off your face," I narrow my eyes at him.

He looks at me wide eyed then simultaneously we chuckle and soon after Lani makes gurgling sounds as he tries to reach for his toes.

"Over here baba." I say bringing the spoon of warm butternut close to his mouth as he looks up at me with a wet smile.

He opens his mouth wide and then claps when he has the food in his mouth.

"My turn!" Ethan says loudly and then adds," And don't forget to call me baba or I'll cry."

I lean very close to him and whisper in his ear, "Open wide baba."

When I withdraw and am facing him, with about 10 inches of space between us, he looks at me for a few seconds before out of nowhere says, "You didn't get me a gift for my birthday about 2 weeks ago."

"What else do you want?" I ask chuckling as I gesture to the house around us.

"Quite a lot to ask for actually." He says slowly and huskily while looking at me with an unknown emotion.

"Well keep that in mind, until I actually have money to buy that thing that is a lot to ask for," I say blandly.

"It's nothing money can buy," he murmurs.
"I want... You."

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