Lion's Pride

Chapter 23 (Part 2)

D . a . n . i . e . l . l . e

THE NEXT DAY

"SONNY SLOW DOWN!" JASMINE YELLS AS SHE TRAILS BEHIND HER small baby brother. I watch Sonny's little fun sized feet carry his body all around the wide yellow, blue, and red themed park. Stumbling here, wobbling there. "Get back here!"

The sun beamed, better yet beat, down on the quad of us. Houston was all fun and games until the heat got the best of you and now your rubbing sunscreen all over your burned areas. White and golden sandals plate the bottom of my feet, showcasing the freshly applied blue acrylic on my small toes. Light jean shorts that stopped just below my behind with white pockets poking out underneath give me a little breeze as the plain white tank top I picked out makes me wish I chose a bikini top instead.

Jah'eim towers behind me, his shadow overgrowing my own. He is sporting his bare chest again, a pair of Nike black shorts on his lower half and all black slides on his feet. The cream colored hotel towel sways in the air as it drapes over his curls as a sun blocker. I place a hand over my eyes like a visor, watching as Sonny leads a tired Jasmine around the entire park. This makes me laugh a little.

"Should we get him from her?" I look back at an observant Jah. He makes a sheepish face, shrugging those broad shoulders and arms that I have become accustomed to being inside of. Looking back forward, he shakes his head and continues to walk towards an upcoming bench.

"Nope." Jah'eim states.

"He's running her ragged out there." I motion towards the duo of kids, one trailing after the other.

"Just like she does to me. She'll be fine." We finally approach the green colored recycled bench, Jah'eim being the first to take a seat. I go to sit next to him but the grabbing of my arm takes my body in another direction as I am unexpectedly forced to sit inside his lap. I go stiff, surprised. I look down at him as I am slightly raised in height. Jah'eim appeared to be content with his actions, not bothered by the fact that I was literally sitting on his middle area. He curls his lips to the side, looking into the distance at the park. There were other kids here ranging from babies, toddlers, and even teenagers. I raise an eyebrow and mentally fight with myself in deciding if I should move or not. Squinting my eyelids almost close, I settle for the seat, not arguing or shifting away.

"Your not that bad of a person Danielle," Jah'eim remarks. I make a shocked expression, looking him in the eyes and wondering where such words came from.

"The hell is that supposed to mean?" I defend.

"Don't act stupid." He makes a bored expression.

"Enlighten me."

"Okay so for instance," Jah'eim begins. I scrunched my eyebrows. "The first day we met."

"At the club?" I ask.

"No, actually take it back to the day we first argued."

"At the hospital?"

"Yea."

"Okay," I began to think back on the drama filled day.