LOOK AFTER YOU

12

I smiled at Kylian telling him to relax as we walked up the steps to my father's house.

"Just be yourself." I told him giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

He licked his lips nervously and I went on my tippy toes to kiss him, he responded almost immediately, circling his hand around my waist. I pulled away gently, rocking back on my heels as smiled up at him.

"It'll be fine." I said.

He nodded and shook out his hand nervously. Like he was trying to expell the jitters through his fingers.

When my sister, Tia opened the door she pulled me into a hug immediately. I had missed my family so much and I didn't realise until I found myself blinking back tears.

"You look so beautiful, you even a glow." she said her accent prominent.

I smiled back at her, my sister was down to earth, she was strong and independent and a certified heartbreaker. Until recently when Lance, her boyfriend of six months seemed to be become a permanent fixture in her life.

I pulled away from her to give her a once over,

"You look so good." I said.

She was the one out of the both of us that got most of my father's genes. It showed in her big butt, strong shoulders and deep chocolate complexion.

Me and my brother were much lighter, with curlier hair, and a petite frame. My ass would never reach the same proportions as hers, but my butt still is capable of looking good if I eat right. Which I have. She glanced behind me, before saying in a stage whisper.

"A him that?" I nodded, motioning for Kylian to come over, he did so quickly.

He held his own under my sister's gaze, he returned the stare. Eyes never shifting from hers, she held out her hand to shake his and when he did grasp her hand she pulled him into a hug. She looked at me over the shoulder, mouthing an "I approve." Kylian didn't know it yet but he just passed the biggest test of the day.

I'm pretty sure he thought my father was going to give him a hard time, but really it was my sister that was hard to please.

And she just gave him the seal of approval.

We shuffled inside and through the backdoor that led into the back yard where my father was having a barbeque.

It was mostly people from My stepmom's church and a few of my Dad's trucker friends.

My sister and her boyfriend, me Kylian and a few neighbours, As soon as my dad saw me I was pulled into a hug "Peanut" he said calling me by my ancient nick name.

I smiled hugging him back, he pulled away to inspect me, flustering me with questions. If I was being treated right, if I was eating good and what not.

I nodded showing him I was okay.

"So this is Kylian?" he asked finally glancing at Kylian whose hand I was holding the entire time.

"Yeah, Kylian, Dad...Dad Kylian." He nodded pulled Kylian into a bro hug before pulling him over to the grill to show him a few things, Kylian looked at me with wide eyes. I know he didn't expect that, I bet he was expecting to be grilled, prodded and bombarded with questions.

I smiled showing him it was okay.

I found my stepmom and said Hi to her before sitting down with my sister for some catching up.

When it was time for food, we all moved out into the back yard. Tia and I helped shared the dishes.

There was Roasted Corn on the Cob, Jerked Chicken and Curried Mutton. There was also Pork, which my father loved, with Potato Salad and Jamaican style Rice and Peas made with Coconut Milk.