Playing For Keeps

Part Ten

The following week, pushing the bins to the front for next mornings collection, I bumped into Kenai taking their bins out.

"Hi Lana, how you feeling?"...

"I'm ok" I smiled,

"Thank you for asking" He smiled back and nodded. I could tell he wanted to say something so I stood near my bins and waited.

"That ex of yours.." I quickly cut him off

"I'm sorry about what happened that day. I didn't mean to get youse involved." Kenai stared at me a little stunned, I felt like I was blubbering.

"Well I was just going to ask if you've heard from him or if my little brother told you...." He let his sentence drag out as though he was waiting for me to know what he was getting at

"No I haven't heard from Mika since that day. What is Tavita meant to tell me?" He seemed to be in deep thought.

"He had another run in with your ex. That day." He shrugged,

"thought He might've said something to you" I was flabbergasted. Tavita never said a word. My ex was becoming my worse nightmare.

"He didn't say anything to me"

"My little brother has built a wall up so people don't get too close to him, even those who think they know my brother find out that they don't really know him at all. He tells you only what he wants you to know. A mate of mine saw my brother and there was a car following not far behind his. Your ex. Him and his friends intended to gang bash my little bro"

Kenai's mellow voice belied the burning rage in his eyes. I searched my memory of that day when I last saw Tavita which was later that night when he fasi'd his high school friend Keanu in his back yard. But he didn't look beaten up. I looked up at Kenai, eyes filled with remorse. He smiled...a wicked smile that gave me the goose bumps haha.

"My mate said my brother was a sight to see, that he made me and Sam look like a bunch of girls in a fight" He tilted his head back laughing.

"I don't understand"

"My brother nearly put your ex in a hospital" he grinned full proud.

"At least you know you're upgrading. You'd never be disappointed" Giving me a brotherly awkward pat on my head making me feel 12 years old again. I must've looked confused..

"You have a thing for my little brother don't you?"

"Wait, pardon? No" Kenai stayed silent, I could've sworn he was blushing.

"Did I just botz it?" I nodded slowly

"You so did. I'm embarrassed for you" I couldn't help but laugh not only because I was relieved he was off the mark but also because I enjoyed watching him look so sheepish. The thought of Tavita beating up Mika in defence of my honour was a sobering thought as well as it was humbling.

When I saw Tavita leaving his house, I grabbed my handbag and ran out to catch him before he left.

"Puspos, can I get a lift to work please?" Making a run for his car. Tavita looked at me and his gaze stopped at my footwear.

"Are you going to work wearing those?" I looked down to find I was wearing two different jandals.

"Ah dang it! Wait!"

Running back inside my house to grab socks and proper work shoes I got in his car and waited for him to see if I had the right shoes before giving me a winning smile followed by a devilish wink. We stayed quiet on the road until K'nova's 'I don't wanna' started playing and suddenly I had to stop myself from laughing as we pulled up to a red light and Vita was getting really into the song that he started singing it to the car next to us. But what had my sides hurting was his fafa moves he was doing with his hands while pressing the button for his window to go up where they couldn't see inside cause his windows are tinted. He pulled into a petrol station to fill up. A car pulled up beside ours and the Lebanese guy kept staring at Tavita's car. Probably wondering how a fob could afford an Audi...wrong! The conversation that took place between them had me and the wog girl in the other car pulling facials that surely resembled 😮 😮 He looked at Tavita and said

"Man uleh, your rims are sexy bro"

"Na dox your rims are freakin sexy."

"Habib tell me how much did they set you back? I want some they're sooooo sexy uleh"

"Trust me dox, your rims are sexier." And then they showed each other their sub woofers (rolls eyes) the girl in the passenger seat looked at me and said

"You know I've never heard him talk about me like he has been talking about your mans car" shaking her head that I laughed. They did act as though they were talking about a girl.

"I'm not his gf, just his neighbor but I can see now why he's still single" the girl laughed so hard tears filled her eyes. Tavita heard me when he got in and told me to shut up.

Driving closer to my work I decided to bring up what was nagging me.

"I wanted to say thanks for what you did"

"Which was what?"

"I know what you did" he remained quiet and kept his eyes on the road..

"Did your ex tell you"

"No, your brother did. His friend saw the whole thing happen" he frowned and shrugged

"I hate guys like your ex. I see his type all the time. Bet he deals aye?" I didn't say anything. But he knew..

Arriving outside my work I gave him a quick wave before he left. As I spun on my heels I smacked bang into someone bowling them over.

"Omg I'm so.."

"YOU!" Taking a step back I realised it was just Lauina haha.

"So, you find anything nice down there?" Glaring at me she had her right-hand 'man' chick pick her up off her feet.

"What'd you say to me?" She gritted through her teeth. Her 'man' close by like a bad smell. I simply grinned and waved her off. Turning my back to her I felt her scratch at my arm as a means to grab hold of it. But as soon as my reflexes kicked in it was too late. Out of nowhere two strong built arms pulled mine to my side and with lil effort picked me up and carried me back to the parking lot.

"Argh what are ya doing?! Let me go ya big..ogre!!!"

Taking in my surroundings I realised I was causing a scene so I grudgingly bit my tongue and waited for this guy to let me go. As soon as he did I took it as a chance to swing at him only to stop as soon as our eyes met..