Broken Without You

2

Chapter two • Keisha

I went to collect my car from the garage first thing in the morning because it was having some problems. It was my day off so I had the whole day to myself.

I lay back on my bed and watch Moana for the 10th time whilst eating some sweets.

"Moana again mum, you're too old for this Disney shit." Sariyah rolls her eyes.

"I can watch whatever I want and don't roll your eyes at me like you're grown."

"Sorry." She looks down and plays with her fingers before coming to snuggle up with me. It was only 30 seconds into the movie that my phone decides to ring. I look and the see the caller ID is just a phone number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, its Roman. I was wondering if you could come round to mine and babysit Mya, I have to go to work in an hour."

"Really Roman? I mean, I'm only her gymnast teacher, I don't think a teacher should babysit her student."

"But you spend an hour with her every week, plus she's been begging me to get you to do it and nobody else, she misses you a lot... please?"

I sigh, he's just like his daughter.

"Fine I'll come round and babysit her, send me your address."

"Ok and thanks."

"Your welcome." I smile even though he can't see me. I hang up the phone.

"Who was that?" Sariyah asks.

"Just some guy." She raises her eyebrows and smiles.

"My new dad, huh?" She smirks and I laugh.

"No Sariyah, he's just a friend." I get up from my bed and put on some decent clothes before fixing my hair and my face. "So you're gonna have to go round to Amara's for a while until I come and pick you up."

She jumps up at her name. "Okay." She smiles. She runs out of my room and into hers to go and get ready.

When she's done, I drive her to her cousin's house before going to Roman's.

Babysitting a child, how hard can it be?

•••

"Okay Keisha, you're just babysitting the man's daughter, it's not that hard." My hand comes up to ring the doorbell but I put it back down. "Shit Keisha get yourself together." I try to ring the doorbell again but Roman beats me to it and opens the door.

"You done talking to yourself, sweetheart?" He asks with a smirk on his face. Damn, he's dressed in a suit with his hair in a man bun and his Greek body to match.

"O-oh, hi Roman."

"Hey." He smirks, he gestures for me to enter his house.

I look around. "You have a lovely home."

No reply.

I turn around to see him staring at me. "I said you have a lovely home."

"Thanks." He smiles. From behind him, I see Mya dragging a teddy bear in her hand while rubbing her sleepy eyes. "K-keke" she says happily but her morning voice was dominant.

"Hi Mya." I wave. Roman picks her up but she wiggles around in his arms. "Keke." She whines. We both laugh as Roman passes her to me.

"You guys have a good day, I'll be back in the evening." He picks up his briefcase.

"Bye." Me and Mya say simultaneously as we wave him goodbye.

"So what do you wanna do first?" I ask her.

"Have a shower, I just woke up."

"Of course." I chuckle.

•••

"See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me and no one knows, how far it goes."

Mya is sitting on the counter, cracking the eggs into the pancake mixture before I mix it. "I can't believe you watch Moana Keke, you're a big girl."

"Big girls can watch Moana too. Who's your favourite?"

"Moana of course, not Maui, I don't like him." She scrunches her face.

"Me neither." I do the same to my face and we both laugh. I pour the pancake mixture into the pan.

Minutes later, the pancakes were ready. I put some on Mya's pink plate and some on mine. "You want syrup on your pancakes?"

"Yes pwease."

She's really cute.

I put syrup on her pancakes before leaving to the living room. We sit on the plush sofa, snuggle up in a blanket and watch Moana.

She puts her head on my shoulder.

3 movies, 5 songs and a makeover later, I'm woken up. "Keisha." Roman's shaking my arm.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep, where's Mya?"

"I put her to bed and don't worry, let me get you your money." He comes back and hands me two hundred pounds.

"Now you're pushing it Roman, how can you give me two hundred pounds just for babysitting your daughter?"

"You're the first person I met who would reject this much money, most women would just take it."

I furrow my eyebrows. "I'm just kidding, you're my first." He smiles and I return an awkward smile.

"Thank you Keisha."

"Oh it's nothing." I get up from the sofa and fix my outfit.

"No its everything. Ever since her mother abandoned her she hasn't had a mother figure in her life and having you made me realise how much she really needed it."

I smile. "Thank you."

He hugs me tightly. "You keep yourself safe."

"I will." I was the first to pull away. I go to put on my sneakers. I look back at him and he gives me a sad smile. I feel bad for him but I have to go.

"Bye Roman." I wave.

"Bye Keisha."

I blow him a kiss and watch him catch it and hold it to his chest. I close the door behind me and walk up to my car.

My hand touches the door handle but I couldn't open it. I can't leave Roman alone and sad like this, he needs comfort.

I turn around and slowly walk to his house, nervously my hand goes to knock on his door.