Page 3 of Fallynn West

“My bad. I didn’t mean to. I was concentrating, so let me get off this phone before I mess something up. I love you. Don’t forget to send me the location.”

“I love you too.”

Ending the call, I tossed my phone onto my desk and huffed. Regardless of Serenity saying the news wasn’t bad, it didn’t stop me from feeling some type of way. I had to busy myself with work to make the time go by.

It was naptime at the center when it was time for my lunch, so I checked on my teachers before quietly exiting. The restaurant I’d chosen to eat at was only ten minutes away with light traffic. Thankfully, it wasn’t packed when I arrived, so I got Serenity and me a table and waited for her.

Discreetly, I looked around the restaurant, observing my surroundings. If Martin Miles taught me one thing, it was to always be cautious of who and what I was around. The world was far too crazy not to be aware. It was too crazy to not stay prayed up. Every day, multiple times a day, I asked God for His protection. Not only over me, but everyone close to me as well.

“Hi, Sissy!” Serenity greeted me with the biggest grin stretching her lips, showing off the dimples I wished to inherit. I guessed our father only had enough to pass to her since she was the oldest.

I rose to my feet and embraced her. Despite us having lunch every month, I still missed her like crazy. Moving away from her was one of the hardest things I’d ever done in life, but somehow, it seemed to bring us closer than we already were.

“I missed you,” I whispered as I pulled away and looked her over. “Don’t you look cute. I’m surprised Jacob let you come out looking so good.”

Serenity did a little twirl and winked at me. The all-white attire looked divine against her rich melanated skin that matched mine. Her bob was straightened to perfection, and the light beat of makeup brought out her honey-colored irises. My sister was a ten across the board, and I reminded Jacob on every occasion how lucky he was to have her. She was blessed with the looks and personality. That was something that couldn’t be beat.

“No, that’s all you, Colony. Martin and Satin know they made some fine-ass girls.”

We slapped hands and sat down. Before Serenity got there, I ordered us a bottle of wine and some spinach dip to get us started. The waitress came over to see if we needed anything else, but I asked her to give us a minute.

Wasting no time, I pulled my phone out, and Serenity snickered.

“Dang. You don’t want to catch up with your sister first?” She dramatically placed her hand over her heart with her mouth slightly agape.

I waved her off. “Girl, please. We have plenty of time to talk. I need to know what’s going on with the Mr. and Mrs.”

Without waiting for Serenity to say anything else, I tapped on my mother’s contact and put it on speakerphone, turning it down to the lowest volume. The phone rang three times before Mommy’s voice filled the air between us.

“Hello, pooh bear. What are you doing?”

“Oh, nothing. Sitting here with your daughter. She said I needed to call you.”

Mommy kissed her teeth, and I giggled as I pictured her rolling her downturned, cocoa-tinted eyes. “Serenity. Didn’t I tell you I’d talk to your sister later?”

“Yes, and it’s later. I talked to you early this morning,” Serenity shot back, and we shared a laugh.

“I guess you have a point,” Mommy stated. “Hold on. Let me go get your father.”

There was some rustling in the background before I heard Mommy calling Dad’s name. If I knew my father like I thought I did, I could bet he was in the garage, working on one of his old school cars. He had retired four years ago and couldn’t stay still. Martin was constantly into something, and he claimed that was what kept him and my mother young.

“Martin, come here,” Mommy demanded.

“Oh, you want me to do what you told me earlier?” he questioned, and there was a loud smack that echoed through the phone. Serenity and I stared at one another with our faces crumpled. Dad was always being nasty, but it was cute because his love for Mommy never wavered.

“Oh, hush! The girls are on the phone, and I’m sure they can hear you.”

“We can!” Serenity and I said simultaneously.

Dad released a hearty laugh and spoke. “Hey, my princesses.”

“Hey, Dad.”

Mommy cleared her throat. “Serenity’s big mouth went and blabbered to Colony, saying we needed to talk to her.”

“Well, she’s not wrong. Colony?”

“Yes, sir?” I said, feeling my heart slowly starting to race.