Page 94 of Lyric Squared

“I can speak for this nigga, but as for me… I think it’s about time to retire and get me a little forever thang,” Laike blurted.

“I’d sure like to see that,” a familiar voice spoke from behind me.

I didn’t have to turn around to see who had entered the dining hall. The contortion of Laike’s face as he swallowed the lump in his throat told me everything I needed to know. Gnawing on the inside of my jaw until I drew blood, I waited for our new guest to round the table. Now, the seat between my mother and I being empty made more sense. It was the one that was directly across from my brother.

“Baisleigh,” my mother cheered, “I wasn’t expecting to see you, tonight.”

Family dinners were private events, but according to history, Baisleigh would always be part of our family. She and Laike shared a long, difficult past that could’ve been as beautiful as Ever and Luca’s but he’d chosen to break her heart instead of nourishing the love she had for him. And she’d stuck around for his antics. But to her credit, after years of disappointment, she walked away without looking back again.

“Ever insisted I come.”

“Yes, because someone planned to be stuck on the couch on such a special day.”

“If we’re being fair, my couch is very, very comfortable.”

The black one-piece that Baisleigh exposed when she removed her coat was sickening and so were the curves underneath it. I cringed, watching as my brother nearly foamed at the mouth. His eyes never left her frame, watching as she turned and handed her coat to Luca.

“Liam, Lyric, Ken,” she spoke to everyone at once. “Where are the babies?”

“Upstairs with San,” Ever informed her as she lowered herself into her seat, again. Baisleigh took the seat next to me.

“Okay, body,” I whispered as I leaned over.

“Too much?” she asked.

“Just enough.” I sniggered.

“Now, what’s this about you retiring? Is hell close to freezing?” Baisleigh chuckled. “Or is Ashton Kutcher casting for Punk’d?”

Scooting his chair back slightly, Laike wiped his face with his dinner napkin and leaned back in his chair. His entire demeanor changed whenever she was in the equation. As much as he claimed to be past that part of his story, I knew that Baisleigh’s escape was still a thorn in his side. Since her, he hadn’t slowed down long enough to even see what the girls he laid down with really even looked like.

When she was near, Laike got his act together. He actually made sense. And, for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t rekindled the flame between them. Though it was low, the fire was still there. I could see it dancing in both of their orbs.

“Happy birthday, Baisleigh,” calmly, he said, eyes fixated on her.

“Thank you, Laike.”

“Oh God, it’s your birthday!” My mother scrambled.

“Which is why Ever spent all evening making this damn cake,” Luca complained, appearing with a colorful cake that resembled Baisleigh’s House. Gold candles protruded as sparkles crackled and popped.

“Of course you did this,” Baisleigh said, emotions quickly overwhelming her. “Really, Ever?” She fanned her glossy eyes.

“You deserve to be celebrated,” Ever told her.

As beautiful as the cake was, it was hard to keep my eyes off it and on Laike. The heaviness ingrained in his features and body language had me in a chokehold. Cumbersome Laike didn’t appear often and when he did, I felt like it was my personal duty to relieve him of whatever stress resting within him.

“Thank you so much.”

“Luca and I got you something we thought you could use in the near future,” Ever explained.

“What?”

Ever dangled a set of keys between Baisleigh and I. “We found a truck for sale that used to be a mobile restaurant. The owner retired and had no use for it. It’s practically brand new. We were thinking that you could be amongst the many food trucks the city needs.”

“Get out of here! I’ve been thinking about this for so long. I just didn’t have the energy to put into finding a truck.”

“Now you have one,” Luca said.