Love In Strange Places Read Free Page B

into her car, pushed the ignition button and drove to his house.
     
***
     
    He tried everything, from rocking to singing, to calm his little niece down, but nothing worked. Thank God Matthew was asleep. He should’ve known Sherry would be no help.
    His doorbell rang. He walked over with Makayla in his arms and pulled it open without even seeing who it was.
    “Why did you hang up on me?” Sherry asked, passing by him and dropping her purse on the table beside the door. “Give her here.” She took Makayla from him. Makayla was light-skinned, with big green eyes and curly hair.
    “Aun…ty, my…ear…” Makayla said in between cries, pulling at her left ear.
    “It’s okay, baby. Aunty is going try to make it better.” She said, kissing her cheeks, and then she looked up at Andrew. “Did Shannon bring pain medication?
    “Yes,” he said, digging in Makayla’s backpack. “Here.” He handled her the bottle and the measuring cup.
    Sherry took the items, opened the bottle, measured the amount and gave her niece some. Makayla opened her mouth and swallowed. “Good girl.” She kissed her. “Where’s Matthew?”
    “He’s asleep.”
    He watched as Sherry rocked and sang to his niece until she began to fall asleep. She was so tender and loving. Watching her with Makayla made him want more out of life. He needed someone who could handle him and his ways, someone who wasn’t afraid to tell him when he was full of shit.
    “I love you my, Makayla .” Sherry said, kissing her nose. “She’s always so energetic. I hate seeing her like this.”
    “Me too.” He sat next to them. “Thanks for coming.”
    “You thought I wouldn’t come? She’s my family, and they come first.” She said, playing in her curls.
    “I didn’t know what to think.”
    “I was only kidding, and you hung up on me.”
    “I was stressed out, she wouldn’t stop crying. I’m sorry for hanging up on you.” He sincerely meant it.
    He took Makayla out of her arms and placed her in his bed, in between his pillows so she wouldn’t roll off. By the time he stepped back out, Sherry was on the phone.
     
     
    “Tiffany, sorry, I can’t make dinner tonight.”
    “Why?” her best friend asked.
    “Because Andrew called and needed my help with Makayla. She has an earache.”
    “Your fine-ass brother-in-law?”
    She smiled. “Yes.”
    “Okay, I’ll give you a rain check just because you’re spending time with that hunk of a man.” They both laughed.
    “It’s nothing like that.”
    “Okay, right.”
    She looked up and blushed when she saw him, but she knew he couldn’t hear Tiffany’s side of the conversation. “Tiff, I have to go. Call you tomorrow.”
    “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t, and you know that’s not much. Bye.”
     
     
    “Who’s Tiffany? If you don’t mind me asking?”
    “My best friend. You’ve met her before.”
    “I don’t remember.”
    “She’s your type.” She smiled. He stared at her with his eyebrow arched. “You know, blonde, skinny.”
    He didn’t answer. Let her think what she wants . “You have a big mouth.” He chuckled.
    “I didn’t say anything wrong. I was explaining why I canceled our dinner plans .” She got feisty, shooting daggers at him.
    “Kidding! I know how much you hate it when I say that.” His chuckle got deeper.
    She rolled her eyes at him.
    “You didn’t have to cancel.”
    “Makayla needs me.” Her eyes started getting soft.
    “Do you want something to eat?”
    “Yes, I’m starving.” She jumped off the couch.
    “Come on, I made dinner before the kids came over.” He guided her to his kitchen.
    “You made dinner? Or did you order?” She said, following him.
    “Like I told you before, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.” He gave her his sexy, lopsided smile.
    “You don’t say?” She smiled, as he uncovered the pots he had on the stove. “Mmm, rice, beans, and chicken, yummy.” She said, her stomach growling.
    Sherry sat in his kitchenette