Tuesday, December 25th, 2018 – Charlotte, NC
"Did you miss me stud?" Cedric heard a familiar voice say making him stare at her in shock. It's been years since he had last seen Kalani and finally she was once again in front of him. And it seems that she had never lost an ounce of her natural beauty. Cedric smiled as Kalani ran towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck while he wrapped his arms her waist giving her a hug.
"I didn't think I would but I missed you after all these years." Kalani said making Cedric smile as he then gave her a kiss on the cheek while Desiree and Cedric's parents looked on with a smile on her face.
"Alright, I hate to break up this little romantic moment but I'm kinda cold and Des, you're blocking the doorway." Cedric's younger sister, Brandi said as she pushed Des aside and walked into the home. His youngest brother walked in following after Brandi. One thing could be said about all of the Harvey's they all had the same chocolate brown eyes.
Brandi looked a lot like her half-brother but she had a bit of a darker skin complexion than Cedric. Kamiah looked like their mother but she had curly dark brown hair and her father nose for sure. And Michael looked exactly like his mother except for his more masculine features. One thing is for sure no matter who had a different mother or the same mother, they all looked damn near about the same.
"How 'bout this teacher lady? You go back to ATL and we'll come visit ya." Cedric said to Brandi teasing her. Brandi rolled her eyes at her brother as she closed the door behind her and her siblings.
"You haven't changed a bit." Kala said as she kept her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes with a smile.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Cedric said with a smirk on his face.
"I don't know yet. I can see if you've changed in bed." She whispered in his ear making him smile. She bit her lip making Cedric's smirk turn into a smile.
"Oh can you two stop it. I don't want a niece. It's bad enough having to hear Brandi talk to her boyfriend." Michael said as Cedric and Kalani untangled from each other and Cedric turned his head to look at Brandi with a frown.
"Boyfriend?" CJ and Cedric Sr asked.
"We can talk about this at dinner but for now, let's open some presents." Kamiah said defending for her sister as she then pointed to the Christmas tree in the corner where there were gifts under the tree.
(!)
After they had all opened their presents, everyone went to the kitchen as they started to cook and prep for Christmas dinner. CJ and Kala on the other hand, sat in the living room next to each other talking and catching up on lost times.
"I'm sorry that I didn't call, I've just been so focused on my career as of late that I guess, I forgot my roots and more importantly, I forget you which is something that I never should've let happen."
"It's okay. I forgive you. Besides if you had never let me go, I probably would've never gone out to accomplish my dream. Because of you, I was inspired to start my own clothing company."
"Rosey's Rose. I know and I tried to donate a bit to your company but Desiree told me not to."
"I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes." Kala said with a smile. CJ looked at her suspiciously before he closed his eyes with a sigh.
"Open." She said after he had his eyes closed for a few moments. CJ opened his to see a large painting of him debuting in NXT after he hit a Ricochet with a clothesline that nearly made him flip out of his boots. He had a smile on his face as he stood over Ricochet looking down at the Champion who had the Championship lying next to the body of Ricochet.
"Holy shit." CJ whispered in amazement as he looked at the painting. CJ reached out and laid a hand on the painting taking a look at himself. Some would think it would be arrogant to have a painting of yourself but he was amazed and how realistic it was and how it managed to carry all of the emotion that he had felt that night on the canvas.
She looked at him with a smile on her face while Cedric Sr and Kimberly had looked on in the doorway leading from the kitchen to the living room. They both had smiles on their faces looking at the woman that had hoped would one day be their daughter-in-law.
"You like it?" Kala asked.
"I love it. But how did you-" CJ was saying but Kala placed a finger on his lips cutting him off.
"Just now that your sister had something to do with it." Kala said while CJ shook his head still in shock and amazement.
"I'm sorry that I didn't get you anything."
"It's okay. You weren't expecting me but there is something that you can get for me."
"What?" CJ asked as he turned his head and looked at her with a confused look on his face.
"A date. Just me and you. A nice romantic dinner or a movie. I remember we never could decide."
As soon as she mentioned the words, date, he finally thought about the woman that he had been dating for the past few weeks, Analise. How could he forget the woman that had started to take over the void left in his heart? It was at this moment where his heart and mind had to make a decision. His heart said Kala with no hesitation whereas mind said Analise he didn't want to be the guy who had just started a relationship and didn't see it through.
"A date? Are you sure that's all you want?"
"Yeah and maybe a night with the man of my dreams but we'll see." She whispered in his ear making him smile big.
"Yes, Yes, Yes, a thousand times yes." She giggled as she heard his response. She then leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Cedric Sr and Kimberly smiled as they then backed up into the kitchen making sure to be quiet. As Ced stood next to her, Kalani let out a light yawn making him turn his head to look at her. Moments like this were his favorite. When she was her natural self and she was the woman who first captured his heart.
"Now, I'm gonna go take a shower and take a nap and try to get some of this jet lag. That is unless you wanna join me. For the nap of course. Not the shower part."
"Aww, you're no fun. Yeah I'll cuddle with you." He said making her smile before she walked towards the stairs and walked up the stairs. He watched her walked with every step focusing on her assets and it was one of the reasons that guys were jealous when they saw him with her.
He was about to walk up the stairs but he felt a grip on his arm. He turned his head to see Desiree there grabbing him.
"Cedric, I'm gonna be honest with you. You need to be with Kala. She's good for you." Desiree whispered.
"I'm trying to go do that but you're kinda stopping me right now." CJ whispered as he pointed to the grip.
"How are you gonna do that with a girl back home?" Desiree whispered back at him. CJ sighed as he then looked up at the stair thinking about Kala. He started to debate in his head. The woman who always had his heart, Kalani or the woman who had just recently captured his heart, Analise. He always wanted a life with Kala but he soon had to relinquish that dream a long time ago and since then he had been seeking a relationship with Analise.
"I'll handle it."
"Do it tonight, or I will. You can't lie to Kala."
"I can't just break up her on Christmas do you realize how messed up that is."
"Well do you realize how messed up it is that the love of your life is upstairs and could be reunited with you but one woman who you met a few weeks ago is standing in your way."
Cedric sighed once more as Desiree let go of his wrist and left Cedric to walk up the stairs to be with Kalani.
(!)
Cedric walked down the stairs after several hours of him and Kala both sleeping and cuddling up next to each other. It was now time for the best part of Christmas in his opinion, the food part. As much as he loved the idea of opening gifts when he got older that feeling started to fade away. Cedric was wearing brown dress shoes with dark blue skinny jeans with a white dress shirt with a burgundy sweater over his dress shirt. Kala was following closely behind him dressed in knee high chestnut brown leather boots with blue skinny jeans and a white cashmere sweater over her white blouse.
"Well look at this, the lovebirds are coming up for air." Cedric Sr joked as everyone laughed. Kala had a blush on her face while CJ put a hand over his face.
"I hope I'm getting some grandkids." Kimberly joked making CJ exhale a nervous breath.
"Mom!" CJ said to his mom said as he walked over to a seat and grabbed it for Kala before pushing it in for her. He then took a seat next to her and grabbed a plate from the stack while everyone else was seated.
And with that the Harvey family began to have dinner. All with family who were talking and laughing with each other. A family that included Kalani.
A/N: So I hope you guys enjoyed Chapter 9. If you did please let me know with a review.
Later Guys and Gals!
