Pieces of Me by Pua Ramona (small books to read txt) 📕

knowing her dad, but I was young with a broken heart. At the time it felt like the right thing to do.

I’m so deep in my thoughts and almost don’t hear Emma ask, “Mama, what is that beeping sound?”

I’m not sure what she’s talking about, “What beeping sound?” I say with a frown. Then I hear it and realize we’re almost out of fuel. “What the hell? Did they forget to fill the gas tank up?” I shake my head. Assholes. “Emma, we have to stop at the gas station. Do you want anything to snack on?” I ask her.

“Umm, yes please, Mama, I'm starvin’ Marvin,” she says.

“I thought you said you weren’t hungry, you storyteller,” I laugh at her.

“Mama, we have been on the road for almost a year,” she giggles back at me with a shrug.

We pull into the gas station and fill the tank, but for some stupid reason my card isn’t working in the reader. “Baby, I need to go inside and pay. I need you to come with me. Hop out the car.”

“Yes, Mama.” She says as she climbs out of her seat. Locking the doors and grasping her hand, we head in to pick our snacks and to pay for the gas. As we’re making our way down the small candy aisle, I can feel someone watching me. I stop, trying to do a subtle sweep of the station, but I don’t see anyone. “Mama, can I get this please?” I spin on the spot to look down at Emma holding up a king-sized Twix candy bar.

“Yes that’s fine Baby, get some water so you can wash it down,” I tell her. While I’m waiting for Emma to grab a water, I can still feel eyes on me. Emma walks back and grabs my hand. We turn to pay for our things, and I walk right into something that feels like a wall but slightly softer. I look up and I lose my breath. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there,” I say, feeling a shitload of butterflies swarming in my belly. I try walking away without looking at him again, but that doesn’t happen at all. I couldn’t get myself to look away if I wanted to.

He’s standing there frozen in place, looking like he’s seen a ghost. Unless… Oh shit! Please God don’t let there be shit stuck between my teeth, fuck I hope I don’t have eye boogers as well. I pray to myself in the hopes that God hears my begging. Holding on to Emma’s little hand, we walk past the beautiful guy whose eyes are the color of the Pacific Ocean. I’m pretty sure he’s around six foot two, or six foot three. He’s built like a tree, brownish hair, military cut - not too short but just right, his golden skin appears soft like silk. I can’t stop admiring the way his black Henley shirt stretches on his broad chest and his faded Diesel jeans fit just right.

I’m still staring at this Adonis when I hear him clear his throat. “Are you okay?” His voice is husky; the type that can melt any woman’s panties right off her ass.

I am way too embarrassed to look him in the eye, so I study the tiles on the floor as I mumble, “Yes, I’m okay. Bye.”   I walk around him and my goodness he smells amazing. I hear him chuckle because I’m pretty sure he heard me and I said that last part out loud by accident, or much worse heard me sniff him while I walked by him. Smooth, Sina, real freaking smooth.

It takes us another ten minutes to get to my mother’s place and as we pull in the driveway, I’m wishing we had taken that earlier flight because all the lights are still on and there are cars parked on the side of the road. There are more cars on the other side of the street. Knowing my luck, they’ll all belong to a cousin of mine, or possibly friends of my brothers. All I want to do is unpack, take a shower and call it a night since it’s almost three a.m. Saturday morning. But being Samoan with a big family means that there’s always someone hanging out, or literally someone who just comes over to eat anything and everything. It’s one of the things I’ve missed most when I moved away, being around my aiga.

Just as I’m getting ready to get out of the car, I hear my older brother Luka yell, “It’s about damn time, Sina. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

I step out of the car and say, “Not right now, Luka, I’m tired. Shut it.”

He pulls me in for a hug as he says, “You’re lucky you’re my favorite sister, after Megan that is. I missed you Sis, it’s about time you came back home. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m scared to be back, but I know Emma needs to be around family.” I say as I hold onto him.

He lets go of me and says, “I know, Sis, but you shouldn’t have to stay away from home ‘cause some asshole decided to break your heart. If anything, his ass should’ve been the one to leave, not yours. Sina, I know it took a lot for you to come back, but I’m glad you’re here I’ve missed you so much.”

I breathe deeply and look into his eyes as I say, “I love you for always looking out for me, Luka, thank you.”

“Uncle Luka!” I hear Emma yell as she runs right into her uncle’s arms laughing. “I’m so happy to finally hug you,” she says looking up at Luka.

“Wassup, love bug! I missed you more than I did your mama,” he says with a wink.

“Here, Emma, grab your bag and head on in, I’m sure your grandma is watching from the window. Go and say hi to her, I’ll bring the rest of the bags in,” I tell her.

“Okay, Mama”