Pickin Wildflowers

Eggs, Toast, and Trouble

Mazikeen awoke still in Weston's hoodie. She rolled over and checked the time. It was 9 am, and it was time to make breakfast for Sedona. She threw her slippers on and headed downstairs. Sedona was already awake in her room watching cartoons, so she popped her head in. "Good morning, bunny, what do you want for breakfast?" she asked. "Can we have eggs and toast?" Sedona replied, pausing her cartoons. "Sure, baby," she replied, heading towards the kitchen. Eggs and toast had been her favorite since her dad worked at Rocket Bites; it had quickly become their Sunday tradition, and Sedona rarely deviated from it. Once in the kitchen, Mazikeen set her phone down and started surfing through her playlist to find a good jam to cook to, She loved dancing while cooking, and Sedona usually joined in. Finally, she landed on All Cap, No Mercy. As the song began blaring over the Bluetooth speaker, she started dancing. She opened the fridge and grabbed the eggs and butter. Sedona came into the kitchen and started dancing with her and rapping the words with almost as much attitude as her mama. Mazikeen knew she was gonna work up a sweat, so she took off Weston's hoodie and laid it on the bar stool. The music was so loud, she didn't hear her best friend, Sterling, and his wife, Elena, coming in the front door. "Damn, you already started the party without us?" Sterling shouted over the music. Mazikeen jumped, startled. "Oh my gosh, Sterling, what the hell, you scared me!" she said, pausing the music. "Sorry, but we heard the music when we got to the door, so we didn't bother knocking," he replied, setting their food down on the counter. Sunday meant brunch with the Vesperas and the Westholts. She had completely forgotten. "So I completely spaced and already started on eggs and toast," Mazikeen said, slightly embarrassed. "That's ok that'll go perfectly with the bacon and pancakes we brought as well as orange juice and tea" Elena said, holding up the bags of drinks Just then Nyra, Lucan, and Colden walked into the kitchen their arms filled with more food containers "We brought gravy, biscuits, and fruit" Nyra said setting everything on the counter Everyone knew the vibe at Mazikeens house. Hence, everyone was in pajamas or comfy clothes. "Dude, where's the music?" Colden asked everyone laughed as Mazikeen pressed play on the speaker and Code 69 started playing everyone looked at Colden and laughed singing the lyrics "Arrest me but make it sexy" they all sang in unison he was stone faced but laughing internally they all knew it Mazikeen quickly changed the song to Wreck the Penthouse she and Nyra started dancing in unison as they started to plate breakfast for everyone While they made plates Colden and Sterling headed outside to set the table and bring the drinks outside Sedona and Lucan followed and began playing tag outside Quickly the girls carried the plates outside and sat down at the table "Well everyone you know the drill tell us about your week" Mazikeen said pouring herself a glass of tea "Well I worked my ass off this weak, sweated like a w***e in church, and read a book this week" Sterling said going first everyone laughed as Elena cleared her throat "I also read a book, watched a new movie with Sterling and worked my butt off" she said looking at Mazikeen who always went next "Well we had a new person start at work, I did some school work, and I put a bid in on a new horse" she could feel everyone's eyes on her because they weren't just friends of hers they were also customers of hers so they were wondering who this new person was "Well Colden and I put in an offer on a house, and set a date for the wedding" Nyra said trying to ease the burning looks towards Mazikeen "I filled my quota this week and yep we made some big moves this week" Colden finished the conversation awkwardly Everyone chit-chatted as they finished brunch then grabbed their drinks and headed down to the pond to sit around and converse some more. Mazikeen felt a little chilly, so she ran inside and grabbed Weston's hoodie, throwing it on before heading back down to the pond. "That's new," said Nyra, eyeing her up and down. "It's not new, just new to me," she replied, sitting down. "Why does it smell like cologne?" Sterling asked leaning over smelling her "Because it came from a man nosy ass" She said swatting him away "Mazikeen Grace are you dating?" Elena said, grabbing her chest, faking shocked, "No, I'm not dating Elena May it belongs to the new guy at work" she snapped matter-of-factly. "Mama, can we go feed the horses?" Sedona ran up to her asking quietly "Yes baby but only if an adult goes with you" she replied "I'll take them" Colden said standing up, she knew he wanted to get as far away from this conversation as possible, her love life made him uncomfortable "So tell us about the new guy and why you have his hoodie" Sterling said as everyone arranged their chairs in a circle. "Y'all sound just like Delia last night, a bunch of nosy Rosies," she said, rolling her eyes and pulling her feet up into the chair. "Tell us," Nyra said, throwing a pebble at her "Fine, his name is Weston he's not exactly new he just transferred that's all, we've known each other since I started, he's recently divorced, and he's a lot like Tyler just less broody" she said laughing. "God, Tyler is broody, isn't he?" Sterling said, laughing. "So why do you have his hoodie?" Elena asked "Honestly I don't know he gave it to me since I'm always cold according to him but yesterday was his first day and brought me my favorite energy drink and my favorite lunch which is weird right?" she said finishing her tea "Dude he's flirting with you, you dipshit" Nyra exclaimed "No he’s not, he can't be, he's recently divorced" Mazikeen said rolling her eyes "No dude he's definitely flirting with you" Colden said coming into the circle with the kids "No guy is just gonna remember your favorite things just because let alone spend money on them for no reason" he said sitting down "So now the question is do you like him back?" Elena asked wiggling her eyebrows up and down "I mean I guess I do find him attractive, honestly I've had a small crush on him since a few months back, he's easy on the eyes for sure" she said spilling the beans "Then it sounds like you need to open that heart of yours up for this man" Sterling said "Yeah just make sure he's not gay first" Elena giggled as Mazikeen playfully smacked her "Mazikeen I have the perfect idea" Nyra piped up "Oh yeah? What's that?" she said. "How about we go to Electric Cowboy tonight and show Mr. Weston what you're all about now that you're single?!" Nyra said slyly. "Why would he be there?" she asked. "Because Tyler is over at his house right now, and he agreed to persuade him to go." Mazikeen rolled her eyes, great now Tyler's in on it "Fine but your in charge of finding the sitter" Mazikeen said standing up to go clean up brunch "Don't worry we'll watch the kids" Sterling and Elena pipped up in unison, good god did everyone want this to happen she thought as she headed inside.