"It's good to see you, Kyle. How are you?"

He's my last student today. I haven't seen his adorable face since he introduced me to his uncle Kira. Kyle leans forward, with a wide grin on his round face.

"It's nice to see you too. I'm okay."

"Yeah, and how was school today?"

Kyle pauses before answering. "Okay. I still don't like school on my computer but it's not so bad."

He and many of my students dislike virtual school. They didn't like not being in their classroom. That their teacher wasn't with them, and they miss talking with their friends, and for many other reasons find remote learning horrible compared to normal school.

"I know. Did you have any difficult work today? We can also tackle some of your Science homework. I know sometimes it gives you a hard time."

"That sounds okay. Can I go get my Science workbooks, Ms. Eureka? I left them on the dining table."

"Of course, go ahead."

My eyes follow Kyle's as he leaves his mom's office to get his stuff for today's tutoring session. Kyle is wearing a bright orange shirt with a cartoon character I don't recognize, with ombre blue shorts. They pair well together.

He's always dressed cute and colorful, whenever I see him.

Behind me, I hear footsteps. It's Kira entering the room going to lay on the bed. He must have finished his architectural work in the kitchen.

Which is so cool. I can't draw a circle much less a straight line.

"Is it alright if I lay down while you work?" Kira asks.

I turn around. "Sure as long as you're not distracting."

He nods. He situates himself in the middle of the bed. Not bothering to go under the covers. His large frame taking up nearly all the space. His feet don't dangle off only because he's bent his knees facing me.

"Ms. Eureka. I'm back. Who were you talking to?" Kyle draws my attention to him on my screen. He's back in his seat. Looking closely to find out who I'm with. Kira sits up for a second. Surprising his nephew.

"It's me," Kira says. Kyle's matching amber eyes are confused as to why his uncle is with his tutor. I have no idea what his young mind is putting together, seeing us in the same room.

"Uncle Kira. Why are you with Ms. Eureka?"

I keep quiet leaving Kira in the hot seat to answer this question. Kira gets up coming over to the desk. He bends forward placing his chin on top of my curls. Holding the chair.

Kyle stares at us.

"Ms. Eureka is my girlfriend."

"You guys are together. Like мамочка and папочка?" Kyle questions. (Momma and papa)

I don't know what those words mean in Russian, but I figured they mean mom and dad.

Kira leans in. Kissing my temple. His lips causing my flesh to tingle. I shake my head to ignore the feeling.

Now is not the time.

"Da, exactly."

"Ms. Eureka do you like my uncle?"

"I do. I like him a lot. But that's not why we're here today. We have your Science homework to tackle. Don't we?"

"Hmm." Kyle Mumbles. I sho Kira back to the bed, so I can get to work. We get right to it working on his Science homework at his pace until Kyle is comfortable with the new concepts he learned today.

>>>>

"Bye Uncle Kira. Bye, Ms. Eureka."

"Bye Kyle." I wave.

"We'll see you soon Kyle. Let Katina know I'm coming by tomorrow."

"Okay, Uncle Kira. I will."

Kyle disconnects the Zoom before I can. He must be excited to meet me in person. It'll be the second time since I met him and his mom.

I go to use the bathroom. Washing my hands afterward using the toilet. It's been a long day. I tutored Sam, Aliyah, then Kyle today. Tomorrow I have two others but earlier in the day. I respect that some parents need earlier sessions for their child, due to church or family needs on Sundays.

When I go into my bedroom. I find Kira fast asleep on his side facing the other direction. He's wrapped in the blankets looking snuggled and free in slumber. His messy bun on top of the pillow.

I love his hair. I like that he keeps it on the longer side. Never thought I'd say that about a guy. Tip-toeing over to the bed I climb in, in front of him. Facing his face.

His eyes shut tight leaving his long lashes to cast tiny shadows on his cheeks. His pink lips puckered out, soft bouts of air leave his pointed nose. Bearded jawline reflects at me.

He's beautiful.

I lay on my arms staring at Kira. Obsessing over him while he rests. He did come back pretty late last night. Plus he woke up early, made us breakfast, and worked out, so I'm sure he's exhausted.

Wasn't it a few weeks ago, I'd end my days laying in bed alone. I'd wonder off in my mind, picturing up how my life would be if I have someone to lay with. Fantasizing what it'd feel like to have someone next to me, to feel their warmth, to not be emotionally alone.

Now it's no longer a fantasy but my reality. I have to say it feels different than I thought it would. Different, in a good way. I can't explain it but something about this, being with someone completes me. In a way I didn't think would be the result.

Kira breathing shifts in his sleep. Must having sense me, he pulls me closer wrapping me up in his warmth. He situates himself with his face in the crook of my neck, his usual position when we lay together. Only evening out when he's comfortable again.

Tickling me as he breathes onto my skin. It's nice being near him. So close our bodies morphed into one. I wouldn't get tired of this feeling, at least I hope so.

I didn't want to but I end up falling asleep myself.

>>>>

"Are you almost ready baby?"

Kira sat already dressed waiting behind me. He didn't have much to do. He's wearing a gray V-neck shirt and blue jeans. Kira dresses simply. His hair is held up in a bun which I placed it in earlier.

I'm dressed but standing in front of my mirror fiddling with my hair. I'm trying to do a simple up-do with flat twists in the front. That's not the part giving me a hard time but my edges. I'm trying my best to slick them in a somewhat neat way on my forehead.

Which is always a pain whenever I try to. My curly hair doesn't know the word neat. Every time I swipe over them with the edge brush some pieces sticks up.

"Ugh, why is this so hard?"

"What are you doing?" Kira asks.

I turn to him holding up the edge brush.

"Trying to lay my baby hairs," I say frustrated by this process, of re-doing it.

"Huh, baby hairs." He repeats confused as to what I mean. Instead of trying to explain, I hold up my phone showing him the picture of a girl with the same hairstyle. Pointing to her wavy-styled baby hairs.

"I'm trying to get these short hairs to Swope like hers. But my hair doesn't like to stay in one place."

Kira looks at the picture then at my hair. He tilts his head. "I think you look fine. I like how it looks."

"You sure? I don't want your family's first impression of me to be with nappy hair."

"Baby you're fine, you're beautiful. Come here."

I get up. Holding the edge control and brush. Sitting beside Kira. He takes them from me. Taking the jar. He dips his finger in scooping out a little on the tip of the brush. Standing up he swipes it over my edges in a swoopy motion. Using his fingers to guide them into place.

"Is this what you wanted?" I check in the mirror, observing his results.

It's actually not that bad. How?

Somehow he got them to stay in one place. How? I wait for another second to see if they'll start moving. They don't.

Going over to Kira I plant a kiss on his lips. "Thanks this is exactly what I wanted. How did you do it?" All happy again.

Kira shrugs. "I don't know. I just did it somehow. Maybe it's easier when it's someone else doing it."

Maybe. I have no clue about my hair.

"Well whatever you did, thank you. I'm ready to go now. Just let me get my key and my wallet."

Kira peers down at me.

"Why do you need your wallet?"

I hold around his waist. Smelling his clean woody scent. Hmm, I like his smell. Have I said how much I like its smell? Probably.

"Detka."

"Uh because I was hoping we could get some flowers for your mom."

"Oh. You don't need to do that. I'll pay for it though. Come let's go."

"Oh okay."

I grab my phone and my keychain on my desk. We head out. I take my nicer-looking coat out of the closet. It goes better with my outfit. I'm wearing a simple navy blue dress and black heals. My long gray tailored coat is my only other layer. Kira holds my hand after I put it on. Leading us out.

We're on our way over to Kyle's home. I'll be meeting Kira's family. I already met Ms. Mordukhayev but I never met her husband or their parents. Kira mentioned earlier Kyle has younger twin sisters. Plus Kasia might be there as well. So it'll be the entire Bychkov family all in one place.

I'll admit I'm a little nervous to meet his parents. Kira promised I have nothing to worry about.

"Detka. Are you okay?" He asks.

I nod. "I'm fine just nervous. I've never done this before. Met a boyfriend's parents."

Kira stops walking as we step outside. Rubbing down my shoulders. He smiles at me. "I'll be there with you the entire time. If it gets too much we'll excuse ourselves into another room and I'll calm you down. Don't worry, they'll love you."

"Okay." He takes my hand again. Heading to his monster of a truck. Kira helps me up. When he gets in questions. "What kind of flowers were you thinking?"

I have no idea. I'm not really into flowers but I figured it'd be the right thing to do since it's our first time meeting and I want to make a great first impression. First impressions are the most important.

"What kind of flowers does your mom like?"

"She doesn't like any particular flower, but she likes dried flowers since they last longer."

Okay.

"Let's stop on the way and get her a bouquet of dried flowers. Do you think I should get your dad something too?"

Kira buckles up. I do the same. He starts the engine driving off deeper into Brooklyn where his family resides, 10 minutes from his neighborhood.

"He's not really into all that. Honestly just meeting you and seeing how happy you make me will be more than enough."

"Are you sure? I don't want him to feel left out."

Kira takes my hand. Soothing me as he clasps our fingers. "I'm sure. Can I ask you something?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"How did you get into tutoring?"

I didn't expect this question.

"I kind of fell into it by accident, after I finished university, a few years back. I wanted to try something different for a change that was a little lighter before pursuing work in the field I got my degree in. While I was getting my Masters's degree, I worked as a social worker. I met so many children who struggled with school. I always wished I could help them more hands-on than what I was doing. So I decided to give tutoring a try and I kind of really got into it. After I graduated I decided to do it for a few years 1 maybe 3 until I'm ready to be a Mental Health Counselor. Also because I need to take the New York state licensing exam in order to be fully licensed. I already passed the NCE, national counseling exam but New York has its own exam and I'm probably going to be in New York for a few more years."

That's a mouthful. The only others who know this is my family and Javon.

Kira remains silent soaking up everything I said. I did expel everything in one giant word salad. Hopefully, he got it. I'm just so passionate about helping children.

"I see. So technically you can do counseling in another state right now if you wanted to." He inquires. I guess he got it.

"Yeah. But I'm not ready yet so basically tutoring is like a break until I move out of NY or I pass the NCMHCE, the national clinical mental health counselor exam. Whichever one comes first. That is the exam New York accepts." I elaborate further.

"I think I get what you're saying. New York always has its own rules when it comes to everything. I know whenever you do take the exam you'll pass for sure." Kira encourages.

"I know. Thank you for asking."

"You're welcome, baby. There's a flower shop over there. Hopefully, they'll have something you like."

Kira pulls into the parking lot of the flower shop. I can't see the name. It's gotten dark. I hate this the most about winter. Luckily daylight saving ends soon and days will start becoming longer next month.

Let's go get Kira's mom flowers.

I end up selecting a mixed bouquet with light and dark flowers. It's wrapped up in light paper with a dark ribbon in a bow around it.

I did well. Hopefully, she likes It.

Eureka's hairstyle

Eureka's outfit. She's not wearing the blazer or the clutch.

Flowers for Kira's mom.