Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
“ B aby, you have to go,” Zion said through the phone line while Raven was changing Zanaya’s diaper. He had left for work a few hours ago and was currently on a five-minute break. “Besides, you need and deserve some pampering. Meet them at the spa.”
“You pamper me enough. I don’t have to go and let some other guy rub my back or whatever the plan is for today.”
“ Go ,” he insisted. “Just make sure the masseuse doesn’t get too handsy. Otherwise, I’m going to get handsy with him or her, and it won’t be for pleasure.”
Raven rolled her eyes. The other day, his sister Cree had called and invited her to a spa day with her and her sisters. At first, Raven thought Zion had put his siblings up to this, but he insisted he hadn’t. Supposedly, Cree treated her sisters to a day at the spa a few times a year, and now she was including Raven.
“Also, if she’s paying, you gotta go,” Zion said while munching on something crunchy. “Not that she’s cheap or anything, but she’s serious about her money. She doesn’t just spend it on anybody, but when she does, she goes all out. Trust me when I say, you want to get in on this.
“Besides, you can’t cancel on her at the last minute. She’s expecting you to show up in a couple of hours. If you don’t, she will hunt you down and literally carry you to the spa.”
Raven started laughing. “You make her sound scary.”
Raven had met his second oldest sibling a couple of times, but she hadn’t spent any length of time with her. Not like she had with Dorian and Nyla. With them, she’d had lunch a couple of times and had even gone on a mini-shopping trip to one of the malls. That didn’t include Cree and Essence. It could be the age difference since she was closer in age to the two younger sisters. Or it could be because Cree was a high-powered entertainment attorney, and Raven was sure they didn’t have anything in common.
“Hell, she is scary,” Zion said on a snort. “Growing up, she was the only one of my siblings who my friends were afraid of. However, with that said, Cree would kill for family. She feels it’s okay if she gives us a hard time, but she draws the line if anyone else messes with us. In some ways, she’s like the big, older brother I never had.”
Raven laughed along with him, wondering what Cree would think if she heard him talking about her like this. They seemed to have a good relationship, but his sister hadn’t been around much. So Raven wasn’t really sure.
“She’s also loyal,” Zion continued. “She might be tough to deal with sometimes, only because she wants us to be our best, but she’s there when any of us need her, and now that includes you too.”
“She doesn’t even know me,” Raven shot back, still having second thoughts about hanging out with the sisters.
“She knows you better than you probably think she does, and before you try to come up with another excuse, think about my mother. She and Aunt GiGi are looking forward to keeping the kids this afternoon. You wouldn’t want to disappoint them, would you?”
Raven’s shoulders sagged. He was right. Virginia had already called to find out what time Raven was dropping off the babies.
“ Fine . I’ll go.”
“And you’re going to have a great time. Don’t worry about picking up the kids later. I’ll get them when I get off work.”
They talked a few more minutes before disconnecting.
“Well, sweetie-pie,” she said, nuzzling Zanaya’s baby powder scented neck, “I guess I gotta go hang with your aunties. In a few years, you’ll be able to join us. That’ll be fun, right?”
Raven smiled at her baby girl who gave her a toothless grin. Raven thought about how terrified she’d been before the babies were born, but now she couldn’t imagine her life without her little ones. Which made her think about Maximus. So far, they still didn’t know what he was up to, but last night, Wiz had said they’re getting close to getting answers.
She wanted answers like yesterday, but at least she hadn’t been dwelling on the situation. She’d been so busy the last couple of days with work that she’d barely thought about Maximus.
“Okay. Let’s get your brother changed, and then you two are headed to grandma’s house. Don’t let her and your aunt Gwendolyn spoil you too much. Okay?”
Raven chuckled when Zanaya cooed as if saying okay.
By the time Raven was done getting the kids and herself ready, she felt better about spending time with Zion’s sisters. She was now looking forward to a day of pampering and hanging out with the girls.
Hours later, after being rubbed, scrubbed, and plucked, Raven sat in the pedicure chair between Cree and Nyla feeling like a new woman. To say this had been one of the best days she’d had in forever would be an understatement. She felt so relaxed, and it had nothing to do with the mimosas, and everything to do with the spa’s talented staff.
She and the sisters had started their spa experience with the most stress-relieving, full-body massage she’d ever experienced. She’d felt boneless to the point of fearing she was going to fall on her face after the masseuse had helped her from the table. Raven hoped Zion didn’t ask her about the experience because he might get pissed if she told him about Hugo’s magical hands.
A facial and facial massage came after, and Raven could only describe them as heavenly. She never knew a facial could be so rejuvenating.
With the spa also having a salon, something she hadn’t known, Raven was glad she had taken down her braids the other day. Otherwise, she might’ve missed out on the deep conditioning treatment, hair trim, and style. Raven had been hesitant at first, thinking the facility wouldn’t have someone who knew how to do her hair, but she’d been wrong. Not only that, but they’d also freshened up her makeup.
Cree had truly gone all out in setting everything up for the sisters. She had even handpicked the people to provide the services. It was immediately clear that she spent a lot of time and money at that particular spa. Which was probably why the staff worshipped the ground the woman walked on. Who could blame them? Cree was intimidating as hell, and one of the most beautiful women Raven had ever met.
She recalled when Dorian had told her that Cree used to be a stripper. Raven wasn’t sure who in the family knew, but the woman had stripped to help pay her through law school. Their parents had agreed to pay the tuition for their undergrad degree, but they were on their own for all other degrees. Which was why Cree had resorted to stripping.
The woman definitely had the looks and the body for that type of job. She was taller than the average woman with long hair that flowed past her shoulders, a thin but curvy body, and probably wore a size four at most. Not only that, but Cree was also a force of nature. She carried herself with poise and confidence, demanding respect without having to say a word.
Raven didn’t know how she did it, but hopefully, some of that magical power would rub off on her while they were together.
“Raven, I heard you have your own virtual assistant business,” Cree said, but her attention was on the pedicurist who was about to polish her toenails. “Actually, let’s go with that deep red you showed me a minute ago instead of this soft pink. I’m going to be kicking some ass at work this coming week, and the red will be more fitting when I do.”
Raven’s mouth dropped open at her words, wondering if she was kidding, but her facial expression said she was dead serious. But what did it mean that she’d be kicking some ass? Did she mean literally? Or did it just mean she was going to have a productive week?
Nyla, who was sitting to Raven’s left, started laughing. “Don’t look so horrified, Raven. My sister is who she is. Welcome to Cree’s world, where she’ll chew you up and spit you out if you don’t fall in line with her. In the entertainment world, or hell, in the world period, she’s what some would refer to as a badass bitch.”
Cree mumbled something under her breath that Raven didn’t catch, but she didn’t contradict her sister.
Nyla snickered and sipped her drink. “She probably cursed me out in some language she made up, but seriously, she’s harmless most of the time. Wait. What am I saying? She’s not harmless. She will take someone’s head off in a minute if they step to her wrong or try to cross her in any way. What you see is who she is.”
“Nyla,” Cree said in a warning tone, and Nyla cracked up.
“Okay, that was my last one, but seriously, Raven, she’s all right. Just know she’ll tell you the truth about yourself whether you want to hear it or not. I’ve been on the receiving end of her know-it-all-ness plenty of times over the years, and though it pains me to say this, she’s usually right.”
“ Anyway , as I was saying,” Cree interrupted, her attention now on Raven. “Tell me about your VA business. Do you specialize in one area? Or do you pretty much take on any requests?”
“I specialize in admin support, data entry, as well as social media management. I don’t take all requests, but if it’s something that sounds interesting, I consider it.”
Raven’s vacation was officially over since she’d gotten back to work shortly after moving in with Zion. She didn’t have to work every day, but based on her email inbox, business was starting to pick up.
She told Cree and Nyla about types of projects she’d taken on without giving too much detail and appreciated the questions they asked. They genuinely seemed interested in her business, and Cree had even said she knew a couple of small businesses who could benefit from a VA. She planned to connect her with them.
“Thank you. I appreciated that,” Raven said.
Cree waved her off. “Of course, we’re family. We look out for each other.”
Family. She finally was a part of the type of family she’d longed for. Sure, she’d always love her aunt and cousin and the role they played in her life, but this felt different. The Priestlys were different, and she was seeing that every single day.
Once Raven and the sisters had changed back into their street clothes, she almost hated for the day to end. Then again, it was still early evening, and there were plenty of hours left to get into something else.
“After all this primping and pampering, I might need a night out on the town,” she said.
“You’re right. You look too good to waste all that,” Nyla said, waving her hand up and down at Raven, “on my knuckleheaded brother.”
Raven giggled. “Oh, it wouldn’t be a waste. Your little brother is worthy of all this and more.”
Nyla pretended she was gagging, and they all started laughing. “But seriously, come to the club tonight,” she said of Moody Days, the jazz club she owned. “My man is performing this evening. I’ll even treat you to a drink and some wings.”
“She’s such a big spender,” Cree cracked, and Nyla threw the robe she’d been wearing earlier at her.
“Hey, we all ain’t ballin’ like you, sis, but maybe one day. Just not today.”
Another round of laughter ensued as they headed out. Raven couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun, and she was so glad she hadn’t backed out on attending. The best part of the day—getting to know Zion’s sisters better and their personalities. They were uniquely different, but it was impossible to miss how much they cared for each other.
Family. That’s what it was all about, and Raven finally got a taste of what it was like to have siblings. If things continued to blossom between her and Zion, maybe she’d one day be able to call the Priestly family her family.
Anything’s possible.