Chapter 17
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The girl is a freak
The girl never misses a beat, yeah, yeah.
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Giggles escape my mouth while watching my mom, aunts, and the people in their generation dancing to this old song.
It never fails that this is one of the songs Mom has to play during her cookout festivities.
My head bobs to the music as I fight the urge to surrender to the beat by moving my body.
A broad smile is on Mom’s face as her arms move from left to right inches away from her face.
When Mom’s best friend, Vivienne, drops it low while snapping her fingers, I nearly burst the lining in my stomach from laughing so hard.
Aunt Vivienne, as Rome and I call her, is built like a toothpick on crack and has no business attempting to get low.
“If you don’t get your anorexic ass up before you break a bone, I’m gonna know something,” Aunt Vivienne’s boyfriend tells her while frowning.
A magnetic heat has the hairs on my arms rising, causing me to look toward the gate to the backyard where Quintyn is making his grand entrance.
The music fades, Mom and her crew fade into the background, and my heart becomes mush when I take in Quintyn’s gait as he swaggers toward Mom.
My lips tingle when my gaze zooms in on the kiss Quintyn delivers to Mom’s cheek.
“Damn. I was wondering if you were gonna show up or find another excuse not to kick it with me.” Rome’s loud statement matches his deep frown before he and Quintyn engages in a one-arm hug.
“You must need someone to keep you company because you keep clocking my moves. You ain’t my girl, so reporting my moves to you ain’t about to happen. Chill,” Quintyn tells Rome while smirking.
“Man, fuck off. Since you ain’t introduced me to your mystery woman yet, I’m not convinced she’s even real.” Rome laughs.
Quintyn’s eyes leave Rome before roaming around the yard as if searching for someone.
“Trust me. She’s not only real but the one.”
A shiver of awareness slides down my back when Quintyn’s gaze lands on me before moving on.
Despite knowing that today will be the day Rome learns of our relationship, I have been unable to eat or sit still.
Every couple of minutes, I shift to another part of the yard just to keep from dealing with the wayward thoughts trying to invade my mind.
“Now, you’re playing something I can get into. Turn that shit up, Rosemary,” Aunt Vivienne’s man says before stomping with his tongue hanging out his mouth when the old school song synonymous with one of the fraternities starts playing.
Random barking echoes around the yard before various women and men start moving around in a circle. When Aunt Vivienne’s man starts gyrating his geriatric hips, my stomach sours even more, causing me to frown. Yuck!
“You better get it, bae,” Aunt Vivienne encourages.
Lord, have mercy. I ain’t gonna be able to eat nothing between these shenanigans and what’s gonna happen soon.
“Looks like I picked a great time to attend one of your mom’s cookouts. These old folks know how to party.” Jaina’s voice has me turn to look beside me where she stands.
Jaina called me while I was on my way here, saying she needed a distraction from her problems, so I invited her to come over. She’s been mingling around the yard, causing me to forget that she was here.
“Girl, they’re gonna need some icy hot when tonight is over,” I interject.
“Mhm. I see your man has hit the scene with his fine chocolate ass.”
Heat hits my neck, my hands ball into fists, and a snarl curls my lips as I give Jaina a death glare.
“Chill. I don’t want or need any more drama in my life. I’m just admiring what you refuse to do openly.” Patting my shoulder, Jaina walks off, leaving me with my thoughts because everybody in attendance will know what’s between Quintyn and me after today.
My chest tightens when my gaze shifts from Jaina’s retreating back to Rome and Quintyn laughing.
They’re further away, so I no longer have the privilege of hearing their conversation.
My eyes burn with unshed tears at the reality of the impending damage to Rome and Quintyn’s friendship.
The urge to flee the yard to avoid shattering Rome’s heart hits me like a tsunami, and my pulse races.
I feel like I’m about to crap on myself when Quintyn gives me a subtle nod, letting me know that it’s time to burst Rome’s bubble.
“What’s that look about?” Jaina asks.
“You’re about to see, but I hope the early stages of pregnancy don’t slow you down. I might need a getaway driver,” I tell her before walking away when I see Quintyn take a step forward.
Shit! Here it comes. Please, God, don’t let this blow up too bad.
Please let Rome give Quintyn and me a fighting chance.
My feet are gingerly moving like I’m in a desert full of grenades.
My head is down because I can’t focus on anything or anyone but putting one foot in front of the other.
My heart is racing, and my hair follicles tingle as air fills my lungs.
The sight of white tennis shoes matching the ones Quintyn is wearing halts my steps and forces me to lift my head.
The warm reassurance in Quintyn’s eyes causes me to exhale as his strength somehow surges into my body.
“Okay! I see y’all, cousin. I’m happy to see that I wasn’t imagining seeing y’all at King’s Island.” My cousin, Mavis, announces, bringing a hush around the yard.
For the first time since I began moving, I realize no music is playing, and I’m unsure when it stopped.
“Wh-what are you talking about, Mavis?” I stumble over my words as my eyes bounce from my cousin to Quintyn and back to Mavis.
“Girl, stop playing. Y’all were booed up and kissing at King’s Island. You ain’t gotta front for me,” Mavis laughs, waving me off before a loud noise shifts my attention to the right.
Oh shit, Rome!
“What the fuck did you just say, cuz?” Rome asks before charging toward Mavis, Quintyn, and me like a raging bull out for blood.
“Oh, wait! You didn’t know that they’re together,” Mavis’s eyes stretch, and her mouth hangs open.
Too late to backpedal now, Mavis. Thanks a lot . A hand grabs mine, causing me to stare into Quintyn’s hard eyes.
“Ready or not, the cat’s out the bag,” Quintyn deadpans.
“Are y’all fucking kidding me right now?
Tell me that Mavis is talking about y’all’s body doubles or some shit.
Tell me that you mothafuckas ain’t been messing around behind my back.
Tell me my hearing is deceiving me.” Rome’s hands are clapping together, his nostrils are flaring, and his chest is rising and falling at a frightening rhythm.
Tears immediately dance on my eyelids as my right leg shakes uncontrollably.
“Nah. Don’t fucking stand here and?—”
Quintyn’s body shifts, and I’m staring at his stiff back in a second as he blocks me from seeing Rome.
A low, humorless chuckle sounds from nearby, causing my brows to hike and my forehead to wrinkle because I have no idea who it’s coming from.
“Wow. I guess you call yourself defending her honor, huh? Since you want to play captain save a?—”
“I’ll drop you where the fuck you stand if you say that last word.” Quintyn’s tone is deadly and unapologetic, causing a cold chill to surge through my bloodstream.