Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
CASSIE
I should be sitting in a jail cell waiting to be arraigned in the morning. I would have probably done time this time. Every nerve in my body was on go when I saw Shayla kissing the man I once gave my all to. She had never met him, but she definitely knew who he was. She followed me on social media and had probably seen multiple pictures of us together.
I wanted to get at their asses so bad, because I was pretty sure she told Mesani who she was. But if that muthafucka could press charges on me for something he started, dating my mother was no big deal. I was quiet on the drive home, doing my best to contain my anger. It was like God was trying to test me with those two, and I didn’t understand why. Whatever the reason, I wished He would reveal it to me so I could handle it a little better.
If I knew the blessings that could possibly lie ahead, then I could probably smile in Shayla’s face and do that lil Usher thing. Watch this.
When Kendrall pulled into Jack in the Box’s drive-through, I gave him a slight smile. When we were younger, I used to talk about how much I loved their curly fries and those greasy ass tacos. He smiled back and asked, “How many tacos you want?”
“Three. Are you getting any?”
“Hell naw. That shit give me gas. I’ll run yo’ ass right out of the bedroom when I get cranked up. Years ago, when you said how good they were, I tried them, and they tore my stomach up. I was a teenager then, so I know good and got damn well my stomach can’t handle that shit now.”
I hollered with laughter. This man of mine. He always knew what to say or do to get me in a better mood. “Well, in that case, please don’t get any.”
“They were good though. So I may test the waters. Who knows? I may be able to handle it.”
“Kendrall, I swear, if you start farting, I’m going to sleep in another room. You will not be choking me to death with that lethal ass gas coming out of you. That shit is so bad. I still remember what it smells like. I swear your ass needs a laxative.”
He laughed so hard. He thought that shit was funny back in the day, because I would damn near pass out when I caught wind of that shit. That was something I wasn’t looking forward to in our marriage. It was definitely bound to happen. Marriage. This was really happening. In three weeks, we would be Mr. and Mrs. Kendrall Dominique Henderson, Junior.
When he got to the intercom, that fool said, “Let me get three of those greasy-ass shit starters… I mean tacos and a medium order of curly fries.”
The girl on the intercom died laughing. “Man! You ain’t lying. I have to stay away from those tacos. Anything to drink?”
I just stared at him to see if he would remember. “A medium vanilla shake. Man, I’m in trouble tonight.”
I laughed loudly as the lady on the intercom laughed too. She gave him the total, and he drove around to the window. “Actually, that shake is going to coat my stomach so you won’t be in trouble tonight.”
“If you say so. It’s after midnight. This gon’ tear yo’ shit up. Ain’t gon’ be no fucking tonight, because I would hate to see what might happen if I put your knees to your shoulders.”
“Eww! Why you gotta say nasty shit?”
“’Cause I’m a nasty muthafucka!”
We died in laughter as we quoted the movie Life. We used to do that all the time when we were younger and had no business using profane words. One of us would say a line from a movie, and the other would spit the next line, especially when Christian, Rylan, and Jacob weren’t there. My time with Kendrall was included in some of my fondest memories as a kid.
“Y’all sound like y’all having way too much fun out here,” the lady in the drive-through window said.
We laughed again. “That’s real happiness. I can’t wait until I have somebody that makes me laugh that way.”
She handed Kendrall the bag and shake then said, “Y’all have a great night.”
We wished her the same. “I can’t believe we already relationship goals,” Kendrall said.
I gave him a slight smile. “It was inevitable, babe. We were meant for each other, and everyone around us can see it.”
“Daddy, I just don’t understand what I did to make her hate me so much. How could a mother treat her own flesh and blood that way?”
“I don’t understand it either, baby. I can’t even believe she would stoop so low.”
“What I do know is you dodged a damn bullet,” my mama said. “If you would have married Mesani, your dad would be in jail by now. Sometimes, I think he still might end up there if he ever sees him out and about. If you could only hear the things he says to me about Mesani fucking with the wrong one.”
Daddy gave her the side-eye. “Kendall, you ain’t supposed to be repeating our pillow talk, baby.”
I chuckled. I loved how everyone tried to keep my spirit right. They refused to allow me to sink in a depressive state. It didn’t help that I could be a whole bitch when I did. I was more than sure Kendrall could remember the huge blowup we had. I eventually broke down crying, and he comforted me the best he could. Now that I thought back on it, it was so sweet. We were only thirteen at the time.
“Price, that was far from being pillow talk. Ebony heard some of it, and I’m pretty sure Evan did too. Evan was probably cosigning everything you said.”
“Whatever. I can’t help it. Cassie is my baby. All my kids are my babies.”
“Yeah, but you and Cassie have a bond that is so special. So I understand, baby. I just like giving you a hard time,” Mama said. “I know what will take your mind off Shayla though. We need to go shopping for wedding stuff! P, Alana, and I are going to have your decorations looking fabulous! Do you think the Henderson women will mind helping us?”
P was her best friend, who ended up marrying my dad’s brother, and Alana was her sister. They played a significant role in my life as well. They were always there for me, especially if, for some reason, Mama couldn’t be there. Memories of all the shopping trips and just hanging out with them would always make me smile.
“Not at all. They are all extremely nice unless they have a reason not to be. I’ve seen Aunt Tiffany in action. She pulled Shayla out of that diner so fast.”
Daddy slowly shook his head. “Yeah, Tiff is hotheaded as hell. She’s the baby girl, though, and they let her ass get away with shit all the time when she was little… according to Kenny anyway. He said they had to give her grace for having to grow up between Jasper and Storm.”
Mama chuckled. “Well, she’s definitely tough to be able to bareback. I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. I’ll fight if I have to, but I’m way too cute to be getting roughed up. I’m not saying that Tiffany ain’t. I’m sure she fights better than me though.”
I shook my head. “Well, I would love to go shopping. Our date is getting closer and closer. I’m so excited. I just hope there’s no bullshit.”
“Well, don’t worry about that. With the Hendersons around, they will diffuse that shit immediately. I would hope no one would come with foolishness with all those hotheaded niggas in one spot. Kenny and Kendrall seem to be extremely mild. Speaking of hotheaded, how’s Jacob doing?” Mama asked.
“He’s doing okay. Karima, Aunt Jen, and Jess have been helping out quite a bit and vowing to do so once he goes home. But that’s why I’m hoping there’s no bullshit, because I know the guys are planning some type of retaliation of sorts, especially the younger ones. They aren’t taking this lying down.”
“When is he supposed to go home?”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
My phone chimed, alerting me of a text. I had gotten out of class early, and instead of going straight home, I stopped by my parents’ house to see them. I could hardly concentrate in class today. Between thinking about Shayla’s and Mesani’s asses and trying to hold in gas until I could get to the bathroom, the professor may as well had been the teacher on Charlie Brown.
Had Kendrall known I was suffering, he wouldn’t have let me live it down. I checked his message to see what he had to say. Hey, baby. How yo’ stomach feeling? I need some action tonight.”
I rolled my eyes and let out a chuckle. You make me sick! I’m fine… now.
I told on myself. Truth was, I liked when he picked with me. He did it all the time when we were kids. There was no need in changing our friendship dynamic. He replied with a bunch of laughing emojis then sent another text. You better not fart on me, Cassie, or you will never hear the end of it. I will blurt that shit out at the most inopportune time and embarrass you.
I slowly shook my head. You would not.
You right. I wouldn’t do that to you, but I can guarantee you wouldn’t forget about it no time soon.
“Umm… you may as well go home, because Price and I are a thing of the past.”
I stared up at my mama and giggled. “I’m sorry. Kendrall just…” I paused as I tried to find the right words. “You know, lots of times when I was daydreaming as a teenager, it was because I was thinking of him. He’s been in my heart for a long time, but I thought I didn’t have a choice but to move on. When I saw him again, all my old feelings resurfaced. How can that be?”
“Baby, that’s an easy question to answer. When I started working with Kenny on some dirt work he needed, and I saw how easily you and KJ formed a friendship, I knew then. Kenny and I used to talk about it all the time… how if the two of you got married, we would be connected as family. Of course, neither of us said anything to the two of you, because we didn’t want to seem like we were pressuring y’all. If it was meant to be, it would happen.”
I smiled. “I saw it as a teenager too. He wasn’t ready. The point is that we are both more than ready now. I love y’all, but I gotta get to my man. He must be done practicing if he’s texting me so much.”
Mama smiled big. “We love you too, baby. Kendrall is definitely your forever. I love how we have this same conversation repeatedly. It’s like you can’t believe it.”
She giggled as my face heated up. “I can’t! It feels like a dream!”
Daddy laughed as I stood and grabbed my keys. He pulled me in his arms and hugged me tightly. “Don’t worry about Shayla. I’m gon’ take care of her ass.”
I glanced up at him and saw his jaw muscle flex. I knew he was angrier than what he’d let on initially. He didn’t play about me, and instead of trying to talk him out of doing anything, I kissed him on the cheek. Staring into his eyes, I said, “I love you so much, Daddy.”
“I love you too, baby girl… more than life itself.”
I totally believed that. He would kill everything moving to protect me. I hugged Mama and kissed her cheek as well. I said in her ear, “Please, watch out for him.”
“I always do, baby.”
I made my way out the door, ready to head to Nome. I needed to go take care of Kendrall. Hell, I needed him to take care of me too. We had been getting it in nearly every day since I’d been there, sometime twice. Since we didn’t do anything… wait a minute . Kendrall was a greedy ass! We did fuck last night. We got it in before they called about Jacob. I immediately called him.
“Hey, baby. You on your way home?”
“Yes, but you know what I realized?”
“What?”
“We did have sex yesterday.”
“Who said we didn’t?”
“You didn’t say that?”
“Naw. I just said I needed that pussy tonight.”
“Okay, but you said tonight, as if you didn’t get it last night.”
“Aww, girl. Shit, I was talking about since I didn’t get it when we got back home after you inhaled those shit starters.”
“Bye, Kendrall.”
I ended the call and chuckled when I saw him calling me back. Deciding to fuck with him, I answered, “Yes, big daddy?”
He was completely quiet for a second. “Don’t be getting me all hot and bothered right now when you know you gotta come in and wash yo’ ass. You was probably blowing more gas than a damn refinery, girl.”
I hollered laughing. “Stop, before you make me wreck my car!”
I laughed even harder, and he joined me. I swore there was no way I would get home safely while laughing this hard. Kendrall was my baby, and I loved him for loving me. He not only nurtured my heart, but the man nurtured every aspect of me, even my comedic side.
“Hurry and get to me, baby. I need you. That’s real shit.”
“I’ll be there in thirty minutes. I have to stop and get gas.”
“How many miles you got left?”
“One hundred miles.”
“Naw. I’ll put gas in your car tomorrow. Those pretty fingers have no reason to be on a fuel nozzle… nowhere near a gas pump. That’s my job… or any man in my family, if for some reason I ain’t here and you had to stay behind. None of the Henderson women pump their own gas, and we ain’t ’bout to start today.”
My heart was so damn soft. “I’m not a Henderson yet though, baby.”
“You can fuck with me if you want to, Cassie. While you washing your gas tank, I’m checking your car’s gas tank needle as soon as you get here.”
I hollered with laughter. “You get on my damn nerves! I won’t stop. I’ll be there in twenty minutes now.”
I ended the call, and no sooner than I did, I looked to my left and saw Shayla waving at me with a big Kool-Aid smile on her face. It took everything in me not to ram my car into hers and run her right into the median. I rolled my eyes and stared forward, refusing to look that way again until she flew past me. I was sure she was going to visit her people. They were probably planning Jameka’s funeral.
Their ratchet asses probably couldn’t pay to bury her, and I was sure she didn’t have life insurance. If she did, I would be surprised. I was surprised they were even still in Nome, being that the water probably had shit in it. The Hendersons hadn’t gotten everything maintained yet. They were debating if they even wanted to do that now. Everyone would just have to install wells and aerobics systems for the sewer.
That would definitely weed out a lot of people. I had to research how much that shit cost, and I found out to install a water well could be at least six grand. The aerobics system could cost another six grand. I didn’t think any of them had twelve grand laying around. So hopefully, that would push Shayla’s family out of Nome so I wouldn’t have to see their asses anymore.