Chapter 6
"There she is," his mother whispered as she stared at Starlah, who sat on the porch alone. "Oh my God, look at her. My heart's broken."
Swift sat up with furrowed brows. He couldn't believe the beauty with ginger-colored hair was the same Starlah that Gianna used to play with.
Both were annoying as hell, especially Starlah, who wanted to do everything her brother and his friends did.
He hadn't seen her in about three, maybe four years.
Swift pushed out a grunt, noting she wasn't little anymore when he eased from the back seat of the truck.
He lifted his hands, shielding his eyes from the sun as she stood.
He immediately gulped at the sight of Starlah's toned thighs and perky breasts that greeted him.
Her caramel skin was smooth and flawless.
He wasn't sure, but there was something about a country girl that made city girls look fragile, plastic even. Not Starlah, though. She was thick in the right places yet still lean from her washboard stomach that met her round hips.
"Close your damn mouth, son," Cain whispered, gripping Swift's shoulder. "Remember, we are here to help, not to help ourselves to pussy."
His mother kissed her teeth, glaring at her husband.
"What?" His father lifted his shoulders. "Our son's handsome as fuck, and the girls seem to just open up their legs like he had a code to 'em."
"Not now. This isn't a laughing matter." London then looked at her son, more than a foot taller than her. "And you better not."
"Ma, that's Pops. I ain't have nothing to do with it."
When Swift turned his back, his dad grinned and nudged him before she whipped her head around, staring at both through slitted orbs.
"And you…" She pointed to her son. "Make yourself useful and bring in our bags while I go speak."
Cain grabbed her wrist before she could take off, gently pulling her toward him.
"What, Cain? He gets that cocky shit from you."
"Don't tell me your ass is jealous that your son sees a pretty girl. I thought this would be what you were looking for, Mrs. Brighton," he whispered in his wife's ear.
Cain was, too, but he was just teasing. That, and the ride was long and emotionally heavy, each in their own head, not knowing what to expect when they arrived.
Then there was Papa, who had unexpectedly shown up with Swift.
When he shared that Papa was a surprise gift for his mother, his father informed him there'd be only one dick under his roof, four-legged or not.
It was then that he'd resigned himself to keeping Papa.
Swift figured that when he returned to Cedar Spike, he'd just give him to his cousin Money.
"She's grieving," London reminded her husband with narrowed eyes.
"Chill. Let that shit go." He placed his hand on her lower back as they made their way up the porch. "Hmph, look at how she's looking at our boy," he whispered.
Sure enough, Starlah looked past them as Swift struggled to pull four suitcases out, two belonging to his mother.
"Well, hello, Starlah. My, have you grown." Starlah issued a weak grin, then stood when she filled up the space in between London's arms. "So glad we can be here."
"Thank you." She tucked her lips, fighting hard to keep her tears at bay.
"Family!" Logan greeted them, arms stretched.
Right on his heels was a beautiful, dark-gray puppy with gold eyes, yapping like he wanted to have them for lunch.
Instantly, his barks were responded to when Papa tried to leap from inside his cage, growling in between barks.
He couldn't wait to be released to devour the gray canine that dared bark at his family.
"Chevy," Starlah fussed, grabbing onto him. "These are our guests," she whispered.
"It's cool. He's doing his job," Logan replied as Starlah gently ran her hand down his back. She whispered in Chevy's ear as he sat, slight whimpers escaping his mouth.
"Chevy?" London repeated and glanced at Papa. "Oh, how cute. Whose dog, and who named him?"
"Mine." Starlah lifted her hand, a faint grin appearing. "As you can see, he likes to be on the go."
"Okay then, I guess Chevy has company since my son recently decided to purchase himself a dog. Might I add that we had a very interesting road trip." She looked over her shoulder as Swift carried the largest suitcase to the porch.
"Chased cats, dogs, you name it at every stop or tried to."
"Not any dog, but an Anatolian Shepherd," Logan spoke, amazed, then looked at Starlah. "See that, Star? Imagine that. We have two of them now."
"I do." She then wiped her hands on her jean shorts, immediately catching Swift's attention. "Lucky would have loved this." Her voice croaked when Logan immediately pulled her in for a hug.
"He sure would have."
He pecked the top of her head, lightly rubbing her back.
When Chevy noticed Starlah crying, he howled loudly.
Swift ignored him when he placed one suitcase on the porch and went back for the others.
Papa was still growling but surprisingly sat down in his cage when he saw Chevy was harmless… for now.
"Chev, please. I'm fine," Star lied. She wasn't. They all knew that, especially Chevy. "Oh, God. I didn't mean to cry."
"Nonsense. It's to be expected. How about we all go inside, get settled, and chat? We're here to help, but it all starts with you."
Swift grunted with two suitcases, one in each hand. He couldn't believe his father actually watched him instead of helping.
"And you remember our son, I hope. Swift?"
"I do." Starlah grinned and swiped each cheek.
"Oh, I guess I must be invisible," Cain teased when his wife didn't introduce him, causing them all to laugh.
London wanted to stomp on her husband's foot. If he thought it, he said it. She hoped Starlah would quickly catch on that he was harmless.
"I'm Cain, her husband, and the father of that big, handsome guy."
"He does look just like you," Starlah offered, and he grinned.
"See, baby. I make good-looking children," he replied, causing Logan to shake his head.
"This nigga's still the same, I see. Never a dull moment with him, Star."
London patted Starlah on the shoulder. "I'll apologize in advance for anything he says in and outside of my presence."
"Papa!" Swift belted when he leaped from the cage and took off. When he made it to the porch, he and Chevy walked around each other in circles, sniffing and growling until Chevy started wagging his tail. He barked once, and Papa did, too.
"Okay." Swift smiled, his dimpled cheeks getting Starlah's attention. "I guess that's doggy talk for 'what's up' or something."
"Maybe, but imagine an almost eighteen-hour ride over two days with a four-legged friend that barks at anyone who comes near us? Practically gave me a heart attack."
"That means he's being protective, and his jet-black coat is beautiful," Starlah offered, watching him and Chevy as they both leaped into the grass and ran around.
"So, y'all mind if we take it inside?" Swift asked, wiping sweat off his forehead. "It's hot. This country sun hits differently."
"Right this way," Logan directed, letting them all inside.
Swift had two more trips to make when he brought in dog food and groceries they'd picked up on the way, after he had a cool bottle of water to drink. On his last run, his father stopped him on the porch.
"Son, I know your mama puts pressure on you about settling down, but no funny shit out here."
Swift smirked. He wasn't hard for pussy, although Starlah wasn't Little Starlah anymore.
"I'm not saying you can't have your fun but try one of these country girls away from the house."
"Pops, I'm good," he assured him. "Besides, I plan to spend time with Granny and Papa Jay. Relax. You know, sightsee and kick back. Might as well since we're here for a minute."
"Yeah, I hear you, but not me. After this funeral, I need to head back. Now, if any of these country bumpkin motherfuckers look at your mama, let me know. Trust, there'll be more funerals these motherfuckers will have to attend when I make my rounds."
"Pops?" Swift laughed, shaking his head. "It's not that serious."
"It is when you find the right one. You've never felt that way before. When you do, you'll understand. And go get Papa's crazy ass."
They both laughed when he tackled Chevy a few times.
Papa was slightly bigger, but Chevy was faster…
like his name. As soon as Swift went toward them, Papa thought he wanted in on the fun when he leaped up and knocked him down.
He tried to swat Papa away, but he leaped up and knocked him down yet again, licking all over his face.
"I shoot dogs, nephew!" Logan yelled from the door, causing them both to laugh. "Let me know!"
All the while, Starlah watched from her bedroom window, a faint grin appearing.
It was short-lived, but it felt good to hear and see other people than Logan, who'd been studying her every move.
It also didn't hurt that Swift had grown up.
The one she remembered was the mouthy, oversized boy Creed used to hang out with each summer he came to visit.
Swift was tall, dark, and handsome back then, with jet-black, silk-like waves, full lips, and eyes she could drown in, but now he was even taller and bulkier, starting with his thighs and calves. Starlah gulped, clenching her thighs when she realized he'd caught her looking.
"Shit," she whispered. She moved behind the wall, panting.
After a few beats, she glanced again, but Swift wasn't there.
She then heard him again, this time from her other window near the backyard, the same one Colt was infamous for crawling through.
She dashed across the room and peeked, and there he was, laughing and running with Chevy and Papa as if he'd been doing that all of his life.
That made her smile.