Chapter 7
"Oh my God!" Endea screamed when Starlah passed out.
The funeral was packed to capacity, with over two hundred guests who came to celebrate the lives of Lucky and Creed Steel. Throughout most of the funeral, Starlah sat motionless, her affect flat as friends and family spoke fondly of her father and brother.
Swift immediately bent down and swept her in his arms, damn near bumping into another man who appeared annoyed that he'd helped.
He had no clue who he was, but he didn't have time for dick measuring.
That, and he'd been eyeing Swift the entire funeral.
He thought his name was Cody or Colt, but he wasn't so sure.
"Baby, take her to the back. She hasn't been eating or drinking," his mother instructed him. His father held the door open while his mother went to fetch a bottle of water.
"Over here, son." Cain found a bench nearby and moved a few items. "Easy, son. Easy."
Once Starlah was down, Swift pulled up a chair and quickly fanned her face with his hand.
"Let me see what's taking your mama so damn long. She's probably mad because they have store-brand water instead of Quiet Waters. That damn woman is a country girl at heart, but too damn bougie for her own good."
After he took off, Swift remembered he had an obituary inside his suit jacket. He pulled it out and waved it over her, her tightly shut eyes starting to blink. He'd had a hard time not staring at her each time they were in the same room over the past few days.
That morning was no different when Starlah walked out of her bedroom, wearing a black, form-fitting dress that flowed past her hips but did little to hide her thick thighs. At the sight of her, he had to will his dick to behave. He tossed his jacket over her legs and looked over his shoulder.
"Here I am. I needed the facilities man to bring in the coolers with the cold beverages." London rushed toward them, her hands shaky as she opened the water bottle. "Damn store brand," she muttered, causing Swift to release a soft laugh.
"Starlah, honey? Can you sit up a bit and drink?"
"I-I can try."
Star grunted when Swift took her by her forearm with one hand, the other cradling her back when she slowly sat up.
She pinched her lips when his mother placed the rim of the water bottle to her lips.
They were pink, pouty, and perfect. Swift looked away because he couldn't help but notice that Starlah was damn near perfect, and without even trying.
"That's it." His mother looked his way, then handed him the water bottle. "We need to meet Logan out front. Can you stay here with her and make sure she finishes this?"
"S-sure." Swift nodded before sitting next to Starlah and accepting the water bottle from his mother.
He wasn't sure if she wanted him to actually pour it in her mouth, but she sat there, her mouth slightly open, taking deep and slow breaths.
"Want to try for a little more?" She glanced at him, giving a subtle nod. "I got you," Swift assured Starlah.
His hand, twice the size of the bottle, almost touched her skin when he leaned closer and placed it against her lips.
Her smell, the scent of lemon, wafted under his nose.
He smelled it often when she was around.
He didn't know that lemon was one of his favorite scents until Starlah wore it on her skin.
After a few gulps, Swift used just the edge of his pointer finger to wipe the excess water that rolled down her chin.
"Sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to."
"No. It's me. I just…"
"Hey, it's fine. Want to try again? If you haven't noticed, my moms is a damn drill sergeant. After this, you'll be eating plates the size she feeds me and Pops," he teased. "You've been skating, but don't say I didn't tell you."
"I'm not that hungry, but I'll try." Star took a deep breath and squeezed her thighs. "Restroom?"
She looked around. This wasn't their family church, but once they realized that a large crowd would show up, Endea and his mother worked with the funeral home to find a larger location.
Star stood and quickly gripped Swift's shoulder. Her body was almost between his legs as he steadied her by her waist. He gulped, then turned his head when she slowly took a few steps back.
"You sure you're okay to walk?"
"Yes." When her eyes fluttered, he knew she wasn't. "No, I guess not."
"No worries. I got you."
That was the second time Swift had said it, but both times he did, Starlah believed him. He'd leaped into action, taking care of Chevy as if he were his while training his own puppy, Papa. Starlah felt guilty she'd checked out on Chevy, but Swift never made her feel guilty.
"You ready?" It was a simple yet loaded question, but she nodded her head. "Slow and steady," he coached her, one hand holding hers while the other was on her lower back.
His mother stood on the other side of the door, peering through the glass. A soft grin appeared on her face when his father came behind her.
"Un-huh. I see you."
"What?" London smiled, turning and facing her husband.
"The door's not locked. Stop plotting."
"You mean like you did the day you made me go out with you?" He pecked her lips.
"Didn't have to make you, Mrs. Brighton. Remember, you managed to leave your ID in my hospital room. I think it was on purpose."
For years, London had never fessed up, but she learned a long time ago that the way to see if something was meant to be was to leave a breadcrumb.
"Maybe, but we're worried about Starlah, as we should be. What if the person we need to be worried about, though, is Swift?"
"He's grown, baby, and from what I can tell, he's doing just fine."
London hoped so, because no matter what she did, her son was strong-willed and protective, just like his father.
Starlah would be in good hands if he chose to pursue her, and she chose him back.
She'd learned that grief, even fear, had a way of making you take a leap when a glimpse of what life could look like flashed before your eyes.
"You think we should check on them?"
Cain shook his head. "No, let our boy handle it. Starlah's in shock, and to be honest, I didn't think he'd be this hands-on."
"It's in the air." She grinned and sniffed, the smell of the country evoking a sense of nostalgia. "You know I love Cedar Spike, but there's nothing like coming back home."
"Well, you'd better hope Swift doesn't dump our ass, because whether Starlah knows it or not, she has our boy's nose wide open. I think we'd better prepare for him to be out here longer than we anticipated."
"Am I wrong for being excited?" London asked. "It's such an awful time. Starlah's lost so much."
"She's also gained too. We're her family, Lo, too. Let her lean on us. If our boy needs us to help him while he helps her, he'll let us know."
She leaned back and grinned.
"What?" Cain asked with dipped brows.
"Are you trying to get rid of my baby?"
"Hell yeah. The nigga stays spoiling my wife." He flipped his hand up. "Let him find his own." They both tittered when Swift and Starlah eased outside. He was holding her, her skin pale.
"Ma, she wants to head to the gravesite before everyone gets there. Can y'all hold them off a little?"
London wasn't sure if that was a good idea, but she could tell that Starlah was barely holding on by a thread. She did, however, seem to want Swift around, as she tightly held his hand.
"Sure, baby. We can do that." She walked up and gently hugged Starlah. "One day at a time, baby, but know I'm praying. You need anything from us, we'll be here or back at the house."
"See y'all."
London and Cain's eyes followed them all the way back to Swift's truck. He was so attentive, too, that it warmed London's heart as her eyes welled up with tears.
"It's happening, Cain."
Cain sighed, hoping his son was up for a storm. Love came with many challenges, and although the risk was worth it, Starlah was grieving and probably wouldn't know what love looked like if he served it to her on a platter.
Swift sat in one of the chairs in the last row as Starlah stood next to both caskets.
They were gold and white, a combination of Lucky and Creed's favorite colors.
He wasn't sure how she was able to do it without falling apart as he watched her slowly slide her gloved hand over Lucky's casket.
His chest constricted, not knowing what he'd do if that were his mother or father.
She then moved to Creed's, and he heard her whispering.
It was then that he realized how much he missed Gianna. They were close, but he never thought about living in a world where Gianna didn't exist. He pulled out his cellphone and sent her a text message.
Swift:
You know I kind of miss your big, bald-headed ass. Are you ready for us to come home?
GiGi:
Nigga, please. The only thing big about me is my bank account. And trust, this little hair on my head doesn't stop shit.
Swift laughed and shook his head. If nothing else, his baby sister's confidence was out of this world.
Just as he had his pick when it came to women, Gianna's roster was saturated.
She liked Trey, but Swift also felt that Trey reminded him too much of himself.
He was popular, had a great head on his shoulders, was rich, and, not to mention, a bitch magnet.
Swift:
I guess that means you'll be fine if I don't head back with Moms. I need to hang back for a bit. Are you cool with that? You know I check on Moms like every other day.
GiGi:
I have to be, but not too much longer. I sorta miss your cocky ass, and I haven't gotten flowers or food DoorDashed to me since you left. You're slipping. I have to keep these men on their toes when my brother spoils me.
Swift:
Noted, Gee. Your big brother loves you. I got you. Be on the lookout.