Chapter 11 Relic #2
Relic slowed his stride, bouncing around the idea in his head while smacking himself for not thinking of it first. He was already calculating the cost of pushing the special day up three months ahead of its intended schedule when Pierre spotted them and threw up his hands with a holler, greeting them in typical fashion.
Treasure grilled him and yanked down his arm, while the table laughed as Titan got up to rush to his camera setup, panning it in Kennedy and Relic’s direction.
“Aye, hold up! I gotta shoot y’all for my vlog. I did a who’d show up the latest video, even though we knew it’d be Relic.”
“Actually, y’all claimed he wouldn’t show up at all,” Savvy corrected, and Shabu mushed her head.
“Stop snitching.”
“Exactly! Bro, step back a few feet and then walk up. I ain’t gon’ ask you to dance like we did since I know it ain’t happening.”
“He can do it alone,” Kennedy stated, stepping out of view. Relic cocked his head.
“You’re too good to get in a video with me, Larenn?”
“Don’t fucking play with me, Relic, ‘cause you know I will curse yo ass out. You made this rule, so don’t flip it on me in front of your family.”
“Ah, hell. Relic Jr. is about to come out,” Shabu teased with a smirk while Savvy sniggered. Michi stared between them with her threaded brow arched.
“Relic Jr.?”
“Oh, y’all ain’t know Bonnie was a crash out, too? She upped a gun on me once and busted Relic in his shit. Y’all don’t know Bonnie like we know Bonnie.”
Pierre ragging on Kennedy made her hide behind her hands, abashed. Relic chuckled and forced her to put them down.
“Don’t hide now. You weren’t embarrassed when you were fucking me up in my driveway.”
“Relic, you must’ve gone to a performing arts school ‘cause you’re really putting on a show right now! Are you gon’ just let them paint me as the bad guy?”
“Damn right, I am. They’re finally throwing someone other than me under the bus. I’m about to eat this shit up while I can.”
“Yea, I bet! Are we doing the video or not? I’m ready to sit down.”
“So, you’re mad now?” He smirked and pulled her to him, spinning her toward the camera before wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.
“And for the record, I never said we couldn’t take pictures.
I just said not to post them, but that social media bullshit mattered to you more than having something to remember us by.
We both know we’ll need it since this shit with us is going to be short and bittersweet, Kennedy. Smile for the camera.”
He pecked her cheek, moved by her side, and palmed her back before they swanked forward after Titan flagged his hand, signaling them to proceed.
Once they made it to the table, Kennedy did an impromptu move and eased in front of Relic to wrap both arms around his neck while she peered over her shoulder into the camera.
Catcalling from the table sounded off when she did a quick twerk, making her ass cheeks flutter to where they swallowed her flimsy dress.
Relic gave her ass a hard smack and then fixed her outfit before dragging her to a seat.
“I’m crying! Relic said, sitchoass the fuck down now!” Toot keeled over in animated laughter while Tima stared at Kennedy, who sat next to her. Relic took the last chair at the head of the table.
“Why are you staring at me like that, twin?” Kennedy joked, making Tima roll her eyes.
“Girl, don’t call me that. I’m wondering if your pussy is good now. We can’t be related.”
Calm choked on his drink, while Pierre and Treasure cackled, knowing Tima was dead serious.
Relic picked up a piece of grilled meat from the sharable sized dishes that his folks had ordered for everyone to eat off.
He popped it into his mouth to refrain from ruining the night within the first few minutes of them arriving.
“Relic is looking kind of tight. I don’t think he found it funny,” Treasure pointed out and pursed her lips. “And he just smacked her on the butt. Are you two dating?”
“Nope. Just business partners like I told y’all. Nothing more or less.” Kennedy made that understood before Relic could. “We can grab any of this to eat?”
Savvy nodded. “We ordered just about everything off the menu, and we have another round of drinks and shots on the way.”
“And who the fuck is paying the tab?” Relic quizzed, and Pierre snorted a laugh while tossing a hand across the back of Treasure’s chair.
“The same nigga who suggested a vacation with our women when he knew all this wasn’t called for to do what we had to do.”
“You hear me, gang!” Shabu shouted, leaning to slap hands with his cousin. “Nigga, if you wanted a baecation with yo so called business partner, just say that.”
Relic flitted his eyes at Kennedy, who cheesed while propping both elbows on the table to place her chin in her hands.
“Is that what this is, Relic? A baecation?”
“Nah, it’s a business retreat. Just trying to team build and boost morale. Plus, I know you don’t do shit for free when it comes to me. You did me a service, so this is your payment.”
Her smile faded before awkward silence cloaked the table. After a few seconds, Pierre whistled and tossed his head.
“Y’all ain’t even in paradise but got trouble way over there. Don’t come fucking up our vibe tonight. Where the drinks at?”
“Coming now, thank goodness.” Treasure pointed at two waiters heading their way with trays of mixed drinks and shots.
Relic frowned at the sweet cocktails topped with lime and ice, that he knew as their national drink, and the clear shots being set in front of everyone. When a server tried to place a glass near him, he held up a hand.
“Bring me a bottle of whatever top shelf whiskey you have. I don’t need to know the cost.”
“Aight, when they charge your ass a thousand dollars for some bullshit we could’ve gotten from the liquor store, don’t say nothing,” Shabu told Relic as the waiter nodded and scurried off before missing out on the pricy sell that’d come with a better tip.
“Niggas get a lil’ money, and don’t know how to act. ”
“I haven’t had a lil’ money since you were little, ti frè.
All this shit is just a drop in the bucket.
Fuck it. I ordered it because you niggas need some hair on ya fucking chests, drinking girly ass mixed drinks and flavor liquor.
I caught Titan sipping wine, wearing a bonnet, and a silk robe with candles lit not too long ago. This shit has got to stop.”
“Yooo! I know you’re fucking lying!” Pierre howled a laugh, and Titan joined in without shame.
“Man, listen. He can talk shit all he wants to, but I bet I got the best scalp rub, body oil massage, and head of my life that night.”
“Yea, and she probably bent your ass over, too,” Relic razzed, and Michi burst into laughter but slapped a hand over her mouth when Titan mugged her.
Shabu chuckled, and Relic aimed a shot at him.
“What are you laughing at, daddy daycare? Your wife is bringing home the bacon and got you cooking it and changing diapers. I can’t make this shit up.
The only one with a little man left in him is Calm, and that’s ‘cause the girl he’s around thinks she has a dick between her legs. ”
“I do, and I bet it’s bigger than yours, too. Want to see it?” Tima asked, reaching for her purse. “I keep it on me.”
Calm shook his head. “You’re sick.”
“You like it.” She stuck out her tongue before picking up her drink to sip as he smirked.
“I know y’all fucking, but I just can’t prove it. As soon as I do, I’m gon’ knock yo damn block off,” Pierre warned Calm with his eyes squinting in accusation. “Ask Tekken what happened to him.”
“Don’t use my damn nephew as an example! You’re lucky you had a gun, or he would’ve dusted your ass off!” Kennedy butted in.
“What?! That nigga can’t beat me! He can’t even beat Toot!”
“I hope he can beat somebody with that yapping he’s been doing. Since we’re on the subject, you got something you want to get off your chest, Tekken?” Relic directed his attention to his artist as the side conversations slowed to a halt.
Tekken scoffed and then placed both forearms on the table to lean forward with a cock of his head.
He’d stayed quiet since Relic and Kennedy arrived to feel out their vibe because he was told his aunt didn’t know he was coming, and he found being invited questionable since he was sure Pierre had run back his thoughts on the situation to Relic.
If Relic thought for even a second that Tekken would bite his tongue or switch his stance, the nigga had him pegged wrong.
“Yea, I got something to say. I think it’s disrespectful as hell that you’re sneaking around with my aunt behind my back instead of letting me know what’s up like a man.
Then, we all know you’re fucking Aura, so you got Kenn coming off like a side bitch.
My G-Ma might’ve fallen for whatever you said or did when you visited them, but I’m not feeling it. ”
“Bro, you met her parents?” Titan questioned in utter disbelief since that was news to him. “Like, you sat down and talked to them folks in complete sentences? And they actually like you?”
“Fuck you,” Relic clipped at his brother while his eye contact stayed with Tekken.
“Tek, what you fail to realize is that how you feel doesn’t matter.
I’m a grown ass man, so I don’t have to ask for permission before I stick my dick in anyone.
I’m also not fucking Aura, but you’re too busy spending the cash I helped you make, grinning in groupie bitches’ faces, and living your best life to notice shit that’s right in front of you.