Chapter 12 #6
My face was warm as the men complimented me from behind.
Even though I had on shorts, I still held my skirt against my butt as we ascended the stairs.
Once we crossed the threshold, ice-cold air dried the sweat beads along my hairline while chill bumps formed on my arms. The inside was just as nice as the outside.
As we stood in the empty living room, large enough to accommodate all the siblings and a few grandkids, the homey feel was a nice blend of modern and traditional.
A brown leather sectional wrapped around the room, while the snowy white walls were covered in family pictures and paintings.
A large rug sat atop light wood floors; more toys were lined along the back wall, and a TV, which had to be at least eighty inches, was on YouTube.
Essex was on the screen rapping to Missy in his latest video.
Not even caring that Tunan was watching, I pulled out my phone and recorded a quick video.
*attachment* You look so good Missy! I didn’t know the video was out!
She’d told the group that she had flown to Chicago last month for Essex’s video shoot and hadn’t said much else.
Pia, Discover, and she rarely texted in the group.
I knew that was because they had been the recent additions to the clique, but I liked all three of them.
A part of me also figured they’d been added to the other group chats since they were officially with men in the friend group now.
Before I could get into my head too much, my phone sounded with incoming text messages.
Jisei
Period! Too bad Missy boo! I seen it this morning! I love itttt!
Mocha
I haven’t seen shit! Let me go look.
Mocha
Hold up biiitch! Where you at? Who is them niggas in the pictures on the wall?
Azure
Language Mocha!
Memphis
Dasani
I loved the video. And Memphis? Uhhh… Did you forget about tomorrow?
I still didn’t know what it was that I’d been invited to, but I hadn’t forgotten and planned to be there. All I knew was that I’d been included and sent a black invite resembling a wedding invitation with a black dress code.
I’ll be back on time. Promise.
Not wanting to be any more rude than I already was, I locked my phone screen. I knew the ladies would have questions, but they could wait; I didn’t have answers for them anyway. Well, I did, but not ones I wanted to answer.
Looking up, Tunan was no longer beside me but coming from out of a bedroom down the hall from the living room. I saw my luggage sitting on a made-up king-sized bed just as he closed the door.
His eyes raked my body, and his tongue licked his lips.
It was a sign that he liked what he saw.
Tunan had five other people outside with the same genetic makeup, yet he was still one of a kind.
He radiated sex appeal and didn’t need designer clothes or hundreds of thousands of dollars in diamonds to look good.
Like now, a twenty-four-inch Cuban link chain that was maybe ten inches thick sat around his neck, and even though it wasn’t encrusted with diamonds, it complemented his outfit.
He was that classic handsome who looked good in a raggedy T-shirt and dirty sneakers.
He’d taken me in a raggedy car on the first night—that’s how good he looked—and not once did I regret being fucked on those old-ass seats.
“You pulled up on a nigga for real…” He shook his head while removing his hat, setting it on the coffee table.
“You sent me twelve hundred dollars, Tunan. What’d you think I do? Run off with your money? If I had no intention of coming, I would have sent it back.” I shrugged.
I should have been at home trying on my clothes for tomorrow, but here I was, hundreds of miles away, squeezing my legs together, trying to talk myself out of not fucking the best dick I’d ever had again.
One foot in front of the other, chain on his pants clinking, he was now towering over me after four strides.
He licked his lips, peering directly into my eyes.
“Nah. I sent it, so that mean it’s yours.
I’m glad you showed up, though. But had you not, the money woulda still been yours.
To be honest, I didn’t think you would.”
“I… I shouldn’t have. I still need to take my hair out.
I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon.
But… here I am.” I playfully rolled my eyes to break up some of the sexual tension.
I’d booked my flight to leave out first thing in the morning and I hoped Tunan was an early morning person.
This was an in-and-out visit. I had to make my flight if I wanted to get my braids out, make my hair and makeup appointments, and be on time to the event.
If Tunan isn’t an early riser, I’d call an Uber or a Chauffeur to get me back to the airport on time.
It was best that he take me, though, since he didn’t pick me up today, which was low-key rude.
I should’ve mentioned that, but it was clear I’d lost all sense of logic when it came to Tunan.
Further evidence of my lack was that I’d even agreed to come here.
My braids still looked good, but I’d had too much content in them already, especially since I’d gotten them done twice, so it was time to switch it up. Plus, the dress I had picked out for the event on tomorrow night wouldn’t go well with it.
Tunan tugged at one of the two braids that were cascading down my face.
I had it styled in a high bun with two pieces hanging on each side.
These braids had been convenient, and I was definitely going to patronize the salon again for a third time when I was ready for more.
I would more than likely take the girls to get their braids done, too, so that would be one less thing we would have to worry about this summer.
“I appreciate you.” The serenity in his words was nearly too much to bear. “Come on.”
This time, he didn’t grab my hand, which I was fine with. We needed to keep our physical contact down to a minimum. If not, I’d find myself spread out on one of these tricycles floating around.
There was a formal dining room next to the living room, and it also followed the same modern traditional scheme as the front of the house.
I’d smelled food since the moment we walked through the door, but I was trying to ignore it so my stomach wouldn’t growl.
However, as we got closer to the kitchen, my mouth couldn’t help but water.
White cabinets, gray granite counters, and an enormous island lined with aluminum trays of food resting on burners greeted me.
A curvy lady pulling a cake out of the oven took up residence in the kitchen.
I didn’t know what was underneath those pan lids, but if she’d done all this by herself, I knew it had to have taken her all day and probably most of the previous night.
“Tunan, I know you bet not have that hat on in my kitchen,” she fussed.
She hadn’t faced us once before calling out to her son. Her back was turned completely, but she’d known Tunan was the one in the kitchen.
He rubbed his hand down his waves and guffawed. “Mama, I ain’t Tunan.”
I nearly gave him away by laughing at his failed attempt to change his voice. He sounded ridiculous.
Keeping her face forward, she added the cake to a glass dome. It reminded me of one my mama had. Without looking our way still, she replied, “I went through seventeen hours of labor witcha. I know when you enter the room, boy.”
“I swear… ion know how you do that.”
“Yeap. You used to say that back then too.” Grabbing a dish rag, she wiped her hands, and only then did she face us.
Wow. No wonder they all look alike.
Tuscany was the spitting image of her mother, but the slender version. Mama Payne looked damn good and had dangerous curves that would have any woman green with envy. No wonder she had all her kids back to back; she was gorgeous in the face with a body to match.
“Hey! I’m—”
“Glow! I watch you on YouTube with my grandbabies. Didn’t think you’d be at my birthday dinner, though.” Her head tilted while she fixed her gaze on her son.
Using my elbow, I rammed Tunan’s side as he laughed while blocking my jabs.
“Really, Tunan? I could have brought her a gift!” I rolled my eyes at him.
Giving Mama Payne my attention again, who was now sporting a smile, I shook mt head.
“I’m so sorry. He only asked me to pull up.
I didn’t mean to intrude, especially empty-handed. My mama taught me better than that.”
Waving her towel, she motioned for me to enter the kitchen. “Girl, please. I was only teasin’. He’d already told me you was comin’ on a last-minute flight.” She held her hands out for a hug, which I accepted.
Hugging her made me miss my own mother, who worked way too much.
I was going to have to vlog more frequently so I could try to get my mom to cut her hours back some.
I knew she wouldn’t take a retirement proposal, but I needed to try to convince her to free up more time so we could see each other more often.
“It’s so good to meetcha. And you’re just so gorgeous! My grandbaby gonna be maaaad at y’all!” She cut her eyes at Tunan.
He was leaning against the doorframe with his eyes still on me. “Athena know her uncle got her. Might have to hit The Pretty Eater’s manager and book a one-on-one with my baby girl.” He winked, and I melted like butter all over this lady’s kitchen.
“Well.. let me double my price real quick.”
“Ha! I know dat’s right!” Mama Payne laughed.
“You chargin’ me like dat? Shidddd. I’ma have to fuck ’round and start vloggin’ to be able to afford you.”
“You’ll think of something,” I voiced with a shy grin.
“Mamaaaaaa!”
“Un hunh, Tulscan! My grandbabies are sleep! Come in here with all dat hollerin’!”
“That ain’t even him, Mama,” Tunan said and looked behind him with a smirk.
Mama Payne sighed and threw a dish towel his way. “Boy, hush. I know my kids!”