Chapter 8
It had been a long night. It was only a couple of hours ago that Boogie crawled into the guest room his mother put Sweetie. He felt bad for leaving her, but the word war was never taken lightly in that household.
The three men spent the night bulking up security and making sure all their blocks were on lock.
His father was practically red in the face with rage over Vernon calling war over Sweetie and Boogie’s relationship.
It surprised Boogie when Zander didn’t even question Boogie on Sweetie.
He figured his old man was too busy securing his empire.
“Wake up, baby,” Boogie coached in between kisses to Sweetie’s face.
Her eyes popped open, and she sat straight up. He watched as she looked around. When her eyes landed on him, she relaxed slightly. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep last night.”
He chuckled. “Girl, you were in here snoring for hours.”
“I don’t snore.” She rubbed her eyes as she grumbled.
He kissed her temple, and she reached out and caressed his beard. “You okay?”
She didn’t respond to his question. “We really made a mess of things, didn’t we?”
“Nah. Our fathers did.”
“My father did,” she corrected. She looked down at the silk comforter that was most likely the culprit for her good sleep. It had goose feathers in it, and his mother swore by that specific brand of bedding.
“Either way, it ain’t your fault, so stop carrying that guilt and stop worrying.”
She still didn’t look at him. “Your family has to hate me. All this fuss . . .”
“Stop it. Come on, get up.”
“We goin’ somewhere?”
Boogie shook his head. “Pops wants to talk to everyone.”
His father told Denzel and him to be up early so they could have a family meeting. Sweetie didn’t look thrilled.
“What about?”
“Panda extinction. What do you think, bae?” His lopsided grin seemed to unarm her.
She shook her head with a slight smile. “I hate this.”
“I know.”
“Maybe I can try to talk to my dad . . .”
“Nah.” Boogie was completely against that.
If the nigga was calling war over this shit, there was no telling what he might do.
Boogie never forgot how roughly Vernon had grabbed Sweetie all those years ago in the principal’s office.
There was no way he would be cool with Sweetie being around her father at this point.
“Well, maybe we should call it quits while we figure things out—”
“You really think I’m gonna go for that? Be fuckin’ for real.”
Sweetie sighed. “I guess I better freshen up.”
“I guess so. I had some clothes delivered for you. They’re in the bathroom.”
Sweetie slowly climbed out of bed, and he slapped her ass. His dick hardened, and he wished like hell he had time to dip into that juicy pussy of hers, but his father was waiting. He let Sweetie sleep as long as he could. Yesterday had been a long ass day, and he knew she needed her rest.
While he waited for her, Boogie checked in on the blocks to make sure at least five niggas were on them at all times. While Denzel took on more of an executive role in the family business, Boogie still liked hitting the streets and getting his hands dirty, so the blocks were his responsibility.
After twenty minutes, Sweetie stepped out of the connecting bathroom looking fresh and in her new clothes. She wore a pair of leggings and an oversized green sweater with some slouchy socks. His mom handled her clothes, and Boogie thought she looked cute.
“Ready,” she said nervously.
Boogie lazily got off the bed and swaggered over to her. With his hand, he lifted her chin and kissed her deeply. “You know how sexy you are?”
She blushed. “Thank you.”
“I know shit feels like it went left, but I need you to not worry. Ya man got you, okay?”
“My man. I love the sound of that.”
He was happy to hear that because the way things were going, he was terrified she would be scared off.
He kissed her one more time in response before they walked out of the room.
Downstairs, they went into the sunroom where her mother and father sat with a breakfast spread on the table.
They had already started eating, and Boogie was happy to see that.
The last thing he wanted was to sit through another failed formal meal.
Something more casual today felt comfortable to him.
“Good morning,” Sweetie said. Her tone held a shy note, and Boogie thought it was cute.
“Good morning, honey. I hope you slept well,” Tandy said as they sat down.
“I did, thank you,” Sweetie replied.
“Zel and Chloe aren’t up yet?” Boogie asked as he grabbed a bagel and broke it apart. He gave one half to Sweetie and pushed the cream cheese toward her, prompting her to eat.
“Why you worried about me?” Denzel said as he walked into the room with Chloe on his heels.
Boogie waved him off. “Definitely not worried, my nigga.”
“Act like you got some home training, please,” Tandy scolded.
Chloe gave Sweetie a quick hug before she took her seat next to Denzel.
“Look, I wanted to have a quick meeting and fill you guys in on some shit, but first, I want to ask y’all something.” Zander looked at Boogie and Sweetie.
“Ask,” Boogie said with a nod. He knew this conversation would come.
“Y’all are serious about your relationship?” Zander asked.
Sweetie shifted uncomfortably. Boogie sighed and put his fork down. He was actually hungry because he never got to eat the night before, but his eggs would have to wait.
“This is all so new, but I’m serious as hell. Sweetie ain’t just a jump-off bitch.” He flinched when his mother tossed her napkin at him. “Sorry, Mama. I’m just sayin’, Sweetie has always been different. She’s gon’ be around for a while, even though she’s still getting used to that idea.”
He squeezed Sweetie’s hand under the table to offer some encouragement. He loved her, and he wanted her to feel it every moment of the day.
Zander nodded as if that was what he expected his son to say. He looked at Sweetie. “You agree with what my son just said?”
Sweetie squirmed in her seat, but she looked his father in his eyes.
“I do, sir. I know you and my dad have bad history, but me and Boogie don’t.
Our history is . . . beautiful. It’s everything to me.
We haven’t seen each other in a very long time, but there was never any love lost. I want to stick around and explore this as an adult.
” She glanced at Boogie. “But not if it means people will get hurt. I don’t want that. I just want a normal life. Peace . . .”
Boogie leaned over and kissed her cheek. He was proud of her for speaking her mind and standing in her truth. It made him love her even more, but she was going to get it through her mind that nothing would keep them apart. He didn’t care if heads had to roll.
Zander allowed her words to sink in before he spoke again. “I think it’s time everyone knows the history between Vernon and I. Tandy knows, of course, but none of you kids know.”
Boogie sat up straighter and leaned in. He always wondered what the beef was. Sweetie sat up straighter too. He knew she was just as curious.
“It’s more to it than beef territory?” Denzel asked.
Zander nodded. “Much more. Me and Vernon grew up together. Went to Cadence Prep together, just like y’all.
We were best friends since kindergarten.
Did everything together. Your grandmother, Sweetie, your dad’s mom, was like a second mom to me.
She took me in when my mom died when I was sixteen. I lived with them until I graduated.”
“Wait, what?” Sweetie asked with wide eyes.
Boogie had to agree. This was a fucking shock. Never in a million years did Boogie think his father and Vernon had once been friends, . . . brothers.
“We got into the streets together, made millions together, met our wives together . . . I was his best man, and he was mine. It’s how I know your granny.
Lucille was always a firecracker. She used to make the best pies.
When your mama was pregnant with Audra, she always craved blueberry pie.
Ms. Lucille would make them for her, and she always made an extra one for me.
“Before Veronica and Tandy gave birth to our first babies, we had a fallout. A bad one. One that split all of Desmore Bay in two. He took one side, and I took the other. Shit ain’t ever been the same since then.
Your pops became really bitter. Mean. He’s held onto this damn grudge for thirty-five years, and I got over it in one. ”
Everyone stared at him in silence for several moments before Boogie asked, “What was the fallout over?”
It was Zander’s turn to shift uncomfortably. That made Boogie sit back in his seat and peer at his father curiously. Tandy laughed dryly as if she couldn’t wait for Zander to spill the beans, which only heightened Boogie’s curiosity.
Zander cleared his throat. “A car.”
The silence around the table was deafening.
“A car?” Denzel asked for clarification after nobody spoke.
Zander sighed. “You know the vintage car in the garage?”
“Yeah . . .” Denzel said slowly.
Zander nodded. “It belonged to his mama. She loved that damn car. When she passed, she left it to me and left him the house. Vernon didn’t want the house. He wanted the car. I didn’t want to give it up. His mama and I bonded over that car. She was special to me. She wanted me to have it.”
“You took that man’s mama’s car?” Boogie asked incredulously.
“I didn’t take it. She gave it to me,” Zander argued.
“You could have given it back,” Denzel pointed out.
“Y’all tag teamin’ me now?” Zander snapped.
Sweetie shook her head. “I don’t understand . . . all this over a car?”
Zander looked at her with somewhat of a guilty expression. “Sad to say, but yeah. Your pops never got over that.”
“Two fools who never grew up and had a man-to-man conversation,” Tandy mumbled.
“Wow,” Sweetie said.
“That’s some bullshit.” Boogie grabbed Sweetie’s hand again and caressed it lovingly. His mind was blown, and he could tell hers was too. Here they were gearing up for a war because of a damn car.
Better yet, two decades had to pass between them because of a mothafuckin’ car. Like he just said, this was some complete and utter bullshit.