3. Scream for Us
CHAPTER THREE
Scream for Us
“This was- This was really good, Mom,” Deja said, wiping her mouth, trying to cut the awkward silence and tension that had settled in the dining room.
“You know I had to make you your favorites,” Debra smiled as she stood from the table.
“I can help with the dishes,” Deja said quickly.
“Actually, Jax and Caleb offered before dinner started. Why don’t you stay out here with your father while we clean up?” Debra suggested. Anxiously biting her lip, Deja looked between Caleb and Jax, who were already gathering the dishes.
“Don’t worry. We’ll take care of it,” Jax said casually.
“Just go relax.” Despite his calm demeanor, Deja could practically feel the heat of Jax's anger radiating from him.
He did well to hide it from her parents, but to her it was palpable.
Caleb gave her a reassuring smile before following Debra into the kitchen.
The sound of her father’s humming floated in the air before she turned around and saw him in the living room, rocking Chloe in his arms. Deja cautiously approached him. “Pops…”
“She’s got his eyes,” Jared hummed. “She’s got your lips, your nose, your skin, even your hair. But definitely his eyes.”
Deja anxiously sighed. “Pops, don’t you think we’ve been apart too long for you to be mad at me?”
Jared suddenly looked at her. “Deja Louis, I prayed to God for you before you were conceived. I was the first to change your diaper. The first to clean your wounds. I taught you to ride a bike. To spell. To read. I took you to your first day of school and stayed outside until it was over. I moved you into college. To grad school. I drove 14 hours to New York when you got your rejection letter from the Research Center because I couldn’t bear to hear you cry and not hold you.
I moved you into your first apartment months after convincing myself you would be okay on your own… ”
Jared approached her, holding her gaze. “I ain’t seen you in over a year ’cept the awful things those racist newscasters said about you on TV.
Only a few phone calls from you, saying not to worry, as if I wasn’t on my knees every damn night prayin’ to God that he would protect my little girl cause she wasn’t tellin’ me nothin’ about what was going on with her.
Only to find out you had a baby! Alone! That man promised me he’d protect you-”
“Pops, he was dying-”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass!” Jared snapped before he stopped himself for Chloe’s sake. He slowly exhaled. “I am very protective of you, Deja. You know that.”
Deja bit back her tears. “I know, Pops. I’m sorry…”
Jared deeply exhaled. “So both of these men are in love with you… and they’re related.”
“I know. It’s weird,” she sighed.
“Deja, them two hate each other.”
Deja looked at her father, startled. “Wha-how-”
“Chile, you think I can’t tell when two men wanna beat each other’s ass? Ya father’s old, not stupid. Jax done gripped his fork so tight, I thought he was gone stab Caleb with it.”
Deja sighed. “They’ve got some family issues.”
Jared watched his daughter carefully. “I can tell they mean a lot to you… and that their strained relationship is taking its toll on you.”
Deja shook her head. “It’s fine, Pops. Every family has its troubles.”
“Mhm. I got a remedy for that,” he said, handing her Chloe. “Debra! You done workin’ them boys?!” he shouted.
Deja looked at him, startled. “Pops, what are you-”
“Gone and spend time with your mother. You done had her crying the last few months, thinking she done lost her child to the devil. Go,” Jared shooed her.
Caleb and Jax entered the living room, drying their hands while looking at Jared curiously.
“There you boys are. Come have a drink with me,” Jared smiled.
“Pops,” Deja said firmly.
“Jared, you betta leave these boys alone. I’m not here for your tricks,” Debra scolded.
“Would you both leave me alone? I’m tryna have a manly conversation.
Deja, git!” Jared snapped. Sucking her teeth, Deja turned around and left.
“Lil girl, don’t be suckin’ ya teeth at me.
Ion’ care how old you are,” Jared scolded.
He looked at Caleb and Jax with a grin. “Don’t matter how old your children get; they will always work your last nerves.
And you got a daughter, too? Mm, god help you when she reaches her teenage years. ”
Jared approached a glass cabinet, grabbed three glasses, and a bottle of Hennessy. “Come sit,” he said, sitting on the couch.
Jax sat in the armchair across from Caleb, who sat on the couch. “Thank you,” Jax said, grabbing his glass.
Jared clinked his glasses with theirs before taking a sip. “Now look, son. I know I came at you pretty hard, but you gotta understand. Deja is my little girl. She’s my only child. My heart. My life. That’s my baby.”
Jax nodded. “I understand, sir.”
“When you asked me for her hand in marriage, you promised me you would protect her,” Jared continued.
“I did…” Jax said.
“But then hell happened and now…” Jared looked into his glass before taking a sip. Caleb and Jax watched him, waiting for him to finish. “I ain’t gone lie to you. This why I wanted my daughter to marry a Black man. ‘Cause y’all white folks always got some crazy shit goin’ on.”
Caleb nearly choked on his drink as Jax pinched his nose. “She’d have my ass for sayin’ that, but I’m just speakin’ my truth,” Jared shrugged. “But I like you, Jax. So I’mma let it slide… just this once.”
Caleb bit his lip to hold back his snicker when Jared looked at him. “So, you’re his cousin… and you fell in love with his girl. I like you, son, but that’s hella messy,” Jared said with a raised brow.
Caleb cleared his throat. “I assure you it wasn’t intentional.”
Jax rolled his eyes and stifled his anger with another sip. Catching the growing tension between the two, Jared leaned on his knees. “I’m guessing y’all not liking each other goes further than my daughter.”
They both looked at him, surprised. “Well… It’s not-” Caleb started.
“I mean, falling for the same woman, that’s woowee! But there’s gotta be something else goin’ on,” Jared said.
The last thing Jax intended was to lay his family issues at the feet of Deja’s father. “I think we should talk about something else,” Jax said respectfully.
Jared grinned. “Clearly, Jax needs another drink,” he said, refilling Jax’s glass.
“8 racks says Jax stabs Caleb at least twice before Caleb breaks Jax’s nose… again.”
“No, not in front of her parents. They’d be more discreet and wait until there’s no one in the room. 10 on Caleb,” Ian said, tracing the rim of his glass of whiskey.
“You’re betting against Jax?” Keith asked, bewildered.
“Jax loves Deja too much to risk damaging his relationship with her parents any further. He’d sooner take a knife to the gut with a smile on his face.”
“True,” Keith shrugged, downing the rest of his whiskey.
Sitting at the bar, sipping on his third glass, Ian’s eyes followed the beautiful blonde waitress, tending to each customer in the restaurant before she finally bounced her way back to them.
“Moladh Roselyn! Sorry to keep you guys waiting,” she said, hugging Keith.
“I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you guys so much. ”
Keith released her as she ran to hug Ian. “No apologies necessary. We appreciate you taking time from work to meet with us,” Ian said.
“Of course, baby! I would’ve taken the whole week if I knew you were visiting!” she smiled. Sitting on Ian’s lap, she affectionately ran her fingers through his hair. “Your hair’s gotten longer, Daddy. I like it. Nice for pulling,” she teased.
Ian smiled as he politely removed her hand. “I’m afraid this isn’t that kind of visit, Millie.”
Her face fell. “Seriously? I was going to book a room for us and everything. Just like old times.”
“That isn’t necessary. We’re looking for a Reaper,” Ian said.
Millie frowned. “I thought you were here for me…”
“Under different circumstances, we would be,” Ian said. “But…”
“But?” she asked.
“But we’ve been brainwashed by a succubus with a biteable ass and suckable lips, and not just the ones on her face,” Keith muttered, lighting a joint. “The little demon owns us now…”
Millie blinked at Keith, confused. “He means, we’re involved with someone,” Ian clarified.
Millie snorted. “So? You guys are always with someone-”
“We’re exclusively with her,” Ian added.
Millie looked at him, shocked. “Oh! That’s… disappointing.”
“You’re telling me. It’s like being possessed by the devil. Gorgeous as fuck with godlike pussy,” Keith muttered.
“Wait, I’m confused,” she said. “Do you guys like her or not?”
“Fuck no,” Keith snorted. “We’re in love with her.”
Millie blinked with even more confusion.
“I mean, she pisses me the fuck off with her self-righteous ‘don’t kill, it’s bad’ bullshit.
But I’m addicted to her and her little Jedi mind tricks.
I would tear apart a city with my bare hands and make her pancakes on the same day.
Just to hear her annoying, orgasmic voice and see those stupid, beautiful eyes. ”
Millie looked from Keith to Ian. “It’s… complicated,” Ian smiled awkwardly.
“Oh wow! You’re right! She does look like Auntie Deidre!”
“Didn’t I tell ya? People used to say you look more like Deidre than me! Not surprised Chloe looks like her too!” Debra chuckled.
Deja smiled as she scanned her mother’s family album while holding Chloe. Though she was an only child, Deja had a large family with several aunts, uncles, and cousins. “Look at Treshawn! Oh my gosh! I haven’t seen Kyesha in years!” Deja beamed.
“You’ll see them at the barbecue,” Debra grinned. “You know, Kyesha been talkin’ about you non-stop. ‘Where is Deja? Why ain’t she answerin’ my calls?’”
Deja chuckled when her face fell as she looked at her mother cleaning the counter. “Mom? Is it really a good idea for all the guys to be there?”
“Yes. It’s a family barbecue, Deja. They’re family now,” Debra said, taking Chloe.
“I just mean… I feel like it might be awkward.”