Chapter 21
I decided to pay tribute to the queen, Ms. Janet Jackson.
My outfit was inspired by her character from Poetic Justice.
My mom did some box braids for me yesterday, and I pulled them into a ponytail with a white head wrap.
I was sporting the White crop top and jeans, only mine were a little more fitted, along with some black boots and silver accessories.
Quaid recreated a look from DJ Jazzy Jeff that included a baseball cap, baseball jersey, black shorts, and a pair of retro sneakers from his collection.
The simple gold jewelry brought the look together.
He’d forgone his regular glasses in favor of the classic Dwayne Wayne glasses with the flip shades.
“Janet ain’t got shit on you, baby,” he’d told me.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Currently we were riding behind my brothers and their ladies on the golf carts, on our way up to the party.
Music was already blasting. Everybody but Smoke and Romi were in line.
They decided to stay in with the twins but promised they would take turns popping in for a little bit.
Quaid and I had Korri and Juri, who was currently all over my man. From the moment I introduced him to her, baby girl had a twinkle in her eye. She was grinning and reaching for him. The moment he picked her up, she rested her head against the side of his face.
“Juri, baby, that’s my man,” I said, peering into her pretty little face.
“No,” she said with so much conviction.
Smoke frowned. “I don’t like this. Don’t come in here making my daughter fall in love and shit.”
Quaid chuckled as he rubbed Juri’s back. “Babies know good people.”
“Give me my baby.”
Smoke tried to take her, but she held on to Quaid with a vengeance, making all of us laugh.
“That’s how you do me, lil bit?” Smoke asked, poking her tummy. “Just ditch your daddy?”
Juri grinned. I knew she didn’t know she was fucking with him, but when she turned her head and kissed Quaid on the cheek, my brother pretended to pass out.
“Stop being dramatic, Devin,” Romi fussed, rolling her eyes. She turned to me. “You two look cute.”
“Thank you, thank you,” I said, running my fingers through my braids. “I hope y’all have your outfits when you come ’cause you know what Daddy said: If you aren’t on theme, you can’t come in.”
Smoke rolled his eyes as he picked Serena up from her bassinet. “I’m in full-time daddy mode. He’s lucky I show up. I’ll walk up in there, throw-up stained shirt and all.”
“That’s nasty, Papa Devin,” Korri said, frowning. “Their throw up stinks as bad as the poopy diapers.” She turned to me. “Auntie Jaeda? Is Mr. Quaid gonna be our new uncle?”
Quaid grinned. “Eventually, baby girl.”
“We gon’ see about that,” Smoke said, rocking Serena.
“Bite me, Devin,” I shot back. “Mr. Quaid likes Legos too, Korri.”
Her eyes widened. She grabbed his hand and insisted he let her show him her collection before we left the house.
It was adorable watching him interact with her and Juri.
When I introduced him to Darlyn, she had the same instant reaction as Juri.
So much so that she opted to ride with us to the house instead of her parents.
She talked his head off the whole ride, pointing out every aspect of her outfit. Juri didn’t like to share the attention, so she tried to pop Darlyn in the head. Quaid was gentle in correcting her, and she apologized by giving Darlyn a kiss on the cheek.
My ovaries were screaming.
When we entered through the back gate, my father was in the middle of the dance floor, beer in one hand, blunt in the other, rapping along to “Quiet Storm Remix” by Mobb Deep and Lil’ Kim.
“That’s my shit,” Maceo declared, bouncing his shoulders. “Jae, hold Marino right quick.”
He thrust my nephew into my arms and grabbed Shar’s arm and headed out to the dance floor with our father. Daddy passed him the blunt after giving him and Shar a hug. The three of them were lit all by themselves. Marino giggled in my arms.
“You see your silly ass parents, nephew?” Deuce said, pinching his chubby cheeks.
When Shar hit that Lil’ Kim dance, we all lost it. Once the grandmas came to collect the kids, we all ventured out onto the dance floor with my father. The DJ dropped the beat to “What You Want” by Mase and Total, and Maddie joined my father for a dance.
I’d gained so much confidence since being with Quaid. He made me feel good about myself and own my sexiness, no matter the time or space. Where I was once too shy to dance, I was out here right now, shaking my hips and grinding my ass on him to the beat of the song.
We kept it slightly tasteful in front of my brothers and father, because I could feel their eyes on us. That didn’t go for Mia and Titan. They thought they were at Freaknik. She’d come back to town to celebrate and brought him along with her.
Sis was dressed in a tank top, cut off shorts with the word “HOOCHIE” painted on the back, tube socks, and sneakers.
Her hair was wrapped and held in place with a bunch of clips.
A plethora of gold jewelry including chains, rings, bracelets, and the signature bamboo earrings accessorized her outfit, along with long curved nails, a gold tooth, and a fanny pack.
When the DJ dropped “Down For My Niggas” by C-Murder, my uncles and their sons hopped on the dance floor, drinks and blunts in the air, rapping along. Quaid and Titan were right in the mix, laughing, slapping hands, and doing this handshake I’d seen them do a few times.
“Not your man fitting in with the ratchets,” Shar said, laughing as she watched them.
Mia giggled. “You would think he was out there banging with them. This is not the man I pictured when Titan told me about him.”
I blushed. “There are layers to that man. I just . . . I think I love him.”
They all stopped dancing and looked at me with their lips poked out. A round of “awwwws” poured from them as they hugged me.
“I’m so happy for you,” Shar said, kissing my cheek. “I can tell by the way that man looks at you that he loves you too.”
“You think so?” I asked.
The girls looked at each other, then at me. “Um, yes!” they said in unison.
“Girl, you must be blind,” Salima said. “I’d bet money he’s gonna tell you soon.”
I didn’t want to wager on my feelings. I’d never been in love. I’d never had a man profess his love for me. If Quaid uttered those words, I would surely cry. My gaze drifted over to him, and a smile found its way to my face. Did I love him?
He was my first thought in the morning and my last thought at night.
I loved sleeping next to him. I loved the peace I felt in his presence.
After a long day of working, he was my reward.
I spent less time at my house these days, because I loved being with him.
My confidence was soaring. I was more comfortable in my skin.
It wasn’t to say that I needed a man for that.
My family reminded me of who I was. They showered me with love, but that was what they were supposed to do.
This man wasn’t required to give of himself so freely to me.
He could have been like any other man that just wanted to fuck me, but he wasn’t.
He’d made the effort to get to know me, and, for that, I appreciated him more than he would ever know.
The DJ dropped “U Know What’s Up” by Donell Jones and Left Eye, and my man made his way over to me.
“Excuse me, ladies,” he said, pulling me from my sisters. “I need my girl.”
They all grinned and ushered me into his arms.
“Get your girl, brother-in-law!” Shar called after us.
I shook my head as he pulled me into the crowd to dance.
“I’ve got my first title that isn’t disrespectful,” he jested.
“Right. How does it feel?”
He smiled as he lifted my fingers to his lips to kiss them. “Befitting.”
My lips spread across my face. “I agree.”
The party was over, and aside from the twins, all the kids were with their grandmas for the night.
Daddy dipped out of the party early with a drunk Maddie.
When we saw them all hugged up in the corner, we knew what time it was.
Currently, my siblings, their wives, Donna, Jakobi, and Renay were gathered at Smoke’s, about to get in his pool.
The twins were sleeping, so Romi and Smoke brought the baby monitors outside so they could take turns going to check on them in the pool house just a few feet away.
Since she couldn’t do too much moving, Romi was comfortably lounging in a rocking chair while the girls played around in the pool.
The guys were huddled, passing blunts around and sipping on beers.
Well, everybody except for Steel. He and Donna were huddled in a corner of the pool, talking quietly.
Every so often, he gave her a kiss. It made me smile but also confused me.
He said she was just a friend, but he didn’t treat her like a friend.
All day long, he’d been checking with her to make sure she was good or seeing if she needed anything.
He was very affectionate and loving toward her, which had us thinking there was more going on than they admitted.
“Now watch they bring their loud, drunk asses over here disturbing our peace,” Shar said, watching them.
“I’m just surprised a fight hasn’t broken out,” Salima commented. “Look at them being nice to people who aren’t family.”
I kissed my teeth. “Girl, they’re barely nice to each other, so that says a lot.”
We shared a laugh.
I smiled as I looked around. “The family really grew and so damn fast. To think it all started with Deuce putting a gun to your head, Salima.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t remind me. Sometimes I watch him sleep and think about that shit. It would be so easy to pick up a pillow and smother him. Then I’d have to raise his bad ass baby without him, and I’m not doing that.”
Shar laughed. “Darlyn is bad as hell. Liam is such a sweet baby though. Damn, we really had all these kids back-to-back.”
“At least you don’t have three under two,” Renay said, smirking at her sister.
Romi shot her a middle finger. “Don’t blame me. Blame it on that man for talking to me like a slut when he’s inside me.”
Renay cackled. “So the whore in you jumped on that dick?”
“Every time.”
Mia and I frowned.
“That’s nasty,” I said.
Mia agreed. “It’s disgusting. Come on, y’all. We talked about not speaking on your sexual activities with our brothers in front of us.”
Shar waved her off. “Girl, bye. Y’all knew they were fucking long before we came along.
“Yeah, but we didn’t have to hear about it in detail!” Mia protested.
Renay snickered. “I guess you don’t wanna hear anything about the way your cousin?—”
“No!” Mia and I both yelled.
Everybody laughed. My eyes zeroed in on Donna and my brother, and the rest of the guys finally came back over. They all made their way to their respective partners. Quaid slipped into the pool and swam over to me with hooded eyes.
I giggled as he sprinkled kisses all over my face and neck.
“You feeling good?” I asked.
“Good as hell. I don’t know what your brothers smoke, but damn.”
“My uncle has the best strain in the state. He grows it himself.”
“Don’t be telling that nigga all our business, Jae,” Smoke said. “Ol’ pillow talking ass.”
I shot him a look. “I know you aren’t talking. All of y’all pillow talk with my sisters, so keep it cute.”
Quaid waved him off. “He’s just mad his baby loves me already. When I marry your sister, I’m gonna be her favorite uncle.”
“Bullshit!” Deuce said. “I’m the favorite uncle.”
“Cap!” Maceo yelled. “Those kids love Uncle Mace.”
“All of y’all can calm that down,” Steel said, finally coming over. “Everybody knows I’m the favorite uncle. All of y’all’s kids love me real bad.”
“Nigga, fuck you,” Deuce said, splashing water in his direction. “You over there, cupcaking and being antisocial and shit. You’ve been up Donna’s ass all day, my nigga. No offense, Donna.”
Donna giggled. “No offense taken.” She looked at my brother. “Should we tell them?”
Everybody’s ears perked up.
“Tell us what?” Shar asked.
A grin spread across Steel’s face. “We’re having a baby.”
All the women screamed while the guys clapped for him. It made sense now why Donna wasn’t drinking.
I broke away from Quaid and threw my arms around him, tears streaming down my face.
I knew how bad my brother wanted to be a father.
In our private conversations over the years, he expressed that to me time and time again.
He was undeniably the favorite uncle amongst our brothers. The kids adored him.
“I’m so happy for you,” I said, cupping his face. “You are going to be an amazing father, Kerrion.”
“Thank you, Jae.”
I kissed his cheek and moved over to Donna. “Congratulations! I guess we are family now.”
She squeezed me tightly. “I love that. I had to admit I was a little nervous to meet you all, but Kerrion told me there was an abundance of love . . . and insults here.”
I laughed. “Endless insults, but all love.” I reached out to rub her stomach. “Hi, auntie’s baby!”
“I’m glad you finally said something,” Maceo said. “It was hard as hell holding that shit in. No cap. I do love pillow talking with my wife.”
Shar smacked his arm. “So you knew!”
“He told us they were trying, not that they were pregnant.”
“Oh! So y’all were gossiping and sharing secrets, huh? Who else has a secret? Quaid? Titan? Either of y’all knocked my sisters up?”
“Hell no,” Titan said. “Did you not see the way she was throwing those drinks back today?”
Mia mushed his head. “As if I would ever let you impregnate me, nigga. You aren’t even my man.”
Titan kissed his teeth. “You say that, but look where the fuck I am. How many other niggas are you bringing around your family? None. You don’t even like other niggas, and if you do, you better keep that shit on the low before they come up missing.
As far as a baby”—he chuckled—“you let me do everything that can result in a pregnancy. If you don’t want my seeds, you better tighten up, and I ain’t talking about them walls, love. ”
Mia tried to swing at him, but he grabbed her and dunked her in the water as she screamed.
His antics prompted all the men, except for Smoke, to do the same thing.
An all-out water fight broke out. Hair clips were everywhere.
Shar’s wig slipped off, and the guys had a field day throwing it around while she cursed them all out.
I was doubled over in laughter.
Even if my brothers hated to admit it, they liked having Quaid and Titan around. They’d been playing like kids all day long. It was nice to see them soften up a bit and welcome them into the family. I couldn’t speak for Titan, but my man wasn’t going anywhere, anytime soon, . . . maybe never.