CHAPTER 14
THE COOKOUT WAS A TERRIBLE FUCKING IDEA
Sunday should have been peaceful.
Church.
Food.
Football.
Maybe somebody auntie arguing over who made the potato salad.
Instead, Zaviyah’s mother decided the entire family needed to talk.
Which was Black mama language for everybody bring your ass over here so I can get in your business.
At 10:03 Sunday morning, Zaviyah got the text.
MAMA
Everybody at my house at 3. Bring Kyren. And don’t start that shit about you grown. I know.
Zaviyah stared at the message.
Malissa leaned over.
“What she say?”
“She summoned me.”
“To court?”
“Basically.”
“You going?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“You thirty.”
“Exactly. No.”
At 2:58, Zaviyah pulled into her mother’s house
near Washington Park.
Cars were everywhere.
Her mother’s.
Her aunt Denise’s.
Her cousin Brielle’s.
Jalisa’s Range Rover.
Zaviyah stopped walking.
“Why the fuck is Jalisa here?”
Kyren tugged her hand.
“Grandma.”
“Yes, baby.”
He pointed toward another car.
“Daddy!”
Zaviyah froze.
Kavon’s truck.
“Oh, hell no.”
She called her mother immediately.
Loretta answered.
“Where you at?”
“Outside.”
“Then come inside.”
“Why is Kavon here?”
“Because that’s my grandbaby daddy.”
“Mama.”
“And his mama here too.”
Zaviyah nearly dropped the phone.
“WHAT?”
“Stop yelling.”
“You invited Patrice?”
“She invited herself.”
“That sounds accurate.”
“And Samaria here.”
Zaviyah closed her eyes.
“Mama, this is a terrible fucking idea.”
“Probably.”
“PROBABLY?”
“Bring my grandbaby in this house.”
Loretta hung up.
Zaviyah stared at the phone.
Kyren looked up.
“Go?”
She sighed.
“Yeah.”
“Party?”
“Something like that.”
The backyard looked like a damn family reunion.
Music playing.
Dominoes slapping.
Smoke coming off the grill.
Kids running through the grass.
A cooler full of drinks.
And enough tension to power half of Broward County.
Loretta saw Kyren first.
“There go Grandma baby!”
Kyren ran toward her.
“Grandma!”
Loretta scooped him up.
Then she looked at Zaviyah.
“You look tired.”
“Because y’all won’t leave me the fuck alone.”
Loretta slapped her arm.
“Watch your mouth.”
“I’m grown.”
“And?”
“Nothing.”
Smart answer.
Patrice walked over carrying a plate.
“Hey, Zaviyah.”
“Hey.”
The two grandmothers looked at Kyren.
Then at each other.
Zaviyah immediately saw a new problem forming.
Loretta smiled.
“So you Patrice.”
“Yes.”
“I’m Loretta.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“Facebook.”
Zaviyah closed her eyes.
“Jesus.”
Patrice laughed.
“I had to see who raised her.”
Loretta looked at Zaviyah.
“Raised who?”
“Your daughter.”
“Why?”
Patrice smiled.
“Because she got a mouth.”
Loretta laughed.
“That ain’t from me.”
Zaviyah stared at her mother.
“That is absolutely from you.”
Across the yard, Kavon stood near the grill.
White T shirt.
Black shorts.
Chain.
Laughing with Zaviyah’s cousin Trell like they
had known each other for years.
Zaviyah looked away immediately.
Too late.
Samaria saw her looking.
Fuck.
Samaria sat at the patio table beside Jalisa.
She had on jean shorts, a fitted green top, and a face that said she wanted to be anywhere else.
Zaviyah walked over.
“Hey.”
Jalisa answered.
“Hey.”
Samaria took a sip of her drink.
“Hey.”
Zaviyah sat.
“You good?”
Samaria shrugged.
“I’m here.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“That’s my answer.”
Jalisa looked between them.
“I need alcohol.”
“You already drinking.”
“I need stronger alcohol.”
Zaviyah laughed.
Samaria almost did.
Almost.
Then Kavon walked over.
Of fucking course.
He looked at Zaviyah.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
Then Samaria.
“Hey, Mari.”
Samaria stared at him.
“Hey.”
Silence.
Jalisa stood.
“Nope.”
Zaviyah looked up.
“Where you going?”
“To help with food.”
“You don’t cook.”
“I’ll learn today.”
She left.
Coward.
Kavon looked at Samaria.
“Can we talk?”
Samaria laughed.
“Here?”
“Not here.”
“No.”
“Mari.”
“I said no.”
Kavon nodded.
“Okay.”
He started walking away.
Samaria stopped him.
“Kavon.”
He turned.
“What?”
“You really told Zaviyah you wonder what would’ve happened if you found her after Tampa?”
The whole table went silent.
Unfortunately, Aunt Denise was sitting one table over.
Her head turned immediately.
Zaviyah closed her eyes.
“Mari.”
“No.”
Kavon stared at Samaria.
“Yes.”
Samaria laughed.
“Wow.”
“I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”
“You weren’t talking to me.”
“I know.”
“You were talking to her.”
“Yes.”
Samaria looked at Zaviyah.
“And she told you to fight for me?”
Kavon glanced at Zaviyah.
“Yes.”
Samaria nodded.
“Okay.”
She stood.
“Good talk.”
“Mari.”
She walked away.
Kavon looked at Zaviyah.
“That went well.”
“Shut up.”
Aunt Denise leaned over.
“What happened in Tampa?”
Zaviyah looked at her.
“Auntie.”
“What?”
“Mind your business.”
Denise laughed.
“I’m trying.”
Loretta yelled from across the yard.
“FOOD READY!”
Thank God.
Everybody moved toward the tables.
For twenty whole minutes, the mess paused.
Kyren sat between both grandmothers getting fed enough food for three grown men.
Zaviyah finally relaxed.
Then a white Charger pulled up.
Samaria looked toward the driveway.
Her face changed.
Zaviyah noticed.
“Who is that?”
Samaria smiled.
“My friend.”
A man stepped into the backyard.
Tall.
Brown skin.
Beard.
Fresh cut.
Black polo.
Gold watch.
Kavon looked up from his plate.
His entire face changed.
Oh.
Now this was interesting.
The man walked straight toward Samaria.
She hugged him.
Not a church hug.
Not a cousin hug.
A real fucking hug.
Kavon stopped chewing.
Zaviyah slowly looked at him.
He caught her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Stop looking at me.”
“I didn’t say shit.”
“Your face did.”
Zaviyah smiled.
“Now you know how it feels.”
Samaria brought the man over.
“Everybody, this is Nasir.”
Loretta smiled.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey, Ms. Loretta.”
Zaviyah frowned.
“You know Mama?”
Nasir smiled.
“Been knowing her.”
Samaria looked at Zaviyah.
“Nasir grew up around Dorsey Riverbend.”
“Oh.”
Nasir held out his hand.
“You Zaviyah?”
“Yes.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
Then he looked at Kavon.
They stared at each other.
Samaria smiled.
“Nasi, this is Kavon.”
Nasir nodded.
“What’s up?”
Kavon barely nodded.
“What’s good.”
Mess.
Pure fucking mess.
Zaviyah took a sip of her drink.
Samaria sat beside Nasir.
Close.
Very close.
Kavon watched.
Patrice noticed.
Loretta noticed.
Jalisa definitely noticed.
Hell, Kyren probably noticed.
Nasir put his arm across the back of Samaria’s chair.
Kavon’s jaw tightened.
Zaviyah leaned toward him.
“Don’t.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“You know what.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“Your face is.”
“Shut up.”
She smiled.
“You jealous.”
“No.”
“Liar.”
Kavon looked at Samaria again.
Nasir whispered something in her ear.
She laughed.
Kavon stood.
Zaviyah grabbed his wrist.
“Sit your ass down.”
He looked at her hand.
Then at her.
Zaviyah immediately released him.
Too late.
Samaria saw it.
Her smile disappeared.
Kavon sat back down.
Zaviyah’s stomach twisted.
Samaria stared at her.
Then slowly turned back toward Nasir.
A few minutes later, music got louder.
People started drinking more.
Which meant everybody’s judgment got worse.
Brielle pulled Zaviyah toward the patio.
“Come dance.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t dance at family functions.”
“You danced at my birthday.”
“I was drunk.”
“Exactly. Drink.”
Zaviyah laughed.
She let Brielle drag her over.
A few songs later, she was actually having fun.
For the first time all weekend.
Then she turned.
Kavon was watching her.
Again.
She stopped dancing.
Brielle followed her eyes.
“Ooh.”
“No.”
“What?”
“Don’t.”
“That’s baby daddy?”
“Yes.”
“He fine.”
“Brielle.”
“What? I got eyes.”
“He dated Samaria.”
“Oh.”
Brielle looked toward Samaria.
Then back at Kavon.
Then at Zaviyah.
“Ohhhh.”
“Stop.”
“I see the problem.”
“There is no problem.”
“Girl, that man looking at you like dinner.”
Zaviyah grabbed her drink.
“You drunk.”
“I’m observant.”
Across the yard, Samaria stood.
Nasir grabbed her hand.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“Dance.”
Samaria smiled.
“Okay.”
Kavon watched them.
Zaviyah watched Kavon watching them.
Then Kavon looked at her.
Their eyes met.
Both of them were jealous.
For completely different reasons.
And both knew it.
This shit was ridiculous.
Zaviyah walked inside.
She needed air conditioning.
And distance.
Mostly distance.
She went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
“You hiding?”
She froze.
Kavon.
“Why are you following me?”
“I wanted water.”
“There’s a cooler outside.”
“I wanted cold water.”
“The cooler has ice.”
Kavon smiled.
“You nervous?”
“No.”
“You look nervous.”
“You look jealous.”
His smile disappeared.
“Of Nasir?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not.”
“Liar.”
Kavon stepped closer.
“You care?”
“No.”
“Then why you watching me?”
“Because you were staring at my sister like you wanted to drag her away by her hair.”
“I love her.”
Zaviyah nodded.
“I know.”
“And seeing another nigga touch her bothers
me.”
“As it should.”
Kavon stared at her.
“But then I look at you.”
Zaviyah’s stomach dropped.
“Don’t.”
“And that bothers me too.”
“Kavon.”
“I’m being honest.”
“Well stop.”
He stepped closer.
Zaviyah stepped backward.
Her lower back hit the counter.
“Kavon.”
“I’m not touching you.”
“You’re too close.”
“Tell me to move.”
“Move.”
He didn’t.
Her heart pounded.
“Kavon.”
His eyes dropped to her mouth.
Zaviyah’s breath caught.
This was it.
The line.
The one she had been warning herself about.
One inch.
Maybe two.
Then a voice came from the kitchen doorway.
“Well, damn.”
Zaviyah jumped.
Kavon stepped back.
Samaria stood there.
Nasir behind her.
Nobody spoke.
Samaria looked at the space between Zaviyah and Kavon.
Then at her sister.
Then at her ex.
Her eyes filled.
Zaviyah moved first.
“Mari.”
Samaria laughed.
“Don’t.”
“Nothing happened.”
“I know.”
“Then.”
“But it was about to.”
Silence.
Zaviyah couldn’t lie.
Not this time.
Samaria nodded slowly.
“That’s what I thought.”
Kavon stepped forward.
“Samaria.”
She looked at him.
“You know what’s crazy?”
“What?”
“I brought Nasir here because I wanted you jealous.”
Kavon’s jaw tightened.
“It worked.”
Samaria laughed through her tears.
“Good.”
Then she looked at Zaviyah.
“But seeing you two in here?”
Zaviyah swallowed.
Samaria wiped her cheek.
“That didn’t make me jealous.”
“What did it make you?”
Samaria stared directly at her sister.
“Done.”
She turned and walked out.
“Mari!”
Zaviyah followed.
By the time she reached the backyard, Samaria had grabbed her purse.
Loretta stood.
“Where you going?”
“Home.”
“What happened?”
“Ask your other daughter.”
Every head turned toward Zaviyah.
Perfect.
Fucking perfect.
Loretta looked at her.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
Samaria laughed.
“Exactly.”
Then she looked at everybody.
“My sister and Kavon almost kissed in your kitchen.”
The whole backyard went silent.
Patrice’s mouth dropped.
Jalisa whispered.
“Oh, shit.”
Aunt Denise leaned back in her chair.
“I knew Tampa mattered.”
Zaviyah wanted to die.
Loretta stared at her.
“Zaviyah.”
“Mama.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Were you about to?”
Silence.
Everybody waited.
Zaviyah looked at Samaria.
Her sister’s face was wet with tears.
She could lie.
Maybe save herself.
Maybe make Kavon the bad guy.
Maybe pretend Samaria imagined everything.
But she had already lied enough.
Zaviyah swallowed.
“Yes.”
Chaos.
Loretta yelled.
Patrice yelled at Kavon.
Jalisa stood up.
Aunt Denise yelled something about knowing it.
Nasir looked like he wanted to disappear.
And Samaria?
Samaria didn’t say shit.
She just stared at Zaviyah.
Then nodded.
Like something inside her had finally broken.
She walked toward the driveway.
Zaviyah followed.
“Mari.”
Samaria turned.
“Stay the fuck away from me.”
“I didn’t kiss him.”
“You wanted to.”
“I stopped.”
“No.”
Samaria shook her head.
“You got caught.”
That shut Zaviyah up.
Samaria opened the passenger door of Nasir’s car.
Then looked back.
“You know what hurts the most?”
Zaviyah’s eyes filled.
“What?”
“You keep saying you’d never choose a man over me.”
Samaria laughed bitterly.
“But you already did.”
The car door slammed.
Nasir got in.
They pulled away.
Zaviyah stood in the driveway.
Behind her, everybody was still arguing.
Kavon walked toward her.
She turned immediately.
“Don’t come near me.”
He stopped.
“Zaviyah.”
“Don’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You should be.”
“You wanted it too.”
She slapped him.
Hard.
The backyard went silent again.
Kavon held his cheek.
Zaviyah’s eyes filled.
“Don’t ever use my weakness as an excuse for yours.”
He stared at her.
She turned away.
Then she saw Kyren.
Standing beside Loretta.
Watching.
Confused.
“Why Mama mad?”
Zaviyah’s heart shattered.
She walked over and picked him up.
“I’m okay, baby.”
“Daddy bad?”
Silence.
Kavon’s face dropped.
Zaviyah looked at him.
Then at her son.
“No.”
She kissed Kyren’s forehead.
“Daddy ain’t bad.”
“Daddy time out?”
Despite everything, somebody laughed.
Zaviyah almost did too.
“Yes.”
She looked directly at Kavon.
“Daddy is definitely in fucking time out.”
Kyren frowned.
“Bad word.”
Zaviyah closed her eyes.
And for once, nobody had a damn thing to say.