Chapter 13 #2
“No. I got it. I’ll check,” I say and walk to the bar. “Just colas, no ginger ale.”
“Then order one please,” Reya says.
“My grandbaby’s acting up?” Shuga asks with concern.
“She’s just a picky eater and gives me the worst heartburn.”
“Hmmm,” Shuga says.
“What?” Reya asks.
“I had horrible heartburn with each of my boys. Our little princess just might be a prince after all.”
“Oh no. She’s a girl. I feel it. She’s just a princess giving me heartburn,” Reya insists and Shuga grins.
I grab the hotel’s iPad and order our drinks. Then I get the garment bag I brought with me and retrieve Shuga’s outfits from the bed. I drape all six options over the loveseat.
“I already see my favorites. I love a good jumpsuit and that black and silver one is sexy. The wide legs set it off and that chocolate one is really cute too,” Reya says.
“I like the black and silver one. I’m just worried about that one sleeve. You don’t think it’s too forward to show that much skin,” Shuga says and I smile.
“It’s just your arm. An arm is perfectly fine. You won’t look fast,” I say and Shuga laughs.
“Not fast. I was never that. Well, maybe I was. I did marry at twenty. I guess that can be called fast.”
“Not even that is fast. Trust me, you’re good.”
“Well, let me try that one on before the makeup people get here. Y’all check those shoes over there and see if any go with it in case it fits. You got an eight, right?”
“Yes. It’s an eight,” I say as I stand.
“Lawd, I hope it fits,” Shuga says as she grabs the jumpsuit.
“I really like that one and I saw cute silver heels when we walked in,” Reya says.
“I think I did too.”
“I’ll check.”
“Reya, I got it,” I insist.
“No. I have it. I’m only thirteen weeks along. You are worse than my husband. I’m just starting to show but y’all act like I’m eleven damn months. I’m healthy and fine,” she snaps.
“Alright, super bitch. Get the damn shoes,” I quip and we both grin. “And FYI, you are not showing. You still have that flat ass stomach I hate. My little niece is just causing your damn hips and ass to spread.”
“Trust me. It is far from flat. That’s the magic of this black dress. See,” she says as she pulls the dress. Now I can actually see a little bit of belly.
“Reya, aww. Look at the baby. You need to show your stomach more,” I gush.
“Oh trust me. As soon as I really pop, I’m going to be belly out every day.
I’ve seen so many crop sweaters. I cannot wait,” she admits, beaming.
She grabs the silver shoes and a black pair with silver rhinestones on the straps.
“Shuga has good ass taste. You would never know she was over sixty with five grown ass sons.”
“Girl, never, and I’m so glad she’s doing this. Her heart is so genuine; she deserves some happiness.”
“I said the same thing. She really does. I just hope her sons understand if she ends up finding love or dating. I think Quintus might, just because he’s so close to her, but Tre and Deuce? No. I can’t see them liking this at all. Hell, not even Ace really. What about Shiro?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I know he doesn’t want her to be alone but I don’t think he’ll accept the alternative. Seeing Shuga dating a man would be an adjustment, and lawd help that poor man.”
“Girl, it would have to be one who can hold his own for sure but I can’t see her with one who doesn’t.”
“Me either,” I admit. Knocking at the door interrupts us, so I answer. It’s room service with our drinks. “You can put them on the table right there in the living room,” I direct as he walks in. After he places the tray on the small table, I thank him and he leaves.
“So? How do I look?” Shuga asks, walking out looking stunning.
“Oh, Shuga!” I gush.
“I knew it. That’s it. That’s the one. You look beautiful.”
“I know right,” she says, beaming. Then, she gives us a twirl. “But are you sure my ass doesn’t look too—”
“Too what? Fine? You ass is sitting just right,” I say and she laughs.
“Girl, stop. Y’all are going to have me blushing. I really like it, and Reya, those are the shoes I was thinking.”
“Yes, they are perfect,” Reya says.
“Chile, let me take this off so I can have my drink and be ready for my makeover.”
“Not a makeover, just enhancement,” I say.
“I just hope they can do something with this ’fro,” she says as she walks back to the bedroom.
“I hope you’re not doing anything to it. I love your ’fro,” Reya calls out.
“Me too,” I agree because Shuga’s salt and pepper afro is always on point, so shiny and healthy.
“I have a picture,” Shuga says.
“A picture?” I utter to Reya as I hand her the can of ginger ale and cup of ice.
Reya shrugs. A few minutes later, Shuga walks out with her muumuu on. She joins us on the sofa and grabs the sangria. After she takes a sip, Reya says, “Let me see this picture.”
Shuga pulls her cell from her pocket and shows us a picture of an older woman with a ’fro not as vibrant as hers. It’s styled cute with a few scalp braids feeding into it on one side.
“Nothing crazy. Just a little change. I love it,” Shuga says.
“Me too. It is pretty,” I agree and so does Reya.
After we drink in silence for a moment, Shuga places her half empty sangria on the table then sits up. “Now, you two didn’t tell my boys about this thing tonight, right?”
Reya answers first. “My lips were sealed.”
“Mine too.”
“Good because I’m not trying to hear their mouths about this. It’s just a one-time thing and they don’t need to stress me out.”
“One time? What if you have fun and actually meet someone tonight,” Reya says.
“I doubt that.”
“I don’t. You might need to wear flats. Every man in that ballroom is going to try and dance with you tonight,” I say and she smiles.
“You two are the sweetest. Y’all are going to have me walking in there thinking I’m something,” she says.
“’Cause you are,” I say as there’s a knock on the door.
“And now it’s time to get you perfect,” Reya says, then stands to let D’Vonne and Jae in.
An hour and a half later, Shuga is ready and looking amazing.
D’Vonne gave her a natural beat, accentuating her beautiful eyes and full lips and Jae slayed the braids and shaped Shuga’s fro.
We all enter the elevator together and travel to the lobby.
When she heads toward her event, Reya and I walk to the tapas restaurant in the hotel to grab something light before we leave.
There’s only a fifteen-minute wait, then we are seated.
“You’re here this weekend?” I ask Reya.
“Yes. We aren’t going back to Diamond Falls until Monday night. Niya doesn’t have school but Quintus has court over here.”
“Monday off? Why? It’s not a holiday.”
“Some student holiday. The school is open but no students. She’s going to come to court with me. My calendar is light.”
“She is going to love that.”
“I know, right? Especially since she wants to be a judge now. I think I’m going to get her an engraved gavel.”
“Aw, now that would be too cute.”