Chapter 21 Red Squared
RED SQUARED
“So what movie is it going to be?”
“I can’t say right now, Mama. Just know that your son ’bout to blow uuuup!”
She laughed as I checked the time. Carter and I were taking Noni and Bali out tonight to celebrate.
Carter was beyond happy and had even talked them into having our dads there on set with us.
We would actually be doing what we loved to do in the movie.
They wanted parts of the rodeo scenes to be real.
Of course, the actors weren’t professionals.
Carter and I would have a few lines. That would make our roles memorable.
Hopefully, those lines would either be us talking noise or clowning.
I couldn’t wait. Filming would begin in a couple of months.
By then, the rodeo season would be gearing up again as well.
Carter said he was going to try to get Epic and Mythic in as extras as well.
I supposed we could try to get the Hendersons in the mix, too, even if they were just in the stands.
Since Jessica had done the video with Noah about being a country hood chick, it should be easy.
My mama was the first Black female hazer, and Tiffany was in rodeo history, too, as the first Black female to bareback.
So it should be easy to get them involved.
When they found out how rich the history was out here, they could possibly want to do a documentary.
We could get to work on that with our agents.
More people needed to know how the Hendersons ran this town.
While they didn’t take no shit, they still cared about the people living here, especially the Black ones.
“I’m so proud of you, baby. We gon’ have to celebrate all this good news this coming weekend and include the Hendersons as well.”
“Yeah. Maybe we could have it at their family barn. I’ll get with Mister Storm about that.”
“Sounds like a plan. Y’all be careful tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I walked out the door and headed to my truck, ready to take my baby out on the town.
When Mrs. Taylor called earlier, I was a ball of nerves.
I literally could feel my career slipping from my fingertips.
I was trying not to think that way, but at the same time, I was thinking of other things I could do in the industry.
While I wasn’t hurting for money, I didn’t want to sit around doing nothing either.
That was how people found themselves involved in bullshit. They had too much time on their hands.
As I drove by the diner, I saw Kingsley standing outside, looking around. He looked somewhat perplexed. I slowed down and turned in the lot. There was an empty parking spot right next to him. I put my window down, and asked, “What’s up? You cool?”
“I’m tryna be, man. Kane done got into some shit with some nigga. Ever since he got shot, he been a loose cannon at times.”
Kane was his brother, who was only a year or so younger than him. Most of Mr. Kenny’s kids were laid-back. I’d noticed Kane was wilding a lil bit lately. “Where did he go?”
“I don’t know, but Royal said he was gonna find him. He knows the nigga he got into it with.”
“What did they get into it about?”
“Some woman. You know how that shit go.”
“Mm. Speaking of, how are things with Treasure?”
“Good. She’s gonna meet me for lunch tomorrow. I’m just hoping that goes well.”
“I think it will. A’ight. Well, I’m gonna head home. I saw you out here looking pissed, so I just wanted to check on you.”
“Thanks, man.”
We shook hands as Seven sped in next to me, kicking up all kinds of dust. I slowly shook my head as he got out of his truck with a frown on his face.
I was glad Noni didn’t spend as much time around that nigga.
I could see him and I would probably bump heads often.
It was bad enough I had to be around Mr. Storm. That nigga was crazy enough.
Kingsley said something to him, and they started talking. I didn’t bother to sit here long enough to speak. I headed home so I could feed the animals, then shower to get ready for our date.
“Damn, Noni. You look beautiful, baby,” I said to her when she opened the door.
Carter was next door, picking up Bali. We were going to Hearsay Gastro Lounge in Beaumont.
Jasmine Crockett had made an impromptu visit there a couple of weeks ago.
Those racist ass white people gave her a hard time.
I wish we had known. We would have crashed that shit.
It wasn’t open to the public, but I believed Mr. Storm had gone, since he was in politics.
“Thank you, Red. You look nice as well,” she said as she rubbed her hand down the lapel of my jacket.
I grabbed her hand and kissed it, not wanting to mess up her makeup, then she stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
I noticed Carter was walking around his truck to get inside.
We took different vehicles just in case we wanted to go our separate ways after dinner.
After helping Noni inside the truck, I walked around to the driver’s side as a car sped down the road.
I frowned, trying to figure out what the fuck was going on.
It looked like they stopped at Jacob’s house.
When Ace hopped out of the car, I knew some shit was about to hit the fan.
His hair was all over his head, and he looked like he was on the rampage, ready to fuck up anybody that stepped to him.
When I saw Jacob come outside and hop in the car with him, I took a deep breath.
It never failed. These muthafuckas always had some shit going on.
Everybody was starting to come out of their houses.
First Christian, then Rylan and KJ, and further down, I saw Jakari getting in his truck.
When I looked back at the truck, I saw Noni had put the window down.
When Ashanni and Asad stepped out of their house, Noni yelled, “What’s going on? ”
“They got Uncle Marcus.”
“I thought he was in Puerto Rico.”
“He was. They took him, Aunt Syn, and the kids. The family is meeting at the barn. I can’t go.
I can’t let them get me all worked up. They’ll have me in labor before the night is over.
That’s why Maui didn’t even come outside.
Seems like we’re both having difficult pregnancies when it comes to stress. ”
I was holding my fucking breath, knowing our evening was probably ruined. Bali and Carter had backed up, blocking Noni’s driveway, listening to everything. I walked to Noni’s side and stared at her. “What do you wanna do?”
She frowned. “Go eat. I can’t do shit about that, unfortunately. We’ll catch up on the details later. Tonight is about you. You deserve all my attention. I’m worried about Aunt Syn and the kids, but I know my people are on top of that shit.”
I stroked her cheek with my thumb, suddenly feeling bad about her putting me before them. That shit was different. Normally, I would have been pissed beyond words had she put them before me.
“Baby, if you wanna go to the barn, we can go. I won’t be upset. We can always go out another night.”
“Nope.” She glanced at Bali, and said, “Are you wanting to stay?”
Bali’s face adorned the same frown hers did a minute ago. “Hell naw. I’m hungry as fuck. We’ll find out what’s going on when we get back. I’m pretty sure they are going to bring them back to Texas.”
Noni smiled at me, and said, “Come on. Let’s go.”
I walked around the vehicle, feeling happy as shit as she told Ashanni to go inside and get off her feet.
She was full-term, so they knew she could go into labor at any moment.
If I remembered correctly what Asad had told us, she was due in like two weeks.
I couldn’t wait for my little niece to get here.
If she was as calm as my nephew was, she would be a joy to be around.
Jayceon was just like Asad. He asked a lot of questions at times, but he was a good kid.
After getting inside the truck, I grabbed Noni’s hand and kissed it, then checked my rearview mirror to see Carter had driven away.
I backed out and followed him. Once we were on Highway 90, I grabbed Noni’s hand and gently caressed the top of it with my thumb.
Despite her words before we left her house, I knew she was worried and wanting to be at the barn.
As soon as we were done eating, we would be heading back to find out what was going on.
“Noni?”
She turned to me and gave me a slight smile. “Yes?”
“I love you so much. Thank you for sticking by me. I can’t thank you enough for that shit. You are the woman I was meant to live the rest of my life with and for.”
Her face reddened slightly as she said, “I love you, too, Red, more with each passing day.”
My face heated up so I knew it was probably red, too.
I still wasn’t used to her expressing herself so freely.
She told me that she’d spoken to Maui about opening up to me.
I supposed her having someone to encourage her to do so made it a little easier for her.
She said even Bali had been encouraging about the whole thing.
That shit was surprising, knowing how she truly felt about me.
She had been a little easier on me since what happened at the rodeo, but I would be a fool to think she couldn’t flip the fucking script on my ass for something I did six months ago.
When we got to Hearsay, I thought about how my dad said he and Uncle Legend had gone on double dates with my mama and Aunt Harper here.
It used to be a restaurant called Suga’s, though.
I smiled as I parked, realizing how our lives were mimicking theirs.
They married first cousins, and Carter and I would marry twins.
After parking, I got out and walked around to help Noni out. Bali rushed over to us, and I frowned slightly. Some shit had gone down. I knew I should have taken her to the barn.
“They separated them from Uncle Marcus! Missus Taylor and Shy are trying to find where Aunt Syn and the kids are. Ace and PJ left for Dilley. They gon’ lock they ass up, too.”
“I thought Ace and Malia were supposed to be with them in Puerto Rico.”
Bali shook her head. “Ace had said he wasn’t running from shit, so Malia stayed with him.”
Noni’s lip twitched like she would cry any minute.
She grabbed Bali’s hands, and I watched them both swallow hard and take deep breaths.
They nodded and turned to us like nothing happened and smiled.
I frowned slightly, trying to understand what had happened.
I glanced over at Carter as he slid his arms around Bali’s waist.
I went to Noni and kissed the side of her head.
She released Bali’s hands and turned to me, sliding her arms around my waist. We were almost the same height with the heels she’d worn.
She had to be every bit of six feet two inches with them on.
She rested her face against mine and took a deep breath.
When their phones chimed, they both pulled away from us to check them.
I took that time to go to Carter. “Man, I think we should get something quick and take them back to Nome to be with their family.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Actually, I’m pretty sure Aunt Jen and Aunt Chrissy got the food covered.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
I looked back over at them to see them hugging each other. We walked over to them, and I said, “Come on, baby. Let’s get back to Nome.”
She fell against me. “I’m so sorry. We want to celebrate y’all.”
“Don’t worry. We have time for that shit. Let’s get back to the barn. Was there more news?”
“There was a mix-up. Aunt Syn is in Dilley with the kids. Uncle Marcus is in Louisiana. They are trying to deport him to Mexico. How can they do that shit? He’s an American citizen! They were forceful with Aunt Syn and the kids when they separated them from Uncle Marcus.”
I held her in my arms for a moment, trying to calm her down. I couldn’t imagine what he was feeling. I was pretty sure he got hostile when they separated them. I just hoped they were all unharmed.