Chapter 16 Blaise Monroe
It’s been almost a month since me and Devin’s rendezvous at the hotel.
His ass been in his feelings, and the only way I could get him to let it go was to tell him I was coming to Miami.
So, here I was grabbing my luggage from baggage claim.
Knowing I wouldn’t be able to talk to Garrett once I walked outside, I called him.
“Hey, I made it.”
“I’m still not understanding since when you start going on girl trips?”
“Since my husband burned me. The best I’m sorry is always everything on your dime and my time. Thank you for my trip, and I’ll see you when I get back.”
“You really need to let that shit go. You acting like I knew I had it.”
“Garrett, you’re getting sloppy. If you think for one second I won’t uphold the stipulations as much as you hold the contract over my head, you got me mistaken.
Clean your shit up. You’re tethering closely on breaking my only rule.
” Hanging up the phone, I put it on DND and walked outside.
The Miami sun was shining bright, so I slid my sunglasses on my face and looked around.
It was a driver holding a sign that said Brianna, and I appreciated Devin not using my pseudonym.
Walking over, I told him it was me and he guided me to a Rolls Royce with midnight black tint. The driver opened the door and took my luggage. When I climbed inside, Devin was sitting there looking sexy as fuck. Climbing in his lap, I tongued him down immediately.
“Well damn. You don’t sound like you hate him now.” I jumped hearing another voice in the car. Turning around, I saw a lil boy cheesing at me hard as hell. Clearing my throat, I climbed off Devin and sat in the seat.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know someone else was in here. I’m Brianna.”
“I know who you are, I’m Landon. I see why all of a sudden you been singing him praises.” I looked at Devin and he was typing on his phone like we weren’t supposed to be a secret.
“I’m not sure I know what you mean. Devin, what’s going on?”
“He good.” This negro continued to type on his phone as if he didn’t see me panicking.
“Excuse him for being rude. He’s trying to make sure everything straight back at the house. He mentors me and sponsor my group home.” That made Devin head snap up quick.
“Didn’t I tell you I didn’t want nobody to know that? You could have just said you were my lil brother.” I could tell it really bothered Devin that someone knew.
“I could have, but I told you, I don’t like the way they dog you out. Anyway, you look different in person.”
“How so?” I was curious about all of it. He seemed so comfortable with Devin.
“That ass fatter in person.”
“Hey man. What the fuck I tell you about cursing?” He was worried about the wrong thing. Why was the lil nigga looking at my back side?
“My bad. Your butt looks bigger in person.” Devin reached over and dapped him up like it was cool.
“That mufucka is hanging ain’t it?”
“Okay, can we change the subject? Where are we going?” I really wanted to ask was the mannish lil boy going with us, but I wasn’t trying to come off like I didn’t want him around.
“To dinner.” Was all he said before he started back typing on his phone.
“Excuse him, he’s nervous. He wants everything to be perfect. I told him you don’t deserve all of that from the way you’ve been dogging him out. If it was me I would have gotten you a sub from Publix, but I digress.” I looked at him and scoffed.
“You sure do have a lot of opinions on a matter that is supposed to be secret.” Landon shrugged his shoulders.
“We don’t keep secrets from each other. I’m guessing you’re more comfortable with lying and talking shit about him.
It’s easier that way, huh?” Oh, this lil boy was trying to read me for filth.
That told me this wasn’t just some mentorship, they genuinely cared about each other.
Knowing that, I chose my words carefully.
“Sometimes, how you know someone is not the next person’s experience. Their view of them may vary depending on the dynamic of the relationship. You’re like a brother to him, so you will only see the good sides.” I gave a cute lil smile, but he wasn’t having it.
“Or it could be your lack of effort on getting to know the real him. It’s easier to jump on a bandwagon and prejudge what you don’t know. Well, in your case, you’re the one leading the masses.” I could admit that he was right because I didn’t try to get to know more about Devin, but I wasn’t.
“I guess we’re going to have to agree to disagree.”
“I guess so.” I was dismissed by him after that, and I was grateful he began scrolling his phone.
I looked to Devin hoping he would say something to defend me, but he didn’t look up until we were pulling into a winding driveway.
Once we got to the end, I was in awe. The mansion was gorgeous.
I loved brick homes, and this one was a newer model.
“Is this your house?” Landon scoffed under his breath letting me know I was wrong again.
“Naw,” was the only thing he offered before climbing out.
I was starting to think this was a bad idea.
Between Landon giving me his ass to kiss in defense of his brother, and Devin acting as if I didn’t exist, I was ready to go back to the airport.
The driver opened my door, and I climbed out unsure and annoyed.
I was surprised when Devin walked to me and placed his arm around my waist. When he led me to the door, my nerves kicked in.
If this was his house, he would have more than likely just entered with me following behind him.
However, the way his arm went around me in a protective stance let me know we were at someone else’s house.
When we got inside, I looked around for any telltale signs to let me know where we were, but there were none.
I could smell the food before I saw the set up.
The patio door was open, and tables were set up outside.
As soon as we stepped outside, my mouth dropped open.
A woman in a wheelchair was smiling from ear to ear, and she was a splitting image of Devin.
“Twinnnn, why you out here in this heat?” He yelled as he let me go to hug her.
“Who sits in the house during a bbq? Hey Jr, give your nana some love before I knock your ass out. My right still got some strength in it.” Landon ran over to her and gave her a hug.
His demeanor was now gentle, and I was beginning to feel like an unwanted outsider.
Her eyes met mine and I knew I was about to get cursed out.
“Hello, Ms. Mercer. I’m Brianna.” I reached out my hand, but she just stared at me for a while.
“It’s Brooklyn. Mercer is his father. You can call me Adrianne though.” I smiled, but she continued to stare at me as if she was trying to decide if she liked me or not.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Adrianne.” Her eyes landed back on Devin as if she was dismissing me.
“That has yet to be decided. Devin, why didn’t you tell me you were bringing company?” Yeah, I was about to take my ass home.
“Twin don’t do that. Landon already gave her hell on the ride here, and he was cursing.”
“Oh, you flaw ass jit,” Landon tried to whisper to Devin, but I’m assuming me and Adrianne heard him from the way she cut her eyes at him.
“I can just leave, and we can link up later. It’s no problem.” Adrianne rolled her eyes my way and I wanted to shrink in the corner.
“Girl, stop being dramatic. You been dragging my son since he’s been in the league. You can take us dragging you for a few minutes. Your edges look strong. Good healthy hair.” Landon laughed causing the two to high five.
“Aight, yall got it out your system, so leave my shorty ma alone. Yall trying to run her off and I ain’t even got her yet.” He walked over and put his arm around me as if he really just defended me. I understood where they were coming from, so I brushed it off.
“Can we eat? I’m starving.” Adrianne’s eyes lit up then.
“Oh, I love a girl that ain’t scared to eat. Fix me a plate and make sure you give me a big bowl of lobster bisque.” I looked at her confused.
“Yall eat that with bbq out here?”
“Naw, it’s just my favorite meal, so Devin gets it no matter what he orders.” I smiled because it was one of my specialties to cook.
“Nobody makes it better than me, so let me know when you want me to make you some and I got you.” She smiled, so I thought I was starting to win her over.
“Okay, but I like lobster in mine, not crabs.” I looked at her confused, but Landon started laughing so hard he was crying.
“I’m lost.” Devin shook his head and grabbed a rib out of the pan.
“Twin, you doing the most. Don’t make me take yo ass to the shower like Helen did Charles.” They were continuing the conversation, but I was still clueless.
“I wish the hell you would. Brianna, bring my stuff over to the table. We can have girl talk over there.” She called for some lady, and she came and pushed her to the shade. I looked at Devin for answers, but he was trying not to look at me.
“What was the inside joke?”
“She talking about how that cat burning.” Before I could register what Landon said, Devin picked him up, took him to the pool, and dropped him in. When he walked back over, I was still stuck.
“You told her?”
“The news told her. You forgot; the shit was all over the blogs. She just trying to test you and make sure you got thick skin. If she didn’t like you, I promise you wouldn’t have made it this long before she put you out.
” Landon ran over and tried to drag Devin to the pool.
They were laughing and play fighting and I loved to see this side of him.
I walked the food over to his mother before taking a seat.
“Are they always like this?”
“Yup. It’s eye opening ain’t it?” I looked over at her, but she took a bite of her food as if she didn’t just throw me for a loop.
“What you mean?”
“Finding out you were completely wrong about someone.” Looking in her eyes, I decided to be honest for the first time when it came to Devin.
“Girl, that was just me being bitter. I thought he played me in college, so I used my platform for my get back.” She stared at me for a minute before falling out laughing.
“Sometimes you gotta teach a nigga how to treat you.” She winked at me and the shifted the conversation the rest of the day.
It was finally time for us to leave, and I was no longer ready to go home. Me and Adrianne clicked, and I learned more than I needed to about Devin. He really was an amazing man, and that made my feelings for him much more complicated.
“Before you leave, can you put my hair in a ponytail. I’m about to sleep good, and I don’t have time for all of this hair getting in the way.
” Smiling, I grabbed the brush from her dresser.
Devin had already brought her to the room, and we were saying out goodbyes when she asked me to fix her hair.
As soon as I pulled her hair back, my mouth fell open.
“What’s that?”
“My berry mark? All the women in our family have it.” My mouth went dry, but I played it off and continued to pull her hair into a rubber band. I always wondered where Mila got that from, but now I knew. There was no way he could ever see her, or he would know she was his.