6. Yes to the Dress #2
A brown skinned man with gold bottoms and locs hopped out of the red car, still rapping whatever was playing when he pulled up, and I knew that was Kilo.
I looked for the middle brother, Pistol, but he never came around the car.
A shuffling sound came from behind me, and I turned quickly to see that he was silently approaching from the other side of my car.
Trying to figure out how he got behind us without making any noise or being seen had me looking at him in confusion.
This must have been the normal for him because Brick didn’t look fazed at all.
Like Main, he was huge, but he didn’t have that same playful aura.
He looked like he was ready to fight, or worse.
The family resemblance was undeniable, and the three of them looked like the same person in different fonts.
“Come on,” he said softly. “Let me introduce you.”
He put his hand on my lower back and pulled me forward, and the fluttery feeling returned.
“Peep, these are my lil’ brothers, Pistol and Kilo. Lil’ Niggas, this is Destiny.”
“Hi,” I said with a bashful wave.
“What up,” Pistol said. It was more of a statement than a question, and he immediately went silent again.
“Bout gotdamn time you brought your mail order bride over here to meet us, nigga!” Kilo fussed. “What’s good, Destiny? I’m the youngest and most handsome of the West Brothers,” he said, taking my hand. I extended it for a handshake, but my eyes went wide as he planted a kiss to the back of it.
“Nigga! Move!” Brick huffed as he smacked the back of his neck so hard that it cracked like a gunshot. The two of them immediately went at it, play wrestling each other as I looked on, trying to hold back my laughter, and Pistol looked like he would rather be painting a mansion with a makeup brush.
“Hello?! Gotdammit! Y’all dumb ass niggas better not be out here fuckin’ up my yard!
” I had to do a double take when my head shot to the front door as their mother walked out.
Instead of her usual sharp business attire, she tipped down the driveway in a royal blue sundress and matching sandals.
I could never deny her beauty, but now, seeing her softer side really displayed how naturally gorgeous she was.
Her tawny skin glowed, and her long hair flowed over her shoulders in loose waves.
The moment they heard her voice, Brick and Kilo went rigid like two little kids who knew they were on their way to a whoopin’. They immediately released each other and stood up straight.
“Hey, Mama,” the three of them said in sync.
From my conversations with Brick, I couldn’t exactly gauge the nature of their relationship with her.
I knew they respected her, but I wasn’t sure if they liked her…
Being in a similar boat, maybe I wasn’t the best person to judge.
My like and respect for my parents was dwindling with each passing day.
“Hey, Destiny,” she said, turning to me.
“Girl, come on, We can leave their goofy asses out here.” I turned and quickly did as told, following her into the house.
Her home was breathtaking, and I found myself looking around in awe.
Although the space was huge, the warm decor gave it a cozy feel, tying everything in beautifully.
“How are you, Mrs. West?” I asked.
“Girl, please call me Kalida!” she said, waving me off.
“Yes Mrs.—Kalida. This is beautiful,” I said sincerely, taking in every detail. It was apparent that she had real money but didn’t feel the need to display it with flashy decor like my parents.
“Thank you. If you ever need help decorating, just let me know. I got you,” she replied with a wink.
We turned to see the boys standing there looking at us like we were foreign creatures from some distant planet.
Kalida ushered us to her huge dining room to sit for dinner.
We sat with her at the head of the table, Brick and I on one side, and Pistol and Kilo across from us.
“Destiny, you got any siblings?” Kilo asked, immediately going into interrogation mode as we made small talk over our salads.
“Yes.” I quickly covered my mouth to finish chewing my food before answering.
“One younger sister and an older brother.” My older brother Tre, and my dad had been at odds for years.
I always said that it was because they were too similar.
Tre got married and started his own church on the East Side. They never really came around anymore.
“Your sister pretty like you?” he asked with a raised brow.
“Ki! Shut the fuck up!” Brick snapped. I just laughed and looked off. If I wasn’t Brick’s type, then I knew I couldn’t be Kilo’s type. He looked like he came straight from a rap video and had a phone full of Instagram models.
“Don’t y’all start this. Destiny, we’ll have to host your family before the big day.
I reached out to your parents, but apparently they had Bible Study tonight and couldn’t make it,” she said with her nose turned up.
I frowned too once I realized that it was Thursday. Bible Study would have been yesterday.
“That sounds good to me,” I lied. Most of our family gatherings ended in some sort of argument, especially if either of my siblings were there. Eden was usually my buffer, but she was about to head out of town for a conference and didn’t say when she would be back.
We made it through the rest of dinner without any incidents. Aside from Brick getting annoyed with Kilo for being too talkative and with his mom for revealing too much of his business, it went over well.
“You already followed me back. You do not have to walk me upstairs. I’ve been living here alone for years.
I don’t need an escort,” I fussed as I followed him up the stairs leading to my apartment.
I had a great day, but I was more than ready to be reunited with my bed.
I wondered if I would be this exhausted all the time after the wedding.
“Nah, what I tell you? I gotta protect my investment. We spent too much money on this damn wedding, and you walkin’ around with a mil on your finger.”
I stopped and put my hand up to admire the ring that was now glistening even in the moonlight. Yeah, this was mine. I had looked up every law in the state and as long as we went through with the wedding, I was fine.
“Yeah,” he said with a chuckle as he looked back at me over his shoulder. “Now, bring ya ass on so I can make sure you make it in safe.” I did as told, dragging myself up the stairs, and he showed me to the door.
“Thank you. Well… goodnight,” I said. We lingered there before the sound of the door opening behind me scared me bad enough to launch myself into Brick’s arms. His reaction was way less logical as he spun me around out of harm’s way while whipping out the gun from his waist and pointing it in that direction.