Chapter 19 #2
“I reconnected with Maui at Market Basket in Beaumont. We ended up in the same checkout line. I knew right then, if she was receptive, she would be the woman to change my life. We exchanged info, but lil mama curved the fuck out of me. I didn’t see her again until the twins graduated from Rice.
I talked to her at the party and that was when we resumed what I was trying to start.
For the first time in my life, I felt like I needed somebody.
Maui accepted me for who and where I was in life without judgment. ”
I went to him as the tears threatened to fall down my cheeks.
When I sat next to him, he kissed my head.
“She never complained, but her aura . . . Her spirit demanded better from me. Carter Legend told me that it took her to bring out the version of myself I was at my core . . . my foundation. Legend and Harper didn’t raise no suckas.
They didn’t raise who I became. Watching Philly got me where I was.
Although Maui was accepting, I knew she wouldn’t be for an extended amount of time.
I had to step up my game. She saw me beyond all the bullshit.
I owed her my best. When she left, I realized that I owed myself my best too. ”
I couldn’t stop the tears. As I swiped at them, I noticed my mama was dropping tears too. She quickly wiped them, and said, “Bali and Noni, come help me bring the food to the table.”
They stood and gave us tight smiles. The doorbell rang, so I figured it was probably their men.
Remy came running down the stairs to answer it.
Daddy was a fool if he thought Remy was a virgin.
That nigga was like sixteen. I was pretty sure he was fucking.
Grabbing my attention again, I heard my dad say, “I’m proud of you, Mythic.
For real. I’m honored to have this version of you dating my daughter.
However, because of your past, I know she’s safe.
I know you’ll protect her with your life. ”
Mythic looked over at me and gripped my chin. “You muhfucking right.”
He kissed my lips, and I smiled. This was unbelievable.
I was nervous earlier for nothing. Everything had gone extremely smooth, and I had to thank God for that.
We all stood to head to the table as Carter and Red walked in.
They both came to Mythic and slapped his hand and hugged him.
Carter held onto him for a couple of seconds longer.
When he released him, he swished his hand on Mythic’s braids.
Mythic pushed his arm, but I could clearly see the playfulness in his eyes, despite the frown on his face.
After they both hugged me and shook my daddy’s hand, we made our way to the table.
When Bali and Noni saw their men, they hesitantly went to them.
Daddy frowned as Bali glanced at him. She went to Carter, and said, “I’m sorry for pushing you away. That was bullshit.”
He pulled her in his arms and kissed her lips. “Forget about it. We good, baby.”
Noni made her way to Red, but he didn’t seem like he would be as forgiving as Carter.
She stood in front of him and lowered her head.
Daddy frowned, and I did too. It was like she was scared of him or something.
Here they were, worried about Mythic, and they should have been paying attention to hot-headed Red Squared.
“I’m sorry, Red. I really am.”
“A’ight.”
He didn’t pull her in his arms or anything, but he went to the table with her and sat next to her. “Y’all need to talk privately?” my daddy asked.
I wanted to laugh. Ain’t shit was private around here. “Yes, sir,” Noni said.
“Go ’head then.”
Carter gave Red a pointed look, like he was silently telling him to chill. Once we heard the door open and close, Daddy turned on the TV and put it on the station to where we could see and hear them.”
“Aww, shit,” Mythic said.
We all quieted down and listened.
“It’s like whatever Bali does, you think it’s law. I get y’all are twins and y’all gon’ stick together and shit, but what the fuck that got to do with me? I mean, did she tell you to push me away since she was pushing Carter away?”
“No. I just, I didn’t want the drama to infiltrate what we had. I was scared. Red, you’re my first boyfriend. It has always just been me and my family . . . me and Bali.”
“Noni, if you let fear lead the way, there is no way we will be able to continue. As long as I waited for you to be mine, and you pull some shit like that? I wanna be done with that shit. What will keep it from happening again?”
“Red, I’m trying to do better. I’m trying to trust that what we have is real.”
“Maaan,” he said, then rubbed his hand down his face. “I don’t know, Noni. I feel like this is something we will have to work through, and I’m not sure I want to anymore.”
When I saw Noni’s tears, I had to swallow extra hard to keep mine put. Bali stood, and Daddy said, “Sit down.”
Bali was more aggressive than Noni. While they were both with the shits, Noni was softer and typically followed Bali’s lead. That wasn’t good, not when it came to her man. Nothing he’d said was out of pocket. He was right, and she was right for expressing herself as well.
“Please, give me another chance. I’m sorry, Red.”
He turned to walk away, and said, “Tell everybody I had to go.”
“Red, don’t do this.” When I heard her audibly crying, it tore me apart. “I love you!” she blurted.
He stopped in his tracks and turned to her. His face was red, but there was a deep frown on it. She went to him, and said, “I love you, Red. Please don’t leave me.”
Finally, he pulled her in his arms. “I hope you not just saying that shit so I won’t leave, Noni. You know I been in love wit’chu. I love you too.”
He kissed her lips, and they came back inside the house. Daddy turned the TV back to ESPN. When they sat at the table, Daddy asked sarcastically, “Can we eat now?”
I giggled as the doorbell rang. We all frowned as Mama smiled and went to the door. “Who else coming?” Bali asked.
Everybody shrugged their shoulders. Mama came back with Iesha in tow. I shifted uncomfortably for a moment. “Everybody, this is Iesha. She’s Seven’s friend. Hopefully he can get himself together, though, so she can be more.”
No one spoke to her immediately, and I could see that made her extremely uncomfortable, even more than I was. I cleared my throat and said, “Hi, Iesha. I’m Maui, Seven’s sister.”
She smiled slightly. “Hi. I feel like I know you already.”
I glanced at Mythic. He was telling the truth. He was talking to her about me. He spoke to her next, and she spoke to him. Once she sat, my daddy said, “It’s gon’ take a helluva woman to get Seven straight. Good luck with that.”
Iesha gave him a slight smile. My mama knew better than bringing someone new around these fools.
She was at the hospital yesterday, but she didn’t get introduced to anyone.
Bali and Noni started fixing their food and food for their men, so I cleared my throat again and began doing the same.
These niggas were embarrassing. “So, Iesha, what do you do?” I asked, trying to break the ice.
“I’m a graphic designer.”
“Oh cool! I wing all the flyers and stuff for Henderson Ranch and Farms on Canva. Maybe I can take a look at your work. It would be nice to outsource that.”
She smiled. “Okay.”
That seemed to loosen her up a bit. My mama started talking to her. We did our best to engage as we ate until the twins finally broke their silence.
Bali looked right at her, and said, “You seem too nice for that nigga. I hope you got a backbone hiding in there, because that nigga will run all over you.”
“Why do you think we’re just friends?” Iesha asked.
Bali gave her a half smile and nodded. After that, things seemed to go back to normal. Thank God. I glanced at Mythic as he wore that pork chop out. When he saw me watching, he slid his tongue around the bone. I swore I almost orgasmed in my panties.
“Watch that shit, nigga,” Daddy said.
Mythic bit his bottom lip. “I mean. We had a baby. How you think that happened?”
I bit my bottom lip as I stared at my daddy. He turned his lip up as his frown deepened. “Nigga, you just got in. Don’t get put the fuck out.”
When the smirk appeared on his lips, I relaxed and giggled. Mythic smiled and shoulder bumped me.
“The fuck you think this is. This shit on ten-o-nine is the democracy of Mayor Seven Storm Henderson. Fly right or get fucked up.”
I slowly shook my head as Iesha’s eyes widened.
She didn’t know how to take him, but if she could put up with Seven’s childish ass, she would get used to it.
My mama pushed my daddy, and he chuckled.
After slowly shaking his head, he glanced around the table and nodded repeatedly.
I had to assume he was accepting the fact that his oldest four kids were grown as fuck and about to have families of their very own.