“Fuck Sydney. What’s up with you?”
“I ghosted him.”
“He did or said some fuck shit or what?”
“Nah. He said everything right actually.” I tapped my knuckles on the table.
“Shit scary, ain’t it?” Rook asked.
“Would you know?” I asked referring to Sydney.
“I don’t know shit.” Rook leaned back in his seat, throwing his arm behind his seat. “I might be learning a lil something though.”
“When it comes to your ignorant ass that’s all we can ask for,” I joked.
Rook grabbed the pepper shaker and threw it at me. I whacked it out the air and it clattered as it hit the table between us. The shaker burst open and pepper littered the table. I immediately sneezed, making Rook laugh loudly. I looked around the lil hole in the wall spot we were in and quickly grabbed the pepper to right it.
“Ignorant ass,” I grumbled and sneezed again as I swept the pepper off the table and into my hand.
“It’s clearing them motha’fuckin lies out yo’ throat.”
“Fuck you.” I tossed the pepper at him, most of it falling back on the table even though some did get on his shirt.
That only made Rook laugh harder. He sniffed and wiped at one of his eyes before he let out his own sneeze. This time I was the one chuckling.
He grabbed a napkin and took care of the rest of the pepper.
“Look, we don’t have too many more years to do whatever the fuck we want. Do with that shit what you will.”
“Yeah, well, I’m two years from marriage.”
“So am I and that ain’t stopping nothing. I’m actually probably fucking more bitches because I’m pretty much engaged.”
“That’s the kind of women you like, Rook?”
“That’s the kind of women that like me,” he corrected.
“That says a lot about how you living, nigga.” I shook my head and he shrugged.
“I’m using protection and getting tested frequently.”
“I didn’t ask but good to know.”
“You’re welcome,” he said cockily.
We both turned toward the waiter as they closed in on us to set our plates down.
I looked my food over while I grabbed my utensils and we both drifted from our conversation about Asante and the women Rook had gracing our shared house and his bedroom long enough to discuss less stressful shit.
When we finished up eating, we headed back to the estate to get some work done. We’d had a huge order come in for passports so King wanted to make sure we all knew what we needed to focus on which didn’t affect me all that much.
My brain drifted to Asante throughout the drive.
Everyone knew I slept with men. It wasn’t a kept secret or anything but I wasn’t flaunting the shit either.
My brothers hadn’t told me that they didn’t support me, but they hadn’t said that they did. They just kind of ignored it so I ignored it around them, not wanting to make anyone uncomfortable or shake any damn tables while our family was transitioning into the next generation.
I knew that my family loved me as any family member would. King and Knight had familial love and respect for me. I knew that if it came down to it, they would kill and die for me. I knew that they wanted me to be safe and happy and heard, but ultimately I didn’t have the relationship with King and Knight that they had with each other or Rook.
