“You realize you were up later than either of us, right?”
“I also didn’t get drunk.”
“Neither did I.”
“Y’all fought in my shit and Rook threatened to start a fucking fight ring.”
“I don’t speak for him,” Bishop chuckled. “But, I didn’t get drunk,” he reiterated. “And uh, I’m sorry about the fight.”
“That’s Rook.” I shrugged. “It is what it is.”
“What’s Rook?” Winnie walked into the kitchen with a small smile on her face.
“Impulsive and known for beating people up in my establishment.”
“Right. That checks out.” She scoffed and shook her head.
I looked her over. I knew that Winnie was married to Rook. I also knew their marriage hadn’t happened the way their family usually did it. I didn’t know how long she would be around and I didn’t know exactly what Rook and Bishop had told her about our relationship, if anything at all.
When Rook came out into the kitchen, he gave me a once over and grinned.
“You coming to brunch?”
I gazed at Bishop then back at Rook and shrugged.
“Yeah. Bishop said your folks want me there so…”
“Nah, nigga. Meeting the parents right now is crazy.” Rook chuckled.
“They asked for me, not the other way around.”
“Sounds about right.” Rook grabbed my keys. “Well, let’s go before Bishop’s parents be on some bullshit.”
Bishop’s parents. That clarification didn’t breeze past me but I didn’t dig into it.
We all filed out. I drove me and Bishop. Winnie and Rook rode together separately. I followed them out there and was shocked when I saw the size of Bishop’s family home.
It was even bigger than I’d thought it would be even after hearing about how the parties around there got down.
I let Bishop lead and took everything in while we walked through the foyer and toward the back door.
I paused and blinked at the set up in shock. It was beautiful and pretty damn extravagant for a brunch.
There was a long table set up in the center of the yard with a white tablecloth. Three different arrangements of flowers lined it and twelve chairs surrounded it, five on each side and a chair at the head of the table on each side. King and who I assumed was their father had each taken up a head seat. Xavia was sitting at King’s left hand side while their mother was sitting at their father’s right hand side. Casmi, Knight, and Nova were seatedbetween them with Casmi beside their mom and Nova beside Xavia.
They’d left the entire other side of the table empty.
Everyone stood up as we closed in on them. Bishop and Rook immediately began to dap up the men and hug the women. I followed their lead, reintroducing myself as I shook hands with everyone.
“Good to see you again, man.” Knight shook my hand then hit me on the shoulder.
“Brandon Barron,” their father introduced himself. “This is my wife, Melanie.”
“Nice to meet you.” I shook each of their hands.
“Likewise.”
“What’s up, King?” I reached over to shake his hand. He shook it and nudged his head to the vacant seats beside him discretely.
