“So, Coye, how was Colombia?” my father asked as the food was passed around the table.
Coye told us about his latest trip, and the way my brother looked, I knew there was more to the story that he didn’t want to share with us.
Every few seconds, Coye would look in my direction, and my stomach would tighten. There was no denying how fine Coye was. His skin reminded me of milk chocolate, and he had a full beard that looked like he had some type of oil in it. He was covered in tattoos, even on his hands. He always wore at least two gold chains, a gold bracelet, and an expensive ass watch. Every time I saw him, he had on a different watch. Some big ass diamond and gold earrings were in his ears. And damn did he smell good when he hugged me. I low-key wished he hadn’t given me that church hug, because it felt good to be in his arms.
His dark eyes made me nervous. He couldn’t have been looking at me the way I thought he was, because he was my brother’s best friend. We’d known each other for years.
At times, my brother would treat me like I was annoying, but Coye never acted like that. They were both four years older than me, and I wanted to be around them all the time because I looked up to my big brother. At some point over the years, my brother and I grew apart, but I loved him with all my heart. I stood ten toes down behind my brother, and I knew he would do the same for me if needed.
My brother had a wife and kids now, so I understood it.
“Auntie River, did you bring any cookies?” my nephew, Ro, asked.
“I’m not telling you,” I teased. “You have to eat all of your dinner first.”
I was the proud owner of Amelia’s Cookies, a shop that was originally owned by my grandmother, Amelia, but when she died, she left it to me. For four years, I lived and breathed the cookie shop. I barely went out with my friends because I was always baking cookies or trying to find new recipes. Once a month, we had a new cookie flavor.
“I’m eating all mine, Auntie.” Brielle showed me her plate.
The two of them were my babies.
“As you should. I might have something for you later.” I winked at her, and she giggled.
We went around the table, updating each other about what had been going on in our lives.
“River, what happened to Mickey?” my mother asked.
I quickly glanced at Coye, then down at my plate. He had this strange look in his eyes, and I wasn’t sure what that was about. I noticed his jaw clench, but he unclenched it quickly.
“Mickey and I didn’t work out. You don’t remember me telling you that?” I wasn’t in the mood to talk about Mickey or anyone else from my past.
A little too often, my mother would ask me when I was going to give her grandkids or get married, and I brushed her off every time.
“Oh yeah. I liked him,” she added.
“That’s great. He wasn’t going to work out. Ro, how’s school been?” I had to take the attention off me.
Roman told us everything that went on in his class.
I felt someone looking at me, and when I looked up, Coye had his eyes on me. My stomach flipped, and heat rushed through my body when he licked his lips.
What the hell is happening?
I scooped some mashed potatoes onto my fork and avoided eye contact.
As the conversations continued, I was deep in thought about a new recipe I wanted to try. I wanted to call one of the girls to see how things were going, but I took the day off for a reason, and I needed to remind myself of that. It seemed like no matter what, I was thinking about the cookie shop. Maybe that was why some of my relationships didn’t work.
My mother bringing up Mickey made me think of the last time I saw him. He came by the cookie shop just after I’d closed. He helped me clean up, then fucked me on one of the smalltables. I thought we were good, but later that night, he sent me a message telling me that he couldn’t be with me anymore. I wasn’t even sad about it, but I was sad about him taking his good dick with him.
That was months ago, and I hadn’t had sex since.
“There’s a reason why I asked you all to come.” My father’s voice broke me out of my thoughts.
He placed his fork onto his plate, wiped his mouth, then lifted his head. His eyes traveled to each of us at the table, and my heart started beating fast as hell. I knew my father, and whatever he was about to tell us wasn’t going to be good. I felt it in my gut.
Everyone got quiet and gave him our undivided attention.
I watched his chest inflate as he inhaled, then he blew the breath out. My eyes watered without him saying a word. I felt Sophie rub my back, while Lily rubbed my leg under the table. My left leg bounced hard.
