“Oh, those two are going to keep me on my toes, aren’t they?” Giselle sipped her drink and giggled.
Henna snorted into her drink. “As a twin myself, I can definitely vouch for them when I say, hell yeah!”
The table relaxed a bit, and Maisie put her blunt into rotation. Tension melted off their shoulders as they sang along to Salt and Peppa’s “Watta Man”.
Henna leaned forward, drumming the table lightly with her fingers. “Look, I was hard on you. I didn’t want him hurt again after that whole shit with Kina?—”
“Wait, what shit with Kina?” Prischa stopped her and held her hand up.
Realizing she also had the tea, Giselle didn’t say anything when she picked up her glass and took another sip. She andHenna locked eyes briefly. His twin sensed that Giselle was privy to what she was talking about as well.
“Um, nothing.” Henna shook her head. “I just meant the breakup and shit. Anyway, today showed me something.”
“What’s that?” Giselle quipped.
“That you love those babies more than anything. I also watched you with him and them all day.”
“Kind of hard not to notice.” Prischa muttered, twirling her glass in her hand. “Me wanting him was my own mess, and lowkey, I think I did cling to him because of what happened with Pierre. Seeing you two together, though. I get it now. I was just too busy wishing it was me. I want my person, though, and Heavy wasn’t it.”
“You didn’t deserve to get your feelings hurt or the uncertainty, though. I damn sure didn’t want to be the reason for that.” Giselle voiced.
“You bitches sitting around here getting all emotional and shit. This ain’t Steel Magnolias.” Maisie brought the blunt to her lips. “Gem, find something ratchet to play!”
After a while, they all spilled into the living room as Remi’s house cleared out. Everyone was drunk or tired from the festivities today and it was getting late. She packed to-go plates for people and sent them on their way before joining Petal at the kitchen table for a late-night gossip session. Heavy, Viggo, and Crew stomped inside and caught the ladies giggling like schoolgirls while lounging around Remi’s living room.
“Let’s play UNO,” Gem suggested, grabbing the deck of cards from the coffee table.
“Now, we playing regular or black people UNO?” Maisie joked.
“Hey.” Giselle lifted her head and found Heavy lingering behind her.
He cuffed her chin and kneeled to meshi his lips against hers.. She tasted the Hennessy on his breath. Viggo held a basketball at his side tucked under one of his arms.
“We heading to the basketball court,” Crew announced, taking Maisie’s drink from her and having a sip.
“At this hour?” Lou questioned as Gem dealt cards.
“Money on the table.”
“Oh, Lord, who bet who? Crew, don’t be putting none of our good shit out there,” Maisie warned.
“Nah, Viggo got me fucked up, baby.”
“Be careful, Crew. You know what the doctor said about us both taking care of ourselves.”
“It’s all good. He ’bout to cough up the down payment for our seed’s trust fund.” Crew pecked her mouth and took another gulp of her drink before handing it back to her.
“You good?” Heavy stroked Giselle’s cheek and peered around at his sister and Prischa.
“We ain’t gon’ hurt her.” Henna rolled her eyes.
She sat on the couch beside Giselle, with Prischa on the floor between her legs. She’d just parted her hair, so she could give her two French braids that she asked for.
“I’m good.” Giselle tugged his beard.
“Aight. I’ll be around the corner taking this nigga’s money.” Heavy pressed his lips against hers one last time.
“Fuck outta here. Y’all older than me,” Viggo pointed out.
