“In New York!” the twins declared in unison.
Giselle started the story from where they left off. The three of them had read the book once already, but they really enjoyed it and the voices Giselle did when she read to them, so they started over. Within thirty minutes, the two of them had drifted off. Heir curled up beside Giselle with his head in her lap, and Harlee doing the same against Heavy. Pride swelled in his chest, and he swiped at his beard while continuing to study them.
“I didn’t realize how late it was.” Giselle checked the time on her phone. “I guess the day got away from me.” She gently moved Heir’s head from her lap and onto his pillow.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Heavy frowned at the pounding on her front door, and the two jumped up together to investigate. He checked through the peephole first then flung the door open.
“The fuck you doing here, Pri?” Heavy looked past her at his sister lingering on the porch too.
“I’ve been calling you.” Her sharp eyes darted past him to Giselle standing in the hall.
“Petal said you were here,” Henna spoke up. “She also mentioned you having two kids. What the hell, Heavy? You didn’t think you should call either of us and let us know what was going on?”
“It wasn’t a priority at the moment. I was spending time with them.”
“And her?” Prischa nodded to Giselle. “You looking pretty cozy in here.” Prischa pushed past him into the entryway, and Heavy reached for her arm, snatching her toward him.
“Don’t come in here on no bullshit.”
“Don’t come in at all,” Giselle told her. “My kids are sleeping, and you’re being real rude right now.” She tucked her arms across her chest and Prischa seethed with rage, looking her up and down.
“Oh, my God.” Henna stood in the doorway to the living room, the sleeping faces of Heir and Harlee illuminated by the warm fire. “You had his babies and didn’t tell him?” She swung to face Giselle indignantly. “What kind of woman does some shit like that?”
“One that’s foul and obviously fucked up,” Prischa accused. “The kids look tucked in to me, so why are you still here, Heavy?”
“Because there are things we need to talk about, Pri, and I ain’t explaining this shit to you. You the one who walked off the other day like I did something to you. I’ve been reaching out for days, and you been on mute until now. So, why the fuck are you here?”
Hurt and surprised by his stern tone, she reared her neck and dropped her hands at her sides.
“I’m ready to talk.”
“Now ain’t the time.” Heavy shook his head.
“We’re together now.” Prischa stepped in front of Heavy to put Giselle on notice. “It’s been about a year.”
“Congratulations.” Giselle clapped her hands. “Would you like a s’more?” she joked.
“Pri, you tripping right now.” Heavy sighed.
“Yeah. I sure the fuck am. How you sitting here with her after this? Hmm?”
“Lower your fucking voice!” he hissed at her. “You see they in there sleeping, and this is their house. You walked in here on bullshit that ain’t got shit to do with them.”
“And everything to do with the two of you.” She aimed two fingers at the two of them. “I want to know everything that’s going on!”
“That ain’t your place,” Heavy voiced, shocking her. “You said you needed to think about this relationship and where it was going. It wasn’t worth the risk to you and Pierre.”
“I didn’t mean I wanted this to end, Heavy.” Tears stained her eyes, and her voice cracked. “But maybe you do. Maybe I gave you just the excuse you needed to walk away from us. So you can come over here and play house with a bitch who kept your kids from you!”
“That’s it! Get her the fuck out before I wipe these floors with her!” Giselle charged toward Prischa, but Heavy stepped between them.
“She ain’t the only one you have to worry about.” Henna chimed in, grilling Giselle hatefully as Heavy pushed them both to the door. “See, around here, family means something, especially to a man like my brother. A good man. He would have loved and taken care of those kids from day one, but you didn’t think about that, did you? No. You were too selfish to even allow him the choice! I don’t respect anything about you!”
“Let’s go.” Heavy yanked her by the arm. “This is between me and Giselle, and I don’t care if you don’t like her. As those kids’ mama, you better find a way to respect her, or I’ll take it out of your ass, Hen. We clear?”
“You really gon’ sit here and defend this bitch after what she did!” his sister yelled, aiming all kinds of accusing fingers at Giselle.
