She snorted in laughter. “Please get up.”
“Wash my back?”
“Promise not to mess up my hair?”
Jahlil stood up and crossed his heart. “Not ‘til tomorrow night.”
35 /EMANI
“E.Rose look over here!”the press called as Emani walked hand-in-hand with Sanaa through the tunnel. Andrew walked behind them alongside Aunt Violet, watching the minimal crowd like Jahlil taught him to.
Emani gave them a subtle wave, not wanting to talk about anything to any of them. But it was Sanaa who stopped, posed, and flipped her hair for the cameras. “Mani, you do it too!”
“These matching outfits are making her head bigger,” Andrew grumbled, referring to Sanaa’s age-appropriate outfit that closely mimicked Emani’s short pleated skirt, black thigh high boots, white cropped button down and Los Oceania Hawk varsity jacket. “That little side part got her thinking she’s mini Mani.”
Emani reached back to take Andrew’s hand, pulling him into the madness. Andrew stood close to Emani and Sanaa, letting the glimmer of his braces show for the cameras. After taking a few photos, they loaded up on snacks and made their way to their courtside seats where Carson, Ashton, Kyrie, and Donnée were seated.
“Okay Sanaa,” Donnée hyped as Sanaa used the side of the court as her runway. “You better, girl!”
Sanaa spun, found a camera and blew a kiss toward it.
“Ay, Ashton, ain’t those your shoes baby girl got on?” Kyrie quizzed.
“Nigga, fuck you. I’m-”
“Three youth,” Carson quipped. “Baby girl got a bigger foot than you, Half Pint.”
“Y’all some damn haters. I’m as tall as Andrew,” Ashton defended.
Andrew looked down at him and shook his head. “Nah.”
Kyrie snickered as Ashton’s face fell flat.
“Fuck y’all I’m going to the box,” Ashton huffed, stomping away.
Carson picked Sanaa up as he hugged Emani. “You look good, girl. How you feeling?”
“Better,” Emani hummed. “Thank you.”
“Girl, you know damn well you don’t have to thank me for shit. You’re my family, I got you forever.” Carson placed a subtle kiss to Emani’s temple.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Jahlil shouted, jogging over.
“Daddy!” Sanaa squealed. “Are you going to whoop some as-butt tonight?”
“You know I am,” Jahlil assured, winking at her. “Good save.”
“No cussin’, more cookies,” Sanaa shared.
Jahlil laughed and held his hand out for Emani’s. After doing the shake they established in college and biting a smirk. “You look good as fuck.”
She flipped her silky tresses over her shoulder and grinned back. “I know.”
“You gon’ cheer loud?” Jahlil asked.
“Yeah, about as loud as you get,” Emani teased, hooking her pinky in his. “You better play good, Savage.”
“You already know.”
