“I can feel you staring at me,” Emani hummed. “Just say it.”
“I think the fact that you didn’t allow what you went through to harden your heart is beautiful. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced.”
Emani smiled. “You know going through hell costs you. And sometimes, when you get to the other side, you’re just happy that you made it but you don’t realize what it cost you in the process. I refuse to lose my heart because life sucks sometimes. I refuse to lose me. So even after all the bad, I choose to love.”
“That’s how you win, you know. You keep going.”
“We can’t stop moving forward. Too much lost time and far too much to do. Plus, we got kids.”
Jahlil laughed. “Yeah, we got kids.”
Halloween was here and the rental house was the replica of a haunted house but somehow with pink ponies and unicorns. Sanaa’s touch. Emani dressed in an all pink outfit, again Sanaa’s choice, stood in the kitchen next to Normani and Aunt Violet.
“What are you supposed to be again?” Aunt Violet questioned, looking at Emani with puzzlement.
“A Cuddle Buddy. From that book she’s had me read every night? It’s a pink cloud with rainbow hair. She’s the yellow cloud. I’ve irritated the hell out of Derrick to make these,” Emani shared, uncovering the trays.
Donnée, dressed as the green cloud, walked in stopping short of the trio of women to ask, “Sanaa, what the hell you got on?”
Emani, Aunt Violet, and Normani looked into the open space, finding Sanaa in one of Emani’s wigs, a pair of her heels, and a princess dress. The magic markers she was using to chain smoke doubled as her makeup brushes. Over-outlined red and blue lips, green eyeshadow and heavy black eyebrows.
Carson, Kyrie and Ashton walked in behind Donnée. Carson jumped, Kyrie tried to muffle his laughter, and Ashton awed, encouraging her costume. Emani cleared her throat as Jahlil and Andrew walked inside from setting up the games in the backyard of the rental.
Andrew said what everyone was thinking. “What the hell did you do?”
Sanaa flipped the hair of Emani’s wig over her shoulder and grinned. “I’m a bad bitch.”
“You look like you got hit in the face with quarters and permanent marker,” Andrew grumbled.
“I think you look so cute, Sanaa,” Ashton shared.
“That’s because she look like you, nigga,” Kyrie grumbled and Donnée nudged him.
“He think she cute cause he lent her that dress and wig to wear tonight,” Carson muttered.
“Sanaa, what happened to your costume E got you?” Jahlil asked.
Emani saw Sanaa’s confidence falter and hurried to her side. She squatted down in front of her and smiled. “Were you trying to surprise me?”
Sanaa nodded. “You don’t like it?”
“I love it,” Emani praised. “I really like how you did it all by yourself.”
Sanaa’s smile pinned the corners of her mouth. “You promise?”
“Promise, promise. Can you do my make up like that?” Emani asked. “Where’s the markers?”
She held up Emani’s designer purse. “Right here.”
“Can I have those eyebrows?” Emani posed.
“For real?” Sanaa and Andrew asked both in a different tone.
Jahlil popped Andrew across the back of his head. “Boy, shut the hell up.”
“What? Her eyebrows are like two inches thick and connecting,” Andrew winced.
“Babygirl, after you finish Emani’s, Andrew wants some too,” Jahlil said.
