He held up his phone where he had a text thread going with his friend, Cortez. KJ had let him know that he couldn’t make it and said something slick about me that made me side eye him quickly. Of course, like any teenager trying to get over, Cortez suggested letting me know that it was a family gathering at his aunt’s diner.
“This is insane,”I said, sitting back in disbelief.
“See,”Danae said,“everybody know everybody. Lemme get dressed. I’ma bout to come up there. Fuckwhat Aura talkin’ bout. What color y’all got on, so we can match?”
“Ahhh, hell na,” KJ groaned, and we both cracked up laughing.
“Watch your mouth.” I playfully mushed him.“We’ll see you in a minute, D.”
“Okay.”
I hung up, still laughing. Texting Enzo that we had arrived, I grabbed my purse and stepped out of the car to put my fur on. I guess I was looking too good in my jumpsuit because instead of walking ahead of me like he normally did, KJ walked on the side of me, close like we were Siamese twins. He didn’t know it, but I loved it.
From the outside, I could see that the diner had been completely transformed. The place was lit up, and I could see a big tree that I could bet was real, standing in front of the window. As we made it up the steps, the door opened, and a heavyset man dressed in all black held his hand out to stop us. The bass from the music let me know they were inside having a ball.
KJ leaned over and whispered in my ear. “They take they Christmas parties seriously.”
Before I could nod, the security spoke. “You have an in…”
“They good, Mack.” Although I couldn’t see him behind the overgrown security, I knew Enzo’s voice. “They with me,” he added calmly.
Big guy stepped aside immediately.
“Come on in,” Enzo instructed. Holding the door open for us, he gave me a light peck on the cheek and held his hand out to KJ. “KJ, right?”
“The one and only,” KJ confirmed smoothly. They shook hands firmly, showing mutual respect.
I had half expected him to be standoffish, so I was pleasantly surprised by his greeting.
The place was packed with people but not too bad to where the air felt thick and people were rubbing elbows. Enzo offered to take our coats, and before we could hand them over, a voice shouted through the crowd.
“Nigga! I thought you said ya moms said you couldn’t come. Yo’ lyin’ ass.” A tall boy who I recognized as Cortez made his way through the crowd. “Oh – my bad, Ms. Anderson,” he said once he realized KJ wasn’t alone. “How you doin’? You look nice. I like that red.”
“Aye, nigga.” KJ pushed him back.
I smiled. “Hey, Cortez. I’m good and thank you.”
Enzo reached out and mushed his head. “Watch how you approach adults, lil’ nigga.”
Cortez laughed. “Aight, cuzzo. C’mon, bro.” He slung his arm around KJ’s neck, and they disappeared into the crowd.
I handed Enzo my coat, and he grabbed my hand to guide me through the crowd. We went through a bunch of friendly smiles. His family, both old and young, were dancing, laughing, drinking, and eating. It was a vibe for sure. I took it all in, loving the feeling of being amongst family. Pulling the chain to my purse out of my bag to wear it crossbody, I went to put it over my head when I felt a small body crash into my leg.
“Tyriiii!”
I looked down to find EJ wrapped around my leg.
“Ahhh, look at my boy!” I laughed, bending down to pick him up. “Wassup, dude?”
He laughed as I tickled him. I completely tuned Enzo out, as EJ started to give me the rundown of what he’d been doing in two-year-old English. Enzo laughed, asking EJ if it was okay if he let me meet everybody. He nodded and went back to talking like Enzo had interrupted his flow.
Not only was I introduced to everyone, but Enzo also moved me through the room like I belonged there. Me, his nanny. I met his cousins, aunts, uncles, distant family members, and even his mom. She’d picked up on the way EJ clung to me throughout the party, refusing to leave my side.
“Look at him.” His mother pointed out. “You got your own personal bodyguard.”
“No, forreal,” one of his cousins added. “We ain’t had to stop the party to look for him or nothin’,” he joked. “You just might be the one, Thyri.”
I smiled, glancing down at EJ, who held onto my leg with one hand and busied himself with Enzo’s phone in the other.
