Aweek had passed since the Christmas party, and Thyri had become the subject of the family group chat. It seemed that everyone had picked up on her vibe and was drawn to her. Even my aunts talked about KJ and how he blended in with the other teenagers in my family. Everything was cool up until they started taking polls on how long it would take before I was locked down. I couldn’t have exited the chat any faster.
I’d thought about that night a few times. The way EJ wouldn’t leave her side. The cologne she’d gifted me. And the kiss outside her car that would’ve had her fucked had EJ not been around. She’d watched EJ three times since then, and when she wasn’t at the house, we were on the phone. Whether text or FaceTime, we spoke at least twice a day. The conversations had begun to carry a little weight with me too. It was to the point where if I didn’t hear from her, I wanted to know what she was doing.
Let Aura tell it, it wouldn’t be too long before I was on her like he was on her cousin. I had to remind him that there were no words for his method of courting. That nigga could go from cool to bat shit crazy if he didn’t get his way. I didn’t know how Danae dealt with it in the capacity that she did.
Christmas was a day away, and Sullivan & Co. had been on a holiday run. Orders were coming in back-to-back, especially from venues that were hosting holiday parties. The ladies had worked twice over to reach our goal of doubling our sales from last year, and we’d done that and some. I sat in my office, going over the books and signing off on bonus checks, while Thyri and EJ kept me company on FaceTime.
“Tell me why me and your son got into it today.”
“Over what?”I laughed.
“Him getting mad because I whooped him in Connect Four twice.”
“He probably got mad because he can’t play. You probably cheated my boy like KJ did me on that 2K. He still gotta run that back.”
“Oh, so you and yo’ son some sore losers? Cause me and my boy won those games fair and square.”
After seeing how well KJ got along with my little cousins at the party, I’d convinced Thyri to ease up a little on the punishment he was on, granting him a few hours of leisure when she was at my house watching EJ. She agreed, so long as the leisure was in the house. So far, he’d been cool, hanging out with my cousins at Kyiris’ crib, which was only ten minutes down the road from me. She’d taken a liking to Thyri and assured her that KJ was safe with her and had given Thyri the okay to come by at any time to check in. Her place was where all the kids convened because she didn’t have kids of her own. Everyone was always safe and welcomed.
“Man, whatever.”I waved her off.“Let me finish up here, and I’ll be headed in to relieve you of your duties.”
“Okay. Hurry up. You told EJ we would bake these cookies before I go, and you know he’s waiting up to see to it that it’s done.”
“Aight, boss.”
Ending the call, I finished going over the books and signing off on the last bonus check. I called the ladies into the conference room through the AP system I had installed, and they all came to the door, all knocking at once.
“Damn, y’all must know I got some money in here.” I laughed, walking over to open the door to ten smiles. “Y’all look goofy as hell.”
They all giggled, filing in.
“Where da bag at, nigga, where da bag at?” Chatoria, one of my best cleaners, sang with her hand out.
“You a lil’ thirsty for two hundred extra dollars.” The smiles on their faces dropped, and everyone instantly got serious before I burst out laughing.
“That’s not even funny, Enzo.” Kalia swatted at me.
“Yoooo, I was about to say. Ever since he done got his lil’ girlfriend/nanny, he been actin’ unusual,” Chatoria let out with a smirk.
“Stay out my business, woman.” I handed her her envelope first and went down the line with the others. Leaning back on my desk, I watched them each open their envelopes. “I want y’all to know Sullivan & Co. don’t run without y’all. This is just a small token of my appreciation.”
Inside the envelopes were $5,000 checks. By the look on their faces, I could tell they didn’t expect that level of generosity. But I fucked with my staff more than they knew.
Chatoria teared up, walking over to me with her arms outstretched. “Hug me, nigga.”
“Yo ass is crazy.” I chuckled, standing up to hug her. And of course, everyone took it as an open invitation. A slew of thank you’s and I love you’s came with it. “Yeah, yeah, love y’all too. I love y’all enough to let y’all shut the building down too. I gotta get home and relieve my nanny.”
“I’m talkin’ bout innattttttt,” Chatoria chanted.
Shutting down my computer, I grabbed my phone. “Good night, y’all. Text the group chat once y’all make it home. Whoever don’t text, that’s y’all ass.”
When I got home,I could smell the double chocolate chip cookies from the door. Thryi and EJ had started baking without me.
“Ahhh, y’all bogus as hell,” I said, walking in the kitchen and finding them at the island eating the leftover cookie dough out the bowl.
Thyri giggled. “I tried to wait for you, but he wore me down. We sorry. Look, EJ, do this.” She coached EJ into a sad face to which he’d mastered long ago.
“Sowwy, Daddy.”
