She didn’t stunt a word I said, in fact she waved my ass off while she offered him something to drink. Then, like a fucking third wheel, I followed as she took my man to get something to drink at the table near where my brothers stood along with Kinga and a few other faces I didn’t recognize. Though my mama only gave me one brother and a hoe ass sister, God gave me Bry too. Though he could be somewhat just as unreasonable as Aro at times, he was often the middle ground.
Somehow Aro and Bry found their way a little closer, forming a lump in my throat.
“Reminisce, these are my brothers Aroyal and Brysheer. Aro and Bry, this is my man, Reminisce.”
The longest, most unbearable silence filled the space as these niggas sized one another up. But then the moment shocked me. Aroyal extended his hand to shake Reminisce’s. They shook hands, something Aroyal had refused to do so with Turo, telling me it was my fault and the way I had introduced him. I’d never understood Aro’s reasoning, but that was just how he was, meticulous like that.
Thank God for Kinga. Within seconds he walked up and began to converse with Reminisce.
“Yo, that’s you Rem?” Kinga asked, holding his daughter.
I started to stand there with baby Arie ear hustling but leave it to my mama to loop her arm in my free one and lead me toward the area with all the women. As soon as I got there, I side hugged Krisis, then handed Kaydence her baby. I loved my nephew, but his little ass was thick, and I wasn’t equipped to hip that all through this party.
“Tete, it’s my birthday. Are you gonna bowl with me?” Junior’s voice had me looking him over. He had grown so muchover the last couple years, a true indication that time wasn’t on anybody’s side. He then hugged my waist, prompting me to hug him back. Shit, he was almost taller than me.
“Happy birthday, baby boy. Yeah, get me the black ball and lemme talk to your mama right quick.”
He nodded. “Okay.” Then he ran off and three other children ran behind him. Nah, he wasn’t coming back to find me any time soon.
I stood there for a moment, my eyes finding their way over to Reminisce, of course. Damn he looked good. That black hoodie and even blacker jeans set fire to my whole body, just like the fresh haircut that had me wanting to do other things than come to this party. Shit, I loved my nephew, but when Rem walked in the door this morning, I was willing to make my absence up to Junior another day.
“Girl, stop looking at that man. He’s fine, I promise.” Kaydence’s voice filled the space.
I blinked a few times before my eyes landed on Kay. She was holding Arie who was now holding a chicken bone. “How do you know I’m staring at him?”
“Because it’s all in your face. Your brother likes him.”
“And how do you know that from all the way over here?” I cut my eyes between her and them.
“Call it Aroyalisms. His body language and the expression on his face would have indicated if he didn’t. Not only that, he hasn’t stopped talking to him since you walked off. He likes him and you have nothing to worry about.”
“Except my mama. Hot ass. Hugging all on him and shit.”
Kaydence busted up laughing. “You’re a mess, just as nutty as your damn brother.”
I waved her off. “Not even. You better get your mother-in-law, girl.” I was just playing.
And she played right on back with me. “What’s wrong, afraid of a little competition?” She then winked in my direction.
I cackled. “You’re just as nutty as your damn husband.”
“So you say but you seem to be nutty as well. How did you manage to find the only man with virtually the same placement and just as many if not more tattoos than your brother? And no disrespect, but he’s fine too.”
I laughed. “I promise you, it wasn’t on purpose.”
“It never is. Niggas just be falling out of the sky and who are we to turn down the rides they offer to take us on?” She shrugged with her dada repeating baby in her hand.
“Is that what happened with my brother? He just fell from the sky?” I kidded, knowing damn well how they’d met.
“Hell nah, you know God sent that fool to test me,” she responded and we both began to cackle at the absurd inside joke we as a family clung so tightly to.
“The hell y’all over here laughing at?” Aroyal’s voice made me look away from Kay in his direction. He and Reminisce were standing behind us.
“None of your business.” Kay waved him off, looking from me to Reminisce. Yeah, she wanted to be introduced.
“Dadadada.” Arie extended his hands for his father who immediately grabbed him.
“Kay, this is Karim rude ass’s, man. Reminisce, this is my wife Kaydence.”
