They both hollered.
“I’m serious,” Tia continued. “Everybody in this neighborhood is doing well. Doctors, tech people, Lawyers, boutique owners, and influencers making money for real.”
Meadow shook her head, still staring. “The pictures you sent didn’t do ANY of this justice.”
“Because I didn’t want you getting used to it before you got here,” Tia laughed. “You had to see it with your own two eyes.”
“Girl, look at that house!” Meadow pressed her forehead to the window like a child.
“That house ain’t got shit on mine,” Tia snorted, bigging herself up even though she was a housewife.
Meadow pulled back, blinking. “This ain’t even your street?”
“Nope…my house is around that curve.”
“Do you miss Juniper?”
“First of all, I haven’t been gone long enough to miss it,” Tia scoffed. “And no…all I miss is having you at my beck and call.”
Meadow laughed. “I miss you too.”
“I bet you don’t,” Tia teased. “Soon as I leave, you get swept off your feet by a rich nigga.”
Meadow’s face heated instantly. “Girl, I am hardly swept up.”
“Shiiiiddd,” Tia turned the wheel and pulled into her driveway. “Hardly swept up my ass.”
Meadow’s mouth fell open. “Tia,” she whispered, stepping out and gawking at the full two-story brick beauty with black-framed windows, wide steps, a porch swing, and landscaping so perfect it looked like God himself laid it there. “This your house?”
Tia stepped out the car like she was entering a music video. “Sure is.”
“Tia…this is ahouse-house.”
“I know,” she giggled.
“This is the kind of house rappers buy after signing their second contract.”
Tia beamed. “We do what we gotta do to live in excellence.”
Meadow spun in a slow circle. “It’s beautiful.”
“And you ain’t even seen inside.” Tia unlocked the front door and stepped aside with exaggerated flair. “Welcome to Casa Blain & Tia.”
Meadow stepped into the foyer and immediately lost her cool “Oh…y’allrichrich.”
The ceilings were tall, the floors clean and warm toned, and the furniture was a perfect blend of modern and cozy. There were plants alive and thriving, framed pictures already on the wall, even though Tia moved in recently, and Meadow knew she didn’t put them there…Blain did. He always seemed to move intentionally.
Tia grinned like she owned fifty percent of the universe. “Girl, this just the entryway.”
A deep male voice floated down from upstairs. “Bae, that you?”
Tia yelled back, “Who else would it be?”
Meadow smiled. “Is that Blain?”
“Yep, he’s around here somewhere.”
Meadow smiled. “This is so nice. I’m really happy for you Tia.”
