“I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be better if you ain’t sacrifice to put me in a position to do that, Relic, so I got your back whether you want me to or not. Mwen renmen ou plis pase tout. It’s no way I’m gon’ leave you hanging, bro.”
The flitter Kennedy put in Relic’s chest was miniature compared to the one he endured from Shabu avowing to a brotherly love he assumed was dying out. He didn’t give it a second thought before yanking his brother into a one-armed hug, palming the back of his head as Indigo tried to push Shabu away before whining from being squished in the middle.
“This is the shit I love to see!” Titan extolled, making Relic and Shabu release one another before they glanced at him. He raised his recording phone and told them, “I’m so happy y’allniggas acting right, I ain’t even gon’ speak on how you just told that nigga you love him more than me.”
“More than anyone,” Jahleel corrected. He pulled his attention from the water to ask Relic, “Do you love Uncle Shabu more than me?”
“Nigga, fuck yea! We just met you,” Shabu joked, and Relic smacked him upside the head, while Titan spit out a boisterous laugh.
“Don’t tell my son that shit! I love y’all the same, Jah. You, Shabu, and Titan are all one third of my heart. I don’t have room for anyone else, so don’t ask.”
“What if you have another kid?” he quizzed anyway.
“I won’t, but if I did, are you willing to give up space on your side of my heart for a sibling?”
“Yea, if it’s with Ms. Kennedy. I’d share my side with her and the baby, or I’ll give them space in my heart if you don’t have room in yours.”
Shabu scratched his brow and exchanged an amused glance with Titan before he settled a pitying one on Relic.
“I don’t know who Kenn Dog got more whipped, you or my nephew. How’s that gon’ work if you and her... you know?”
Relic huffed a breath before scrubbing a hand over his mouth, accepting the fact that he’d fucked up introducing Jahleel and Kennedy. He hadn’t expected them to grow so close, and the idea of Jahleel loathing him for taking away another motherly figure if it came down to that caused his insides to loop and knot like lariat rope.
Jahleel frowned, his eyes pinging between the two. “If they what? Break up?”
“We can’t break up because we’re not together, Jah. I told you that.”
“But she’s staying at the house with us, and you don’t bring nobody there.”
“Who said she was staying with us?”
“Ms. Kennedy did when I talked to her last night. She said she’s coming today and staying with us. She said that she’s sleeping in your room, too, and that means y’all gon’ do nasty stuff. So, y’all go together.”
“Yooo!”
Titan howled a laugh while Shabu averted his gaze to cough, fisting a hand to his mouth to hide his chuckle.
“What the hell do you know about nasty stuff?” Relic queried, glaring at Jahleel.
“I seen it in a movie before, and the boys on my team say they be hearing their parents do it.”
“Man, ain’t you supposed to be saved and sanctified? Tell them bad ass kids stop putting bugs in yo ear,” Shabu snapped as Titan continued cracking up, kicking water off his feet as he stood from the swim platform.
“Yea, do them lil’ niggas like you do us. Invite ‘em to church.”
“I did, but they said no, too. They must want to go to hell like y’all. Relic still ain’t came with me and I—ahhh!”
“Oh, shit!” Shabu bleated, dropping his fishing rod to catch Jahleel by his t-shirt after his small frame slammed against the side of the boat. “You caught something, Jah!”
“Take Indie,” Relic said, damn near tossing him to his brother before he rushed behind Jahleel to grip the fishing rod with him.
He flipped the anti-reverse switch on so that the line couldn’t roll backward and then rested his hand on top of his son’s to help him reel the catch in. A wide smile spread on his face at the weight fighting against their effort.
“It’s a big one, Jah. Relax and lift your rod so that the line won’t snap. Keep a forty-five-degree angle like this...”
Relic assisted his son with the correct positioning and guided him away from the boat’s edge while continuing to battle a fishthat refused to stop running. Just as he started to tell Jahleel they may lose it, his son tugged the rod and lurched the reel forward simultaneously, yanking the fish out of the water as it flapped uncontrollably.
“Yea, Jah! You got it, and that shit is huge! What is he ‘pose to do now?” Titan rushed to their sides to record the moment. Relic pointed at the net near his feet.
