“As my older brother, you shouldn’t be such a hater. I saw her atFried Rice & More.”
“Did she see you?”
I nodded. “Low-key, I think she was sniffing my shirt.”
“And that’s who you want to marry?” Kindra teased.
“I mean, I don’t know if she was actually sniffing my shirt, but she was standing behind me, very close, and when I reached for my phone, I bumped her with my elbow.”
“Weirdo,” Kindra sang as she stood.
I ignored her, and she went about her business.
“Did you talk to her?”
“Briefly. She was rushing to get the food home. I’m not worried, though. I’ll see her again.”
“What is it about her that has you ready to commit?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I have.”
He shook his head as he stood. “I can’t wait to see how this plays out. I’ll clean up this mess while your nephew takes your money.”
I laughed on my way to the family room. Trey was ready, and I had no plans on going easy on him. His game of choice was the most recent release of one of the professional basketball games.
I wasn’t hip to all this new technology because the only time I ever played was when I came to visit. The older Trey got, the more knowledgeable and better he became. I failed to take in the learning curve, and my nephew whupped my ass, although I did manage to squeeze in one win out of the five games we played.
It was well past his weekend bedtime when I gave him all the cash I had on me, which was over a hundred dollars, and heskipped away to his bedroom. After the ass-whupping he gave me, he could’ve at least given me a hug.
“I told you. The boy is good and shows no mercy on us old guys,” DJ said.
“Nothing you said could’ve prepared me for that, and his shit-talking is top tier for somebody who’s not allowed to curse.”
We laughed at my comment as he walked me out.
“I would say he learned from the best, but he surpassed me a few years ago.”
“You and your wife are raising a monster.”
“Yeah. Sometimes I wonder if that’s why God has only blessed us with one.”
The mood turned slightly somber. DJ and Kindra had been trying for another baby since Trey was about two years old. They both had been checked out, and nothing was medically wrong that would stop them from conceiving. Neither of them wanted to seek medical help, and they decided that if it was meant to be, it would be.
“If it’s meant to be . . .” I started.
“It will be.”
We exchanged a one-armed hug and patted each other on the back. He remained at the door until I was in my truck and pulled away from the curb. Although I’d been busy getting settled and hadn’t seen much of my family, I enjoyed being close to them again.
About fifteen minutes later, I turned into my driveway and noticed Naryah’s porch light was on. After securing my car in the garage, instead of going into my house, I walked down my driveway to check my mail.
Before I made it to my mailbox, I heard barking coming from Naryah’s porch, pulling my attention in that direction again. Que stood on the step and continued barking in my direction, but he didn’t make a move to come after me.
I forgot all about my mail and headed toward her house. The closer I got, the more excited Que seemed to become. Naryah was already on her feet, watching as I neared her. With the way our interactions had been going, I was surprised she didn’t run into her house.
“Que, calm down,” she scolded.
Not only did he not calm down, but as soon as I was close enough, he playfully jumped on me the same way he did during our first encounter.
