Before she could take another step, Jo snatched her ponytail like it owed her money and yanked her backwards.
“Did my daughter invite you into her kitchen?” Jo barked.
“Jo” I yelled, stepping in before things went all the way left. “I got this. Go grab S3 for me.”
Jo gave Imani one last glare before turning away. “Y’all lucky I got grandbabies in this house,” she muttered.
I turned to Imani, the heat in my chest rising slow and steady. She stood there, smug like always, thinking just because sheonce shared a bed and a baby with Seth, she had some type of claim. She didn’t. And I was about to remind her.
“I know you’re used to me letting Seth handle you, Imani. But he’s not here right now. I am. And let me make something very clear. If you ever think I won’t fuck your ass up again, try me bitch. You walk into my house, yes, my house, and disrespect me or my mother again, I will personally escort your ass out, headfirst.”
She blinked, caught off guard by the tone shift. I stepped closer.
“You are more than welcome to visit S3. I know it’s been a minute, and I’m not here to take that from you. But don’t get it twisted, I run this. Not you. Not your attitude. Not your little history with Seth. Me.”
I extended my arm toward the kitchen, calm and collected, but fully in control.
“Now go ahead. Dinner’s getting cold.”
“Pussy ass hoe!” Jo shouted, voice echoing all the way downstairs.
“Jo!” I hissed, eyes wide, trying to keep a handle on things before they spun out again.
She turned to me like I had disappointed her. “You don’t curse enough for me,” she said, pointing a long, acrylic nail my way. “That’s your husband’s baby mama and the only curse word you’ve said was ‘shit’ Nah. We gotta work on that, Stormi.”
She strutted toward the kitchen, but I reached out and pulled her back, wrapping her in a tight hug. I kissed her cheek, burying a soft laugh against her shoulder.
“I love you,” I said, honestly.
“I love you more,” she replied, her tone softening, just in time for the front door to open.
Seth and Rich walked in like they’d felt the chaos through the door.
“Can I join in?” Seth asked, wrapping his arms around both me and Jo.
Rich clapped his hands once. “Let me wash up so I can grab my godson,” he said, walking past us, his smile easy until he caught sight of Imani.
“Don’t forget it was one before him,” she called out as she stepped out of the kitchen, her voice all vinegar and no honey.
Rich didn’t break stride. “You the only one who forgets about him. Mouth not full of dick now, so you got time to talk, huh?”
The whole room went still for a moment, like the air got cut in half.
Seth’s face twisted with frustration. “Imani, what are you even doing here?”
She rolled her eyes so hard it looked like they’d get stuck. “To see myson, the one I haven’t laid eyes on in almost two months.Or is that news to you?”
Seth took a deep breath, jaw tight. I could feel his energy winding up to explode, so I placed my hand gently on his chest, grounding him. The room was already hot with tension, and S3 would be down any second. The last thing I wanted was for him to walk into another war zone.
“Imani,” I called out calmly, keeping my voice leveled, “how about I fix a couple plates for you and S3? You can eat together upstairs in his room, get some time alone with him.”
Her eyes cut to me like knives.
“Serena already fixing plates,” she replied with a dry laugh. “And I was already planning to do that. But thanks for the suggestion since, what was it? This is your house, right?” She smirked.
Before I could respond, Seth stepped forward, voice low but sharp.
“This is her house. And don’t get it twisted, I’ll throw your ass out before you even get toseeS3. Say one more dumb thing.”
