“I love doing stuff like this. I’ll make up any excuse to party.” Symphony smiled.
A server came around carrying a tray with champagne flutes that were filled with peach bellinis. Lyric had plenty of milk stored, so pump and dump it would be. In the mood to relax and party, Khrome grabbed a glass. A DJ had music blasting through the venue and though there weren’t many people at all, Khrome’s heart was full.
Averi introduced her best friend, Brazil’s friend, Giavanna, Lethal’s mother, his grandmother, his aunt, and two of his cousins. Khrome was actually shocked when Lethal’s mother hugged her.
“I just need you to know we’re going to get along just fine as long as you know that’s my baby. You just carried her for me.” Khrome laughed while inwardly thanking God that her daughter had a father like Lethal and grandparents like Tasha and Tech. She couldn’t ask for anything more.
After introductions were made, Khrome sipped her drink and walked over to the food table. On cue, her stomach growled as she eyed the deviled eggs, pasta salad, potato salad, shrimp cocktail, wings, meatballs, baked beans, oxtails, rice, and cabbage. On the dessert table was strawberry shortcake, cherry cheesecake, brownies, sugar cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-covered Oreos, and apple cobbler.
“I am determined not to cry and ruin my makeup but Symphony”—Khrome’s voice cracked, and she paused to compose herself—“no one has ever done anything like this for me before. I’m utterly speechless. You have made me feel so thought of.” Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away.
“I’m just happy that you like it and you’re not overwhelmed or giving us the side eye like we did too much. We’re still getting to know one another but if you ever need anything just call me. I swear I’ll come running.”
Khrome hugged her again before proceeding to grab another drink. Before they ate, Symphony wanted her to open her gifts. Achair was placed in the center of the room for Khrome. The door of the venue opened, and she saw Lethal ambling in with his brothers, cousin, and father. Lord knows, all of them together would make any woman cream her panties. Symphony handed Khrome a card, and she opened it. The card was from Tasha, and there was a gift card inside for a sixty-minute massage.
The next gift came from Symphony. The large bag contained leggings and a sports bra from Alo, three loungewear sets from Skims, and a pair of Uggs. Averi gifted her perfume, body butter, a robe, a journal, a book, and a candle that smelled absolutely divine. Tech’s card contained a $300 Visa gift card. Brazil gifted her $1,000, and Giavanna got her a bag filled with five candles and plug -in wall scents.
The other guests all got her gift cards. Lethal walked over to her with a serious expression on his face. “My gift to you is outside.”
Khrome’s brow hiked because she honestly didn’t expect anything from him. Slowly, she stood and followed her baby daddy outside. When Khrome’s orbs landed on a shiny green BMW with a red bow on top, her knees buckled. Everyone behind her cheered, but she couldn’t speak or move. She had been trying her best not to cry, but it was a losing battled. Officially unable to hold back any longer, she walked away from the group and buried her face in her hands.
“Why you messing up your makeup?” Lethal asked as he pulled at her hands.
“I just don’t understand. I mean, I don’t deserve this. I’m just, I don’t know.” Khrome sniffed and wiped her tears.
Lethal pulled her into his solid frame. “I do it because I want to.” His voice came out in a deep, soothing rumble. “Maybe when you stole my necklace, you stole my heart, too.”
Khrome laughed through her tears. Looking up at him, she shook her head. “I don’t know how to be anything other than amess. Not living in chaos and dysfunction is foreign to me. I’m used to men showing their love for me by hitting me.”
With his arms still wrapped around her, Lethal drew back with a frown. “Nah, that wasn’t love, and that’s not how I get down. I know you have some things to work through. None of us are perfect. Just try your best when it comes to Lyric. That’s all I care about.”
With a smile, she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tip toes. “I want to kiss you so bad, but I know you can’t have sex.”
“Yeah, my dick is already harder than a missile. Take this key fob and get off of me.”
Khrome laughed and did as he asked. If she had to relive life with Vick and Cam two more times just to get to life with Lethal, she’d do it in a fuckin’ heartbeat.
Blossom was sitting on the couch watching television when Creed entered the room. Tension in the house had been thick for a few weeks, and she was tired of it. Sitting down on the opposite side of the room, Creed stared at her. “I don’t like to see you acting down.”
“I’m fine, Creed. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Yeah, I do. I want you happy, and I can tell you aren’t happy. You’re right. You’re smart, and you’ve always had good judgement. Pops told me who this guy was, and I looked him up. I’m a big fan of Lethal. I’ve never watched soccer, but he has some dope sons. I watched some interviews of them speaking on their childhood, and they make their father sound like a good man. He just made some bad choices. I’m sorry for judging him and coming at you the way I did.”
Blossom’s brows hiked. “Oh my God, is that an apology coming from my child?”
Creed chuckled. “Yeah, it is. I know you weren’t happy with Dad. I didn’t want my family split up but once the divorce was over, you were smiling again. You were in a really good place and since this whole thing with you dating, you’ve been sad again. I love Dad, but I don’t think it’s cool for him to be against you moving on when he has someone himself.”
“Wow.” Blossom was truly shocked.
No matter how angry Cedric made her, she never bad mouthed him around his sons. She didn’t bother him. There wasn’t a bitter bone in her body, and she’d never try to turn their kids against him. The fact that Creed saw the light all on his own made her feel good.
“Thank you for that. That means a lot to me, Creed. All I want is to be happy, but I’m a mother first. If you and your brother weren’t comfortable with me dating a guy fresh out of prison, I had to look at it from your point-of-view. But I am grown and in the end, I have to do what makes me happy.”
“Noted.” Creed nodded. “I was being a spoiled brat not wanting my mother to date, but that’s wrong and selfish. You’re a baddie, and you don’t deserve to be alone. I just want you to choose the right guy.”
Tossing her head back, Blossom laughed. “My child called me a baddie. I am so flattered. Is this a set up? Do you need money?”
“I mean, I could use a few bucks.” He shrugged. “But what I said is true.”
