“Why do we have to keep up this facade for another few weeks?” Rashawn questioned, jogging over to me. “It’s been nine months, and I haven’t given you any reason to think I’mma fold. What will be different in a few weeks that will suddenly make you ready to publicly go all in?”
“We had a deal, Rashawn. If you love me like you say you do, then you’ll wait and allow me that time. Plus, didn’t you just turn me down for sex Friday night? You wanted to wait right? So wait. Why are you bringing that up right here? Right now?” I interrogated, growing more frustrated.
“I’m asking because of that sermon and the way it made you feel. But I love you, so I’m willing to wait. You love me or you still want to beef with me about Friday night?”
“Ask me in a few weeks when you are ready to give up some strokes,” I snipped lowly as Essex came into view.
Rashawn abruptly stopped walking, his large hand planted on my shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. I cut my eyes at Rashawn, prepared to swat his hand away, but the anguish on his face made my heart palpitate. His mouth was wide open, showing every veneer in his mouth. I noticed his chest heaved like he was struggling to breathe.
“Rashawn, are you okay?” I panicked, unsure of what to do for him.
His tall frame tumbled over, and I shrieked. “Oh my God!” I kneeled beside Rashawn, my knees colliding with the cement.
“What happened?” Essex questioned, sprinting over to us in the middle of the sidewalk.
“I don’t know. He was holding his chest! It seems like he couldn’t breathe. Maybe he’s having a heart attack!” I fretted; all of the emergency medical and safety training vanished from my brain the moment it counted most.
“My heart… Elise shot a dagger through my heart, Essex. She’s strumming my pain with her fingers,” he sang before his pained expression morphed into an amused one.
“Rashawn!” I huffed, roughly nudging his shoulder. I snatched my purse from the ground and stormed off, leaving Essex to deal with that fool. If I stuck around, I might’ve went off about him rolling around like that in the outfit I bought him.
“Nigga, get yo silly ass up. What, you went to church this morning?” I heard Essex behind me.
My feet didn’t stop moving until I walked through the foyer. I still felt the adrenaline coursing through me from Rashawn’s cruel joke.
“TT, you look beautiful,” Nash complimented me.
“Thanks, handsome.”
I wrapped Nash in a hug that settled my spirits, then I continued through the backyard where the party was happening. Everything smelled good in the backyard, and I spotted Nariyah in the pool with Nova.Slideby H.E.R. and YG played at a medium volume, and there were unfamiliar faces scattered all throughout the backyard. I’m sure they immediately realized I was Essex’s twin because I exchanged smiles and head nods on my way to the pool.
“Elise, I thought you weren’t going to be able to make it over here today?”
“I didn’t go to my parents’ church this morning. I had a change of plans, and I went to church with Ms. Sasha.”
“Oh Lord. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I smiled, reaching for Nova. Wet and all, I’d never miss an opportunity to snuggle my niece. “Plus, there is nothing that seeing my chunky mama’s smile can’t fix.”
She cooed, slobbing while chewing on her fist.
“Where is your phone?” I questioned, claiming one of the pool chairs.
“Why?”
“A part of the issues with my parents started because they saw you post that picture from Halloween last year and they must’ve been scrolling back after seeing that because they brought up our matching outfit at the car show last year,” I rolled my eyes. “Plus, some of my students follow you, and they mentioned it before my parents did. I cannot be posted up on your Instagram sis. Sorry.”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry. I never thought about your students and I had no idea your parents followed me,” she admitted. “My phone is in my room. You can go grab it.”
“Okay.”
I stood from the pool chair and carried Nova back into the house and up the stairs towards Essex and Nariyah’s room. When I passed Lambo’s room, he barked loudly, scratching at the door, clearly upset that he was locked away while strangers ran around his house. I continued past his room and entered Essex and Nariyah’s massive bedroom. It was big enough that they had a sofa opposite their bed, and I was mesmerized each time I entered the navy and gold themed room. As soon as I stepped in, I heard the door close behind me and swung around to see who had closed it. Rashawn’s devious smile greeted me.
“Seeing you with Nova makes me want to put a baby in you,” he rasped.
“Rashawn, not in front of the baby,” I complained, placing both hands over her ears. Nova giggled and slobbed even harder while pumping her legs and fists excitedly.
“Nova doesn’t know what we are saying. But I’m just letting you know now, we need to knock our jits out back to back just like Essex and Nariyah. I want to be done before we turn forty.”
