“Ward is old news, so this temper tantrum he’s having will fade away soon. Hopefully, he’ll find something else to do, and I won’t have to beat his ass again,” Kilo said.
“You might not need it, but you’ll have some help this time if I have anything to do with it,” Robby said.
“Both of you have too much to lose to risk it on him,” I said.
Once Ambrose was officially let go, Kilo brought Robby in for a series of interviews. He was offered the job a few days ago and accepted the position yesterday.
“I can be incognito, so I’ll take care of him, if need be,” Skye offered.
“Ma, it’s been a minute since you’ve had to bring that bat out. How about you leave it in retirement?” her son, Stokely, teased.
“Boy, the bat has never been retired. I almost used it on you the other night when you tried to sneak into my house at three o’clock in the morning.”
Stokely shook his head. “See, that’s why I don’t be coming home.”
She mushed his head, then wrapped her arms around him. Stokely was probably a foot taller than her, but he was still a mama’s boy.
“If you need me to keep an eye on your mother while you’re away, I got you, Stokely,” Knox said, winking at Skye.
She smacked her lips. “I don’t need you to keep an eye on me, but there might be a few other things you can take care of.”
“Mama, please,” Stokely said with a groan.
“The pizza is here,” Nyeem announced, breaking the awkward moment.
Kilo and Robby followed Nyeem to the door to get the pizza, and they returned with several boxes and bags. Everyone dispersed to wash their hands in all the sinks that were available and returned to the kitchen.
After piling our plates with the breadsticks and the pizza of our choice, we headed to the dining room. There wasn’t enough room for all of us, so we pulled chairs from the kitchen and made room.
For the first few minutes we discussed the interview. I didn’t say much because the thought of Ambrose exhausted me, and I had no more energy to give that nigga. When I’d heard enough, I stood and cleared my throat.
“Ahem. Can Kilo and I have your attention? We have an announcement to make.”
That was his cue to stand.
“If y’all got married without telling?—”
“Mrs. Kurrie, I wouldn’t do you like that. Besides, my mother would disown me if I did something like that.”
“It sounds like me and Mareen are on the same page. I’m sorry for interrupting. Go ahead, Sweet Pea.”
“Thanks, Ma. Kilo and I found out today that we’re having . . .”
“Twin boys,” Kilo and I announced simultaneously.
The excitement in the room couldn’t be contained, and I was the happiest I’d been in years. The love that flowed between Kilo and me was the most genuine thing I’d experienced in this lifetime.
It was Friday, and football camp started Monday. Mr. Kurrie, Robbi, Knox, and I had just finished moving Nyeem into his dorm. He was blessed to have a single because, between his academic and athletic scholarships, he had an abundance of money.
Skye had finally agreed to go out with Knox, so he left a little while ago to get ready. Mr. Kurrie and Robby stuck around for a while to give Nyeem some last-minute advice, and I was the last to leave.
“How are you feeling about everything?” I asked him as he walked me to my car.
“Everything, as in school, football, moving into the dorms, or this interesting summer I’ve had so far?”
He’d been dealing with a lot of things most adults wouldn’t be able to handle.
“All of it, none of it, or whatever you want to talk about,” I told him.
