“We already established that we go together, real bad. You remember?”
Laughing, she covered her face up like she was embarrassed.
“I was just joking.”
“I’on know if you noticed or not but it’s a few things I don’t play about. My family, my business, and my heart. If you say we go together then that's what it is.”
“Just like that? Aren’t you supposed to get to know me, first?”
“I can do that, while dating you. Ain’t no right or wrong way to do this shit. You are either all in, or all out. It’s just that simple.”
“It’s not that simple.”
We’ll talk about this later,” I told her once I saw my little sister Jersey walking over to us.
“Brother, I called you so many times this morning to let you know about the party because I know you hate surprises. Why didn’t you call me back?”
“Why you ain’t just text that shit then? I thought something was wrong with Mama. Had me scared to come over.”
“Lord, Mama is fine. She’s been having more good days than bad. Only time she’s really tired is after her chemotherapy. Other than that, she’s been driving around, cooking more and all. You would know that if”—she paused then looked beside me at Bri—“you weren’t wrapped up in something, or shall I say, someone else.” Jersey looked over at Bri again. “Who is she?”
“This is my new girlfriend, Bronx.” If Bronx was in a cartoon, her eyes would’ve been on the ground with slinkies making them bounce up and down in shock.
“I’m Bri, but apparently, your brother wants you to call me Bronx. It’s nice meeting you.”
“You don’t have to be prim and proper with me. I’ve seen one of his exes and trust me, you are already on myI Hope He Marry This Onelist. My brother isn’t the type to play the field, so you won’t ever have to worry about that. Once he’s for you, he’s not changing how hard he’s coming behind you, unless you give him a reason not to come anymore. Other than that, just be good to him and he’ll be even better to you.”
I stood here, looking at Jersey, trying to see if that was my little sister talking or Iyanla trying to fix my life.
“Jersey, how old are you?” Bri asked her.
“I’m thirteen but don’t let the age fool you, I heard I have an old soul. Oh, and if you are looking for Mama, she’s upstairs. She’s been out here all morning making sure everything was set up for her baby boy. She got sleepy a little while ago, so Daddy helped her back upstairs.”
“Aight, I’ll go speak to everyone then head up to see her.”
“It was nice meeting you, Bri Bronx,” Jersey told Bri, making her laugh.
“It was nice meeting you too, love.”
Instead of Bri coming with me, she went to find her friends. It didn’t take long for me to speak, before I was heading in the house to find my mama.
BRIANNA
I watched as Brooklyn headed inside the house to find his mama. Although it would have been nice to meet her and be there for him when he talked to her, I wanted him to do this right here, on his own. I’d have plenty of time... maybe... to meet her and anyone else in the backyard.
“What’s wrong, boo?” Mimi walked over to be with her plate piled high with food.
“Nothing, I’m fine.”
“You sure, Bri? Just because we are here, doesn’t mean we can’t still talk. This backyard is big as hell. We can walk and talk if you wanted to.”
“Positive, boo. I promise I am.”
“You heard from Teddy?”
“Now you really ‘bout to make me walk off.”
“Damn, it’s that bad, huh?” Nodding my head, I confirmed that it was that bad.
