"What you do?" he dragged. I knew exactly what I did, but I wasn't admitting that shit. "You up here talking like Kanye."
I fell into a fit of laughter. "I promise, it was not intentional. It was like my mind immediately went tobitch, hide that shit as long as you can. I'm sorry, for real."
"If you want to get talked about, do that shit again. She will call you out on it. I told you she's cool, and they've looked at all your pictures online already. Your grill is something that my mama has already seen and didn't say a single thing about it. Leave that other old bat's bullshit out of this house because you gon' love it over here, baby."
"Psst... Psst."
We looked around for the sound we heard. Someone waved nothing but their hand up on the other side of the porch. Sin stalked over there, and I couldn't help but notice how his hand went to the small of his back for his gun.
"Nigga, you really gon' shoot me?" His cousin popped up from the ground, looking as if he was really waiting on an answer.
"Zoo! The fuck you doing?"
"I just want a plate. Tell Auntie I'm sorry."
"Bye, man. If you want a plate, then come inside. I ain't bringing shit to you."
"But you was gon' leave Brooklyn's plate on the patio for him. Do it. I bet I eat 'dat shit." Sin started laughing and then walked back toward me.
"If you're hungry, come eat, Zoo." He hopped the side of the porch so quick and was inside the house before Sin and I could get in.
The table was set, and dinner was going smoothly. I stopped talking like all my teeth were missing and ended up having a good time. Sin's family was so funny, and it was worse when their cousin, Brooklyn, showed up for his plate after Sin's mom called him over. He and Zoo argued the entire time, and my stomach hurt so bad from laughing at them.
"I told you that you would love it over here," Sin whispered in my ear. Smiling, I winked at him, and I had to agree. I did love being there.
"I'm going to get dessert and more drinks." Seeing his mom push back from the table, I decided to step away from the guys to join her, taking a bit of initiative to get to know her more.
"I'll help you, Mrs. Smith," I offered.
"Aww yeah, I'm going to love you. Call me Mama. Jamison already told me you were going to be his wife, so we may as well get the formal shit out of the way now."
"And you can call me Zaddy."
"Pops don't even play like that," Sin scolded.
"Aight, I'ma call yo' ass an ambulance. Keep on playing wit'cha life, Jaxon." Mrs. Smith was short but wasn't scared to pop hershit at all and dared Mr. Smith to say something else. "Come on, baby."
I followed her into the kitchen, and instead of pulling out dessert, Mrs. Smith pulled out a blender, some margarita mix, and liquor."
"Frozen or on the rocks?" she asked while pulling out ice.
"I'm sorry, but I don't drink during the season."
Mrs. Smith looked back at me like I had just cursed her out. "Frozen or on the rocks, sweet pea?"
"Frozen, please."
Turning toward me, she took a seat.
"Never do that. Regardless of who it is, what they are offering, or how they may feel about you afterward, never compromise what you believe in, lower your standards, or fake the funk just so you wouldn't upset someone. If you don't drink during the season, then you should have said that shit again and stood on it, you hear me?" she schooled.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Remember that even when it comes to my son. No, is and can be a complete sentence. Stick around, and I'll teach you everything I how about these Smith men."
"Ma, how long you gon' keep my girl hostage? She's gotta get back home soon so she can get some rest for practice in the morning."
"Well, hell, I was just schooling her. I'm sure standing a few more hours wouldn't hurt her."
