“You didn’t have to go to that rodeo. You went there to torture him. That was wrong. You owe him an apology. I know that shit ain’t gon’ taste good coming out of your mouth, butneither does throw up. Get your mind right for what you need to do when he gets here.”
“Daddy, you do realize I’m grown and don’t have to apologize to him if I don’t want to, right?”
He frowned hard. “Well, carry your grown ass to your house then. You ain’t finna have everybody uncomfortable in here for what is about to be the happiest day of Bali’s life. You know he’s going to be here because Carter is like a brother to him. If you can’t behave like an adult, maybe you shouldn’t have been in a relationship to begin with. We all fuck up, so ain’t none of us above rectifying shit and apologizing.”
He stood from his seat and walked off, leaving me in my feelings. I stood and walked around to the other side of the house to see Carter and Bali arriving, then Red Squared right behind them. I took a deep breath and exhaled. I was happy for Bali. I really was, but I was somewhat jealous of what she and Carter had.
He loved her so much. He was willing to sacrifice everything for her . . . even his career. She would never put him in a position to do so, but I knew that he would if he had to. That was how much he loved her. She naturally evolved from the love he encompassed her with. His aura sucked her in and made her better. They were perfect together. It made me wonder if Red and I were trying to force things. It should have been effortless if we cared for each other so much.
I made my way back to the door, and Remy was standing there about to go inside. “What’s up, Noni? You good?”
“Yeah, I’m cool.”
He stepped aside and let me go inside first. I quickly ducked off to the other sitting room and sat there by myself. I didn’t want to be social. The only reason I was here was because I knew Bali would never forgive me if I wasn’t. She would know soon enough that everyone knew about this beforehand.
“Why you in here by yourself?”
I looked up to see Seven. “Because I wanna be. Get on.”
“Naw. Own yo’ fucked up shit. Don’t be embarrassed now. You did the shit, now stand in it.”
“I’m not embarrassed. I don’t feel like being bothered. Leave me the fuck alone and worry about why Iesha ain’t fucking wit’cho ass.”
“If you don’t feel like being bothered then you need to carry yo’ ass home. I got my shit on track. Fuck you talkin’ ’bout.”
I rolled my eyes.Seven and Seven Junior. Ugh.He walked off, and I saw my mama in the doorway. She tilted her head toward the main room. I supposed that meant Carter was about to propose to Bali. I huffed and stood, making my way to the front room where everyone was. Ashanni smiled at me and hugged me. Had she not been pregnant, I probably would have pushed her away from me.
Maui was next. When she hugged me, she said, “I love you, Noni.”
I rested my forehead on top of hers. “I love you, too.”
I quickly released her, and my eyes met Bali’s. She was angry. It wasn’t the first time she was angry at me, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be the last time. She didn’t say anything and neither did I. I sat across the room, completely ignoring Red Squared’s gaze. I could see him in my peripheral. I sat on a barstool somewhat away from everyone but close enough to see what was going on.
Carter was talking about the bull he rode and how “rank” it was. Mr. Legend was cosigning and admitting that he was nervous for Carter.
“That nigga got my genes running through him, though. I got my best time when I dismounted and got hit in the face. That was when Harper came flying her ass to Memphis because shethought she’d lost me. She knew she was fucking up by rejecting me.”
Mrs. Harper rolled her eyes while everybody laughed.
“She knew all along what was up, just like Aspen. She was running, too. Look at all this shit. All the women wanted me, but I only wanted her. She eventually got her act together.”
I was so fucking miserable listening to their love stories. My mama rolled her eyes. Carter took his arm from around Bali and leaned over. I had to assume that he was about to do it now.
“See, that’s what I got. She ain’t running, though, and I’m grateful for that.”
Bali shoulder bumped him and gave him a one-sided smile.
“I mean, she tried to run while she was in Atlanta. When I showed my ass up at her apartment, she got her mind right.”
He laughed as Bali pulled him in a headlock. They were so cute together. I wanted to cry.
Finally, after she released him, he said, “Since she ain’t running, I think it’s time I make some shit official.”
He slid off the couch and went straight to his knees. When he propped his other leg up, the tears sprang from my eyes. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop them. They were tears of joy and tears of heartache.
“Bali, you’ve been the woman I wanted for a long ass time . . . hell, all my life. You were the one I knew was my soulmate, even when we would hold hands under the dinner table. I think you knew it, too.”
I glanced around the room to see all the women crying, and noticed my aunts, uncles, and cousins in the backyard, staring through the glass. I wanted to get up and run out of here, but I couldn’t. Maui came next to me and wrapped her arm around my waist. When I leaned my head on top of hers, I noticed Red staring at me. His face was red. This shit was affecting him, too.
