She laughed as I checked the time. Carter and I were taking Noni and Bali out tonight to celebrate. Carter was beyond happy and had even talked them into having our dads there on set with us. We would actually be doing what we loved to do in the movie. They wanted parts of the rodeo scenes to be real. Of course, the actors weren’t professionals. Carter and I would have a few lines. That would make our roles memorable.
Hopefully, those lines would either be us talking noise or clowning. I couldn’t wait. Filming would begin in a couple of months. By then, the rodeo season would be gearing up again as well. Carter said he was going to try to get Epic and Mythic in as extras as well. I supposed we could try to get the Hendersons in the mix, too, even if they were just in the stands. Since Jessica had done the video with Noah about being a country hood chick, it should be easy.
My mama was the first Black female hazer, and Tiffany was in rodeo history, too, as the first Black female to bareback. So it should be easy to get them involved. When they found out howrich the history was out here, they could possibly want to do a documentary. We could get to work on that with our agents. More people needed to know how the Hendersons ran this town. While they didn’t take no shit, they still cared about the people living here, especially the Black ones.
“I’m so proud of you, baby. We gon’ have to celebrate all this good news this coming weekend and include the Hendersons as well.”
“Yeah. Maybe we could have it at their family barn. I’ll get with Mister Storm about that.”
“Sounds like a plan. Y’all be careful tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I walked out the door and headed to my truck, ready to take my baby out on the town. When Mrs. Taylor called earlier, I was a ball of nerves. I literally could feel my career slipping from my fingertips. I was trying not to think that way, but at the same time, I was thinking of other things I could do in the industry. While I wasn’t hurting for money, I didn’t want to sit around doing nothing either. That was how people found themselves involved in bullshit. They had too much time on their hands.
As I drove by the diner, I saw Kingsley standing outside, looking around. He looked somewhat perplexed. I slowed down and turned in the lot. There was an empty parking spot right next to him. I put my window down, and asked, “What’s up? You cool?”
“I’m tryna be, man. Kane done got into some shit with some nigga. Ever since he got shot, he been a loose cannon at times.”
Kane was his brother, who was only a year or so younger than him. Most of Mr. Kenny’s kids were laid-back. I’d noticed Kane was wilding a lil bit lately. “Where did he go?”
“I don’t know, but Royal said he was gonna find him. He knows the nigga he got into it with.”
“What did they get into it about?”
“Some woman. You know how that shit go.”
“Mm. Speaking of, how are things with Treasure?”
“Good. She’s gonna meet me for lunch tomorrow. I’m just hoping that goes well.”
“I think it will. A’ight. Well, I’m gonna head home. I saw you out here looking pissed, so I just wanted to check on you.”
“Thanks, man.”
We shook hands as Seven sped in next to me, kicking up all kinds of dust. I slowly shook my head as he got out of his truck with a frown on his face. I was glad Noni didn’t spend as much time around that nigga. I could see him and I would probably bump heads often. It was bad enough I had to be around Mr. Storm. That nigga was crazy enough.
Kingsley said something to him, and they started talking. I didn’t bother to sit here long enough to speak. I headed home so I could feed the animals, then shower to get ready for our date.
“Damn, Noni. You look beautiful, baby,” I said to her when she opened the door.
Carter was next door, picking up Bali. We were going to Hearsay Gastro Lounge in Beaumont. Jasmine Crockett had made an impromptu visit there a couple of weeks ago. Those racist ass white people gave her a hard time. I wish we had known. We would have crashed that shit. It wasn’t open to the public, but I believed Mr. Storm had gone, since he was in politics.
“Thank you, Red. You look nice as well,” she said as she rubbed her hand down the lapel of my jacket.
I grabbed her hand and kissed it, not wanting to mess up her makeup, then she stepped outside and closed the door behindher. I noticed Carter was walking around his truck to get inside. We took different vehicles just in case we wanted to go our separate ways after dinner. After helping Noni inside the truck, I walked around to the driver’s side as a car sped down the road.
I frowned, trying to figure out what the fuck was going on. It looked like they stopped at Jacob’s house. When Ace hopped out of the car, I knew some shit was about to hit the fan. His hair was all over his head, and he looked like he was on the rampage, ready to fuck up anybody that stepped to him. When I saw Jacob come outside and hop in the car with him, I took a deep breath.
It never failed. These muthafuckas always had some shit going on. Everybody was starting to come out of their houses. First Christian, then Rylan and KJ, and further down, I saw Jakari getting in his truck. When I looked back at the truck, I saw Noni had put the window down. When Ashanni and Asad stepped out of their house, Noni yelled, “What’s going on?”
“They got Uncle Marcus.”
“I thought he was in Puerto Rico.”
“He was. They took him, Aunt Syn, and the kids. The family is meeting at the barn. I can’t go. I can’t let them get me all worked up. They’ll have me in labor before the night is over. That’s why Maui didn’t even come outside. Seems like we’re both having difficult pregnancies when it comes to stress.”
I was holding my fucking breath, knowing our evening was probably ruined. Bali and Carter had backed up, blocking Noni’s driveway, listening to everything. I walked to Noni’s side and stared at her. “What do you wanna do?”
