I turned to him and kissed his lips in front of everyone. His eyebrows lifted slightly as he asked, “You like it enough to see yourself with me forever?”
“What do you mean?”
“I told you I would show and prove that I had changed. My goal before the incident even happened was to learn to be more considerate and understanding of your feelings. To stop being so fucking selfish all the time.”
“You have baby, in an extremely short time. It usually takes people years to make the type of changes you’ve made in two months.”
“I saw my future slipping away from me. I couldn’t allow that. I love you so much, Noni.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
He kissed my hand, then accepted a cigar from Uncle Jasper. “I had to run home right quick to go get them,” Uncle Jasper said.
Red frowned slightly, then sniffed it. His eyebrows lifted, and he laughed. As he laughed, more people started laughing right along with him. “Baby, this ain’t no fucking cigar. These are big ass blunts. Your uncle a trip!”
I slowly shook my head. He wasn’t the only one.Allthe Hendersons were a trip.
EPILOGUE
RED SQUARED
ONE MONTH LATER . . .
“First of all, I’m beyond happy to have two grandbabies on the way, one being a little boy from Maui. Tiffany the only one around here without a grandchild here or on the way.”
Aunt Tiff poked out her lip as Mr. Storm bragged about Maui’s and Bali’s pregnancies. Our families were all together in the Henderson family barn, celebrating our movie deal. We’d negotiated for some of the Hendersons to also make cameos in the movie, but we’d gotten our agent to pitch a deal for a documentary. To celebrate the acceptance of the pitch, we were turning up in the barn.
I glanced around the barn, looking for Noni. She came out of the kitchen with Maui and Bali. Bali had a small pooch in her belly area and Maui was looking like she was ready to deliver now. Apparently, she was having a big baby. They were having a little boy and were beyond excited about it. She was about five or six months now. Mythic was like her damn shadow everywhere she went. The further along she got, the more on edge he got. I could definitely understand why.
Noni was glowing. She was so damned happy, and I could only hope that I could continue making her happy. My dad sat next to me, and said, “You know I’m proud of you, right? You did what a man is supposed to do. The way you dove into bettering yourself, I knew you were serious about her. However, I also realized you were doing that for yourself as well. Were you and Noni satisfied with the settlements?”
I smiled. Mrs. Taylor and Shy had filed civil charges against the NFR and the city of Birmingham. She filed against the NFR for racial discrimination, and we settled for nearly a million dollars. She filed against the city of Birmingham for harassment of Noni. They settled for nearly a hundred grand.
“We were beyond satisfied. Thanks to our parents’ hard work, we weren’t even worried about the money. It was truly about the principle of it all. Neither of us are hurting for money.”
He smiled and squeezed my shoulder as I brought my attention back to Noni. I stood from my seat and made my way to her. When she saw me approaching, she smiled. She met me halfway and slid her arms over my shoulders as Noah’s music played through the speakers. I kissed her lips and wrapped my arms around her waist.
This was the woman I loved, and it was time I took us to the next level. I slowly went to my knee as I slid my hands down her body. When I saw her hard nipples exposing themselves through her halter top, I knew we would be leaving immediately after to celebrate. Her eyes widened, and her face reddened as I pulled the ring box from my pocket, opening it to reveal a ten-carat beauty.
“Noni, we have had our ups and downs over the years, but one thing that has remained constant is our love for each other. I had some growing up to do. Losing you was my biggest fear, and when it nearly came true, that shit scared me straight. I love you so much, baby, and I can’t see myself living without you.I don’t see myself accomplishing half of my goals without the better half of me. You complete me. Will you do me the honor of one day becoming Missus Craig Anderson Junior aka Missus Red Squared?”
She giggled as the tears fell down her face. “I would absolutely love to be Missus Red Squared. Yes.”
I smiled, then slid the platinum ring on her finger. Everyone cheered and rushed us to see her ring. As they admired her ring, I saw Treasure crying, what I assumed were happy tears. Kingsley was right there to wipe her tears away. Carter approached me and hugged me.
“It’s about time y’all got your shit together. We been waiting on y’all asses.”
I frowned slightly, then slowly shook my head. “Don’t tell me. They want to have a double wedding.”
“You already know it.”
Before I could respond, Mr. Storm walked up on us. “Y’all know this prolly gon’ be a triple wedding, right? I ain’t paying for three weddings back-to-back. That shit ain’t going down on my fucking watch. So, get y’all minds right. This shit gon’ be happening soon as fuck.”
When I asked him for his blessing, that nigga had stared at me like I had shit on my face. He had me nervous as fuck. When he finally revealed that he was fucking with me, I wanted to punch his tall ass.
He smirked and extended his hand to shake mine. I chuckled, then shook his hand as Carter said, “I don’t even care. So long as Bali becomes Bali Semien when it’s all said and done.”
“Thebestfamily to ever do it!” Mythic yelled, causing Mr. Storm to frown.
