“That’s on you and that lady back there, homie.” Moose nodded over his shoulder and tittered.
“Aight, bet. My bad, didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m Dane,” he introduced himself to Sisi with a boyish grin. “I’ll let y’all do your thing.” He backed away from the table to join his mother at the counter.
“He’s a cutie.” Sisi smiled. “My nephew just turned thirteen, and he’s almost taller than me.”
“You asking about me when you see ain’t much changed around here. What’s up with you and the NY? How’s the corporate world?”
“Boring as hell.” She laughed and reached for her cup of iced tea. “But, you are looking at the Chief Marketing Officer for BB Brands.”
“Congratulations.” Moose reclined in the soft leather and studied her coy grin as she danced in her seat.
“You know I always could sell sand to a beach. Now it’s all about the analytics and keeping up with this AI shit. I’ve trained some good people under me, though.” She bobbed her head proudly, and Kool brought their platter of ribs, chicken, potato salad, baked beans, and corn on the cob to the table.
“Y’all need anything else?”
“Nah, thanks, Kool.” Moose said a quick blessing before he and Sisi dug into their food.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you trying to change the subject. Aside from that thot, Trini, what else is Moose up to?” Sisi dug into her potato salad with her plastic fork.
“Nothing much. Work. I’ve been traveling more for my high-profile clients.”
“Ohhh, anybody I know?” Sisi queried, intrigued.
“A couple of celebrities, some reality stars. You know I don’t get star struck like that. Just want to make sure my paper is right.” Moose took a bite of a chicken wing.
“Same old Moose.” Sisi shook her head. “Well, how are your brothers?”
“Kong just got married. Again. He’s got two kids. Mozzi has one on the way,” Moose noted.
As far as he and Kong were concerned, Coast was their sister and that was their niece or nephew she was carrying. Each of them had been there in one way or another for her during her pregnancy, and she was giving them all hell the further she got along. Mozzi talked shit all the time that the baby was going to be mean as fuck because of her. Moose put together a trap mixtape to play for them, and Coast blasted it regularly. All that rah rah early 2000s crunk shit.
“Mozzi has a baby on the way?” Sisi’s brows lifted. “Lord bless the woman and child.” She snickered.
“What’s crazy is, shit really grew him up. He’s a lot more focused and a lot less impulsive. He’s still crazy as hell…”
“Naturally,” Sisi murmured.
“But Coast and the baby kind of tamed him.”
“Well, I would have to witness that myself.” She took a scoop of her baked beans and stuffed her mouth.
“You should come to the party,” Moose suggested. “It’s mainly a family and close friends type of thing anyway.”
“I don’t know.” Sisi turned her nose up. “If I remember correctly, your mama was not a fan of the girls y’all brought around coming up. She was pretty short with me.”
Moose’s chewing slowed down, and he swallowed while eyeing his piece of chicken.
“What’s wrong?”
“Jane died,” he replied, tone low, filled with pain.
“Oh, my God, Moose. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” Leaning forward, Sisi watched his eyes gloss before he sniffled and tossed his wing into the basket.
“It’s all good. It was years ago.”
“That must have been a blow for you. All of you.” She grabbed his hand and held it tight.
“We made it to the other side,” he said, lifting his eyes to meet hers across the table. “But you should come to the party. There’s a lot going on this year. Pops, Desiree, and Bee roped us into all kinds of shit.”
