“Trust your smarter, older brother,” Axton says lightheartedly before getting serious. “I pick up on everything.She’s worn down. Her feelings are the same as yours and I’m happy for you. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Trust, I’m not,” Akeem says with a nod. He looks toward his parents’ rental and lovingly stares at Sunjiya as she stands guard while his mom changes. She’s absolutely gorgeous. “I’m really not,” Akeem adds. “But what about you? I told you that you could’ve brought someone with you this weekend.”
“That commitment, love, and marriage shit is all you, not me. I’m not bringing no woman around my family I don’t plan on staying with. I’m gucci.”
“Until a real one comes for you,” Akeem assures him then straightens. “Ma got her shirt on. We can go in.”
Their dad gets out of his rental and they all head into the stadium. Charis is already inside and seated on a front bleacher on Quise’s team’s side. Her displeasure at Sunjiya being present didn’t stop her from keeping the row empty for them. They join her with Akeem and Sunjiya on the end opposite her.
Any tension or awkwardness fades, replaced with pride and cheering the moment Quise and his team takes the field. The stadium is packed on both sides and the energy is high. Sunjiya is having a time. With a less than ideal childhood, she missed so much in her lifetime. Attending a football game was one of the missing items until today. She cheers more than the cheerleaders and Akeem loves watching her.
With five minutes before halftime, a school administrator gathers the parents of the homecoming court and senior players. Last night at the dance, Quise won freshman class prince so Akeem and Charis will escort him onto the field.
“I’ll be right back,” Akeem says before kissing Sunjiya.
“Smile. I’m going to take a lot of pictures,” she says.
When Akeem leaves, Axton scoots closer to Sunjiya. “Smile. Yeah, he don’t like to do that,” Axton teases.
“Don’t do that. He smiles,” Sunjiya counters.
“Barely and fo’ sure not in pictures.”
“That’s interesting but I think he will tonight. He loves Quise and he’s real proud tonight. We’ll see a smile,” she assures him.
“You might be right tonight ’cause nephew is showing out tonight,” he says. During the game, Akeem has been filling in gaps for Axton from the announcers detailing the plays.
Sunjiya gets a little closer then says, “I’ve been wanting to tell you thank you for all of your help, especially getting us back on Marina Bay.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I always have his back when he’s out there,” he says. “I wanted to tell you sorry for your loss. I’m sure he’s told you we don’t talk business with the fam.”
“He did and thank you.”
“I’m still working on a few things about her. There’re some numbers I still can’t figure out and that key. It’s too big for a safe deposit box or P.O. box and the shape is kind of odd,” he admits. Leaving loose ends or not finishing a job are not his M.O. He’s relentless until the task is complete or the mystery’s solved.
Shit!
“Um…you can let it go. It doesn’t matter anymore anyway. She’s gone,” she says and her voice trails off.Please let it go.
Axton starts to speak but the noise from the stadium drowns him out. It’s halftime. The twenty-minute show kicks off with a high-energy performance by the marching band, color guard, and dance team. The climax and most anticipated part is the announcement of the homecoming court and the crowning of the king and queen. All nominees and court members are present, riding in convertibles onto the field. Then, one by one, they are announced and escorted to the front by their parents. As a member of the freshman court, Quise is the second one to be presented. Sunjiya is up and ready when they walk out and captures too many pictures to count. As she expected, Akeem smiles proudly.
Quise and his team take the win by seven points and bragging rights for the homecoming game. Everyone, including Charis, goes to his favorite spot, House of Mac, for dinner.
“What time y’all leaving tomorrow?” Quise asks his meemee.
“Our flight is at two. My plan was to cook breakfast in the morning.”
“Them salmon things and cheese grits?” he questions excitedly.
“Yes. Salmon croquettes and grits,” she says, smiling from ear to ear. Debrah loves feeding her boys, all of them. It’s her love language and seeing the joy on Quise’s face just at the mention of her cooking is everything. Hopeful, she turns to Charis and pleadingly says, “I was hoping he could stay with us at the beach house tonight.”
“Ma, can I?” Quise begs. After glaring at Akeem and Sunjiya for a second, Charis looks at her son.
Relenting, she says, “You can stay but you need to be home by six. It’s been a long weekend.”
“We’re staying until Wednesday. He can stay till then if he wants. I’ll make sure he gets to school,” Akeem says and Quise smiles.
“We’ll see,” is all Charis says before getting back to her food. She keeps her dissenting opinion to herself. Akeem is too invested and too affectionate with Sunjiya and her jealousy is glaring. She doesn’t want Quise around Sunjiya at all and she’ll express that to Akeem later, in private.
