“Good, now we can call and tell them before Quise’s lil talking ass does. He’s not gonna hold the news for too long.”
“You think he told Charis?”
“He couldn’t have; she hasn’t hit my line yet. She would have called ASAP. I’m gonna tell her sometime next week. I really don’t have to, but you know…”
“Yeah, I know. You should tell her.” She drops her legs from his lap then straightens all the way. “Are you calling or FaceTiming your parents?”
“FaceTime but all of them. Axton too. One and done.”
“How do I look?” she asks.
“Beautiful,” he says simply and she grins.
“I don’t know why I even bother asking. You always say beautiful or gorgeous even when I look a hot ass mess.”
“I’ve never seen that shit.”
“Oh you have,” she says, then laughs. “Alright. Call ’em. I’m ready and you’re doing all the talking by the way.”
He pulls his cell from his pocket then presses the video icon in his family text message thread. Axton answers first.
“Bruh, who dressed you in that Barbie shirt?” Akeem teases and Sunjiya shakes her head at his joke. Axton is actually wearing a black T-shirt.
“I know you fucking lying. Leesha knows better than that,” he says, referring to his personal stylist and dresser. “What’s up? Why video?”
“’’Cause I added Mo?—”
“My two handsome sons,” Debrah gushes as soon as her face fills the screen. “What’s going on? Y’all are good, right?”
“I’m good. That’s your baby boy calling,” Axton says.
“It’s me and Sunjiya,” Akeem says, then turns the phone to make sure Sunjiya’s face is fully in view.
“What’s up, sis?” Axton greets her.
“Happy Sunday, sweetheart,” Debrah says. “What you two got going on today?” she asks.
“Relaxing and about to eat brunch as soon as it gets here.”
“We’re celebrating,” Akeem adds.
“What are you celebrating?” Debrah asks.
“Where’s Dad?” Akeem asks.
“Right here,” Debrah says before turning her camera toward her husband. “He can hear you. Now, tell me what we’re celebrating,” she demands excitedly. Her gut knows what it is but she needs to hear the actual words. Her smile covers her entire face in anticipation and her reaction has Sunjiya smiling harder as well.
Caught in the euphoria of the moment, Sunjiya holds her hand up and Debrah screams, startling her husband and surprising her sons.
“Damn,” Axton and Akeem say in unison.
“Oh my god! Congratulations!” Debrah says finally.
“Yeah, congrats, son,” his dad says in the background.
“Pull back a little so I can see the ring,” Debrah demands nicely and Sunjiya does. “Stunning,” Debrah gushes. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you. He did really good,” Sunjiya admits.
