Cash stood off to the side of Jas in the classic check-print cargo pants and a tan half-zip sweater with the same print on the collar. His fresh white Air Forces didn’t have a single crease. He was in full hover mode around his wife—feeding her, keeping her cup full, and at one point, even tried wiping the corner of her mouth like she couldn’t do it herself.
She swatted his hand away with a hard look. “Money, if you don’t find some fucking business.”
Nigga was doing everything short of massaging her feet.
“You think you and Nairobi ever gon’ settle down and start a family?” Slim asked, his eyes were locked on my sister across the yard.
A family with Nai? Shit. My mind had never stretched that far. I’d never pictured a white-picket fence life with anyone, not with the life we led. I just wanted something that made sense for us. Gunnar already felt like mine, and it would be the samewith Cash and Jas’ little girl. I didn’t need something perfect. Just her.
“Never really thought about it.” I shrugged. “But I see you watching Drea, nigga. Don’t spin the block unless you serious this time.”
He gave me a lazy ass grin, one that said he wasn’t about to argue, but also wasn’t denying the validity of what I said.
Nai’s hand slipped into mine, the smell of vanilla wafting from her. She leaned her head against my shoulder.
“Are all baby showers like this?” she asked.
“You know this nigga Cash extra as hell,” Slim laughed.
Across the yard, Monica caught her eye and waved, starting to make her way towards us.
“Heyyyy, Beatrix Kiddo,” she drawled as she pulled Nairobi into a hug.
I frowned and looked between them.
“Kill Bill? Hello?” Monica rolled her eyes at me.
“That’s what they have me saved as in the group chat,” Nairobi explained.
“Why?” I asked.
They both looked at me like I was the dumbest nigga on the planet.
“Because she’s a killer,” Slim said. “C’mon, man, you can’t be that dense.”
“I mean she was white in the movie,” I argued. Why wouldn’t y’all call her Vernita? Or Copperhead?”
Nairobi craned her neck and made a face. “Do I look like somebody named Vernita? And she died. Beatrix Kiddo is cool.”
“Whatever you say,” I muttered and took a sip of my beer.
Monica dragged Nairobi to where Jasmine and some of her friends were and I chopped it up with Slim and Jelani for a bit.
“Y’all good?” Cash said, walking over to us with a plate of food.
“Areyougood?” Jelani said as he took a wing from him. “You keep bothering Jas, she's gonna pop your ass.”
Cash punched him in the arm. “I’m just making sure my wife is good. Speaking of which, when are you?—”
POP-POP-POP-POP!
Screams tore through the tent as a series of shots rang through the backyard. Chairs flipped as people ran to the house for cover.
Cash dropped his plate and ran for Jasmine. I ran behind him and saw that she was on the ground, Nairobi was standing in front of her, gun drawn, aimed at where the shots came from. Another pop and a hiss as two smoke bombs landed in the middle of the yard.
A blacked-out SUV peeled off as Slim and Nairobi let off a couple rounds.
I rushed over to Cash who crouched next to Jasmine. She clutched her stomach.
