“Maybe we can incorporate some of the comments into the video,” Raven suggested. “We can flash a few across the screen and respond in real time to your fans.”
“That’s a great idea.” Blake joined us at the kitchen island. “But don’t get too friendly with them people. I don’t want to have to fuck some crazy woman up for overstepping.”
Ma coughed, holding out her hand. “You know what it is.”
Blake groaned and pulled a twenty out of her pocket. “That should cover my next few, right?”
Ma snapped the bill in front of her and inspected it. “I’m considering a penalty increase this week. I want to go to London with the book club in the Spring.”
Paityn laughed, still tearing the food up. “Maybe it’s time for y’all to stop cussing so much.”
I checked my phone. “That’s not going to work,” I mumbled as I scrolled through my IG account.
“Oh shoot,” Ma said. “I forgot to call Demi to let her know what time we’d be starting. That baby has been working so hard. I wish she would’ve opted to stay here with us for the whole week.”
I pretended not to listen as my mother and sisters discussed the latest news about Demi and her pending move to Atlanta. For the longest time, we’d all assumed she’d find her way back to Michigan, but she’d swiveled last week and announced she’d soon make Georgia her home.
Paityn pouted. “I don’t want her to go. I loved her being close.”
“Good thing Rissa is still here,” Blake said. “Besides, Demi will still have clients here. And Zara, X, and Skye spend a lot of time in Cali. Duke too.”
Pure Talent and Skye Light PR had offices in Los Angeles, so they traveled back and forth often. I tended to work where I was needed. A huge bulk of my clientele resided in California as well. Over the last year, I’d spent so much time on the west coast, I’d considered investing in a property.
“Everyone will be in Atlanta before long,” Raven mused. “My dad is thinking of buying a house down there. He wants me to help him pick a place.”
“Really?” Ma said, a hint of sadness in her voice. That alone made me want to beat the shit out of my brother. “I pray he does finally put down roots soon. It can’t be easy never having a place to call home.”
“Because he damn sure doesn’t consider Michigan home,” Blake murmured, taking another bite of salmon.”
“Blake,” Paityn chided. “Not here.”
Ma sighed. “I’ve been waiting for one of you to tell me what happened between you all in Colorado.” After Tristan left the lodge, he’d disappeared yet again. I knew from Bliss that Ma had been trying to contact him in the hopes he’d make an appearance for Christmas, to no avail. Dad had made several unanswered calls too. “Maybe that’s something we’ll put on the agenda this week.”
“No need, Mom,” Blake said.
Paityn placed her hand on Ma’s and squeezed. “What Blake means is you taught us to communicate honestly. We did that, and Tristan responded how he did.”
“How he always does,” Blake added, with a hard roll of her eyes. “I’ll be glad when he finally owns his shit.” She muttered a curse, pulled out two twenty-dollar bills, and handed them to my mother’s waiting hand. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” Raven asked, her big, brown eyes filling with tears. “I think I deserve to know what happened. You’re talking aboutmydad.”
We’d tried to keep certain things from Raven because Tristan was her father. Despite being witness to several fucked up events in her short life, including the back-and-forth drama between her parents, she’d still maintained a good relationship with Tristan. He was still her hero. And no matter whatIfelt about my brother, I wanted it to stay that way.
I smiled at my niece. “It’s nothing to concern yourself with, baby girl. You know how I am. I talk a lot of shit. And you know how your father is. We just don’t get along.”
Blake frowned at my attempt to take the blame for how things transpired. “Don’t do that,” she warned.
Ignoring Blake, I mussed my niece’s curls. “Don’t worry about it. The Youngs are gonna Young.” Which was the truth, but real talk, that conversation in Aspen had only scratched the surface. Our issues were deeper than his treatment of Demi.
Raven seemed to accept my response and shared more of her conversation with her father. I cracked my knuckles as Raven told us that he’d been offered a job with the government. The day my brother accepted a nine-to-five job was the day I’d propose to whatever chick was in my bed. It would never happen. We were alike in that way. My brother had worked for himself since he left the military. He made his living as a private investigator. His line of work allowed him the freedom to drop off the face of the earth with no contact because he could always blame his lack of communication on a job. I had to hand it to that muthafucka. He’d successfully created a positive narrative for himself, that he was trying to be a better person. At least to his daughter, who’d passed that information along to my mother.Well played, brotha. And the fact that he wasconsideringa move to Atlanta,afterDemi had settled on her destination, wasn’t lost on me.
Raven confirmed my thoughts herself when she mentioned, “I think he’s trying to move closer to Demi.” She smiled wistfully. “I think he likes her.”
I could feel Blake’s eyes on me. When I finally looked at her, she lifted an eyebrow, silently letting me know that she had questions. I shook my head lettingherknow she’d be waiting forever for the answers. I could admit Blake wasn’t totally off the mark, though. Tristan’s words had replayed in my mind several times over the past month, and I’d been forced to ask myself… WhydoI care so much?
Ma squeezed my knee. The gesture wasn’t abnormal, but it was clear she’d sensed something. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what she’d picked up from the conversation, from what hadn’t been said. I took her hand and kissed her palm. “Love you,” I murmured.
My mother patted my cheek. “You too, son.” Changing the subject, she said, “Demi has a lot on her plate right now, Sweetie. I’m sure romance isn’t a priority for her. But I’ll be glad when that Dorian is finally out of the picture.”
