Page 194 of Own It

“You’re right.” I sighed.

“Just don’t hit Serene again when you see her.” His childish ass chuckled.

“Huh?”

“She over there. Grace, Jeremiah, and Serene been staying at our parents’ house for a couple weeks now.”

That shocked me.

“They have? Why?”

“Shit, I don’t know. I was talking to Pop, and he mentioned it, saying the kids were driving him crazy.”

“And you didn’t think to ask why our sister, who has her own home that she shares with her husband, is living at home and without her husband?” I hiked a brow, dubiously.

Men were complete space cadets.

“Look, I’m not prone to gossip, and that’s Serene and Avant’s business. I have my own wife and son to be worried about,” he explained.

“Yeah, I guess. I could’ve been in the middle of a shootout, and I would’ve gotten the tea,” I admitted, causing us both to cackle a bit.

“When can I finally meet this new boyfriend? Ma said he was the reason you punched Serene, so he must be fucking marvelous.”

“He is, and there is more to the story than what I am sure Ma told you. I will divulge more about him another time because I’m pulling up.” I drove through my parents’ gates after putting the code in.

“Aight. Don’t forget. I gotta check that nigga,” he joked.

“Mhm. Bye, Cairo.” I hung up and parked in the roundabout driveway.

Me: Ma, I’m outside.

Ma: Come inside, Daylin. I am finishing up.

Me: I can wait out here.

Ma: I may be awhile.

Peeping game but not wanting to sit outside in this hot ass sun, I climbed from the car and made my way to the double front doors before putting in the code to enter.

“Auntie Day!” Grace rushed to me, and Jeremiah was right behind her.

“Hey!” I lit up, forgetting just how much I missed them.

“Can we go to the mall and get ice cream?” Grace asked.

“Or a new game?” Jeremiah chimed in.

“Next time. I’m here to get Grandma so we can have brunch.” I kept my attention pinned on them, even though I could smell Serene’s perfume.

“Guys, go clean up for lunch. Fiona is almost finished cooking,” Serene instructed her kids, who did as they were told.

“Hey, baby girl.” My father appeared, kissing a smiling Serene on the cheek before he bypassed me as if I were invisible.

“Okay.” I sat down in one of the chairs in the foyer as Serene eyed me intently.

I couldn’t lie; my dad completely ignoring me hurt, but I wouldn’t show the shit.

Coming to sit in the other chair, a round table and humongous floral arrangement in between us, Serene said, “I’m sorry, Day. For real. And I wasn’t really gonna press charges.”