Page 82 of Surrender to Love

“She’s going to have to make my own bowl to take home.” She forks a chunk of pineapple then looks up at me. “Where’s my baby? Asleep?”

“Nah. She’s trying to thug it out and stay up till the ball drops. She’s on the porch with Kyrah and the twins,” I tell her, then sit next to her. “Sis, can I holla at you for a minute?”

“I’m about to go back out there too. You good? You need anything?” Quintus asks her before kissing her lips.

“No, baby, I’m good,” she tells him, then turns to me. “What’s up?”

If anybody can give me advice about Kyrah and her mom, it’s Mireya. They are super close and she’s known Kyrah longer than me. I take a deep breath and tell her what’s on my mind.

“I need your advice on Kyrah.”

Going right into best friend mode, she drops her fork and turns to face me. “Is everything okay with her?” she asks with mad concern.

“I mean, it is but it isn’t. It’s about her mother. I’m marrying Kyrah and I want her to be happy in every part of her life. Not talking to her moms or even her mom not coming to the wedding just doesn’t seem right.”

“Whew! I’m glad you said it. I’ve been tiptoeing around this since we’ve been talking about the wedding. I know she’s done with Kym but I really think she deep down wants her momma there. She won’t say it, but she does. Like today, when we were talking about Shuga’s dress, I saw it. I just don’t know what to do?” Mireya sighs then shakes her head.

“I want to talk to her mom,” I admit and Sis’s eyes get big as hell.

“You want to talk to Miss Bev?”

“Yes. I want to fix this shit for Kyrah and I need yo’ help.”

After staring into my eyes for a minute, she squints then says, “You’re serious.”

“Of course I’m serious. When it comes to my baby, I don’t play.”

While nodding, she repeats, “Okay. Okay,” then smiles. “All right. What do you need me to do?”

“Get with her mom and see if she’ll talk to me.”

“If this backfires, keep me out of it,” she says with a small laugh. “I’m laughing but I’m serious. I do not want to upset her months before her wedding. She’s finally truly in love with a man I know won’t hurt her. She’s getting the day she deserves and I don’t want any part in ruining that.”

“I won’t tell her shit. Just please get me a meetup with her mom. I have to fix this.”

“I’ll call or go by there this week, but what am I telling her about you?”

“That I’m the man who loves her daughter.”

“Well, okay then.” Mireya latches her arm around mine then rests her head on my shoulder. “This is why you’re my favorite brother-in-love.”

“Didn’t I hear you tell Ace that same shit earlier,” I tease, then kiss the top of her head. “Thanks, Sis.”

“Don’t thank me because we both love Kyrah,” she says.

“Mommie,” Niya yells and we both look behind us. “We got fifteen minutes,” she says excitedly. “And Uncle Shiro, I’m still up.”

“Barely,” I joke because she’s clearly wide ass awake now.

“Then let’s go outside. I want to be out there when it turns midnight. Did you save a firework for me?” Mireya asks Niya as she eases off the island chair.

“It’s a lot,” Niya responds.

I watch them head toward the porch, and when Mireya opens the door, Kyrah walks in. As she walks her fine ass over to me, she yawns and I just shake my head. She’s really trying to stay up to do something we’re going to be doing for the rest of our lives.

“Sleepy ass,” I mutter when she reaches me.

“That’s okay. I just have to stay up for thirteen minutes.”