Page 75 of Crown: Phase 4

“Go. I ain’t playing.”

Danger sighed before shooting up and heading upstairs. By the time he came back down dressed in one of Crown’s white tees, Kerri had made her way to the living room.

“Hey, son,” she spoke. “I didn’t know you and Reesh were coming by.”

“Yeah, last minute.”

“Y’all made up, huh?”

“Yep.”

“I know that’s right. Do better.”

Nodding, Danger pulled his mother into his arms, and something about the way she hugged him made him pause. Kerri held him a little tighter and longer than usual. Just like she knew them well, they knew her. She tended to let her hugs linger when she was feeling emotional about something pertaining to them.

“You aight?”

“Yeah, just a little sleepy. I was taking a nap before I heard your loud-ass car pulling up.” Kerri lied to throw him off. She had a lot of shit on her mind and was nowhere near tired.

“My fault.” Danger chuckled before refocusing on Nyla. “Aight, hand her here, bro.”

“Oh, Lord. You holding the baby?” Kerri asked skeptically.

“Why everybody questioning me like I’m incapable of holding a baby?”

“You so rough. Sit yo’ butt down and put your arms up. Make sure you hold her head.”

Danger waved them off, irritated by all the instructions. He was sure he had this as he reached over and carefully took Nyla from Crown. She squirmed in his arms, her little body wiggling as she gazed up into his eyes. Then she kicked her tiny feet.

“Yeah, you know ya daddy, huh?” Crown said with a proud smirk.

Nyla had been perfectly content in his arms, and now she seemed determined to make sure everybody knew she preferred him.

Danger shook his head at Crown, then looked back down at Nyla.

“Look at you,” he said, smirking. “You done got chunkier since I first met you.”

Nyla stared up at him, her eyes moving between his face and the space around them. Then out of nowhere, her bottom lip trembled, indicating she was about to cry.

“Oh, nah. You good. Don’t cry.” Danger lightly rubbed his thumb across the back of her tiny hand, rocking her.

“You know who I am, right? Uncle D. I’m the fun one. Your pops gon’ have you on a schedule and shit, but me? We gon’ have some fun.”

“Don’t be filling her head with no bullshit.” Crown cut his eyes at him.

Danger laughed. “She ain’t even old enough to understand me yet.”

“Don’t matter.”

Danger ignored him, grinning down at Nyla. She made a small sound, her little hands opening and closing as she cooed.

“Ooh, you talking to me now? What you saying? You telling me pops be getting on your nerves?”

Nyla cooed more loudly, as if he were right, drawing a laugh from Kerri.

“I knew it.” Danger looked over at Crown with a smug grin. “You really be getting on her nerves, too, on the cool.”

Crown waved him off. Meanwhile, Kerri stood to the side, smiling. She loved the men her boys were becoming.