Page 50 of The Wright Man

"What if I told you I had gifts for y'all too?"

Bella blinked. Then lit up like a kid hearing the ice cream truck.

"Then I'd say you're forgiven. Gimme." She held her hands out, wiggling her fingers like she expected me to just drop treasure into her palms.

Tina let out a dramatic tsk and gave her a look. "Uh-uh, not before daddy gets his gift! With your spoiled ass."

Bella pouted, all glossy lips and drama. "I'm the youngest. It's my job to be spoiled."

"Ignoring you now." Tina looped her arm through mine and tugged me gently. "Come on, Maleek. Let's let Daddy know you're here before he cusses us out in front of God and company."

We walked through the house—the house that had been my second home since I was five. Every room still smelled like family: barbecue, sweet potato pie, and that watery cocoa butter lotion from the dollar store that Cap refused to stop using.

Tina and Bella kept talking—something about a cousin showing up in kitten heels and tube socks—but I wasn't listening.

I was scanning every room for her.

Not that I expected her to just be lounging on the kitchen counter like old times, but... yeah, maybe I did. I don't know. I just needed one more look. One more hit.

She was nowhere.

We found Cap exactly where I figured we would—posted up at the spades table with Uncle Marvin and two of his best friends from the service, laughing like a man who'd lived a full life and didn't regret any of it.

"Look who I brought you," Tina announced, voice bright.

Cap looked up—and his grin stretched from ear to ear. "Boy, look what the Lord done dragged in!"

I smirked, stepping forward. "Happy birthday, Cap."

"You show up here late, looking like a damn G.I. Joe and think I'm just gon' dap you up?" he said, but his voice cracked just enough to give him away. He stood up with effort and pulled me into a hug that felt just like it used to—firm and warm and always slightly too long. I didn't mind.

I cleared my throat. "Got you something."

I handed him the box. He opened it and let out a low whistle when he saw the bottle of Japanese whiskey.

"Mm-hmm. Just when I get a new decanter set..." he smiled more to himself than me before he continued, "Y'all two, man. Still a matching set, even if you don't see it."

He didn't say her name. Didn't have to.

"Appreciate you, son," he said, voice softening.

I nodded, my chest tight.

"This ain't for the party," he muttered, gripping the bottle like it was made of gold. He wobbled slightly as he shuffled toward the den to hide his treasure, mumbling something about "grown folks' enjoyment" under his breath.

"Mine better be just as thoughtful," Tina said, already reaching for the bag like a thief in the night.

"Y'all really gon' keep me gift-hostage?" I handed them over. "Ain't shit changed."

Bella opened hers first and pulled out a sleek glass water bottle with a rose quartz insert and gold script that read "Soft, Not Weak."

I raised a brow. "For your little incense-burning, moon-water-sippin' rebrand. You know, since you ain't out here fighting in parking lots no more."

Bella rolled her eyes, but she was grinning. "Self-care is growth, Maleek."

"Self-care is you not catching another assault charge."

"Whatever," she muttered, but she was already hugging the bottle to her chest like it was her firstborn.