Page 177
“Go find Jodi and Chrissy,” Melody said to Dream. Aubrey’s kids were somewhere eating dessert.
Melody returned to her conversation with Aubrey. Her book had gotten picked up by a major publisher and was a New York Times bestseller. She was already getting offers for it to be optioned into a TV show. I couldn’t have been more proud of her.
She looked so good today. She wore a purple satin dress that hugged her hips, with her hair falling in loose curls down her back. I kept telling her we didn’t have to throw this party so soon after the baby, but she really wanted it. We had so much to celebrate these days.
Prime came over holding Royce, who was awake and staring up at him.
“He got your whole face,” he said.
“Handsome lil nigga.”
“Don’t start. You already got an ego. Let him develop his own.”
I took my son and kissed his forehead. His mouth moved like he was trying to find something to eat.
“Where your mama at? You ain’t getting nothing outta me.”
Melody turned when she heard us.
“I just fed him,” she replied.
“Tell him that.”
She laughed and rubbed his cheek before slipping her arm around my waist. Her ring caught the light, and I reached for her hand.
“You happy with everything?”
“Yes. It’s beautiful.”
“Let me take him. I’ll go feed him in the nursing room.” She reached for him. “Come on, greedy,” she said, smiling. My eyes followed the sway of her hips as she sashayed away.
Cannon walked over while Quest and Prime were there. “Ay, congratulations. Creed and Riot couldn’t come because they had some shit to work on.”
“It’s all good. They can’t miss the wedding,” I said.
“Of course not.”
“Congratulations!” Queen said when she approached.
“Hey girl! Thank you. You look beautiful.”
“You clean up well. But where’s the bride to be?”
“Spending all her time with that new nigga.” I playfully rolled my eyes and she shoved me.
“Well, let me go talk to the girls while I wait for her,” she said as she walked away.
“She looks good,” I said to Cannon. I knew that it was hard for her to come out today. Queen had been depressed after a few failed rounds of IVF.
“She’s doing better,” he said, but I could see the hurt in his eyes.
After a while, Melody returned with Royce. We all sat down while servers brought out brunch. There were crab cakes topped with poached eggs, stacks of waffles and platters of steak. Dream sat beside me, determined to pour her own syrup. Keenan steadied the bottle while she tipped it over her waffles, then put it back on the table.
Rita was sitting across from us beside Zainab, dressed in lavender with her pearls on. Prime moved her mimosa back from the edge of the table.
“Boy, stop touching my drink. You ain’t old enough to drink yet,” she snapped at Prime.
“Grandma, I’m a grown ass man with four kids now,” he said, referring to baby Aya, who they had months before Royce.
