Page 180

THREE WEEKS LATER

Jody picked a brunch spot in Fort Greene with exposed brick, overpriced bottomless mimosas, and waitresses who looked like they moved here from the middle of nowhere, Ohio.

“Me and Marco have been here a few times. The French toast sticks are life changing, no bullshit,” she said.

Siani slid into the booth with a knowing look. “You and Marco…”

“Yeah, what’s the deal with y’all?” I asked.

Siani perked up. “Yes, because I’ve been dying to talk about it.”

Our server appeared and Jody sighed with relief. She and Siani ordered the bottomless mimosas while I got a mocktail.

“Alright, spill it, bitch,” Siani said when the server walked off.

Jody groaned. “I told y’all we’re talking.”

“Nuh uh,” I said. “That was like a month ago. Plus, we’re too old for the ‘talking’ nonsense. Is he your man or what?”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Her phone vibrated. She fought a smile as she glanced at it.

“Mmhm, bet that’s him,” Siani quipped.

Jody sucked her teeth. “Whatever. Yes, my kidnapper is now my boyfriend. That shit sounds so crazy aloud.”

“And I married the nigga’s boss, so I can’t judge anybody. Siani got the most normal situation out of all of us.”

We burst out into a fit of giggles.

“You guys ready to order?” our server asked.

Jody ordered for us. Two orders of French toast sticks for the table, a short rib hash for me, minus the egg, since those were still messing with my stomach, and shrimp and grits for she and Siani.

It felt good to be out with my girls without a crisis hanging over our heads. Dez was reluctant to let me go anywhere without a detail, until I reminded him that Solomon was dead and he was in the process of ending Maxwell Haynes’ entire bloodline. He’d compromised by having Carlton, a new addition to the family, drop me off and pick me up, which was annoying, but manageable.

“You miss drinking?” Siani asked as she sipped her mimosa.

“Every damn day. Last night, I had a dream I was drinking Malbec and scared myself awake, which woke Cardez up. That nut ass nigga grabbed his gun from the nightstand like we were under attack.”

Siani cackled. “That man is so trigger happy.”

We stayed at brunch for another two hours. Jody was right, the French toast sticks were good as hell. I ordered another serving to go and made a mental note to have Cardez figure out how he could make them at home. It was that serious.

Jody showed us pictures from a weekend trip Marco took her on to a vineyard in the Hudson Valley.

I laughed so hard I nearly pissed myself. “His big ass looks so happy. You got that man sprung, cousin.”

“I put fat ma on the man one time, and he’s been hooked ever since,” she laughed.

My cheeks hurt from laughing by the time Carlton picked me up. I hugged them both, holding Jody a little longer. I was still so happy she was back in my life after everything that happened between us.

“I love y’all,” I said. “Seriously.”

Dez and I went to Orlando’s for dinner that evening. Orlando was still staying at his place in the city since stairs were giving him a hard time. Rosie had made oxtail with rice and peas, and the whole condo smelled like somebody’s grandmother’s house.

Orlando greeted me with a smile as we walked in. “La’Belle.”. I was learning not to be surprised by the warmth in his tone anymore. He braced one arm on the chair as he stood, trying to hide the strain in his face, and hugged me.

“How’s my grandchild?”