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“I might. I don’t know yet.”

“And why is that?” I asked, looking over at her. “You should go chill with your moms.”

“I don’t wanna see my father,” she replied.

“I get that.” I nodded.

I wasn’t mad at her for feeling that way. After that shit her pops had pulled, I wouldn’t wanna be around his ass either if I were in her shoes. Shit, I probably would’ve whooped the nigga’s ass for what he did.

“Yeah,” she said quietly, looking down at her feet.

I reached over and gently lifted her chin so she was looking at me again.

“Aye, ma, if you don’t wanna go over your peoples’ house Sunday for dinner, y’all can always have that shit here.”

I wasn’t about to force her to go somewhere she didn’t wanna be. And there wasn’t no point in her sitting across from her father pretending everything was cool when I knew damn well it wasn’t.

“You sure?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I’m sure.” I nodded before turning my attention to her sister. “Aye, Kayla. You don’t mind if I call you that, right?”

“Nah, I don’t mind, future brother-in-law,” she replied with a smirk.

The moment she said that shit, Kaylen shot her a look, and I caught every bit of it. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Bet. But y’all can have dinner here Sunday. I won’t be here because I’m going over my folks’ place. So tell yo’ mama she can come through tomorrow and cook whatever she needs to cook.” I paused and looked at Lha’Kayla. “But tell her to save me a plate, though.”

She laughed and nodded. “Aight, I got you.”

“Okay, sis, I’m finna go back to the house to tell Mama.” Lha’Kayla looked at Kaylen with a smirk. “And don’t do nothing I wouldn’t do.”

She started walking away before stopping and turning around.

“But shit, I forgot you already did that.” She winked at both of us.

Kaylen didn’t say another word. She just held up her middle finger, making her sister laugh even harder.

“Nah, I’m good. I’ma let my brother-in-law take care of that,” Lha’Kayla called out before climbing into her car.

Once she was inside, she blew Kaylen a kiss and backed out of the driveway.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the two of them. Their relationship was wild as hell, but you could tell they loved the shit out of each other. They talked more shit to each other than anybody I’d ever seen, but it was all love.

After she left, I went back to washing my car, and Kaylen took her little wet ass back into the house with them same little ass shorts on.

༺ ♛ ༻

By the time Sunday rolled around, I was getting ready to head over to my folks’ house. Kaylen had already told me her mama and sister were coming around two, so I made sure everything was straight before I left. Her mama had even called earlier that morning to make sure I was serious about letting them use my kitchen.

I didn’t know what the hell she thought I was going to do. Tell them they could come over and change my mind when they got there? That shit would’ve been fucked up.

I had already told her she was more than welcome to cook whatever she wanted. All I asked was that she save me a plate, because I damn sure wasn’t about to let somebody come in my house, throw down in my kitchen, and leave my ass out.

After grabbing my keys and phone, I headed downstairs, where I found Kaylen standing in front of the refrigerator.

“Aye, ma, I’m finna head out,” I told her.

“Alright, be safe,” she called out without turning around.