“Stop playing, True.”
Her mouth bunches, and she goes to sit on the wicker chair with Sadé babbling in her arms. “Macy, that’s twice now you’ve called me that horrid name. Do you think that’s wise with your child in my arms?”
I cock my head to the side. If I was anyone else, her threats would be promises. But because it’s me, she’s just masking her hurt. We’ve never had a big tiff before, even when she singedoff my eyebrows. It just wasn’t how we were brought up. We’re family, and it’s always us over them.
Which is why for the life of me, I can’t fathom her keeping Shaddy’s confidence over telling me.
“You don’t scare me. And the only reason I haven’t told Mom or Uncle Junior is I don’t want him coming down here pressing Shad.”
“I don’t get why you’re so hellbent on making me tell you something personal about him.”
I lick my lips, snatching my apron off me. “I understand you don’t know what a regular relationship looks like, but the nigga you fucking with shouldn’t be confiding in another bitch over you. You don’t see how wrong that is, foreal?”
“So that’s your man now? You claiming him, Macy?”
I crack my knuckles one by one. “Put my baby in her playpen so I can beat some fucking sense into you. I don’t know if you’re intentionally missing my point or if your psychosis is making you dumb as fuck, but you gone learn today.”
YT nods, and places Sadé in her playpen like I asked.
Then I blink and she has me up against the wall.
Her teeth are bared, her eyes shifting erratically between mine. Her forearm is across my neck, with her other hand gripping both my wrists to my belly.
She puts some of her weight on her forearm, stealing my breath. Her sneer turns into a grin, her eyes hooding as I struggle more and more.
“Oh, how easy it would be,” she murmurs.
Once black spots start dotting my vision, she lets up, and I suck in a greedy breath, coughing everywhere.
“You’ve kept my secrets, yes? I mean, you had to, since my brothers haven’t said anything. And I know they’ve pressed you plenty of times over the years. And yet, they’ve never treated you less than. Even though you know they want to know whatdrove me to do what I did. But, you still don’t understand. You constantly disrespect me, and think you’re safe because you’re my godsister. Like I didn’t do in my own mama.”
She pushes her weight onto my neck once more before backing up two paces. “You were there for me when I was freefalling into the abyss. You reminded me that I just needed one reason to get me through. And you kept that reason to yourself, allowing me to figure it out on my own. To tell my story on my own. And I paid it forward. I knew he means something to you, so I gave him the same advice you gave me and it worked. But just like you’ve kept my secrets, I’m going to keep his untilhe’sready. Not because I’m putting him over you, but because I know that’s something you should hear from him.”
We don’t talk about the morning I found her in her garage. Those thirty minutes between trying to peel the wire from her neck and the police coming to arrest her, when she told me about her night, and what drove her to try to take her life. That was the first and last time we ever mentioned her paternity out loud. No one even knows I was there; she made me leave when the sirens got too close. She didn’t have to tell me to keep what she said to myself.
I wipe wayward tears off my face as we glare at each other.
“YT–”
She holds her hand up. A genuine smile breaks on her face, reaching her twinkling eyes. “I’ve already forgiven you, Deeze. As long as you remember you’ve been going this hard because you love him, and lean into that.” She goes and grabs a lethargic Sadé and sets her on her chest.
She comes and kisses my cheek, wiping the rest of the tear marks. “I got Beanie tonight. Shaddy said you need to be dressed casual and ready by eight.” She steps away, before turning back around. “I almost forgot: if youevertry to cut me down because you’re upset with me again, I’ll pluck one of your pretty littleeyes out and make the cutest necklace for Beanie with it. And I put that on Uncle Nardo.” She gives me one of those creepy white people smiles with her shoulders high, before bouncing out the room with my baby.
I roll my eyes off instinct, trying to calm my breathing. I mean, I was a little reckless, but my eye? “She’s playing,” I mumble to myself, snatching my apron off the ground.
No she’s not, my inner voice snickers.
Casual meant I could break out my new flared aqua sweatsuit. The top is cropped, ending right under my titties. With the coke white forces, I look like a Cheetah Girl, but the color is fire on my skin tone.
I spray some leave in conditioner and water on my curly unit, add some small butterfly clips to the little ponytails in the front, spray some of my favorite perfume, and I’m ready for whatever.
When I make it down the stairs, I see Shaddy by the foyer. His black tee stretches over those broad shoulders and pecs. I zero in on the faint dick print going down his leg in his gray joggers, only averting my eyes when his tatted hand cups his crotch.
“Get yo mind out the gutter, Mace.” His piercing stare holds me captive as he adjusts himself, making me smirk. I guess we both have that effect on each other.
“YT said casual. This cool?”
I do a little twirl, showing myself off. His teeth trap his bottom lip, showing off his grill. He grabs my hand and pulls me into his personal space. He grips my waist as he lifts my hand to his mouth, kissing my knuckles.
