I just shrug and scoop up enough ice cream and caramel to fill my mouth, and my niece and nephew do the same.
“If we finish it fast, Dal nor Peanuthead will know. C’mon!”
We set off to work, then, and polish it off without anyone getting a brain freeze. I’m washing the dishes when Peanuthead comes down, and I think I’m in the clear until he peeks over my shoulder.
This nigga is psychic, I swear. And the fact that no one has put him to work is astonishing.
“You look suspicious as fuck, Dub. What was in that bowl?”
I work to keep my voice even. “Cereal.”
“Then why is it three spoons? Lil Mama, what was in this bowl?”
We both turn and fold our arms at the kids. Anaïs’s eyes switch from me to her daddy, before tears begin gathering in them.
She doesn’t wanna lie, and that’s her go to.
Denver, however,lovesto lie, and picks up his sister, scowling at Nut. “Why are you talking to her like that?” he hisses, rushing her out the room. He winks at me, and I wink back, before focusing on a scowling Nut.
“What?” I flutter my lashes.
He drags his thumbnail across his neck before stomping out the kitchen toward the garage.
Whatever.
“Mace, you ready?”
Dal walks in dressed down, and I smile when I think about what our day consists of. I grab my purse and hook my arm in hers. “Ready.”
We’ve dreamed about this day since we were eleven; Dal’s wedding dress fitting. I’ve been anti-marriage since I first started having feelings, but Dal is a lover girl foreal. I’m talking, a fully decorated scrapbook dedicated to her dream wedding.
And another one dedicated to her dream dress.
Years ago I sketched it out for her. It was the first time I took my drawing seriously, and she kept it all this time. And now, we’re in this hoity toity dress shop waiting for her first fitting with the completed dress.
I call the group facetime and one by one the girls–and Rico–pop in. Patience and Autumn are hugged up in the bed with little Rue on Pay’s chest. Brina’s in her nursery I think, chewing on her lip. Van hops on from her office at Storyville. Even Wyn comes on from the studio. She’s in one of our group chats, but rarely answers in there, opting to only leave a thumbs up or laughing face at one of our shenanigans.
Rico comes in, but then he scowls, leaves, and then comes back with his gun placed on his lap.
Autumn just shakes her head while Wyn flips off the camera.
“We didn’t miss anything right?” Brina asks.
“No. They’re still in the back. Have y’all gotten your dresses yet?”
“Yup,” Autumn cheeses. “Me and Pay got ours last week. Pay’s not listening to me about taking it easy, so we’ll probably have to take hers in some before the ceremony.”
“That’s why I’m waiting until two days before to get the final alterations on mine. I got my waist trainer on now.” Brina flicks her tongue and we all cackle.
“Mine is hanging up on the back of my door. I can’t wait.” Van looks off wistfully.
Wyn just takes a sip of her cup. “I’m trying to lose another five pounds so I don’t need spanx in mine… something wrong, Richard?”
Rico’s eyes do this weird thing where the brown in them goes flat. “Hazey, are yousureyou need your twin among the living? I promise you, it’s not as bad as it seems.”
“Rico, be nice,” Autumn, Pay, and Brina say at the same time, while Wyn just snickers.
“Promises, promises… Mace I can’twaituntil you drop my new niece. I’m tryna turn up with you and your homegirl.” Wyn smirks into the camera, but Brina just shakes her head.
