Cassius smirked. “Thanks. You’re welcomed anytime.”
Just then, another knock on the door sounded, and this time, Keith stood on the other side when Cassius opened the door, and my heart warmed with the sight. Like Kim, he knew me well, and showed up early, so I’d feel like I had the supported I needed to get through this dinner.
Cassius and Keith shook hands, and then Cassius stepped aside to let him in. He came straight for me, hugged me, and held on longer than usual.
Guilt was a motherfucker.
“I’m starving,” a voice announced, and when we all turned towards the door, Atticus Sire was standing here, smiling, with a beauty by his side.
But what surprised me was how, while Cassius was giving the beauty a welcoming kiss on her cheek, Atticus was heading straight for me, then wrapping me up in a hug. “Hey, Devi.”
I hugged him back because I didn’t know what the hell else to do. “Hi, Atticus.”
Then he hugged Kim. “Hey, Kim.”
“Hey, Atticus,” she returned easily.
Addressing my brother, he shook his hand. “Westland.”
“Sire,” Keith acknowledged.
Cassius and the beauty joined us, and Atticus slid his arm around her waist. “Devi, Keith, this is Pryce Switzer, my girlfriend.” He looked at her sweetly. “Pryce, this is Devi, Cass’ girlfriend, and her brother, Keith. You already know Kim.”
Pryce shook Keith’s hand, but she leaned in to hug me. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
I returned the hug. “You, too,” I said honestly, and suddenly, I felt silly for having felt so anxious over this dinner.
As Pryce and Kim got to talking, another knock sounded at the door, and while Cassius went to go answer it, Keith drew me into his arms again, and it almost brought tears to my eyes. I had no idea what Cassius had told him, but whatever it was, it had done something to my brother.
With the arrival of Xavier, came more introductions. And where Pryce was a statuesque blonde with big brown eyes and a lovely face, Xavier’s girlfriend was a curvy brunette with light brown eyes and skin the color of dark mocha. Both women walked with the confidence of a queen, but something told me Xavier’s girlfriend, Rochelle, had the chops to rule the king.
“Just so you guys know,” Cassius began, “I wanted to box up dinner and set it outside for you guys, but Devi insisted that might be rude.”
Atticus laughed. “Just for that, I’m going to insist on after-dinner coffee, and maybe even a game of charades.”
“Oooooh, how about Pictionary?” Rochelle chimed in.
“How about both?” Kim joined in just to be a dick.
I couldn’t help myself. I started laughing, and now Ireallyfelt stupid for feeling so anxious about officially meeting the people closest to Cassius. I supposed the same way Kim trusted my feelings for Cassius, his people were trusting his feelings for me.
“I’ll kick you guys all out right now,” Cassius threatened, and I just laughed harder.
With the ice broken, I suggested, “How about we all sit down to eat, and it’s women versus men?”
“I like the way you think, girl,” Pryce exclaimed, and everyone reacted just like you’d expect.
“You women are going down,” Xavier predicted.
“No mercy,” Keith battle cried.
I glanced over at Cassius, and he just winked at me.
One wink.
That was all it took to remind me that everything was going to be okay.
Epilogue
