“It’s okay, bestie,” Iyana said, coming over to me and wrapping her arms around me. I wrapped my one arm around her and cried on her shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, bestie. I should have listened to you. I should have listened to all of you.”
“It’s okay. We didn’t come to bring up past bullshit. I genuinely missed you and came to meet my beautiful niece finally.” We released, and Iyana reached for Scottlyn. “Hi, pretty girl! You are just a chunky doll! You want to come to Auntie Yana?”
Scottlyn allowed her to hold her, and I smiled, moving over to Amber and Marcy.
“Thanks for coming.”
“We’re going to always show up for you, Jela,” Amber said, hugging me tightly.
“That's right. That's what real friends are for,” Marcy countered.
“Auntie Marcy. Go play?” her niece, Kindell, asked, tugging her hand.
“Yes, take off your shoes. Phoebe, you want to play too?” Marcy asked Amber’s niece.
“Uh huh.”
“Okay, take off your shoes and give them to me.”
“I’ll take them over,” my mom offered.
“Thank you, Mama,” Amber replied.
“You want to go play, Shawn?” I asked him, dropping down to my haunches to be eye-level with him. He was just the cutest thing, standing and holding on to his action figure with his finger in his mouth.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Let me help you with your boots.”
“I’ma take my niece.” Iyana beamed. “You ready, birthday girl?”
“Not too much, Iyana. I’m her only auntie,” Jas said, coming from the kitchen with a basket of popcorn.
Iyana waved her off. “Girl, please! You may be the blood auntie, but I’m the bonus one. You’re sharing her, ma’am.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Oh goodness,” I said, laughing.
We all took the kids inside the living room and let them go crazy. I stood back, taking photos and videos, watching the adults act like big kids with them. Feeling arms wrap around my waist, I turned to see Truce smiling down at me.
My lips lifted into a smile. “Welcome back.”
“Thank you,” he replied, staring at me. The way he was smiling and staring at me looked as if he were high or drunk.
“Have you been drinking?” I asked.
He shook his head, and before I knew it, his lips were on mine, kissing me like we weren't standing in a room full of people.
“Woooooo!” I heard shouts and claps behind me as I pulled away, covering my face to hide my blush.
“Hot mama!” Amber yelled out.
I turned to face them, trying to wipe the goofy smile from my face. “Ladies, this is Truce. Truce, these are my best friends: Iyana, Amber, and Marcy.”
“Ladies… It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
