“I met this bad lil’ shorty coming out of the store one day. She was looking like she needed a friend, and y’all know I like making friends.”
My aunts laughed, and I could feel Jela loosening up.
“He’s been a greatfriendsince,” Jela spoke, her eyes thanking me for the fabrication.
Grams beamed. “He has a great heart; gets it from his daddy.”
“I can tell…”
“What do you do for a living?” Aunt Sarah asked.
“Um, I’m a stay-at-home mom for now. My baby just turned one, so I don’t want to work just yet. But I do plan to start back dancing soon.”
“Strippin’?” Aunt Sarah asked.
“Sarah!” Grams scolded.
I chuckled. “Damn, Auntie.”
“What? I’m just asking.”
“Oh, God, no…” Jela chuckled nervously. “I do choreography. But I do teach pole dancing classes virtually for the time being.”
She fibbed that last part, but I didn’t think that was a bad idea.
“Oooo, yes! Maybe you could teach me a thing or two!”
Aunt Nora shook her head as Rihanna and everyone came back into the living room. “And on that note, Rihanna, turn that music up. Come on, y’all! It’s almost Christmas! Let’s have one last dance before we go to bed. You too, Tru and Jela.”
“Let It Snow” by Boyz II Men queued, and everyone either started singing, dancing, or both.
“You know I don’t dance,” I told her.
“We do the gangsta bop ’round hea, ya heard!” Jules exclaimed and slapped my palm while we laughed.
“Boy, get up and dance with your lady. Your Grandpa used to always dance with me as a form of intimacy.”
Jela stood and held her hand out to me while smiling. I chuckled lightly as I rose from the couch. Pulling her to me, I leaned down and wrapped my arms around her waist.
“Thank you for not revealing how we really met,” she whispered in my ear while wrapping her arms around me.
“I’ll always protect you, baby.”
“I believe you.”
I spun her around until we were in the entryway.
“Look up,” I told her.
She looked up and smirked. “You spun me over here on purpose.”
“And did. You already know what you gotta do, Mama.” I licked my lips.
“In front of your family?”
“They ain’t paying no attention to us. Put them pretty-ass lips on me.”
She stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against mine. I slid my tongue inside her mouth only for a second, then kissed her forehead.
