“Yeah, nigga. It’s good to not be looking at your ass through a glass.”
“You ain’t fucking lying.” He exhaled. “Ay. I know I’ve told you this before but I appreciate you looking out for our brothers and shit and I’m proud of you.”
“I know and I don’t mind. I got y’all.”
“But I had to let you know anyway.”
“I feel you.”
“Here, man. Catch up.” He offered me a shot from a red solo cup and I took it back without question.
“Ay!” Morocco called. “We gon’ finish the game or what?”
Elijah and I walked back to the table. Elijah collapsed into his seat and picked his dominoes up while I walked around the table and put Morocco in a headlock, making the rest of the table laugh.
I looked at the backdoor as more people filed into the backyard and did a double take before I realized it was my in-laws.
I liked Mika and Ronald. They were cool people and they genuinely cared about me, Jiselle, and our family.
They’d also been the ones to give me the loan I needed to open my own mechanic shop. Morocco and Drake both worked at the shop with me and I often took women from the shelter Mika and Ronald invested in to either clean the shop after it was closed or work reception just so they could get a little extra cash.
The plan was to have Elijah join the team too.
I let Morocco go.
“What’s up? What’s up?” I dapped the other players.
“What’s up, man? How’s business?”
“Shit. It’s cool,” I said and whistled to get Kiano’s attention.
I nudged my head toward his parents and he made a beeline for them. They lit up when they finally caught sight of him and Jiselle.
I walked in their direction and coughed when I was put in a headlock this time. I elbowed Drake in his stomach and turned around so we could play fight.
He laughed loudly and we dapped each other. Drake was doing better than I’d thought he would at the shop and in life. He was good with his hands and caught on quickly. I paid him well and he had plans of buying his own place and fixing it up, but in the meantime, he still lived with Morocco and Leann who were cool with that because he was apparently a great help with Junie.
We’d see how long he stuck around now that Elijah was back home but he’d always have a spot at our place if push came to shove.
Drake offered me a beer that I accepted as we walked toward Mika and Ronald.
We said our hellos and I took them around, introducing them to several members of my family.
Jiselle’s brother showed up about an hour later and I took a deep breath then went to greet him with Kiano and Jiselle.Navigating family was weird sometimes, so I didn’t fault him for his argument with Selle, but I’d also made it clear that if he took shit too far, I’d take shit further. We hadn’t had any issues yet. He was just as active an uncle to Rocky as my brothers.
I tilted my head back to finish my beer then headed back inside to grab a plate of food. I ate standing in the kitchen then made a second plate and headed back out.
Mika and Ronald fit right on in. Ronald had a beer in hand and was line dancing with my cousins while Mika did her own little dance off to the side with Junie cheering her on. They knew they were good out here. Shit. They were family.
Jiselle stood at the dessert table eating a cupcake and slightly bobbing to the music while she giggled with some of my family members.
I walked over, grabbed her hips, and kissed her cheek.
“You good?”
“Yep.” She held her cupcake out to me and I took a bite.
“You want me to find you a seat?”