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Damn him, I thought as I melted.
"Show her the ring, cousin," I said, adding fuel to the fire while taking the heat off me.
Pip glared at me. I smiled right back. I didn't know what Jagger was up to, but I was here for it. Granny was right about the way he'd love Pip. I had no doubt. For a minute, I glanced back at Real, wondering what it'd be like if he felt about me like Jagger did about Pip. Everett said he'd called me his, and he'd vowed that he was going to be mine. What if he meant it, I mused as Granny clucked over Pip's ring.
I shook that off quickly, though, and fought back the unexpected feeling of hope inside me. Real couldn't mean it.
That would be breaking all of our rules.
* * *
Our brunch gathering eventually spilled onto the front porch and into the yard, where PawPaw fussed at his noisy descendants about being careful around his beloved plants, and Granny threatened us if we even thought about tracking dirt into her spotless house. Wanting a moment of peace to enjoy the coffee cake I had swiped from my still-pissed-off brother, I walked past the huge purple rose and hydrangea bushes that hugged the front of the porch to the side of the house. Daisy, Aunt Cynt’s nosy little terrier, perked up as she spotted me with a plate. Her bad ass trotted beside me, tail wagging eagerly.
“I’on know what you so happy for. You not getting none,” I lied, cutting my eyes at her.
She yipped and yapped her reply, probably cussing me out as we climbed the porch steps. I sat on the top one, and she plopped down beside me. Sighing, I broke off a small piece of the cake and set it on the other side of her.
“That’s it for you. Might as well gon’ back with your crazy owner,” I fussed.
She ignored me, happily wolfing down the delectable dessert. Shaking my head, I slid my fork into the moist cake. As I eased the morsel into my mouth, I saw Real approaching. I rolled my eyes while chewing.
“So, you just leave your company? I know you were raised better than that,” he said, coming to stand in front of me.
I swallowed as I glanced up at him. “Uninvited company. How do you keep forgetting that part?” I snapped.
An all-knowing smile curved his full lips. “Uninvited but wanted.”
“Uninvited and conceited.”
He stared at me momentarily before reaching out and tugging on one of my tightly coiled tresses.
“You don’t get tired of being so hard, Love?” he murmured, releasing the curl and watching it spring back.
Although his voice was soft, the words stabbed me. For the last few years, my sister and cousins had called me out on the walls I had erected around my heart. I wasn’t hard; I was just cautious. Why wouldn’t I be? I opened my mouth to object but stopped as Prime called my name. He was walking toward me as my sister looked on with a smirk. I stood and then took off to meet him. I didn’t get very far before he was in front of me.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Just got a call from security. Heath McKinley is at the front gate to see you.”
I sighed before quickly looking over my shoulder to see if Real had heard—not that it mattered to my single self. He was busy on his phone. My eyes swung back to my brother-in-law. He raised an eyebrow.
“What?” I mumbled defensively. “Let him in. I owe it to him to try to explain this shit.”
“If you say so. Your sister is enjoying this way too much. She wanted me to let him on the homestead without telling you. I didn’t want to have to shoot yo’ nigga. This way, you can tell him first,” Prime teased.
“Optimus, shut up. I ain’t got a nigga. And I ain’t telling him anything.” I looked behind me again. Real was still in his own world. I took off toward the front yard to wait. “Let’s go.”
Prime blew out a loud breath. “I ain’t for this shit, Ev.”
“You worried?” I taunted.
He laughed. “Nah, shorty, never. But you? You probably oughta be.”
I workedto keep my face straight as Love’s hard-headed ass looked back at me. I could hear most of her conversation with Prime, even though I pretended to be oblivious. I was sick of Heath McKinley. Her granddaddy was right; I needed to shoot his ass. But oh, no, she’d probably have a fit about that.
I looked down at the phone, still waiting for Markel to pick up. It went to his voicemail. I disconnected and called Juvie. I swear I didn’t feel like hearing this fool’s mouth, but he was as capable of handling business as any old head. He had a ruthless streak that popped out whenever needed. I blew out a breath as he answered.
“Fuck y’all at?” I demanded.