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Granny shook her head as she settled into her favorite recliner. Theory sat on the other one, quiet but smiling as she watched the other women talking animatedly. Quiet Theory broke my heart. She used to be right in the middle of it all, loud and funny and bright. She was going to get back there, I vowed silently before plopping down on the love seat beside Epiphany.
"Everlyyyy," Calanthe called, making her way toward me, a comb, brush, and some kind of product already in her hands.
She'd asked me yesterday about giving her a couple of French braids, a style I'd been doing for her since she was a toddler. I guessed I wouldn't be going back to my room so soon. I just nodded and adjusted my feet as she swiped a throw pillow and sat on it between my legs.
"Lanthe! Them pillows ain't for?—"
"I'ma wash it, Granny, watch," my little cousin interrupted, smiling that smile that melted us all. She was the youngest granddaughter and had all of us wrapped around her finger.
"Mm-hmm," Granny mumbled, but she left it alone.
I chilled with my family as I parted and prepped Lanthe's long, thick mane, enjoying the laughing and gossiping and arguing over Aunt Cynt's soundtrack. We got louder and louder, even Granny participating in our shenanigans. The room warmed and I slid my arms out of the robe. Then, all hell broke loose when VickeeLo blasted from the speaker.
I giggled loudly as my family hastily moved the coffee table and took over Granny's living room floor to see who had the best knees. Even Emory was up, a protective hand cupping her lower belly as she wound toward the floor. Lanthe moved to join them and Aunt Cynt and Hy looked at her like she had grown another head.
"I wish the hell you would," my auntie snapped before turning to Granny. "C'mon, Mama. Prime already gon' spank Em's ass. You might as well let Daddy catch you, too," she hollered.
The men in our family had spent last night elsewhere on the homestead, leaving us guarded by some of Prime's detail. My grandfather, Prime, and Aunt Cynt's on-again, off-again boo, Hyland, were all so in love that I knew it wouldn't be long before they showed their faces, though.
"Girl, yo' Daddy would have a heart attack if I showed y'all what these knees could do," Granny snapped, waving her daughter off.
"Granny!" Lanthe complained as we shrieked with laughter.
Aunt Cynt rapped along with a particularly dirty line, working her hips and knees.
"What is wrong with the old women in my family, Jesus?" Lanthe's whining sent us into another fit of loud laughter.
So loud that I almost couldn't hear the music. So loud that I definitely didn't hear the door opening. My fingers were moving swiftly through my younger cousin's hair when Granny's voice penetrated all the noise. I looked at her, worried by the frown twisting her face.
"Alexa, stop," Aunt Cynt ordered, all eyes swinging toward the door.
I froze, suddenly losing my ability to speak.
"I said, who the hell are you?" Granny demanded again, even though Prime had led the two guests in.
A charming smile decorated the face of one as he turned to face my granny. I sprang from my seat, but I was too late.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. My name is Montréal. I'mEverly'sboyfriend."
I had barely been holdingon to my shit before I saw her. Now, standing in front of her, I realized her name wasn't the only thing shorty had kept from me. Fifteen months of fucking her, and I had seen her natural a handful of times. She hated it. But here she was, pretty little brown freckles dotting her nose and cheeks, a lopsided bonnet covering most of her hair, some scandalous little shorts... and she was loving it. I'd walked in on her laughing hard as fuck, braiding hair like one of the girls next door that I'd grown up around. The real her was on display for these people and it made me feel a way I didn't like. Yeah, I knew they were her family, but still. I felt the fury that had been boiling just below the surface escalate.
"Umm, excuse me? You fine as hell, but Ev don't do boyfriends," an older woman said, looking at me suspiciously, as she tossed blonde hair out of her eyes.
"Right, Aunt Cynt. At all," the pregnant woman I realized must be Emory, spoke.
Prime made his way to her, grabbing her hand.
"Chill, baby girl," he told her softly. "He good."
Emory scoffed. I smiled at the women.
"I'on know aboutEverly's—," I emphasized that name again, "—past, but trust me, she does do boyfriends."
I stopped myself from adding,She does them very well. Instead, I walked toward where she stood, staring at me speechlessly. A few steps away, I paused as she held her hand out to stop me.
"You arenotmy boyfriend. What are you doing here, Real?" she demanded.
Ignoring her words, I got right in her face before gripping the back of her neck and pressing my lips against her forehead and then against that full little pout that I'd missed. I wanted to shake the fuck out of her treacherous ass, but I wanted to kiss her deeply, too.