Page 23

COCO

A few weeks later…

The smell of concession stand food had my nose wide open as Russ and I approached the bleachers.

Tonight was Quilo’s first game, and I was excited to see my brother on the field.

Thankfully, we got here a bit early.

The stands were already filling on both sides of the field, and the walkway was practically shoulder to shoulder as we made our way to the area where we wanted to sit.

Russ’s hand was like a vice grip around mine as he led the way.

Right at the fifty-yard line, he ascended the stairs toward a section where the boys and Stacy were already waiting for us.

As we passed a group of women, a familiar face mugged me.

Instantly, my good mood shifted.

“How is she related to Genika?” I asked Russ once we sat down.

Without even looking at the woman, he replied, “That’s her sister, Gensen.”

Gensen moved from her seat and started up the stairs.

Russ stood to cut her off from approaching me.

She hadn’t been this bold at church the other day.

“Move!” she told Russ.

He crossed his hands at his crouch and shook his head.

It was comical how much larger than her he was.

“You know I’ain doin’ that. Go back to ya seat,” he said.

Gensen’s behavior had people looking our way.

I shook my head because she looked stupid.

“They can’t protect you all the time, pussy hoe!” she directed at me.

“Watch ya mouth.”

“Keep it cute.”

Peace and I spoke at the same time.

I glanced over my shoulder to see his face balled up at Gensen.

He could relax. Although my blood boiled, I wasn’t about to stoop to her level.

“Shut up before I come up there and beat yo’ ass,” she retorted.

“Nah, you ain’t gon’ touch her,” Russ informed her.

“Go sit the fuck down.”

For a moment, I was scared of Russ.

The base in his voice coupled with the deadly look on his face made Gensen find some second thoughts.

She glared at me before turning around and going back down the stairs to her seat.

Russ came back to sit down with a shake of his head.

“You’ve known Adir for a while. How do you think he’ll feel if I smack the taste outta her mouth?”

Russ chuckled.

“I would never let her get that close to you.”

“That’s the problem though. Hiding behind you while a woman is being disrespectful to me makes me feel and look weak. I don’t like that.”

“Well, ya man will be here soon. If I were you, I’d tell him how you feel ‘cause I definitely hope you knock the wind out her ass.”

I eyed Russ pensively.

“What is it?” he said after a few minutes.

“You like your job?”

“I love my job. There’s a difference.”

“So, you’d really jump in front of a bullet for a stranger?”

He grilled me, causing me to laugh. “Damn, I thought we were past the stranger stage. I’m only wit’ you every single day.”

I laughed and playfully rolled my eyes. “You know what I mean.”

His broad shoulders briefly lifted as his eyes scanned our surroundings. For a moment, his gaze rested on Humble, Peace, and the twins. “Aside from those young men that are now your sons, I’ve never seen him happier. A happy Adir means there are a lot of people who can sleep peacefully at night. So, yes, I will do whatever to protect you. He knows that.”

Again, I found myself looking at him. “Suppose you want to get married or have a family of your own.”

“When the time comes, it’ll come. Until then, I’m stuck to you like glue. And I wish a muthafucka would.”

Just as I geared up to reply, Adir appeared with Zel close behind him. Before making his way up the bleachers, he stopped to talk to the boys. They were all here to support Quilo on his team’s opening night. He wore black joggers, a black tee, and sneakers. His thick body poured into those clothes made my mouth water. Our eyes locked, and his lips tilted in a half-smile. Russ stood to give Adir his seat. The two men bumped fists, then Russ moved to sit down below us. Zel sat behind us. I was aware that all eyes were on me when Adir sat next to me. He leaned over and kissed me a few times as if he hadn’t seen me at the office today.

“I’m surprised you made it on time.

”

He brought me closer to him and kissed the tip of my nose.

“I’m where I belong, baby.”

Smiling, I replied, “And since you’re here. It should be noted that I can’t put my hands on Genika. Gensen, on the other hand, is fair game.”

He chuckled.

“That’ll never happen, my baby.”

“Oh, it will. You’re gon’ let me because if you don’t, I’ma be mad at you.”

I felt Adir’s head tilt as he stared at the side of my face.

“You gon’ be mad at me?” His question was laced with humor and disbelief.

“Yep. I’m gon’ sleep in my own bed and everything.”

His low chuckle sounded deadly as hell.

Still, I kept my spine straight, head forward, and mouth pursed.

I felt his fingers along my chin, then he turned me to look at him.

“Sleep in a bed other than mine and you gon’ wake up covered in spiders.”

Concealing the shock of him even suggesting such a thing, I asked, “You gon’ try me?” His unblinking eyes bore into mine.

“I understand you want to protect me, but sometimes you gotta let me loose. Or else, these hoes will think they can play me any type of way. That’s not happenin’.” I was sure no one tested Adir this way.

They listened and followed his instructions.

While I understood their positions, they were paid to follow his orders.

I wasn’t.

“My wife’s hands should never get dirty,” he finally replied.

“And I agree to an extent.”

“You really gon’ be mad at me?”

“Really mad,” I assured him.

The band began playing as the announcer’s voice boomed throughout the stadium.

Fans stood to welcome the teams onto the field.

Next to me, Adir’s keen gaze searched for Quilo.

Once he spotted him, a since of pride oozed from his pores.

For a second, I thought about taking my threat back.

Then, Gensen walked by giving me a death glare in the process.

Pettily, I smiled for her.

Sooner or later, I was going to give her a reason to really hate me.

Sooner or later came minutes after Quilo’s team won their home opener.

While celebrating, the crowd got rowdy.

While everyone celebrated, I tracked Gensen’s moves.

She wasn’t slick trying to move into the aisle as Adir held my hand to lead me down the steps.

He wanted to meet Quilo in the tunnel after the players headed off the field.

Russ got on the other side of me, pissing me off because both men flanked me.

As we approached Gensen, she attempted to reach past Adir to swing at me.

Like a good man, he nearly broke her arm pushing her off me.

It was too late, though.

I felt her skin graze mine and that was enough for me.

I elbowed Adir in his abdomen, which did nothing, but it gave me just enough room to grab the hoe by the collar of her shirt.

I snatched my hand from Adir and proceeded to bash the back of Gensen’s head in.

Everyone in the vicinity got even louder as they tried to get a glimpse of me beating Gensen’s ass.

Russ was quick, yanking me up by my waist to get me down the stairs.

Gensen swung back but her efforts were lax at best. Not only was she swinging wildly, but her blows kept hitting everyone else and not me.

I dragged her with me down the stairs, causing her to trip and roll onto her back.

The dress she had on lifted, exposing her panties and bare ass.

She screamed and held onto her hair as I tried to yank every strand from her scalp.

Police and school security swarmed us as the announcer attempted to get the crowd under control.

That was when Adir, Zel, Russ, and the boys went into action.

It was as if the Dream Team surrounded me and made it to where no one could put their hands on me.

Even with police threatening his very existence, Adir didn’t give a fuck about that.

“Let her go, baby,” he urged because I still had a grip on Gensen’s hair.

She wanted this, so I gave it to her.

Russ had to pry my fingers from her roots.

I took some strands with me and threw the flimsy shits at her.

“Next time shut up, bitch!” I hollered.

I didn’t see what happened after that because Adir carried me off.

An hour later, I was embarrassed as hell as Quilo came inside the kitchen and shook his head.

He placed his helmet on the island, then burst out laughing.

I stood at the sink rinsing off some grapes for a little snack until dinner arrived.

“It’s not funny,” I said even though I grinned.

“It is, Coco. The whole team was tryna see you in action.”

I rolled my eyes and groaned.

“I’ll be lucky if I’m not banned from the other games.” Adir said he’d work things out, and at this point, I hoped so.

Supporting Quilo through his football journey was my job as his big sister.

“Congratulations, by the way.”

He grinned big and for the first time since we’d been here, he truly seemed happy.

“Thank you.”

“You and Saar were beasts out there. I can see why you two hit it off.” Adir told me about Saar and that he was going to keep an eye on him.

Especially if he and Quilo were going to be friends.

The fact that Adir was so intentional with Quilo warmed my heart.

He went with him to his tryouts and made it his mission to be at all his games.

“He’s aight.”

“Mm, hm. I’m so proud of you.” I gave him a big hug and kissed his cheek.

“Now go clean up. Dinner should be here soon.”

As Quilo left the kitchen, I sighed deeply and wiped the moisture from my eyes.

Hiding tears from him was something I hadn’t had to do in a while.

If he saw me crying, he’d get into a funk, and I didn’t need that.

Not when he’d just started school and was enjoying himself on the field.

This was a huge step from where we were three months ago.

Mama, you’d be proud.

She’d be so proud. I hated that she wasn’t here to see that Quilo really did get himself together.

She wasn’t here to wipe these stupid tears I shed because she’d lost her life way too soon.

“I’ma tell Pops you in here cryin’.”

Humble scared the shit out of me.

I dropped a few grapes on the floor and clutched my chest.

“Boy!”

He cackled.

“My fault, Ma. I didn’t mean that.” As he bent down to pick up the grapes, I stared at the back of his head, dumbfounded.

While the twins and Peace referred to me as Mama Pretty, Humble normally just called me Pretty.

“It’s okay,” I stuttered out.

“Why are your feet so damn light?”

He chuckled.

“I’on know. I thought you heard me.”

I shook my head.

“And don’t you dare tell him a thing.”

Smirking, he replied, “I won’t this time. Rest assured, though, that I don’t wanna see you cry either.”

My face softened.

“Thank you for having my back at the game. It was tacky, and I’m sorry.”

He made a face and waved me off.

“Nah, she definitely asked for it. Besides, you my mama. I’ll protect you just like I would Pops. No questions asked.”

Emotional again, I fanned my eyes to keep the tears where they were.

He clicked his teeth and grumbled, causing me to laugh.

“Come on, bruh. If every time I get sentimental wit’ you, you do that, I’ma be forced to keep my feelings to myself.”

Laughing harder, I approached a much larger than me Humble and hugged him.

The more I got to know him, it was absolutely scary how much he mirrored Adir’s personality.

“I promise not to cry every time we talk.”

“It’s appreciated,” was his quick retort.

Just then, the front door opened signaling Adir was back.

He walked into the kitchen with Alli in tow carrying several large brown bags bearing the name Tonya’s Multicultural Kitchen .

My man looked so delicious in his denim and white tee that I wanted him and not the food.

Still, my stomach growled.

“Why you look like you’ve been cryin’?” he asked while placing the bags on the island.

Humble burst out laughing while I smacked my teeth.

Next thing I knew, the kitchen was full of men, grilling me about my damn tears.

Alli wasn’t exempt. He stood off to the side with his arms folded over his chest and grilling me.

Shaking my head, I looked at every single one of them like they were crazy.

They love you .

The random thought caused my eyes to well up so badly that I couldn’t stop the tears.

“See!”

“Aw, hell!”

“Who did it?”

“What’s wrong, Mama Pretty?”

“She want us to kill somebody!”

All five of the boys spoke at the same time.

Through my tears, I threw my head back and laughed so hard, they all stared at me with varying mugs on their faces.

They were so crazy.

One week later, it was another Friday night and another game.

All was going well until I saw Quilo run off the field.

He briefly said something to his coach, then jogged off toward the tunnel.

Adir chucked his head at Zel, who went to investigate.

Moments later, Quilo came back out of the tunnel as if nothing was wrong.

Zel came back out too and gave the signal that everything was okay.

I breathed a sigh of relief and continued to enjoy watching Quilo and Saar whoop the other team’s ass.

By Tuesday, I was all smiles as I sat at my desk talking to Haven.

“I’m so glad things are going well, friend. Jabari and I plan on coming up there for homecoming.”

I squealed with delight.

“Please, do. Quilo would love that. And I miss y’all.”

“If you’re not careful, we’re going to move there. For weeks, Jabari has been talking about how much he loved the area. Chile, we looked up some prices for homes there, and he ain’t mentioned anything since.”

I fell out laughing.

“Tell my brother-in-law if he ever decides to pick the two of you up and relocate here, my husband is going to make it happen.”

“Aww,” she replied.

“Listen at how sweet you sound while mentioning your man.”

Giggling, I said, “I’m so spoiled, Haven. I never knew a life like this was possible.”

“See… Now, I’m going to get Jabari back in the mood to move there. I gotta witness this beauty with my own eyes.” We both giggled then.

“I’m serious. If you’re really thinking about it, I’ll put the word in Adir’s ear.”

“Be prepared to hear from me,” she stated.

“Let me get back to work. I have six more hours, boo. Pray for me.”

Cackling, I said, “Love you, friend. Bye!”

“Love you, too, my girl. Talk to you later.”

The news of Haven possibly moving here compounded on my already great day.

I was in such a good mood that I hummed and smacked a piece of gum like I’d conquered the world.

Shoot, I was in such a good mood that I ordered the entire office lunch.

Tonya’s Multicultural Kitchen was so damn good that I ordered her chicken fried rice and salad kits for everyone.

Just thinking about it caused my stomach to agree that we were hungry.

My phone rang, breaking into my thoughts.

Seeing a local but unfamiliar number, I hesitantly answered the call.

“Is this the parent or guardian of Quilo Bell?”

My heart stopped in my chest. “Yes, this is her.” I had already placed my pen down as my fingers started shaking.

“This is Head Principal Scotty Walker. Quilo has been detained due to fighting on campus.”

“I’ll be right there!” Hurriedly, I hung up the phone, grabbed my purse and keys, then rushed from my office.

Bianca appeared in the hallway and saw the panic on my face.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“I need Adir. Quilo’s in trouble.”

Just saying those words caused a river of tears to start.

Not again. He was doing so well.