Page 40 of For the Love of City

CITY

“WHY YOU STARING at me like that?”

I didn’t realize how I’d been staring at Porsha but the shit was her fault. She had a plate of food that I knew was good because it was catered by the Chisholm-Love restaurant but that shit was filled to the brim.

“Shit, I’m trying to see where you gone put all that.

” We were sitting under a large tent that had had air conditioning pumped in to it just off the pavilion of Mr and Mrs. Chisholm-Love the older’s home.

The wedding had been nice and I couldn’t lie that I hadn’t started to think about what kind of shit Porsha would want to have.

She seemed to enjoy the wedding but I assumed she’d want something bougie.

“All what?” She frowned up as she wiped her lips and finished chewing the piece of ribeye she’d just placed between them.

“That food, Porsha.” I nodded at her plate attempting to be discreet.

She had her silverware in her hand as she looked at her plate before putting her fork down. “Are you commenting on your woman’s food intake now?” Calmly, she picked up the white napkin from her lap and wiped at the corner of her mouth.

“P, baby, you need to get checked for a tapeworm?”

She huffed before picking up her silverware and going back to her meal. I couldn’t blame her for eating because the food was good and I was secretly glad that I wasn’t bleeding from getting stabbed by her fork.

“Been there and done that. I don’t have one.

I am just grateful to have a very high metabolism and have all my life.

Which I’m sure I’m going to need since all we seem to do is eat and fuck.

That happy weight is going to creep up really soon.

The girlies say after thirty-five shit starts going south.

I’m not looking forward to it. But until then, I’m going to be grateful I can eat this food without worrying too much. ”

“I’m saying you can normally throw down but even this—”

“I can tell you right now that continuing to talk about what I’m putting in my mouth is a surefire way of your dick not being one of those things anytime soon.”

“Not depriving me because I have concerns.”

“It makes me feel like you worried about me getting fat. It’s your fault I’m gaining weight anyway.”

I pinched the side of her hip in the pretty blue floral dress.

It was the kind that showed off her cleavage but still looked high class.

The color next to her skin was beautiful but whatever shimmery shit she put on it today had her looking like a fairy.

Her hair was big and natural with them shits she called wand curls since I ain’t let her get enough sleep to do the braid out shits she wanted to.

“Only thing fat on you is that ass. And if that changed and I had to roll you around like they did that bratty girl in Willy Wonka I’m down for it.”

“Lying ass.”

“Shit deeper than you realize, Pretty P.” The sound of my voice had her looking up from the serving of rice dressing she’d been eating. “Much deeper. But I’m going to grab something from the bar, you need anything?” She shook her head again seemingly stunned by what I’d said.

I kissed her cheek and left her to her meal.

At the bar I grabbed a Prism on the rocks and stuffed money in the tip jar as appreciation. I saw Billy sitting next to P and they were laughing and looking at me so I was sure I was the topic of conversation.

“Corey, let me talk to you, bruh.” I should’ve known that he was gone be on my ass since his wife was currently getting the dirt from my girl.

Jacoby was about an inch or so shorter than me but much broader since he was a pro-athlete. We were dressed similarly in slacks and polos. The dress code demanded that people not come in tuxedos and it was too fucking hot for me to argue.

“Why your big blond ass looking all serious and shit?”

He reached over and dapped me up. His hair was braided back off his face and his beard was trimmed up. I knew from Grant they were going to be getting ready for camp soon, which explained why he was holding a bottle of water.

“Cause it’s serious.”

“Fuck is this where you try to do the big brother talk or some shit? I had that talk with Grant now that shit coming to bite me in the ass.” I could only shake my head but appreciated the way people were stepping behind Porsha.

He chuckled and ran a hand down his face briefly before putting it in the pocket of his slacks. “Not you being scared.”

“Not scared. I just don’t want to have to shoot your ass and then have to deal with Billy and Ness ‘cause the season is done before it begins.”

I sipped my Prism cause like I told Grant’s ass years ago, I wasn’t tussling when I ain’t have to. I’d put a nigga to sleep if necessary but since I actually like them, I’d stop their big asses with a carefully placed bullet so their careers could continue.

“You crazy. But Porsha is like family. She was the first person in Mina’s circle to welcome me. To advocate for me. Gave her stamp of approval for Mina being with me.” His appreciation was laced through his voice and all over his face.

“You mean when you were being a fake white boy?”

He gave a half smile at the life he had basically uncovered.

Even I’d heard the news inside about him finding out he was Black.

“Yeah even back then. I don’t have no favorites among my sisters, I’d do whatever necessary for any of them.

They might be aggravating at times but it comes with the territory.

But Porsha is special. She’s a real one. She loves real hard.”

I held up my hand to stop him because he needed to know this relationship wasn’t something that I took lightly.

“You ain’t got to worry about that loving hard being reciprocated. I wouldn’t be with her if I was about to play games. If anything, her mean ass was playing with me all this time. Somebody go have this talk with her.”

He nodded and smiled, which wasn’t the reaction I expected. “We know you not. I know you not. I wasn’t coming to threaten you or no shit like that. I was going to thank you.”

“Thank me? Coby, are you well? You sure you ain’t got another lil linebacker baking?”

“That would be impossible. Well, shit, not with me, it’s not.

But improbable and not what we talking about.

We know y’all been together for a minute.

Porsha was in a better head space and we didn’t know why.

Now we do. You’re the reason for it, bruh.

So thank you. My sister being happy makes my wife happy.

It’s one less person she loves that she has to worry about.

Mina might be tough as shit to y’all but that loving hard thing is a common trait among all of them.

Well, not Rye, she’ll cut a man off quick. ”

I laughed and looked at Rye dancing with Antwan and her little girl. She looked like a sweet little lady but Lyric said she was even wilder than her.

“Facts.”

Coby’s hand on my shoulder had me turning back toward him. “But now we ain’t got to worry about somebody doing her wrong or whether she being treated well. And it’s one less muthafucka I got to worry about potentially having to kill.”

“I know they call you Murda and all but stop playing.” I chuckled but his brows just rose like I’d said something funny.

“I know you ain’t think you was the only one round here that knows the Millers, Cannons and the Warrens.” He was saying without saying that he knew the same people I did.

That nigga gave me a wink and a smirk, which caused me to stand up straighter. I had to look at this man completely different because what the fuck he mean?

“Not us over here bonding over mutual mob ties and murders.” I didn’t say anything else, just sipped from my Prism and wondered who else around us was affiliated.

His face went back to the normal look he wore as his oldest son came up tugging on his hand. Jacoby picked him up and turned right back into the family man.

“Just means it was always gone be this way. But thank you for real. You even more family now so that same energy I’d give to Porsha is extended to you. I know you ain’t gone take it, but if y’all need anything—”

“It’s appreciated but definitely not necessary. Just like before you knew you came from some rich folks you got stuff on your own. I wouldn’t be a man if I couldn’t say I did the same.”

His little boy who looked like the more tan version of him with slightly darker hair and lighter eyes was distracting him and giving me baby fever. “Understood. But let me know if you want to jump on the family vacations and shit. Hit up one of the cribs—”

“One of?”

Antwan walked up holding his daughter and when I looked I saw his wife now at the table with Porsha and Billy.

I was sure Yzzy would’ve been over there if she wasn’t the bride.

“These niggas got a house on just about every island. Like a luxury rental pimp my house kinda thing. Took Rye there for our second honeymoon.” He was grinning and bouncing his baby girl to the music.

She had the same pecan colored skin as her mother and two pretty afro puffs.

“Ain’t that just an anniversary?”

“Nah man, second honeymoon. I’m celebrating that woman marrying me every chance I get.

You know how much of a fuck boy I was? Rye lil’ tiny ass ain’t wrapped too tight.

Keeping her happy keeps me happy and breathing and here for my baby with the chance to give her a sibling.

” He bounced his daughter in his arms with a smile.

“I can’t even lie he really was an f boy.”

Coby was cleaning it up for his son, whereas Antwan didn’t. I knew that was partly Rye cause these two weren’t going to sugarcoat anything. Now the little girl was probably gone be calling some other kid a raggedy bitch on the playground.

“Aye, I’m reformed!” Antwan had the nerve to look offended, which somehow made the situation funnier.

“Getting kicked in the nuts does that to you.”

I looked between the two of them waiting for the story while Coby just laughed, and Antwan grimaced. “There’s a whole story there.”

“Just know his ass deserved worse. But that’s how you know Rye is a good one. They all are. Count yourself lucky.”

“From how I started in this world, I never thought I would be here. I’ve been blessed a lot and I know that woman over there is the greatest one of all.”

“Amen to that. Women are the gods on this earth because from them all the greatest blessings flow.” Antwan bounced his daughter purposefully before kissing the top of her head. She was too busy playing with the diamond necklace he wore and didn’t register it.

I raised my glass with my eyes on Porsha wondering how she felt about making things permanent and combining bloodlines. At that moment, she looked up at me and smiled and I took it as a sign from the universe.

“I’ll definitely drink to that.”