Page 13 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Juke

Pulling up to my grandma’s spot on a Sunday always felt the same. We’ve been having Sunday dinner with my grandparents since we were kids. I didn’t see that shit changing anytime soon. Sophi sat next to me, eyes wide like she was trying to take it all in before we even stepped inside.

“You good?” I asked, looking over at her.

She nodded, but her fingers were twisted together in her lap. “Yeah… just haven’t met a whole family at once before.”

“They gone love you. Just be yourself.” I smirked.

We climbed out, and I laced my fingers with hers before leading her up the walkway. Soon as I opened the door, voices hit us from every direction.

“’Bout time you showed up,” my grandma’s voice rang from the kitchen.

“Hey, Granny,” I called back. “You act like I’m always late.”

“You ain’t always on time, either,” she shot back. “And who is this pretty young lady?” my granny asked.

“Granny, this is Sophi. Sophi, this is my granny.”

“Nice to meet you.” She stuck her hand out for my granny to shake. At first Granny just looked at it before pulling her into a hug.

“Oh, girl. If this boy brought you here, then we’re way past handshakes.” She smirked.

We walked further inside where everybody was, and I greeted them and introduced Sophi at the same time. “Aight, everybody…this is Sophi. Sophi, this is everybody.” I wasn’t about to introduce everybody individually like we were taking roll call.

“Aye, are you here against your will? I know this ugly ass nigga ain’t pulled you,” Deion’s stupid ass said.

“Deion, don’t make me embarrass you in front company,” Granny warned.

My granddaddy gave me a nod, then looked her over with an approving smile. “You did good, boy,” he praised.

“Well, he might not introduce everybody else, but I’m his mama. You can call me Chenelle. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She revealed, causing Sophi to look back at me.

“Ma,” I groaned.

I was glad when my granny called my mama because I knew she was about to run out. I walked over and introduced her to my aunt, uncle, and Robin. Robin’s face lit up when she saw her. She was like a sister to me, so she was glad to see me with somebody other than Nessa’s ho ass.

Robin grinned at Sophi. “Finally, somebody for me to talk to besides these crazy people. Come sit by me.”

Sophi glanced at me, and I gave her a small nod before letting her go join Robin at the table.

I stayed back with Deion and MJ. Yeah… they liked her already.

I couldn’t even lie—I liked that they did.

Granny called everybody to the table like it was an old-school roll call.

We filed into the dining room, and Granny did the damn thing.

She had macaroni, greens, cornbread, roasted chicken, yams, and two pound cakes and a peach cobbler.

I pulled out the seat next to me so Sophi could sit down.

Robin was on the other side of her while CiCi was on my other side and Deion across from me, looking me in the face with that stupid ass grin.

Granddaddy said grace and as soon as he was finished, we dove in.

“So, Sophi,” Aunt Angie started, “you from here?”

“No, ma’am.” She nodded. “I moved here with my family a little while ago.”

“Oh really? Who’s your family?” my mama asked.

“The DeLucas. My mama’s sister is married to Grant DeLuca,” she informed.

“Is that right?” Mama asked.

Sophi nodded.

“So, you’re related to that rude one that runs the gambling house?” Aunt Angie asked.

That caused me and Sophi to laugh.

“Yeah, Buck is my cousin.”

“Mhm,” Granny cut in from the other end, “and somehow you found your way to my grandson.”

Sophi looked at me and blushed. “I mean… he kind of found me.”

“Girl, you don’t have to be nice,” CiCi added. “We all know Rashad ain’t got no game.”

I leaned back in my chair. “Y’all got me fu― y’all tripping.”

“That’s what family’s for,” Deion said with a mouth full of greens. “Keep you humble.”

Robin nudged Sophi gently. “Don’t let ’em scare you off. Once you make it past the first dinner, you’re good.”

“She’s already good,” Granny said, slicing into her chicken. “She has manners. She’s pretty, and she ain’t tryna talk over me. That’s a win in my book.”

“Long as she treats you right, I’m good with her.” Mama chimed in from beside Jacob. “Lord knows you need a woman who can handle you.”

“Handle him?” Deion laughed. “More like babysit.”

“Aight,” I said, holding up a hand. “Y’all can get out my business anytime now.”

But the damage was done. Sophi was relaxed and laughing softly with Robin while CiCi grilled her about where she liked to shop.

Even Granddaddy tossed a few harmless jokes her way, and she took it all in stride.

By the time the peach cobbler hit the table, she was leaning in close to me.

I just grinned like a simp and let her have her moment…

watching her fit in like she’d been sitting at this table for years.

After dinner, everybody drifted out of the dining room like they always did.

Sophi ended up on the loveseat with Robin and CiCi, all three of them laughing over something on CiCi’s phone.

I caught her every so often glancing my way, like she was checking to make sure I was still there.

I was in the recliner next to my granddaddy listening to him and Uncle Mason argue about some old boxing match from the eighties.

Deion walked by, patting me on the shoulder.

“I taught you well, my boy,” he said under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.

I didn’t respond, but my eyes found her again.

She was comfortable while she laughed at something Robin said.

Even Mama was smiling at her from across the room, which was rare.

Chenelle didn’t warm up to just anybody.

Granny came through with foil-wrapped plates, making sure ‘her babies’ had food to take home, and shoved one into Sophi’s hands before she could argue.

“You’re a skinny something,” Granny said.

“Make sure you eat all of that food.” Sophi laughed before she thanked her, and when her eyes met mine again, I felt it—like she’d been here all along.

Like my people had been saving that spot for her without even knowing it.

I leaned back in the chair with my arms folded, just taking everything in.

This was the first time in a long time that having someone at my side didn’t feel like a risk, or annoy the fuck out of me.

***

“So,” I said, leaning back into the couch, “how you think that went?”

She smirked. “Better than I thought it would. Your family… they’re something else.”

I raised a brow. “Is that a compliment or you talking shit?”

“It’s a compliment,” she said, taking another bite of pound cake. “They were all real nice. Your grandma’s sweet, but I swear she was tryna see if she could feed me ’til I tapped out.”

“Yeah, if Granny don’t do nothing else, she’s gone feed you.” I chuckled.

Her phone lit up on the cushion next to her with a FaceTime call.

“Hey, Mama.” She answered with a smile.

Her mama’s face filled the screen, revealing an older version of Sophi. “Hey, baby. You look… happy. Where you at?”

“Over at Rashad’s,” she answered casually.

Her mama’s eyes narrowed, and her smile tilted. “Uh-huh… why you smiling like that? Is it because of Rashad?”

Sophi glanced my way, then back at the phone. “Mama…”

“Is he there with you?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Put him on the phone,” Her mama said, waving her hand dismissively.

Sophi handed me the phone, and her mama’s pretty face filled the screen. “How you doing, Mrs. Johnson?” I greeted.

She grinned. “Ooh, he has manners. I like him already. Baby, you can call me Neicy… everybody does.”

“Aight, Mrs. Neicy,” I said with a smirk. “Sophi told you about me?” I glanced over at her.

“She told me some,” she admitted. “Not enough, but I hear you can fight, though.”

Before I could answer, a man’s voice called from off-screen. “Who’s that?”

Mrs. Neicy turned the camera. “Horace, come here. This is Rashad—Sophi’s friend.”

Her pops stepped into view, grinning. “Friend, huh?”

“How you doing, sir” I spoke.

“How you doing, son. You look real familiar,” he said before he realized who I was. “Juke?”

“That would be me,” I acknowledged.

“Well, I be damned. I saw a few videos of you fighting. You be tearing them niggas up in that ring,” I laughed at his enthusiasm along with Sophi and her mama.

“’Preciate that,” I said. “Matter fact, I got a match coming up in a few weeks. Y’all should come through. I’ll take care of the tickets.”

Horace’s eyes lit up. “You serious?”

“Dead serious. Front row, VIP. Whatever y’all want… I got it.”

Mrs. Neicy clapped her hands. “Oh, we gone be there. I’m calling Shaunie as soon as we hang up so she can get ready for me.”

“That’s fine with me,” I said.

They kept me on the line for another ten minutes, Horace asking about boxing. I told him about the gym I owned, and he was impressed.

When we finally said our goodbyes, Sophi set her phone down and shook her head. “They like you.”

“I’m a likeable nigga.” I smirked.

Her smile lingered. “You’re cocky.”

Her eyes flickered, but she stayed quiet. I slid closer, caught her chin between my fingers.

“What?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “This just feels good. Being around you feels… right.”

Nothing else needed to be said. I pulled her onto my lap and kissed her deep and slow. She started rocking against me until my grip on her hips got tighter.

“You tryna test me, shorty?”

“Maybe,” she said, voice low.

I tilted my head and squinted at her before I bit into her neck, causing her to gasp.

With little effort, I stood with her body still attached to mine and carried her to my bedroom.

We barely made it there before I had her completely naked and stretched out on her back and my fingers between her folds.

“Mmm,” she moaned at the feeling I was providing.