Page 39 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

After the long hours of debate, me and My Baby settled on the velvet pieces Selena made.

She looked damned good, and I needed her to know that.

Those other pieces weren’t bad at all, but it was something about seeing her in my favorite color that just made my dick hard.

The dress fit her to the T showing off every curve she had.

Not once was a nigga in his feelings ‘bout how much of her skin was exposed. I thought that shit looked sexy.

With my woman by my side, we walked into the venue where she was greeted by everyone that was someone. Looking at her from top to bottom, I knew I had a gem on my arm. The attention she got from others said they knew it, too. Klarity was nothing less than fine shit, believe that.

“Royce, I was not expecting her to be this gorgeous. Oh, she is a doll.” Shyne’s wife was the first to actually stop us and hold conversation.

“You should see our daughter. She’s just as gorgeous. I appreciate it though, Thalia. It means a lot to me. My Baby, this is Shyne’s wife Thalia. Shyne is over a certain department in The Oath,” I replied.

“Daughter? Oh, you really knocked it out the park getting married and having a daughter within a year. Shyne doubted you in the worst way. I told him you were a man who was full of surprises. Hi, beautiful, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Same,” Klarity stated giving into the requested hug from Thalia.

When Thalia mentioned my marriage, I threw glances to My Baby to check her temperature. She was so goddamn classy all she did was look my way briefly before placing that fake ass smile back on her face. Yeah, she peeped exactly what was said.

“Aye, as I always say, don’t count me out until I’m dead and gone. My wife and kids are my world so now I got something to lose.”

“And Shyne has been trying to tell you that for the longest. Your mindset changes when you have something to lose. Speaking of the devil, here he comes.” Shyne placed his arm around my shoulder and gave me a quick brotherly hug before taking his place beside his wife.

“Baby, I was just congratulating Royce on his marriage and baby girl. She’s a beauty, isn’t she? ”

Thalia ain’t never been a hater. Her and Shyne was more around my age than anyone else at the table. Well, besides Mercedees’s ass. They connected more to us than the old heads who was always trying to give advice as if I needed it.

“She is. What’s your name love?” he questioned My Baby.

“Thank you, and I’m Klarity. It’s nice to meet you.” She extended her hand and shook Shyne’s.

“I don’t know what made you agree to marrying this crazy man, but I hope he treats you right and all that good stuff. My wife said baby girl. How old is she?”

“Essence is a few months old. She’s a daddy’s girl and I hate it. She’s greedy with him and he’s greedy with me. It’s really an unfair trade now that I think about it,” she jested.

She was making light in front of them and that shit was turning me on. She didn’t need to be trained on how to act in front of folk. I guess being the butt of someone’s joke or experiencing embarrassment one too many times made her care about her image. I was impressed though, I couldn’t front.

“Men, they’re greedy regardless. Well, you should go meet Lozano and his wife Christian. They’re a little older but they’re a joy to be around. If you aren’t breastfeeding, you should enjoy the champagne. It’s Dom P so it’s tasteful,” Thalia suggested.

“Unfortunately, I can’t engage in any because baby girl is waiting for me at home, and she is very needy. Also, this man talks bad about me when I drink knowing I have to feed his daughter. So, yeah… I’m passing up on it.”

His. I grinned from ear to ear. I was glad she was finally understanding that these were my kids. She was going back and forth with me anytime I said it but hearing it flow off her tongue now made my heart smile. Klarity knew I was gon’ fuss so she went the safe route.

“Aye, my daughter got to eat. We’ll talk though, Shyne. ‘Preciate you for coming through,” I said dapping him up and giving Thalia a hug.

They walked off and I immediately tried to do the same but was pulled back by my wife. A nigga was nervous and sweating bullets. I schemed for this woman to get my last name and now I was in the hotseat.

“ Unt unh . Get yo’ ass back here,” she said through gritted teeth. When I came back, she wrapped her arms around my neck and still held that smile on her face. “Why they keep saying we married Royce?”

“What you mean, My Baby? You know I call you my wife, so why you tripping?”

“Now baby we both know that’s not how they were addressing me. They were addressing me as your wife Royce. Is there something you need to tell me? I’m asking you to be truthful because if I go sit my ass down and get to looking up shit, I know something.”

I was in the wrong but right now she was asking for the truth, and I always gave it to her. No matter how hard it was to hear, I always gave it to her. Shit, being caught red handed had me feeling like a damn kid getting scolded. I didn’t realize how scared I was of her until now for real.

“You trying to do this right now?”

“Right fuckin’ now. Royce, when did we get married? And if we are married, why is it news to me?” She looked so goddamn good right now I could hardly focus, and she smelled like she’d been dipped in chocolate. This wasn’t the right time to handle anything.

“Look, I gave you a pen and a stack of papers. It ain’t my fault you had a human error.”

“I had a what?” she questioned with a confusing look.

“They call the shit you did a human error. You signed papers without reading them so how is that my fault. You trusted my word, and I’m glad you did.

However, don’t ever just take someone’s word when it comes to paperwork.

I slipped them papers in because I don’t shack up with nobody.

My mama said that’s what hoes do and I ain’t no hoe.

I claimed you as my wife and you said you loved me so I don’t see the problem. ”

Klarity looked at me and shook her head from side to side. I could see her blood boiling as the seconds passed. I could only imagine what she wanted to say to me for real but by the grace of OG, we were in a public setting, and she wasn’t ‘bout to show anything less than class.

“Oh, there’s a problem alright. Finish your little party and I’ll see you at the house,” she said before placing a kiss on my lips and walking away.

My parents stepped up as soon as she walked off. I already knew what they were ‘bout to say. My mama anyway. She peeped everything about me and Klarity. Iris didn’t know how to mind her business which meant my Pops knew what was going on, too.

“What’s wrong with Klarity, Junior?” she inquired.

“Thalia and Shyne came over here running they mouth so now she know about the marriage being official. One damn day was all I asked. They can’t hold water for shit.”

“What you expect when you been dragging that girl around since day one? Thank God she has tough skin and can handle you ‘cause the shit you be pulling ain’t normal. I keep telling yo’ mama you need to be seen. She don’t want to listen to shit I got to say,” Pops chimed.

“He too far gone, Senior. That ain’t nothing but a waste of money and them people time.

I’m not about to torture nobody with Junior’s foolishness.

I threw the towel in a long time ago. Klarity has every right to be upset.

He never asks her to do anything he just does it.

That girl is a hell of a woman because she lets you do you and still stick around.

Stop scheming and being so conniving, Junior.

She deserves better.” My mama pecked my father’s cheek and followed in the direction of her daughter-in-law.

Iris was gon’ preach and not give a fuck if I listened or not.

Klarity had become her baby, and she was quick to turn on me nowadays.

I loved everything about it though. My wife gained a genuine family, and they stepped behind her as if she was born into this muthafucka.

My mama was right. She deserved the support, and I was glad she had it.

“She fusses a lot but she ain’t wrong, Junior.”

“I know, Pops. I got this though. Klarity said she’ll see me when we get to the crib so at least she going home with a nigga,” I said finding the bright side to my bullshit.

“Get this shit over with and go make it right with yo’ wife. We only get one woman that’s really down for us. Don’t let her slip away,” he preached.

“What I tell you? I got this.” We dapped up and I finished making my rounds.

One thing I knew fa sho’ was Klarity wasn’t going nowhere.

I done did a lot of shit to get her to accept me and now that she was in love, I knew whatever I did afterward wasn’t gon’ make her walk.

The loyalty she gave that fuck nigga wasn’t shit compared to what she was giving me.

A devoted and faithful husband. I was who she deserved, and we all knew it.

All she had to do now was acknowledge our marriage and live in happiness.