Page 110 of Steel

I was chopping it up with Kaylynn, at the railing of our section, when I saw her and Dinah walk in. I’d watch them dancing to a couple of songs, just fucking mesmerized by the sway of her hips. She wasn’t a small girl when I met her, more on the thick side. But time had filled her out even more, and that outfit was doing her body every bit of justice.

I knew my eyes weren’t the only ones on her. It was confirmed when several niggas tried to dance on her, and she turned them down. Thankfully, they bowed out gracefully before I had to show my ass in here. That was how we got in this situation in the first place. If I’d known about the abuse she’d experienced, I would have handled that shit different.

Would I have still beaten ol’ boy’s ass? Absolutely. But I wouldn’t have done it in front of her. I had too much respect for her to intentionally trigger her if I could help it.

She was currently sitting next to me, chatting with my sisters, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I was glad she felt comfortable, because I wanted her in my space. Fuck that, I needed it.

I told her my people would be cool, but honestly, a nigga was a little worried about what would come out of their mouths at times. Of course, I’d been keeping them updated on the situation, but I hadn’t told them we reconciled. I knew they were gonna test us tonight because that was who they were. It was only a matter of time.

“Damn, nigga, just take a bite out of the girl,” Maceo said, blowing up my shit. “You staring at her like you wanna eat her ass or something.”

I frowned. “Mind yo’ fucking business. Don’t act like you and Shar didn’t dip in the back twenty minutes after we got here.”

“Wait!” Dinah said, laughing. “Y’all be fucking in here?”

I kissed my teeth. “They be fucking everywhere, man. The club. Wedding rehearsal dinners. Other people’s houses.”

Shar scoffed. “Don’t bring me into shit. I didn’t even say anything. And stop telling our damn business. Me and my husband have a very healthy sexual relationship. Stop deflecting and leave me and my man alone. Weallsee you staring at her.”

“We just have the couth not to say anything,” Salima added with a smirk.

“Where was your couth on that pool table, sis?” I asked.

She almost choked on her drink. “Why are you bringing up old shit!”

“Pool table?” Neha asked.

Deuce smirked and opened his mouth to say something, but Salima covered his mouth.

“Say it, and you won’t touch me for a week.”

He grinned as he raised his hands in mock surrender. “I ain’t saying shit.”

“Oooo, y’all nasty,” Dinah sang. “I’m not mad at it, though. I know y’all are getting put through the mattress. Especially you,” she said, pointing at Jaeda.

Jaeda giggled. “Me?”

“No offense to your hubby, but I’ve had a few men with glasses, baby. I peep game.”

Jaeda blushed as Quaid leaned over to kiss her.

“I know it was the same for you two,” Renay said, pointing between us. “Kerrion is a big ol’ teddy bear that probably turns into a beast.”

Neha blushed as she looked over at me, and I couldn’t help but grin. The other night lived rent free in my head.

“Look at y’all reminiscing and shit,” Smoke said. “Shorty, let me ask you something.”

Neha tucked her hair behind her ear. “Um, . . . okay.”

“Now, you’ve been back around for a little bit. I know y’all have ben doing the family thing for my niece, and I’m cool with that. She should see y’all getting along. But we all know this shit is more than co-parenting at this point. I’m just saying, you sticking with my nigga this time? Because that’s my little brother. I don’t like anybody fucking with him. I don’t wanna see him heartbroken again.”

“Well, first of all, I never meant to break his heart. I was trying to save mine. Second, now that our daughter has him, I’d never take her away again. Third, . . . Kerrion and I are just friends right now. Maybe a little more.”

“You blush at all your friends like that?”

“Not too much on my girl,” Dinah said. “He’s blushing just as hard. Besides, they’re grown. If they wanna give things a second chance, that’s their business. I’m sure they’ll both be careful in how they handle each other moving forward.”

Deuce snickered. “Yeah, we have another Shar and Renay in the mix.”