Page 103 of Just Listen
“What?”
“It’s okay to be a little nervous. You know that, right?”
“Nervous?” I frowned.
“Yeah. Because I have a big ass family, and they can be a lot. That’s why I didn’t bring you around, until I was sure. My sisters are gonna be cool, as long as they see that you’re making me happy, and there’s no bitches claiming to have recent dealings. My mama will give you the benefit of the doubt. My brothers…they’re definitely gonna study you. Move with precaution. Then the final boss is my daddy. For the most part, he’s cool. He has the type of personality that people just naturally gravitate to. So, meeting him should go smoothly, but it doesn’t mean that hereally likes you. He plays people close, and if he ever approves of you…you’ll become family. No in between.”
I nodded, while taking everything in. “I got chu.”
She lightly smiled, before leaning to kiss my lips. “Good. Now, grab your daughter. I got her bag.”
I smirked. “Bet.”
Like second nature, I hopped out of the Bentley, before removing Khari and her carrier. We then joined Jaylah, as we traveled up the driveway. Stepping slightly behind her, I took a second to study that sexy walk of hers, as she strutted in her Seven jeans that hugged those curves, stunningly. With a basic cropped white muscle shirt, Hermes slides, and her long, curly hair hanging freely, I felt like she’d never looked better. Because with her, the less she did, the more her natural beauty took center stage. I loved the way her brown skin glistened with body butter underneath the sun’s glare. I could still smell the sweet aromas from her hair, after I’d just washed it again.
When we reached the double doors, she didn’t bother knocking, but instead keyed in a code on the door. She then pushed the doors open, and sauntered into the house, with me and Khari right behind her.
Feeling like a tourist, I gazed around in complete awe. The ceilings were high like we were in a fucking museum. There was so much chatter bouncing off the walls, that I could’ve sworn that we were stepping into a full-fledge party. Rounding the corner, we ambled into a enormous dining area. The table in the center of the room had to be specially made, as at least fifty folks were seated, feeding their faces.
“Hey, y’all,” Jaylah spoke, announcing our presence.
Naturally, everybody spoke at once.
“Oh, and everybody, this is Khari’s daddy, Khamere. Khamere, this is everybody,” she introduced.
“Hey, Khamere,” they damn near spoke in unison.
Immediately after, Jaylah’s mama approached us, with her arms outstretched. “Give me my baby. Please and thank you.”
Lightly chuckling, I removed Khari from the car seat, before allowing her grandma to grab her. Wasting no time, she rained kisses all over my baby’s face.
“Daddy!” Jaylah’s oldest brother shouted. That was Jahrein Junior, and anybody in the city knew that, especially if you were into basketball. “Jaylah done finally brought him!”
Everybody laughed, before Jaylah’s pops rounded the corner, and waltzed into the area, looking like he was my fucking age. “Aye, what’s up?” He spoke, as he stepped right up to me.
After placing Khari’s car seat on the floor, I reached out to firmly shake his hand. “Hey, how you doing?”
He smirked, before I released his hand. “Better, since you finally came out of hiding.”
I hooded my eyes. “Hiding? Nah, I was never doing that.”
He lifted his chin. “Then why am I just now meeting you?”
I cut my eyes at Jaylah. “Your daughter. That was all her.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “I can buy that.”
I licked my lips. “Right.”
“Well, I’ma let you get settled in and mingle, but before y’all leave, be sure to let me know. We gotta chop it up first.”
I nodded. “I got chu.”
“Bet,” he agreed, before turning around and focusing on my baby. “Hey, ma-ma.”
I watched Jaylah move Khari’s car seat aside, and place her diaper’s bag on a random bench, before grabbing my hand. “Come on. Let’s go fix ourselves some plates.”
Going with the flow, I allowed her to lead the way. Upon entering the kitchen, I realized that there were professionals there, serving the buffet style food. Being that I was a foodie, I recognized a couple of faces from known restaurants around the city.
