Page 26 of Ember

“You didn’t hear, Mama?” Miesha smirked teasingly. “Dani is in loveeeeee.”

Danica gently smacked her hand on the table. “If you or Casimir even think about embarrassing me, I promise you that I will kill you and sleep like a baby aft…”

“Hey, hey,” her father called, stepping into the room. “I found a stray at the front door. Does he belong to anybody in this room?”

“Daddy, please don’t call people strays,” Danica whined. When her eyes fell on Tucker, she had to work hard to control her breathing. Especially when he flashed her with his signature smile and a wink.

“Ignore my husband, please.” Leanne said with a smile. “He doesn’t get out much. And welcome to our home.”

“I appreciate it, Mrs. White.”

“Don’t be apologizing for me,” Danica’s father said, leaning up against the wall. “The boy knows I’m just joking. If it wasn’t for him, my baby probably wouldn’t be standing here. If you ask me, she couldn’t have found a better boyfriend to bring home.”

“Daddy, quit it. We are not dating. We’re just friends.”

“Is friends slang for hunching?” He replied seriously, folding his arms over his chest.

Miesha and Casimir both fell out laughing as Leanne gasped. “Harold, I think it’s time for you to wash your hands and help me get the food out of this kitchen.”

“What?” His eyes widened. “I ain’t said nothing wrong. If they being nasty…”

“IN THE KITCHEN NOW.” She shouted, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the room.

Mortified, Danica pressed a hand against her forehead. “Oh my God, I cannot believe him.”

Chuckling deeply, Tucker wrapped her up in his arms and placed a kiss against her temple. “Don’t sweat it, Pops is cool.”

“Mmhm, he’s cool until it’s Christmas time and he’s fucking up your hardwood floor doing some funky ass two-step.” Miesha rolled her eyes.

Casimir laughed. “Are you ever going to let that shit go?”

“Hell no, and while we’re on the subject, you still owe me money for breaking my damn…”

Taking Tucker’s hand in hers, Danica led him out of the room and through the foyer to the patio doors that led to the back porch. Sliding the door open, she stepped outside, gesturing for him to follow.

“I’m so sorry about them.” She apologized as soon as the door was closed. “It’s like they’re programmed to act an ass whenever company comes around.”

“Your family is cool, Dani bae,” Tucker smiled, leaning up against the railing that lined the porch. “I wish I had a big family. It’s just me and my mama.”

“Do you see her often?”

“Nah, she moved away not too long after I joined the academy. I talk to her almost every day, but my work schedule makes it almost impossible for me to visit as much as I want to.”

“Well we need to add that to your to-do list sometime soon. Life is short, and you should spend as much of it as you can with the people that you love.”

He opened his mouth to respond, when the door came flying open.

“Uh huh, caught y’all asses, didn’t I?” Harold questioned excitedly.

“Oh my God,” Danica groaned. “Please come inside so we can get this over with and I promise to never subject you to them again.”

“I told you they’re cool, stop stressing. And you should know by now that I’d follow you anywhere, so lead the way.”

“Goddamn, I like this boy,” Harold clapped Tucker on the shoulder as the two passed by him.

“If there’s a God in heaven, he’ll take me out right now.” Danica murmured to herself, leading Tucker back into the dining room, and praying that her family didn’t embarrass her more than they already had.

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