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"Sorry!" My hand slapped him so hard that my palm stung. "Sorry is when you forget to take the trash out or the meat out of the freezer!"
Marcel flexed his jaw to ward off the disorientation, "Hailo, please, listen to me. We can work past this."
"We can't work past shit! The fuckin' wedding is off!" I sneered, hoping my words stabbed him the way his actions did me.
"You're going to throw away everything we've built over a mistake? Please, I'll do whatever you want. Please!" Marcel pleaded, but I didn't feel the same, staring back at him.
Yanking my hand away, I walked out of the room to get the fuck away from him and everybody else, waiting to celebrate a wedding that wouldn't happen. Marcel followed me down the hallway, begging in a hushed tone while I ignored his cries. He didn't give a fuck about my feelings, so I returned the favor.
"What's wrong, Lo?" Niyomi asked, acknowledging the puddles in my eyes while holding my breath to keep it together.
"Hailo," My mother's voice caused the pain to overpower my anger. Tears began to fall, and Marcel immediately rushed to my side.
"We just have some stuff to talk about." Marcel attempted to put his arms around me to minimize everybody staring at us.
"Fuck you! We don't have shit to talk about!" I snapped, irritated at his attempt to avoid accountability for his actions.
"What the hell is going on?" Lillian asked, moving through the crowd of people closer to us than she was.
"The wedding is off!" Grabbing my purse off the table, I walked out of the door without looking back.
“There's my favorite cousin!" Solana sang, wearing a bright smile to match her yellow blouse.
"No."
"That's rude. I didn't even ask for anything," Solana sucked her teeth, easing into the seat next to me.
"You're going to, and whatever it is, no." I enunciated in hopes of shortening her attempt to beg me into submission.
"Gianni, please!"
I didn't bother repeating it. Instead, I focused on the plate in front of me, hoping that would answer Solana's question.
"It's a party this weekend, and I can't go unless one of you comes with me," she rolled her eyes at the rules that limited her from moving freely compared to us.
"Then I guess you need to holla at Mack or Ty."
"They already said no."
"So did I."
"But you didn't mean it. Please, Gi, for your favorite cousin," Solana begged, throwing her self-proclaimed title around in hopes of swaying my decision. Usually, I was the last nigga to change his mind. I meant what I said, but everybody knew I had a soft spot for Sol- including her.
"Ain't nothing fun about watching a bunch of nigga's thirst after my cousin."
"Neither is watching bitch's do the same with you, Mack, or Ty," she quipped, sucking her teeth. "I swear I hate being the only girl around here. I can't do anything while you whores get to do whatever you want."
A single chuckle escaped my lips because Solana was winning the battle. She was more like my sister than cousin, which often led to me compromising on her behalf even when I didn't want to.
"It's not a good idea to insult the nigga you need a favor from."
"You would have to give a fuck for it to be an insult."
As a single man, I moved like one. Eventually, I'd settle down because family meant everything to me. Plus, I couldn't take the throne without it. Women had been the downfall of many great men, so I didn't understand why that was a requirement, but I didn't make the rules. They believed women provided structure and a foundation we needed to maintain order in DuPont Falls. That and preserving the bloodline topped all. I wanted a wife and family one day, but I wasn't ready right now, and I knew it.
"We can go for a few hours, but that's it, Sol. I'm not babysitting your ass all night."
"Thank you! Thank you! I'll be good, I promise." She jumped up and down before planting a series of obnoxious kisses on my cheek.
