I didn’t want to discuss Shio’s daughter’s shortcomings, so I didn’t add commentary.
“And who told you that? See, I swear you be knowing shit and keeping it to yourself.”
“My brother didn’t tell me, Dasani! You know Ezio and Shio are tight. Well, not as of late because Shio been busy… I’m guessing with the new baby and all this.” Jisei’s eyes swept the room before landing on me.
“Okay, and Ezio and me are tight, and he didn’t tell me!” Scarlett spoke up.
Scarlett sighed. “I’m gonna have to meet her. The baby, I mean. Maybe she just needs to get around Princess. You know kids help other kids get over stuff.”
“Unh unh. Fuck that bitchandher baby.”
“Dasaniiiii!” Scarlett yelled as the other women snickered.
Dasani stood, dusting invisible lint off her bottom. “What? I’m team Solana. Until DNA proves he’s the daddy, fuck that baby. And even if or when it does, if Solana ain’t on that, I ain’t either.We ain’t either.”
“You shol’ ain’t do all this with Glow.” Jisei smacked her lips.
I tensed at her name. I wondered where the beautiful woman was. Since Bahati had come into Shio’s life, I had forgotten about Glow.
“Girl, boo. Glowbeenmy bitch. You think I’d allow her in my house and in my space if I didn’t fuck with her? I just don’t fuck with the way she went about shit, and I told her that to her face.” Dasani nodded at me. “And what the hell you tensing for? Glow is married to Shio’sbrother.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah,oh. We don’t need no tension in our circle. Leave that shit to them other wives and girlfriends. Glow ain’t stuttin’ Shio.”
“You so damn messy.” Mocha snickered.
“My husband had some food for us delivered.” She held her phone up, revealing a text thread that I couldn’t read. “I’m goingto go upstairs and get it, and y’all settle on a movie. Looks like we having us a sleepover! Them drinks at brunch put me on my ass. I ain’t trying to go home and deal with no nigga or no baby.”
Dasani nearly tripped on her heel but recovered and sauntered to the door.
“Awl shit! We done locked ourselves in. Solana, come over and do the call or whatever you do when you summon the grown-ass littles. Jisei talking about sex, knowing damn well they be fucking all up and through this townhouse.”
“Girl, please. They better not be.” She pointed the TV at the remote, shifting through apps. “Y’all, let’s watchSelena!”
“One of my favorite movies.” I stood from the bed and stretched.
“Oh, God. Yeah, you’ll definitely fit right in. I’m so damn tired of Neltz and Nel with that shit. And I hope like hell ain’t no fucking going on over here. Them littles get pregnant, and I swear, the twins gone start a war.”
“Um… Y’all trying to have us crying. We already drunk and sad that our bitch is locked away and strung out,” Mocha said before the loud sound stole our attention.
Boom boom boom boom
“Open this damn door!”
Dasani had asked me to come help, but she was already beating on the door by the time I made it next to her. “My thing is, what if you gotta pee, boo?”
She continued to beat on the door as I stood uselessly. I never called for anyone because I had everything I needed here or was given to me routinely.
Jisei huffed. “Girl, you just peed in the bathroom!”
“Jae Bae, please!”
The locks turned, and just as she slammed her fist on the door again, it was snatched open.
“Who the hell is you?” Dasani asked with her normal attitude and tone.
Instead of facing Italian, there was another boy in his place. My mouth began to water, my nose itched, and my fingers twitched. The tall, slim, brown-skinned boy shifted his eyes from Dasani to me, and when realization set in, his face fell. Ours expressions nearly mimicked each other.
