“Probably. I just can’t talk to her right now.”
We nodded and all headed inside. The minute I saw my dad, I twisted my lips to the side. He and Uncle Jasper were on their normal bullshit, arguing about shit that didn’t matter. I slowly shook my head as I watched them. When Uncle WJ went to the mic, I frowned slightly.
“Family meeting at six at the business office, y’all. Not everyone though. More for the shareholders and employees of Henderson Ranch and Farms. So to be clear, my siblings, Jakari, Rylan, Christian, Jacob, Nesha, Royal, Ashanni, Chas, Philly, Maui, Seven, Ace, Decaurey, Watchful Eyes, including Rhodes and Mythic, and Aspen. This meeting is extremely important and confidential, so please don’t miss or you will be clueless as to what’s going on.”
He stepped away from the mic. I had a clue what this was about. I glanced at Royal and he nodded. Looking around the barn for Iesha, I found her at the table with my sisters. I made my way over to them as Remy sat with them. I hadn’t seen that nigga in days. His ass was lowkey as hell these days. He was probably up to bullshit with CJ.
When I got to them, I said, “Baby, I have to stay out here. If you wanna go home, I’ll just get a ride.”
“No. I’ll wait for you. Noni, can I go to your house? I know Bali isn’t feeling well.”
“Yeah. You still might be by yourself though. I may have to go to the clinic.”
“That’s okay. I brought my laptop. I can find something to do.” She turned to me and said, “See? I’ll be fine.”
“A’ight, baby.”
I sat next to her and kissed her lips as Bali said, “I’m about to be sick again. Iesha gon’ end up with a fucking fungus on her lips . . . both sets. See you in the clinic next week.”
I shot her mean ass the finger. Bali got on my fucking nerves. They wanted to call me a bully, but it was her ass. She bullied the whole fucking house. She tried to bully Dad at times until he put his foot down. I kissed Iesha again.
“Go find your man, so you can get out of our business, girl.”
“My nigga over there. If y’all want privacy, go somewhere else.”
I rolled my eyes. Now that Bali and Noni were pregnant, I tried to stay out of their way. It was better for everybody involved and the only way to respect my sisters as women. We got into it so bad one time, I almost called them bitches. My dad would have eaten me alive. To keep from saying anything else to Bali, I shot her the finger, then pulled Iesha to her feet.
“You don’t need to be around these devils anyway.”
I went to a table with Rylan, Jacob, Christian, and KJ. They all looked at me like I had lost my mind. I didn’t want Iesha at a table with a bunch of guys. She could get to know Mya, Angel, Cassie, and Mekayla. She was about the same age as Mya and Angel anyway.
“Yeah, I know, I know. My crew is a bunch of niggas, and the demons over there about to rip the wings off my angel.”
Iesha chuckled as she sat. She already knew mostly everybody from our business meetings, and she did book covers for Mya. She didn’t know KJ, Cassie, and Mekayla, so I said, “Baby, that’s my cousin Kendrall and his wife Cassie, and that’s Jacob’s wife Mekayla.”
“Hey, everybody,” Iesha said.
“Hey, girl!” Cassie said.
Iesha could get along with anybody. I liked that, because I had a reputation for being a jackass. After slapping all their hands, I sat next to my baby and kissed her cheek. “You want something to eat? I’ll fix it. I don’t really have an appetite right now.”
“Yeah. Whatever you fix will be fine. Thank you.”
She puckered her lips, and I kissed her then left to go fix her food. The minute I walked off, those niggas got loud. I slowly shook my head. They looked to be in shock while watching me interact with Iesha. That was mostly everyone’s reaction. They all looked at the twins that way too.
After fixing Iesha some fried chicken and seafood pasta, I made my way back to the table to see her holding Angel and Rylan’s baby, Angelique. I was surprised she didn’t hold Azariah, Ashanni’s baby. Mekayla’s daughter, LaTee was sitting next to her talking her head off. I smiled slightly as I sat and heard her say, “One day. We have to get married first.”
She glanced at me, and I saw her cheeks redden. I didn’t acknowledge that I’d heard her. I didn’t know why she was blushing. She knew she was going to always be mine. I’d told her on more than one occasion. I’d hold her ass hostage if I had to. I grabbed her fork and wrapped some noodles around it and fed her while she held the baby.
“Nigga, I ain’t never thought this day would come,” Christian said with a slight frown on his face.
“Shiiid, nigga, me either. But I already know, Iesha gon’ be my wife.”
“Shit, if she can put up with yo’ ass, she better be,” Kendrall said.
I shot him the finger. “I’m still gon’ be the same nigga with y’all though, so you better act like you know, fucking around with me.”
He slowly shook his head as Jacob chuckled. Jacob was always at the house when he was younger. Lil Wes was starting to look like Grandpa the older he got. For a second, I was stuck staring at him. I hadn’t been this close to him since he was a baby. He had to be at least two or three years old now. I looked at Jacob, and he nodded.
