Her arms circled around him from behind, and he smiled big, showing all his teeth. I gave them a tight smile.
“Thanks, Dad. Everything I am is because of you. I mean, Mama contributed, but you know what I mean. You taught me how to be a man. All the good parts and bad parts of you found me and inhabited me.”
I chuckled as he pulled me in his arms. “I love you, son.”
“Love you too.”
“Bring Iesha by for dinner Sunday, since things are back to business as fucking usual,” my mama said.
I chuckled as my dad bit his bottom lip while looking at her.
“Yep. That’s my cue to get the fuck out of dodge. I don’t need to see shit. I heard enough living there.”
I walked away as they laughed. In my heart, I knew all would be well with us. The Hendersons didn’t fold, and we had God on our side. Nothing and no one could stop us.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
IESHA
Iglanced over at Seven to see a slight smile on his face. He was excited to meet my family. He said this made us really official. It had been a week and a half since PJ died. Last Sunday, we ate dinner at his parents’ house, and today, we were eating dinner at my parents’ house. Yesterday was PJ’s funeral, and everyone seemed to handle it well.
I wasn’t sure what was discussed at their meeting over a week ago, but whatever was discussed seemed to give them a new confidence and outlook. Everyone was moving around like business as usual. I’d gone to the diner three days this past week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Friday, we hung out in Nome for a while at Maui and Mythic’s house. The crew all came over, and we enjoyed each other’s company. Seven’s sisters added me to their wedding party for their nuptials next month, and I was beyond excited.
Besides me, I knew Treasure, Cachet, Aaliyah, Ashanni, and Milana would be bridesmaids. I wasn’t sure if anyone else would be in it or not. The groomsmen would be Asad, Epic, Ferris, Kingsley, Seven, and Remy. They had plenty of kids to choose from for flower girls and whatever else. They’d picked Synthia, who was Marcus’s wife, and Jess to be their coordinators. Wehad three weeks to get ready. I’d already been measured, and my fitting would be next weekend.
When I turned in the driveway, Seven’s smile got bigger. It made it hard to contain my smile. As soon as the car was in park, he got out and came around to open my door. My smile couldn’t be dimmed at this point. It had taken us a long time to get here, but I had to accept that I was part of the problem. The back and forth was ridiculous. However, I was just happy that we were able to finally get it together. That was why he was just now meeting my people. I refused to bring anyone I wasn’t sure about around them.
After he closed my door, I puckered my lips, and he leaned over and kissed me. I grabbed his hand and led him to the door to see my mama standing there with a smile on her face. She opened the door, and said, “Hey, y’all!”
“Hey, Mama. This is my boyfriend, Seven. Seven, this is my mama, Camille.”
“Girl, yo’ mama? I thought you were gonna say your sister. How you doing, Miss Camille?”
I rolled my eyes as my mama blushed. Seven ain’t never been an ass kisser, so it had to be true.
“Aww thank you. Nice to meet you, Seven. Come on in, baby.”
She winked at me as he dipped his head to walk inside, and I rolled my eyes again. When I got inside, I noticed everyone was in the front room. They never sat in the front room.Nosy asses.Seven gave them a tight smile, which I knew took effort. He wasn’t a smiler, especially amongst strangers.
I quickly grabbed his hand, and said, “Since everyone seems so anxious, let me introduce y’all. That’s my sister Ayzjohnna, and my other sister Tas’zhane. Y’all this is Seven.”
They were both blushing as they stared up at him. “Damn, you must be about seven feet tall too,” Taj said.
Seven gave her a one-sided smile. “Naw. I’m six-five.”
“Damn. Close enough.”
I slowly shook my head as he shook Ayzjohnna’s hand. “This is my dad, Kareem.”
“Nice to meet you, Mister Teorey,” Seven said as he extended his hand.
My dad nodded, and said, “Likewise,” as he shook Seven’s hand.
“You already know my brother, Kareem Junior.”
“Mm-hmm,” Seven said with a smirk on his lips as he shook his hand.
“This is my other brother, Emmanuel.”
