They shook hands and nodded at one another. There was an awkward silence for a moment, until my mama said, “Well, let’s go in the back. Dinner is almost ready. Seven, I hope you like beef stew.”
Seven turned to her with a slight frown on his face. “Miss Camille, come on na. I’m a country boy. You can’t miss me when it comes to food.”
My mama chuckled as I smiled. I was so happy to see Seven being pleasant. I just hoped no one said anything to piss him off, because he surely wouldn’t hide his disdain with whatever was said.
We sat in the lounging area, and Emmanuel turned on the TV. Seven grabbed my hand and kissed it. I smiled at him, knowing I would have to really show my appreciation to him when we got back to my place for him being chill.
“So, Seven, what’s your last name and what do you do?” my dad asked.
I hadn’t really told them much of anything about Seven, except for when we got into it when Quincy was still here.
“My last name is Henderson, and I work for the family business. We own Henderson Ranch and Farms.”
“Oh okay. We buy the rice and roux. What part of the business do you work in?”
“I handle the cattle. We lease them out for rodeos and stuff, so I tend to their care and the business of leasing them out. However, I work where I’m needed as well, whether that’s mowing a hayfield or helping in accounting.”
“That’s interesting. Hmph.”
My dad was impressed. There wasn’t much that left him speechless. Seven nodded, and I leaned more into him, prompting him to put his arm around me. Ayzjohnna and Tas’zhane went to the kitchen to help Mama, but I was nervous about leaving Seven alone with my dad and brothers. I felt like things would get out of hand. My family felt like they could say what needed to be said when it came to each other. They just didn’t know that Seven was the same way and would respond accordingly.
“Seven, did you go to college?”
“Yeah, I did. I majored in marketing and business management. I got a master’s degree too.”
“Damn. That’s cool. You and Iesha the same age?” Emmanuel asked.
“Naw. She robbed the cradle. I’m twenty-four. I like cougars though.”
My brother bit his bottom lip trying to hold in his laughter. I grabbed a throw pillow and threw it at him. “Shut up, fool!”
That caused all of them to laugh. I turned to Seven and cut my eyes playfully as he pulled me in his arms and kissed my cheek.
“Y’all look good together,” my brother Kareem said.
“Thanks, Reem,” I said.
Seven smirked at him, and it didn’t go unnoticed by my dad. He shifted in his seat a bit, and said, “I heard y’all didn’t have the greatest interactions.”
“No, sir. That was my fault though. I come from a family where we say whatever is on our minds, without caring whether anyone is offended by it. That’s something I’ve had to work on. I must be doing pretty good with that, since I’m here.”
I slightly rolled my eyes. They didn’t need to ask this nigga anymore questions, because he would surely answer them honestly.
“Iesha!” Tas’zhane yelled.
I stood from my seat and glanced back at them. They all had slight smiles on their lips, like they were waiting for me to leave. When I got to the kitchen, they were standing there with big smiles on their faces.
Taj spoke first. “Damn! This the nigga you were having problems with? What the hell wrong wit’chu? You must’ve not been giving it up. Had that man all frustrated and irritated. He fine as hell, sis.”
“Shut up, girl, but yeah, that’s him.”
They all laughed. “You look so happy,” my mama said.
“I am. I took your advice and stopped thinking so much and just went with what I felt for him. When I did, things got so much better.”
“Meaning, you finally broke that man off,” Taj said, causing everybody to laugh again.
“Y’all look so good together, sis,” Ayzjohnna said. “That man looks at you like you hung the moon and the stars.”
