“I remember when you used to think apologies were optional.”
“They still are for some people.”
“And there he is,” Kadeer said.
Jio shook his head, but this time he did laugh.
Auntie placed her hand on Jio’s arm. “Charles is a father.”
“I’m aware.”
“Listen to me…” She was trying to make a point. Jio just didn’t have the patience to hear her out.
He looked at her.
“He’s a father to a daughter who almost lost herself more than once and then the other child on drugs. Nina’s also the youngest.”
“What does any of that gotta do with him saying no?”
“It was out of fear. I don’t think he’s saying no to you but no to the idea of letting his baby girl go in general. You won’t know how that feels until you have your own daughters.” She didn’t fuck with the Marcelles at all, but she was trying to provide Jio a different perspective.
Jio said nothing, but he’d heard her loud and clear.
Auntie Vee continued. “You know what men like Charles see when men like you come sniffing around?”
Jio’s expression didn’t move. “Trouble.”
“Risk,” she corrected. “There’s a difference.”
“I’m not a risk to Nina.”
“No. You’re a risk for Nina.”
He frowned.
Auntie Vee squeezed his arm.
“That girl will follow you into fire if she believes you need her there and Charles knows it too.”
Jio closed his eyes.
“You sure you ready for what that means?” Kadeer asked him.
From the tone in his voice, Jio knew he wasn’t kidding anymore.
“I’m not talking about the wedding. The party. The ring. None of that. I’m talking about being somebody’s husband for real.”
“Shit, I already feel like I am.”
Kadeer tilted his head. “Not on paper.”
“That’s why I’m doing this. To make shit official.”
“I know.” Kadeer paused. “But marriage is different.”
Jio’s eyes narrowed slightly. “How you know?”
“Because girlfriend can walk away mad and people call it a breakup. If the wife walks away, everybody feels it. The kids. The families. Everybody involved, and last but not least, them pockets do!”
