“Damn, baby sis,” I said. “She can’t be more than eight. Show her a little grace.”
“I’ll showhergrace, but let me catch her mom outside. And her whack-ass daddy.”
I finally greeted Duke with a dap. “What’s good, bruh?”
“Shit, this barbecue. I swear, Mom thinks she’s slick, using Naija’s birthday as an excuse to get me to grill. What one or two-year-old wants ribs?”
Blake and I raised our hands and shrugged. When Bliss and my mother were discussing the menu, we’d all decided that the party would be better with Duke’s famous barbecue ribs and special sauce.
“I’m not two, but I want those ribs,” Blake added. “Just sayin’.”
Charlye’s mouth curved into a smile, and she hunched a shoulder. “Me too.”
“Fuck y’all.” He chuckled. “Got me freezing my ass off in the middle of January.”
Dallas and Preston arrived a short while later. Once again, all of us were in attendanceexceptTristan. And no one knew if he was coming. I didn’t even think any of us had heard from him at all. He typically kept in touch with our parents, but I’d overheard Mom telling Dad that she hadn’t talked to him in weeks.
Dallas approached us and my dad blocked her way. “Hold up.” He held up his phone. “I have to snap this picture of my beautiful baby girl.”
Grinning, Dallas said, “Thanks, Daddy.” She brushed her hand over her hair and posed.
“I want you to remember this day,” Dad continued. “It’s the first day that we couldseea baby bump.”
We all dissolved into laughter. Even Preston couldn’t hold it in. Dallas had been acting more pregnant than she was since the moment she’d found out she was expecting. She’d even started waddling for no apparent reason, rubbing her stomach like it was poking out, eating everything in sight. She’d even complained of back pain. It had been a running joke between us, and we’d all taken bets on when she would actuallylookpregnant.
“I think your mother won this one,” Dad told us. “Go check the calendar.”
Dallas gaped at him. “You bet on me? That’s fu… messed up.”
Dad shrugged. “Hey, we had to do something.”
“You were getting on our nerves,” Mom explained, rubbing Dallas’ growing belly. “It’s all in fun, babe.”
Paityn walked over. “What did I miss?” She glanced at Dallas. “Shit, I didn’t win.”
Dallas glared at her. “Really, Sissy? You too?”
Clearing her throat, Paityn changed the subject, “Duke, Bliss wants to know when we can eat.”
Dallas grumbled another curse, “Y’all are lucky I’m hungry. By the way…” She pulled out a pink Post-it and slapped it on my dad’s chest. She stuck another on Duke’s shoulder, then Blake’s hand, Paityn’s stomach, my forehead, and finally Mom’s heart. “You’re having a granddaughter. Gender reveal.”
My mother’s eyes widened. “Another girl? I’m so happy.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Dallas waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t have time for pink confetti or pink powder or balloons. So, a Post-it will have to do.”
Mom did a little dance and clapped. She hugged Dallas. “Preston!” She embraced my future brother-in-law and cupped his cheeks. “I’m so happy for you both.”
Dad congratulated Preston and wrapped his arms around Dallas. “My baby girl is giving me a granddaughter.”
“I sure am,” Dallas said. “I’ll expect you both to babysit and…” Then, the tears came. I’d never seen my stoic sister cry as much as I had since she announced her pregnancy to us on Halloween, our birthday. “Mom, I need you to do her hair because I suck. And, Dad, I want you to teach her everything she needs to know about life.”
Preston grinned. “What about me?”
Dallas kissed her boyfriend. “You too.”
We all followed suit, offering congrats and giving hugs. Soon, food was served. To escape the den of children, and since Charlye was hanging out with my sisters, I went down to the basement with my plate. When I got down there, Asa was smashing a full plate of food.
“What’s up, big bruh.” He picked up another rib and bit into it. “This muthafucka is good as hell.”
