Page 105 of Betrothed To Love

“I love it out here too and I need to enjoy it more,” I say.

As she takes a small walking tour of the space, I place the beans on the smoker rack in the grill. The ribs and chicken look perfect and it takes my entire ounce of will power not to grab a wing or rib. After I place the potato salad in the beverage-stocked fridge, I turn and ask, “Are you ready for that in there?”

“I thought I was until I saw the other one,” she admits.

“Ace. He’s the oldest.”

“He looks just like my dad. I mean, they all do, but especially him,” she says.

“And you. You’re just the pretty version of them of course,” I say with a grin to lighten the slightly heavy mood.

“Quintus is so nice. He’s great and Shiro seemed cool, but what if they all aren’t. I mean… I am the outside child,” she says, then shakes her head. “I don’t know; this is weird. I mean, they are all grown with kids older than me. What am I supposed to say to them?”

After stepping closer to her, I place my hands on her arms and look into her eyes. “They are your brothers. No matter what, you share the same father and you’re blood. Because they are grown with families of their own, they know things like this happen, and no matter how they feel about what their father did, you don’t shoulder the blame. You’re innocent and they know that. The mere fact that they are here to meet you says it all.”

Her shoulders drop and her eyes hood before she mumbles, “Or they’re here for the food.” She laughs and I join in.

“My husband can grill,” I tease and she smiles with her entire face. “But the food is just the added bonus. Meeting their sister has them sitting in that living room. You will be fine. I promise.”

“Okay. I’m ready,” she says with a resolute nod.

We walk back to the door and I stop dead in my tracks and my heart drops to the damn floor after we enter. Niya is flying across the room, giggling and squealing. When she lands in Tre’s arms, Ace yells ball, and Tre tosses her to him. These grown ass men are tossing her through the air in the living room like she’s a damn ball. Deuce comes from around the corner with Quintus. After placing his drink on the table, he holds up his hands and yells, “Ball!”

Niya comes flying over to him.

What the fuck!

“Oh my God! Stop before you drop her!” I yell, absolutely mortified.

“Sis, we not gon’ drop her. Ball!” Ace yells and Deuce sends Niya his way.

While she is screaming and giggling, I’m in full blown panic mode. What if they don’t catch her? What if her head hits the ceiling?

“Kyau, it’s fine. She loves this and they’re her uncles. They are not going to miss,” Quintus says, so calmly, like this dangerous game of ball is okay.

It’s not okay. At all.

“Ball!” Shiro says, and once again, Niya is hurled into the air across the room, and once again, my heart thumps.

“Can y’all please stop?” I damn near beg. My nerves are pulsating under my skin and my heart is beating fast as hell. She sounds like she’s having fun but I’m a damn wreck. “She’s good. Hell, if my lil bruh here wouldn’t act a damn fool, we would toss you around this piece,” Shiro says and Alami laughs.

“No the hell you won’t. I’m the only one tossing my wife,” my husband says in a tone lacking any playfulness before I can curse Shiro’s ass out.

“See, nigga don’t play.” Shiro grins. After kissing Niya’s forehead, he tells her. “That’s enough for now. We’ll throw you around some more after we eat.”

“Okay,” she says, still laughing. Once Niya is on her feet, she rushes to Alami and grabs her hand. “You saw me?” she asks Alami.

“Yes and that looks fun,” Alami says.

“It is!” Niya exclaims.

“I’m ready to eat,” Deuce announces. “What we gon’ do?”

“Since y’all finally all here, I can introduce our sister, Alami,” my husband says, then he turns to her. “Alami, you met Shiro. The hungry nigga is Deuce. The one by the door is Ace and the one sitting right here is Tre,” he says while pointing each brother out.

A soft hi falls off Alami’s lips then Ace steps to her first. After he pulls her into a hug, Deuce and Shiro do the same. Tre doesn’t. He just kind of waves from his seat and gives her a dry greeting.

“What’s up,” he utters, then stands. “I’m with Deuce. Where the food at?’