Page 94 of Betrothed To Love

“Believe it.”

“Call me as soon as Alami leaves. I want all the details.”

“I will,” I say, then hear a faint beep. “What was that?”

“A text from Goode Furniture. Niya’s set will be delivered tomorrow between nine and twelve. Finally, her room will be complete,” she says excitedly.

I painted Niya’s drawing wall at the condo last week and she and my wife handled the curtains and the bathroom. My wife wants the room perfect for my baby girl and I love everything about that. The way she loves my daughter is amazing. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for Niya.

“So I’m working tomorrow?” I tease.

“Yep but you’ll be rewarded. You work and I’ll put in work later.”

“I like that.”

“I know you do. I gotta go, baby. I have a motion in limine in fifteen and I need to get ready. Have fun with your sister and don’t let Shiro scare her. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I end the call and see Alami is ten minutes out. When I lift my head, I spot Shiro walking in. “You were serious about coming,” I say, then stand.

“Yeah. She’s family,” he says with a shrug. “Where is she?”

“On the way. She’ll be here in ten.”

“I came straight from the shop and I’m hungry as hell. You still keep them snacks and shit in the breakroom?”

“Yeah. It’s stocked. I got leftovers in there too. My wife cooked steak pasta.”

“Sis can burn. Let me get that.”

“It’s the all black lunch container on the second shelf. Knock yourself out.” We both leave my office. He heads to the breakroom while I journey to the bathroom. I beat him back to my office, but not even a minute later, he walks in eating. I can see the smoke coming off the container. “Let the shit cool,” I jibe.

“Shit good. I got it. She needs to make this next Sunday dinner. Is this some kind of Cajun sauce?”

“It’s a creamy jerk sauce she made. It’s good as hell though. I have more at the house.”

Right as we sit in my two brown leather chairs, Aven comes to the door. With a big ass smile on her face, she gushes in an animated tone, “Your special guest is here. She went to the restroom, but she should be right out. She’s beautiful and your twin. I’m going to take her to the breakroom first.”

“Thanks, Aven,” I say and she walks off smiling. “You ready for this?” I ask Shiro.

“As ready as I can be. Shit, I don’t know how to talk to teenage girls. All we got are knuckleheads,” he says.

“Niya loves you; you’re good with her.”

“She’s four, nigga. With this one, I’m going to follow your lead.”

As he kills the rest of the pasta, I adjust my watch and check my phone for nothing, trying to make the time pass. I don’t have to do it for long because Aven walks in with my sister. Pictures barely capture her clear Bako features. She’s beautiful, with long braids hanging to one side, big, gold hoop earrings in her ear, and gold glasses. She looks like all of us but really favors Ace, just pretty. There’s a wry smile on her face and her hands are filled with an energy drink, a muffin, and a bag of chips. To try and break the awkwardness building, I stand and speak first.

“What’s up? I’m Quintus and this is Shiro,” I say and her smile morphs into a real one.

“What’s up,” Shiro says.

“Hey. I think y’all know who I am,” she says with a nervous giggle.

“Yeah. We know. Have a seat.” I point to the leather sofa then look at Aven. “Hold my calls please,” I tell her and she nods before closing my door. Alami sits on the sofa and I return to my chair. “How was your ride? I need to tip the driver.”

“Don’t,” she says with a frown. “He talked all the way here and I was trying to chill.”

Amused, I smile. “I’ll just do fifteen percent then. I gotta tip him something.”