Page 66

“Ain’t nothing wrong with that, nephew,” Uncle KG said.

“What type of favoritism is this?!” Kai opened his arms.

“Yeaaa, you not being consistent, Dad,” Kyree laughed.

“The hell I’m not,” Uncle KG huffed. “Ali and Kai are at two different stages in their lives. So yea, Ali was reckless but he’s at a stage in his life where he can navigate his responsibilities better. If I was talking to 20 year old Ali I’d be telling him the same things I’m telling Kai.”

“He said all that to say Ali is more responsible, wise, levelheaded, and evolved than you are Kai. So baby for him and no baby for you,” Quan chuckled.

“Aye nigga, fuck you,” Kai spat, while we all laughed.

When we finished smoking we returned to the main house. We’d been gone for a little over 30 minutes, but I would have thought it was hours by how Lourdes scrambled from her spot on the couch to hug me.

“Damn, Lo,” Dream looked up at her like she couldn’t believe her eyes. Meanwhile I was smiling from ear to ear. I was high from the weed and from the love I felt from my doll baby.

“You missed me?” I pecked her lips.

“Uh-huh. Can you get me some chocolate brownies and banana pudding?”

“I gotchu, doll baby,” I chuckled. Her ass hadn’t missed me. She missed me running back and forth for her. But as always, her wish was my command.

Lourdes

Christmas Eve at Qaylo and Amil’s had been amazing thus far. Alouri had me eating everything that was on the menu from the rotel dip, to the shrimp fried rice, fried chicken wings, deviled eggs, and I had tried most of the desserts. Amil’s mom had already looked out for me and put me up three to-go plates. I was going to tear that up as a late night snack.

“Girl, you bout ready to pop ain’t ya?” Peaches asked as she sat across from me. She was Fendi and Versace’s mama and they’d gotten their looks and straight forwardness from her. She was funny and never hesitated to say whatever was on her mind, so I liked her a lot.

“You see her, huh?” Armias asked as he rubbed my belly. I was sitting in his lap and not because there was a lack of seating. The Pierre family was big and only growing with everyone having kids, but Qaylo and Amil had more than enough space to accommodate everyone. Their sectional was also humongous and could fit 20 something people. Aspen and Aneesah were on one side of us while Zee was snuggled up with me and Armias. He was on his iPad and off in his own little world. The other kids were running around the house and playing with the other children. Everyone who was in the living room was either eating or chilling. Karaoke was happening in the den and different card games were taking place in the kitchen and dining room. The house was busy with family fun and decked in Christmas spirit because the traditional holiday decor was Pinterest worthy.

“Yea. You might mess around and have a December Capricorn, Lo-Lo,” she grinned.

“Oh no, don’t put that in the air. She has a few weeks until she’s full term.”

“Close to full term is full term enough. Ya know, my water broke two weeks early with Fendi. Now I ain’t gon say how it broke two weeks early, but my baby came out perfectly fine.”

“You sure about that?!” Quan asked as he passed by.

“Boy, don’t make me introduce a belt to your black ass!”

“That’s a new one,” Aspen tittered.

“Shittt, it’s an old one for us. My mama used to tell me that all time,” Shakie laughed as she sat down with a plate full of food.

“Speaking of mama’s, where’s Rahesha?” Peaches asked. “I haven’t seen her since the baby shower.”

“You messy,” Armias stifled a smile.

“How? That was the last time I saw her. Messy would’ve been me asking why you made that lady leave.”

“That would be messy because me and Fendi already told you what happened,” Versace said while sitting down with a Christmas themed cup that was undoubtedly filled with alcohol.

“And who told you?” He asked.

“Me,” I answered with no shame. She and Versace Facetimed me the day after the baby shower and I happily told them everything about Rahesha. I didn’t leave out any details about how she’d been weird with me from the beginning. I wasn’t sure if they had relayed all of that to their mom because she hadn’t said anything about it.

“All y’all messy,” he shook his head.

“Guilty,” Peaches shrugged. “So where Rahesha at, for real? It’s Christmas Eve and all her kids are here.”