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“If you’re about to tell me one of those trifling ass skeezers you’ve entertained is about to make me a grandmother, I don’t wa⁠—”

Cassius’ laughter interrupted her budding rant. “Nah, it’s nothing like that. You think you can pause the Golden Girls Club for a moment?”

“Boy,” she swatted his shoulder. “Don’t make me revert to my old ways, grab a belt, and show you how young I am.”

“You got it, Ma,” he chuckled, holding up his hands. “I don’t want no smoke.”

“That’s what I thought,” she smirked, waving him off. “I’ll meet you in your father’s study in a few minutes.”

Giving her a short nod, Cassius took the hall to his father’s study, admiring the photos that lined the way as he did. Long lines of ancestors were perched on the walls, dating back to Whiskey Creek’s founding. Cassius would be the first to admit that there were days he wished life was regular, but a particular pride took root whenever he was reminded of his family’s history and the legacy they’d built.

True to her word, his mother joined him minutes later, closing the door behind her.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know how much Pop has told you about what’s been happening lately,” he said, deciding to dive right in and pull the Band-Aid off.

“I’ve heard a thing or two,” she replied cryptically.

“Including that Aella and I agreed to get married?”

Sighing, his mother smoothed her pants and sank into an empty chair. “Your father mentioned something to that effect. But I won’t lie; I was hoping it wasn’t true. Marriage isn’t something to be entered lightly, son. Those vows mean something. You can’t just forget them any time a woman with a pretty face crosses your path.”

“What you tryna say?” Cassius smirked.

“What’s understood doesn’t have to be explained,” she waved him off.

“What young person you been around?”

“Boy, focus. Now tell me what made you change your mind about Aella.”

“It’s more like she changed her mind.”

His mother smirked. “I can only give you my blessing on this if you plan on doing right by her, Cassius. I understand the politics of this lifestyle, but affairs of the heart are nothing to play with. That’s why I’ve been trying to get you to slow down on the number of women you entertain.”

“I know, I know,” Cassius dragged a hand down his face. “Elle and I talked the other day and agreed to genuinely try to make this work. But I don’t know the first thing about this husband shit. What do women even want?”

“A marriage is based on respect, loyalty, romance, and honesty.”

Cassius opened his mouth to respond when his phone vibrated again. Fishing it out of his pocket, he frowned upon seeing Zelina calling again.

“I hear you, Ma,” he said, declining the call again, but instead of returning the phone to his pocket, he composed a text asking Zelina to meet him at the restaurant they frequented when they met in public. “I’ll talk to Elle and get to the bottom of it.”

His mother stood, opening her arms for a hug. “I’m proud of you, son.”

Chuckling, Cassius pulled her into his arms. “I haven’t even done anything to be proud of yet.”

“Maybe not. But the look in your eye when you speak about Aella lets me know you will. We’ve met, but not as her being my future daughter-in-law.”

“I will. I’ll talk to you later. I have a loose end to tie up before I seriously consider bringing Aella into my life.”

With her hands on his shoulders, his mother narrowed her eyes, giving him a knowing look. “Be kind, Cassius. And be mindful of the young woman’s feelings, whoever she may be.”

He didn’t even ask how she knew he was talking about a woman.

“I hear you, Ma. Trust me, I plan to handle things as civilly as possible.”

Cassius may have intended to be civil, but Zelina was anything but.