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“Aight, that’s enough. I need to go outside to smoke,” Saint announced, causing them all to laugh.
He and Hosea went outside and rotated a blunt. When they were done, the women were still in the restaurant talking. As Cartier and Harmony talked about their hobbies and interests, goals and plans, Saint realized how much he’d been waiting to have a relationship like this. One that allowed him to share his happiness with those closest to him. All he could do was wrap his arm around Harmony and pull her close as pride filled him. A whole hour passed before they were finally leaving the restaurant, and Saint gave the waitress an extra hundred dollars since they’d used the table for so long.
“Me and Saint are going downtown to listen to live music and get a little dancing in tonight,” Harmony said, arm wrapped around Cartier’s as they walked across the parking lot. “Y’all wanna come?”
“I’m down. Zay, do you have anything planned for tonight?”
“Nah, that’s cool as long as Saint doesn’t mind us crashing his date.”
Saint chuckled as he opened the door for Harmony. “Yeah, that’s cool. Y’all are more than welcome to come. I’ll call the rest of the crew too.”
Harmony gave both Cartier and Hosea a hug before getting in the car, and as soon as Saint closed the door Cartier said, “Saint! I love her. She’s laidback like you but her aura is charismatic. And she’s cool as hell too. You picked well with her, brother.”
“I know, sis. I guess I’ll let her meet Ma and Pops for Christmas. We’re going slow, like I said, but I ain’t letting her ass go no time soon.”
Cartier gave him a hug and squeezed him tight. As she said yet again that she was happy for him, Saint couldn’t help but smile because he was happy for his damn self too.
ChapterTwenty-Five
Harmony
Christmas Eve
Though Saint had already mether siblings and started to hang out with her brothers, Christmas Eve was the first time he’d met her parents. The only fear Harmony had was her parents thinking she was moving too fast. While they wouldn’t voice their concerns in front of Saint, they would definitely do so when they had her alone. As soon as they arrived at her parents’ home and she’d introduced Saint to her parents, they were whisking him away to the dining room to grill him alone. As calm as Harmony tried to remain, she was a nervous wreck.
“Why are you so anxious?” Angel asked, sitting next to Harmony and placing her hand on her bouncing leg.
“I just don’t want them to be overly protective because of Keith and not give Saint a real chance.”
“I can admit I wanted you to only have a sexual relationship so soon after your engagement ended, but at the same time, we don’t control when true love and connection comes our way. Saint seems really sincere in how he’s handling you. We don’t really know how a person will change with time, so I say enjoy the present and how good he makes you feel for as long as you can.”
“That’s true. I think a lot of people end up in hopeless, loveless relationships because they can’t detach. That was my problem with Keith. I knew we’d reached our expiration date right after he proposed but I stayed because I didn’t want to miss out on marriage. That’s not the case with Saint. We’re being careful with our own hearts and each other’s and we’re communicating every step of the way. I’m cautious but I’m also enjoying the hell out of him.”
“Then that’s all that matters, no matter what our parents think. Enjoy yourself, baby. You deserve it! Besides, he won your brothers over, so that’s an automatic win.”
Harmony laughed because she couldn’t deny that. It took her brothers over a year to warm up to Keith, yet they clicked with Saint instantly. Finally having the confidence to relax, Harmony stood and cut the fireplace on. The Temptations Christmas album was playing, and her mom’s chocolate chip-cinnamon cookies in the oven had a sweet scent permeating the living room.
“Are we doing the cups this year?” Angel wondered.
“I hope so. That was fun last year,” Harmony replied.
“If we are, it’s probably already set up upstairs,” TJ said.
Since their children were adults now, Monique and Trent Senior had created new traditions for their family for the holidays. On Thanksgiving, they had an early dinner and game night before going their separate ways. On Christmas Eve, they opened their presents and had dinner, and on Christmas Day, they volunteered as a family that morning after church then went their separate ways.
Last year, Monique and Trent decided to gift their children one gift and put several other gifts under cups that they were able to choose from. Some cups were empty or had food or gag gifts while others had anywhere from one to one thousand dollars in them. Though she’d let her mom know last minute that Saint would be joining them, they had a gift for him under the tree as well, and Saint had also gotten gifts for everyone before they arrived.
“Harmony,” Monique called, and Harmony’s heart dropped to her feet as she stood.
She briskly made her way to the dining room, where she found her parents on one side of the table and Saint calmly seated on the other. Harmony couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him. He looked good as hell in his burgundy sweater and slacks. Though she told him it would have been okay if he wore his usual designer T-shirt with a pair of Nikes or Jordans, he insisted on wearing something a bit less casual to meet her parents.
“Everything okay?” she confirmed, making her way next to Saint.
When she sat down, she took his hand into hers under the table.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” her father asked with a teasing grin.
“I don’t know what type of time y’all were on during this conversation, so I’ve been concerned.”
