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TIFFANY
“Have y’all read the Nome News that Aspen put out this month?” I asked as I tried to hold in my laughter.
Everyone shook their heads, so I enlightened them. “Sis was in her bag with this one. She said that Vegas couldn’t buy his way out of a paper bag but was always promising these kids some Jordans. If we see him getting jumped to just look the other way.”
I burst out in laughter. That fool Vegas had been promising kids around here Jordans for the past forty years. I remembered that he promised Jasper, Storm, and me some when I was seven. Jasper knew better though. He told Vegas,Nigga, you ain’t got no money. I already got some Jordans.As I laughed, I noticed everyone else was laughing, too, until I looked at Marcus. He wasn’t laughing. He slid his hand down his mouth and went outside.
I frowned slightly, and I noticed Syn was somewhat confused too. She stood to go outside after him. They were expecting their first baby together. She was already seven, almost eight, months pregnant. I wanted to follow him out, but I knew it was best to let her talk to him without getting involved. I went over to WJ and sat next to him and Olivia. They’d been working their asses off to make sure Nesha had a wedding she would never forget. Baby girl deserved every bit of it too.
“WJ, did I say something to make Marcus angry?”
“It probably made him think about CiCi. I think she used to sell all the shit that Dad was buying him. Vegas bought some shit from her.”
“Oh, damn. I didn’t know that.”
“It wasn’t something you would have known. I only know because he and I used to talk a lot about shit. That hasn’t changed. So when Dad told him that he tried to be there for him when he was little but CiCi was fucking up, it triggered him. He could remember CiCi selling shit, but he didn’t know where she’d gotten it from, nor that it was his stuff.”
“That’s fucked up. I hate that he’s still dealing with that shit.”
“It’s not as bad as it used to be, but Vegas and those Jordans are triggers for him.”
I nodded then went back to my husband. “You good, lil baby?”
“Yeah. I just didn’t know about Marcus’s issues with Vegas. I’ll have to talk to him later.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Ryder slid his arm around me. “You ready to go get the kids? Milana is about to have a fit at your parents’ house. She said Bali is on her last nerve.”
I chuckled. They were just like Storm and me when we were little. That negro got on my last got damn nerve. “Okay. I know she can only take so much of the twins before she’s ready to get away from them. I doubt Jasper is going to get Ashanni, so we’ll just get her too.”
When I looked up and saw Marcus walking back in with his arm around Syn, I stood and walked over to him. He gave me a smile, and before I could say anything, he said, “It’s cool. You don’t owe me an apology or nothing like that. I got it under control.”
I twisted my lips to the side. “Don’t be a rude ass like your brother. Come on… Bring it in,” I said, holding my arms out to him.
He slowly shook his head and gave me the hug I wanted. Although he tried to be hard, he wasn’t nearly as emotionally hard as Storm. “I know you said I don’t owe you an apology, but I feel like I do. I’m sorry. I had no idea. WJ told me.”
“Apologize by whupping up on those white boys at that rodeo in January.”
“Oh well, shit. You might as well gone ’head and accept that apology now. Milana and Karima gon’ take barrel racing and steer undecorating too. I’m so proud of them. Malia is gonna be next. She wants to barrel race so bad.”
“I know. I’m gon’ have to make sure she gets more practicing in with you.”
“Yep. Bring my baby to me. I’ma get her right.”
He chuckled as I rubbed Syn’s belly. She was so beautiful. She was beautiful before she got pregnant, but my God. She was the most beautiful pregnant woman I’d ever seen. “Syn, you are glowing. Carter and Shylou missed out on their opportunity to have you model a maternity line. Baby, you are gorgeous.”
She gave me a small smile. “No, they didn’t. We got a shoot in last month.”
“Yes! That’s what’s up, sis. Well, let me go so we can get our kids. Nesha ain’t worried about us old folks anyway. See y’all tomorrow evening.”
I kissed Marcus and Syn then made my way back to Ryder. When I got to him, he pulled me into his arms. This man had been perfect. After all these years, our love had only gotten stronger. We had our moments since I was so head strong, but he knew just how to humble me. I’d never forget how he threw me against the wall when we were dating and fucked me into submission. Sometimes I started shit just to get that kind of action.
“Ryder J wants to stay with SS and King. You know they roll together.”
“Yeah. They remind me of Storm and Jasper, especially him and SS. Royal is Jasper’s son, and he wants no part of their shenanigans. He and Ashanni are so laidback.”
“Well, so is Jasper until you get him all stirred up,” Ryder added.
“True.” I slid my arm around his waist as we walked to our truck. “You think I can get some attention tonight? This wedding has the love in the air.”
