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“Thank you for loving me, Nate. I’ll never forget that either.” She grabbed my hand and said, “Let’s go see what they are up to. I heard the music kick up.”
I smiled at her and allowed her to lead me back inside. When we walked in, I hollered with laughter. Kenya was dancing with Storm. “I’ll be damned if she ain’t got Uncle Mayor on the dance floor! She is definitely special, Nate.”
I slowly shook my head as Jess made her way back to Brixton with a smile on her face. While I still felt something for Jess, it was nowhere near what I was feeling for Kenya. Tonight had proven that I was completely open and ready to be in love and truly move on in life with Kenya by my side.
CHAPTER 18
KENYA
“So should I call you Uncle Mayor? I heard your niece say that. Y’all feel like family to me because of how cool y’all are with Nate.”
“See, you and Yendi smart as hell. Y’all know how to butter a nigga biscuit. These muthafuckas around here disrespectful as fuck. I done got in office and made Nome great again, and they don’t appreciate that shit.”
I stood there in front of him with my eyebrows slightly lifted, until his brother, introduced to me as Jasper, pushed him and said, “Nigga, shut the fuck up. Can’t take yo’ ass no-damn-where. Can take the nigga out the country, but can’t take the country out the nigga.”
“Jasper, carry yo’ ass on. I’m talking to Kenya.”
I giggled then leaned over to grab his hand. I had to lay it on thick. Since Nate said he was the mean one, I knew if I got on his good side, I wouldn’t have shit to worry about. “Uncle Mayor, if it’s okay with your wife, you wanna come dance with me? I recognize your greatness. Leave them people in your dust.”
His wife rolled her eyes as he stood and glanced at her. “It’s okay with her. Come on here, girl. Nate alright with me, with his tall ass.”
I chuckled as we got to the dance floor next to Noah and TAZ and danced to “Slow Dancing” by Kenyon Dixon. Regardless of the song title, it was more of a mid-tempo cut. Uncle Storm had rhythm. I liked him already. He grabbed my hand and spun me around as I laughed. He was tall, too, despite him talking about Nate. Maybe only a couple of inches shorter. It seemed most of the men in their family were tall.
I glanced toward the foyer, trying to see when Nate and Jess would make their way back inside. Although I knew he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize us, I was still a little on edge. I supposed Uncle Mayor could sense it. “His sensitive ass ain’t out there doing nothing but talking. I was just fucking with them when they left out. Ain’t neither one of them crazy enough to do shit. Brixton will air this place the fuck out, and I would help him.”
“I swear I like you. Cool as a damn fan in the window during the summertime.”
He frowned slightly, then laughed. “Shiiid, you good people. TAZ is too nice and quiet. You more my speed. Since Nate and Brix cool now, maybe y’all will come to the country and visit.”
His twang was a little stronger than Nate’s, but it had some hood to it. I loved that shit. As we continued to dance, I saw Nate standing there watching us with a smile on his face. Jess was frowning as she approached us. “Uncle Mayor? You dancing and shit? Who making sure the rest of these niggas doing what they supposed to do?”
“Damn, Jess. I have an assistant. What you think Marcus for? Cut a nigga some slack.”
She dropped the act and laughed then grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. Somehow, I felt like I knew what that meant. I knew I had a good man. She didn’t have to assure me of that shit. Storm grabbed my hand and twirled me again, then said, “I’ma go chill out before they think it’s open season to do what they want. When the cat’s away, the mice will play.”
I laughed, and he did too. “It was nice meeting you, Kenya.”
“Same here.”
I made my way to Nate as he slapped Storm’s hand. When I got to him, he pulled me close. “If you had that affect on that nigga, I know for sure you’re an angel.”
I giggled. “So, I assume the conversation went well.”
“Yeah. She saw what I’d said when a reporter asked me about you. He’d asked if you were my new love interest, and I’d told him yeah. So she was very receptive to what I had to say, believing it was true and not just me trying to make her feel better about what happened between us.”
“That’s good, baby. I’m glad it went well. She seems nice.”
“Shiiiid, don’t get on her bad side though.”
As I laughed, Noah went to the mic. “So y’all done ate, got entertained by Rachelle Ferrell, cut a lil rug, and now my sister-in-law, Kenya, is about to bless us with her vocals. Y’all get ready!”
Nate’s eyes widened. I puckered for him to kiss me then headed to the front. Noah passed the mic to me. “TAZ, you have always been a big sister I could look up to. You taught me about music and even gave me vocal lessons. Everything you learned, you passed down to me. I appreciate those lessons. Now I’m going to sing one of your favorites.”
I winked at her, then smiled at Nate as the track was cued up. When I began singing “In The Morning” by Ledisi, TAZ stood to her feet. “Kenya, you better sang!” she yelled.
I nearly laughed in the mic. When we were younger, I used to imitate Ledisi a lot, so I could mimic her well. I did every run she did and even did the growls. TAZ took off her shoe and threw it toward me, causing the crowd to laugh. However, when I brought my attention to Nate, he seemed to be in awe. Not many people had heard me sing this way. It was rare I sang by myself in front of a crowd.
His lips were parted and everything. When I sang,I need you here with me,the most challenging part of the song for me, transitioning from the bridge back to the chorus, I stared right at him. My eyebrows were lifted, and my facial expression probably looked horrible trying to hit those high notes full voice, but I didn’t care. I wanted him to know how much I needed him. I wanted him to know how much I loved him.
