Page 59 of Kisses Behind The Spotlight 2: Finale

“Nope.”

“Stop acting like you hate everybody.” Anila shook her head as she pulled me in for a hug.

“Why? Everybody acted like everything was okay, knowing Xain was about to go to jail. If Vincent knew, you did too,” I snipped.

That wasn’t the first time she heard me say that either. I called her as soon as I woke up that morning and read the note. She heard my mouth that morning and for days afterward.

“Now, I haven’t heard from him all day,” I continued.

“That explains your attitude,” Anila noted.

Amill and Jameera entered the suite next, with Stepp and Q’s cousin Karmello right behind them. We exchanged brief hugs before, and that was the routine while the rest of his family arrived. It was like stuffing a clown car. Tech came in, and I begrudgingly hugged him.

“What is it with you two?” His wife, Jury, asked after hugging me.

“Your husband never told you that he hacked the security on the doors in my apartment and locked me in there with Xain like a week after we were fighting in Miami?”

“Tech,” she swatted his arm.

“Come on, man. It worked out. They together, she his prison wife and shit. I feel like I did a good deed. If you gon’ forgive the nigga that pressed me to do it, forgive me too, shit,” Tech laughed.

“You never apologized for me to be able to forgive you,” I retorted.

“Shit, you right. Khaleesi, I apologize for tampering with your doors. It’ll never happen again. I hope that one day you can forgive me. We are family.”

“Apology acc—” I started but stopped mid-sentence when I saw my mother enter the suite with Noah, Maurice, and Van. I took off running toward them. “Mommy!” I squealed, wrapping my arms around her.

“Hey, beautiful. I had to pop out to see this show you put on.”

“Yesssss! I’m so excited that you made it for the show, but I missed you,” I teared up.

“I missed you too. Don’t cry. I know you’ll have things to tend to,” my mom noted.

“It’s the last show, and as long as everything goes smoothly, I’m going to be in here. I have my headset, and we have a clear, unobstructed view of the stage,” I said, flicking the device hanging around my neck.

“Thank you for flying us out, sis.” Noah hugged me, then Maurice and Van did the same.

The suite buzzed with Q’s family, and mine sprinkled in. His family was my family, so it was basically the same. James and Sam walked in next; he didn’t even look like the man who’d been knocking on death’s door a few months ago. He still wasn’t allowed to drive and experienced frequent headaches, but was fine outside of that.

Q’s older sister, Quori, and her husband Vez, walked through the doors with their hands clasped and big goofy smiles on their faces. Quori was rocking a baby bump that I missed the last time I saw her at Quincy’s birthday party. The pregnancy glow looked amazing on her.

“Congratulations. That’s how we know y’all stay in the house. Nobody even told me you were pregnant, and you’re already so big.”

“Yeah, my Fine Shit is finally giving me a jit,” Vez proclaimed, rubbing her stomach with his other hand positioned on her lower back.

“Thank you. We kept it under wraps until we were out of the second trimester. Nobody knew unless they figured it out,” Quori beamed.

“I know y’all are going to have the cutest little munchkin.”

“Thank you,” they replied in unison, then headed for the food.

Everybody looked fab, smelled amazing, and was excited for the concert.

Tucking my attitude, I stepped out to shoot off a few texts to remind everyone where I was. Although we’d discussed it ahead of time, I wanted to be sure nobody forgot. A few people thumbed up the message, and others replied for me to relax and enjoy the show.

I had to do a double take when I turned to head back into the suite. The baby girls, Yarissa and Fallon, strutted down the hallway in matching pink Thom Browne pleated dresses and blush Louboutin ballerina flats. Light pink, dog-shaped Thom Browne purses hung by their sides, with a security escort making them look every bit the VIPs they were. Their hair was blown out, flowing down their backs, and you couldn’t tell them they weren’t superstars. We all exchanged pleasantries and snickered at the girls before joining the family in the suite.

The lights dimmed in the arena, and I ambled to the front of the suite with the headset over my ears. Maurice and Van stood next to me, and I put them in front of me, one hand on their shoulders, as the show started. After a few minutes, I placed my hand over the locket I hadn’t taken off since Xain gave it to me, wishing I felt his arms around me.