Page 38

I slammed the laptop shut, rubbin’ my chest, tryna get my heart to stop beatin’ so fast. Baltimore was supposed to feel like home. Instead, it was startin’ to feel like another cage.

Thanksgiving with the Mercers was always loud, but add my mom’s side, and it was a whole different type of party. There were at least forty people in this house, and all of them hadn’t even made it here yet. The music was so loud that I could barely hear myself think. My mom’s sister, Aunt Mookie, was in the middle of the floor, dancing with her husband like nobody else was there. Daddy was playing spades in the corner with his brother, Uncle Dusty. We were still waiting for Selene and her crew. Shaina dropped her kids off and said she would be back.

Too much was going on at once. I was so overstimulated that I had to duck off into my old bedroom. When I opened the door, I expected to see all my stuff cleared out, but Mommy only took the stuff off the wall and changed the bedding. She talked all that mess about converting this to her sewing room and didn’t do it. I kicked off my shoes and fell on the bed.

Everything was quieter up here. I just needed a minute to recharge before I went back downstairs. I scrolled through IG, looking at all the nasty ass plates coming down my timeline. Couples popping out for the first time, engagements, baby reveals; all kinds of shit. Then, I got a text from Emery saying that he was pulling up. I jumped up from the bed, put my shoes on, and ran downstairs to meet him on the porch.

When I swung the door open, he was parking his car across the street. Emery stepped out of the car, smiling. I hadn’t seen him in two days. Between both of our work schedules, we didn’t have time. I didn’t even give him a chance to make it to the steps; I jumped right into his arms, and he caught me, laughing.

“You miss me or somethin’?” he asked, kissing my neck, and then my lips.

“Yes! I haven’t seen you in two days, and you gotta leave me again.” I pouted, holding his face.

“Then come wit’ me. You ain’t got no meetings for the first few days after the holiday.”

I sighed, laying my head on his shoulder as he climbed up the steps with me still attached to him like a spider monkey.

“Wait! Don’t go inside yet. It’s loud, and I’m overstimulated. What time we gotta leave tomorrow morning?”

“Five. You gotta get down, Vannah. I ain’t walkin’ in here wit’ you on me like this in front of your pops.”

“That’s so early,” I said, unwrapping my legs from his waist. “At least I can sleep on the flight.”

“Complain inside. It’s cold as shit, and you ain’t got no coat on. Come on.”

Before I could respond, he opened the door, then pulled me inside behind him. As soon as he stepped in, it was like all eyes were on us. Emery always greeted my dad first. He walked over to the spades table, still holding my hand.

“What’s happenin’, Em? I ain’t know if you was gon’ make it for dinner,” my dad said, shaking Emery’s hand.

“I gotta leave early tomorrow morning for a game, but I wasn’t missing my opportunity for that chess rematch.”

My dad laughed so loud that it made me laugh. “Youngin’, you tryna get yo’ ass handed to you again? I got you. Let me finish up this game, then we can get to it.”

“We gon’ see. I been practicin’ for the last few months.”

“Yeah, okay. Go speak to Marley before she come in here fussin’. I ain’t tryna hear her mouth,” My dad said, grinning as he looked over his shoulder toward the kitchen.

“Babygirl, get your daddy a cup with some ice. Don’t tell your mama I’m out here drinkin’ either. She been on my ass all week.”

“Our secret,” I replied, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

Emery led me to the kitchen behind him. This house was so packed that we had to squeeze through. My mom liked Emery, but I don’t think she ever fully accepted him. The way she looked between us as we stepped into the kitchen said it all. If you didn’t know my mom, you wouldn’t catch it, but I could. And anybody who really paid attention would see it too.

“How you doin’, Ms. Marley?” Emery asked.

My mom stood and hugged him, then pulled back with the fake ass smile she gave people she really didn’t care for. I moved around the kitchen, got the ice my daddy asked for, and listened to them talk.

“I’m alright, baby. And you?” she asked.

“I’m good. Just had to make sure I came to greet the lady of the house.”

“Well, I’m glad you did. How long you gon’ be here? Babygirl told me you had an away game tomorrow.”

“Yeah. She’s comin’ wit’ me. I’ll be here for a few hours. We got an early mornin’.”

I moved faster, filling the cup. I turned my head for one second, and I heard my Aunt Mookie’s loud mouth.

“Niece! Is this your man? Introduce us. Don’t be rude,” she said, with her hands on her hips.