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“I’m sure.”

He took the container from her and carried it to the refrigerator so she wouldn’t forget it. When he came back, he rested his hand against her lower back as they walked out of the kitchen. I watched them go, and I couldn’t help but smile. My brother had always been protective of the people he loved, but this was different. He paid attention to Penelope. He noticed when she needed something before she asked, and he looked for her whenever she walked out of a room. I liked seeing him like that.

When I went back into the living room, Daddy was telling Uncle Sha that he wasn’t allowed to touch another rib.

“You ate enough,” Daddy said.

Uncle Sha looked offended.

“I helped cook.”

“You checked the oven,” Daddy said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“And saved your life.”

Aunt Tori laughed from the couch. I had helped Mama put her feet up on the couch because she lightly complained about how her feet were swelling up. A little while later, Uncle Sha and Aunt Tori started getting ready to leave. Because of them, the night was filled with laughter for sure. We were still laughing when they walked out the door. Penelope got ready to leave not long after. She hugged Mama and Daddy, thanked them for dinner, and promised Maylee that she would send her the pictures they’d taken together.

MJ walked her to the front door. I was picking up an empty cup and heading toward the kitchen when Tahari came up beside me.

“You tired?” he asked.

“A little,” I admitted.

He slipped an arm around my waist and kissed my temple. I leaned against him for a second. It was nice to just have a moment ourselves. After breathing in his scent once more, I led the way back into the living room.

Across the room, Mama had closed her eyes while Daddy talked quietly to her. Maylee was curled up on the other end of the couch, scrolling through the pictures on her phone. The tree glowed beside them, and I could still smell dinner coming from the kitchen. I had been looking forward to tonight for weeks. After everything our family had been through, I wanted one evening where we could eat, laugh, and enjoy being together without somebody getting bad news.

Chapter 18

Ghost

Iraised the binoculars when the front door opened. A young nigga stepped outside with some light-skinned bitch in tow. His hand rested against the small of her back. I adjusted the focus as they walked toward a car. Damn. This nigga looks just like Bleek. I knew it wasn’t him though. I had been watching the house long enough to see Bleek coming and going in his wheelchair. This nigga was younger, but the resemblance was too strong to ignore. This had to be MJ. Tahari used to tell me about the Brownes, especially after he first went over there for dinner. He had told me Maliah had a big brother named MJ and how he had an attitude with him that night. It was like he wasn’t too happy about another nigga coming around his sister. I remembered laughing when Tahari told me about it.

Now that I was looking at the nigga through my binoculars, there wasn’t much doubt in my mind that he was Bleek’s son. I kept watching as the woman stopped beside the car and wrapped her arms around MJ’s waist. He bent his head and kissed her. Well, I’ll be damned. Tahari hadn’t told me about her. I didn’t know her name or how long she’d been coming around, but MJ stood there talking to her like he wasn’t ready for her to leave. When she finally got into the car, he leaned down and kissed her again through the open door. I lowered the binoculars as she backed out of the driveway. I knew who the nigga was now. The question was who she was to him.

I waited until her taillights were farther down the road before starting my car. I followed behind the black Kia for a while, keeping a few cars between us. Every time I thought she was getting close to wherever the hell she was going, she made another turn.

“Damn, where the fuck are we going?” I muttered.

It felt like she was driving me through hell. I’d already passed enough gas stations and shopping centers to know we weren’t anywhere near the Brownes’ neighborhood anymore. I glanced at the time, then back at her taillights. I’d come this far, so I might as well see where she ended up.

Eventually, she turned into a property with Hayes Residences spelled out across a sign near the entrance. I slowed down as I drove in behind her. The place was nice as hell. The property had tall buildings, manicured landscaping, lights along the walkways, and cars that looked like they cost more than some people’s houses. I glanced around as I followed the Kia toward the parking garage. She pulled into a space, and I kept going until I reached the visitor parking. I parked several spaces down from her, where I could see her car without being right on top of it.

She got out, grabbed her purse, and headed toward the building. I watched her disappear through the entrance, and then I looked up at the apartments. So, this is where she lives? I still didn’t know her name, but I knew she was close enough to MJ for him to kiss her goodbye in front of his family’s house. I wanted to know a little more about her before I decided what to make of that. I got out of the car and headed toward the building.

PENELOPE

My feet were killing me by the time I made it to the elevator. I had a good time at the Brownes’ house, but between helping Maliah decorate and going back and forth to the kitchen, I was ready to get off my feet. All I wanted was a hot shower and my bed. I stepped inside the elevator and pressed nine. My phone buzzed in my hand.

MJ: You better call me when you get home.

I smiled at MJ’s message and started typing a response.

I’m literally in the elevator

Before I could hit send, a hand slipped between the closing doors. They opened again, and a man stepped inside.

“Sorry about that,” he said.