Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“All done.” I kissed his cheek, then exaggeratedly gagged in the sink. “I think I ate some of your hair.”
He rolled his eyes, but he enjoyed this. “You’re a fool.”
“Thanks, baby.” I winked.
We cleaned up the mess real quick, then got in the shower together.
“I’ll moisturize your scalp,” I said when we got out.
“I can do it.”
“Never said you couldn’t.”
For a moment I thought he was going to shut me down, but he nodded and sat for me so I could take care of him. I loved doing things like this for Marcus, which was a bit of a shock to the system.
We finished getting ready, and like always, he kept that slight bit of stubble on his face that I loved against my skin.
Before I knew it, we were in Marcus’s car.
“The ten, to the sixty, seventy-one, then the ninety-one,” I said. “I know the route like the back of my hand, and even if it tells you traffic is better the other way, it’s usually not.”
“I hate the ninety-one,” Marcus replied.
“Who doesn’t? I hate every freeway, but it’s part of life.”
It took an hour and a half to get there, but everything took forever in Southern California. We were used to it.
We’d just pulled onto the street I grew up on when I said, “Thank you for having my back today. My mom’s gonna be hurt, especially since it took me so long to tell her, but I just… I don’t want to let her down, but I’ve also got to do what I think is right, ya know?” I shrugged. “So yeah, I appreciate it. This is probably going to be a mess. It’s that house.”
I pointed to the older, peach-colored stucco home. Marcus pulled off onto the side of the road, hooked his finger beneath my chin, and turned my head so I faced him. “You don’t let them down. I hear how the two of you talk on the phone. It’s like you’re best friends or something. She’s just going to miss you.”
Yeah, he was right. I knew that, and damn, I wanted Marcus to have what I did. I knew my mama would take him in, though. “She’ll kick my ass for not telling her sooner.”
“That too,” he joked.
“I’m gonna miss you,” tumbled out of my mouth.
He cocked his head slightly before lowering his hand. His reply didn’t come straight away, but his gaze didn’t turn from me. It lured me in, spoke the words Marcus didn’t say aloud—I’m gonna miss you too. “We should go in. No stalling.”
I nodded, and the two of us headed for the door. The metal screen door was closed, but the front door was open, voices drifting outside.
I pulled it open just as I heard, “Uncle Kai!” before the babies came running for me.
“They like me,” I told Marcus, who stepped in behind me.
“Who’s that?” Lil Jay asked.
“This is my friend Marcus.”
“He’s tall,” my nephew replied.
“Jay…” my brother said from across the room. He was big on teaching the kids about respect.
My nephew held his hand out to Marcus. “Hi, I’m Jalen.”
“What’s up, lil man? I’m Marcus.” He knelt, and they shook. The other kids all tried to do the same, telling him their names and giving him their hands.
I’d never seen Marcus with kids before. I couldn’t pretend part of me didn’t want to just sit back and enjoy it—the man who was usually gruff with people he didn’t know was the complete opposite with them.
Mama and Faith came out of the kitchen, just as my dad, brother, and the spouses stood. When Marcus was on his feet, Jalen approached him. “How old are you?”
“Jay,” I warned just as my dad swatted the back of his head.
“Old enough that I don’t have to answer that question, just like Kai is old enough that he doesn’t need you to worry about that on his behalf,” Marcus replied, and…oh shit. Marcus was letting my brother know that our relationship was between us. All I could do was hold my breath.
Jalen smiled. “I like him. What’s up, man?” And just like that, I knew Jalen and Marcus would be okay.
“Nice to meet you, son. I’m Bernard,” Dad introduced himself.
“And I’m Ann.” Mama hugged him, then introduced the rest of the family. It was a lot of names, but Marcus struck me as the kind of man who would remember them all.
Everyone went to take a seat in the living room, but there weren’t a lot of them. The couch was full. I was going to sit on the floor so Marcus could have the last chair, but he shook his head. “I’m good. Sit down.”
I almost argued with him, but I knew Marcus would insist, which would draw more attention, so I said playfully, “Thanks, baby.” I felt the eyes of everyone in my family on me, but I ignored them.