Page 65 of Smoke

“She went to find a purse to put her hundred dollars in.” She pulled me over to the couch and set me down. “Now spill the beans.”

“Renay—”

“Aht aht! I don’t wanna hear excuses, just tea. You let that man spend the night? Why?”

“Because… he came to check on me. One thing led to another. One minute I was eating an ice cream sundae, and the next I was on the countertop, and I’dbecomethe sundae.”

She squealed. “Eeek! I love it. Wait, did you say the countertop? Where we eat?”

“He cleaned it!”

“Oh, you nasty, nasty. I know that big ass man had them legs in the air. And you thought he wouldn’t want you because you’re pregnant. Like you ain’t a whole bad bitch out here.”

I giggled. I loved my sister. She was my best friend and forever down for me. When I got pregnant at eighteen, she made sure she came to every appointment with Corey and I. She threwmy baby shower and catered to me the entire day before, to get me ready. When I gave birth to Korri, she was right by my side, crying as I brought her favorite little person into the world.

The night we lost Corey, I’d called her crying my eyes out. She was on a date and stole that man’s car to come be with me. Everything I’d ever been through in life, she’d always been right by my side.

“You never let me forget that I’m pressure.”

“Never. Sarah and Carlton raised some beautiful girls, and you’re doing the same. You deserve to be happy. Look at you, Ro. You’re glowing right now, sis. Shit, maybe I need some new dick to put a smile on my face.”

“It wasn’t the dick. It was the mouth. What a mouth it was… oh my God. Whew!”

She grinned. “Look at you over here getting all hot and bothered over that man. Did you at leastseethe dick?”

I nodded. “Girl, I’ve committed it to memory.”

“So… are the stories true? ’Cause I’ve heard talk about that man walking around with a third leg. Girl, you have to be careful. We don’t need my niecey poo coming early.” She bent over to rub and kiss my belly. “Ain’t that right, Juri? Tell your mama and stepdaddy they have to let you finish baking, pud!”

I rolled my eyes. “I cannot. Stepdaddy? I’ve only known the man a little over a month, Renay.”

“I’m speaking it into existence. I’ve been manifesting a good man for you, just as hard as I’ve been manifesting one for myself. We’re getting a ring one of these days.”

I nodded. I wanted that. I wanted my baby to have awholefamily, with a mother and father. True, she had a family. It wasn’t like she came from a broken home. Her father was gone, at no fault of his own. My father and Corey’s father were great with her, and she wasn’t lacking on any love. I wasn’t desperate enough to put up with any old thing for the sake of having a man.

If I never found a husband, she would be okay.

The sound of my baby running down the stairs broke me from my thoughts.

“I’m ready!” she announced, posing with her little crossbody bag.

I could guarantee the only thing in there was her money, phone, and the ChapStick she loved so much. I guess all a girl needed were her essentials. Renay helped me up from the couch, and I went to grab my things so we could go. I hoped today was as good a day as I promised my baby.

“Jaeda!”I yelled, walking into her house.

Her, Salima, Shar, and Mia were sitting on the couch, watching TV. They looked back at me with frowns on their facial covered faces.

“Must you do that?” she asked. “You see us sitting right here.”

“My bad. I wasn’t expecting you to be in here. You know you love being cooped up in that office on your Geek Squad shit.”

“Fuck you. I assume you want something, so don’t come in here on your bullshit.”

“Well, aren’t you sassy today?”

I closed the door and walked over to where they were sitting with an assortment of snacks and snatched up the bowl of popcorn.

“Why are y’all looking like this?” I asked, motioning between them.

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