Page 21 of Can I?

I shook my head. I couldn’t dare stare into his eyes. It felt like there was fire in them that would set me ablaze if I did. Heleaned over and firmly grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up. “You my niece, but you and Ashanni are like my daughters too. You fucked up. Big time. And you have to live with that shit for the rest of your life. But I’m choosing not to hold it against you anymore. I’m still angry . . . still hurt, but I forgive you, Milana.”

I bolted from my seat and fell to him. He hugged me tightly as I cried. I was at his and Uncle Jasper’s houses as much as my own growing up. Their embraces meant the world to me. I could truly move on from this depressive state I seemed to sink to whenever I was around my family. When I pulled away, he said, “Now get yo’ ratchet ass off me.”

I laughed then sat in my chair. “I love you, Unc.”

“I love you too, baby. That bitch gon’ suffer the same fate as Shayla she keep coming around here. Don’t go nowhere by yourself. Okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

He got up and went back to their meeting, and my mama sat across from me. “You sure you okay? I can get Kenny to look at you.”

“It’s okay. I can feel my lip is swollen, but I’ll deal with it when I get home.”

I closed up my box and stood from my seat. That girl was fucking me up. I wasn’t a fighter like my mama, but I could usually hold my own. I’d been in a couple of fights growing up but none since I’d been grown. Had I recognized that bitch, I would have been more on guard.

“Mama, will you follow me home until I get in the house?”

“I planned to do that anyway.”

“I wanted to go see Ace today, but I guess that’s out until somebody can go with me.”

“If you still feel like it later, I’ll take you.”

“Thanks, Mama.”

We walked outside just as Ashanni and Maui were driving up. I supposed they got busy at the office. They hopped out of Ashanni’s car, and Maui ran right to me. “Oh my God! Lana, what happened?”

“Stupid bitch came in the diner and jumped me. I didn’t recognize her, but she was Julius and Malik’s sister.”

I glanced at my mama, then said, “I’m going home. I’ll talk to y’all later.”

They both spoke to and hugged my mama, then told her they would make sure I got home. When Mama went back inside the diner, Ashanni said, “I would have beat that bitch’s fucking face in. I’m Chasity Pollard Henderson’s daughter. She just as bad as Aunt Tiff. You may not have inherited that ‘fuck ’em up’ lifestyle, but I surely did.”

I rolled my eyes as Maui laughed. Ashanni was about that life by mouth only. I’d never witnessed her fighting or even telling somebody off. She was just as mild as Maui by deed. Maui was just more soft-spoken like Karima. She had to really be pushed for her Henderson to show itself. She hopped in my truck with me, and Maui got in the car and followed us to my mama’s house.

“So what’s up with you and Asad? His eyes were on you for most of dinner last night.”

She huffed slightly. “He’s a really nice guy, and he’s fine as hell. I just feel like I’m not ready. He’s so much older and more mature than me. He’s like thirty-two or thirty-three years old.”

“So. Ferris is six years older than me. Are you afraid of something?”

She lowered her head for a moment. “Not afraid. Just nervous. He seems really respectful, but I feel like he would turn my ass inside out. I’m not ready to want to devote so much of my time to a man. That’s all. I don’t want to be caught up. I knowthat’s what will happen. You know how I am. I’m not tryna add to my body count right now. I have no restraint.”

I chuckled as I turned into the driveway. I could understand where she was coming from. Ashanni had a hot girl summer last year, simply because her restraint wasn’t working like it should. She trusted niggas too easily too. If they said they wanted to be in a relationship with her, she was ready. So I could understand her wanting to get better at filtering out bullshit before making that leap.

My dad had just gotten home and was on the back porch. I turned to Ashanni and smiled.

“Y’all don’t have to stay. I know you’re just on your lunch break. I love y’all.”

“Love you too. I hate that we were running late. Make sure you put ice on your face.”

“Okay,” I said as my phone chimed.

Killing the engine, I grabbed my purse and got out then pulled my phone from my pocket to see a message from Ferris.

Thinking about you, beautiful. Call me when you have time.

He was so sweet. I just wished my life was more in order before he came along. He didn’t deserve this bullshit I was going through. I really liked him. We talked nearly all day yesterday. Since I wasn’t driving, I had plenty of time to kill on the eight-and-a-half-hour drive back from Birmingham. He and Asad split the drive between the two of them.

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