Page 98 of Jaeda

“Good as hell. I don’t know what your brothers smoke, but damn.”

“My uncle has the best strain in the state. He grows it himself.”

“Don’t be telling that nigga all our business, Jae,” Smoke said. “Ol’ pillow talking ass.”

I shot him a look. “I know you aren’t talking. All of y’all pillow talk with my sisters, so keep it cute.”

Quaid waved him off. “He’s just mad his baby loves me already. When I marry your sister, I’m gonna be her favorite uncle.”

“Bullshit!” Deuce said. “I’m the favorite uncle.”

“Cap!” Maceo yelled. “Those kids love Uncle Mace.”

“All of y’all can calm that down,” Steel said, finally coming over. “Everybody knows I’m the favorite uncle. All of y’all’s kids love me real bad.”

“Nigga, fuck you,” Deuce said, splashing water in his direction. “You over there, cupcaking and being antisocial and shit. You’ve been up Donna’s ass all day, my nigga. No offense, Donna.”

Donna giggled. “No offense taken.” She looked at my brother. “Should we tell them?”

Everybody’s ears perked up.

“Tell us what?” Shar asked.

A grin spread across Steel’s face. “We’re having a baby.”

All the women screamed while the guys clapped for him. It made sense now why Donna wasn’t drinking.

I broke away from Quaid and threw my arms around him, tears streaming down my face. I knew how bad my brother wanted to be a father. In our private conversations over the years, he expressed that to me time and time again. He was undeniably the favorite uncle amongst our brothers. The kids adored him.

“I’m so happy for you,” I said, cupping his face. “You are going to be an amazing father, Kerrion.”

“Thank you, Jae.”

I kissed his cheek and moved over to Donna. “Congratulations! I guess we are family now.”

She squeezed me tightly. “I love that. I had to admit I was a little nervous to meet you all, but Kerrion told me there was an abundance of love . . . and insults here.”

I laughed. “Endless insults, but all love.” I reached out to rub her stomach. “Hi, auntie’s baby!”

“I’m glad you finally said something,” Maceo said. “It was hard as hell holding that shit in. No cap. I do love pillow talking with my wife.”

Shar smacked his arm. “So you knew!”

“He told us they were trying, not that they were pregnant.”

“Oh! So y’all were gossiping and sharing secrets, huh? Who else has a secret? Quaid? Titan? Either of y’all knocked my sisters up?”

“Hell no,” Titan said. “Did you not see the way she was throwing those drinks back today?”

Mia mushed his head. “As if I would ever let you impregnate me, nigga. You aren’t even my man.”

Titan kissed his teeth. “You say that, but look where the fuck I am. How many other niggas are you bringing around your family? None. You don’t even like other niggas, and if you do, you better keep that shit on the low before they come up missing. As far as a baby”—he chuckled—“you let me do everything that can result in a pregnancy. If you don’t want my seeds, you better tighten up, and I ain’t talking about them walls, love.”

Mia tried to swing at him, but he grabbed her and dunked her in the water as she screamed. His antics prompted all the men, except for Smoke, to do the same thing. An all-out water fight broke out. Hair clips were everywhere. Shar’s wig slipped off, and the guys had a field day throwing it around while she cursed them all out.

I was doubled over in laughter.

Even if my brothers hated to admit it, they liked having Quaid and Titan around. They’d been playing like kids all day long. It was nice to see them soften up a bit and welcome them into the family. I couldn’t speak for Titan, but my man wasn’t going anywhere, anytime soon, . . . maybe never.

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