Page 47 of Feeling Blue

“Nigga, what took you so long to come see us?”

“You know I had to make my rounds.”

“I bet you seen that ugly ass gang already.”

Blue hugged her again while tickling her. She was bent over laughing and trying to get away when she spotted Forever.She was seated at the round table, smiling at their sibling play, when Zurena stood up and stepped away from Blue. She observed her slowly before pointing in Forever’s direction.

“Who is she?”

Blue exhaled because there she went with her shit. He’d already told her all about Forever, and she still wanted to act ill.

“My wife.”

“Your wife?” Zurena’s nose turned up. “Nigga please. Who is this damn girl?”

“I’m Forever Maverick, your brother’s attorney, girlfriend, and whatever else he’d like to call me.” Forever stood with her hand out, waiting for Zurena to shake. “And you are?”

Astounded by her sarcasm and ballsy behavior, Blue stood admiring her with a smirk on his face. He hadn’t thought Forever had it in her, but that was the second time in one day she’d stood up for herself without fear. Granted, both times had been a lot nicer than Journey or Zurena deserved; she’d still done it.

Zurena’s chuckle was loud and ironically void of humor. “Girl, ain’t nobody finna shake your hand. You can sit down.”

“Rena, don’t start your mess with that girl. She’s nice and hasn’t done anything but bring your brother back home to you, so apologize.” Maryann quipped without even turning around to face her.

“For real, because you out of line.” Blue looked at the side of Zurena’s head.

She was still in the middle of the floor with her arms folded across her chest, chest rising with self-inflicted anger. Just as dark as him and Forever, with long hair like his, only hers wasn’t locked, just wild and curly, wide hazel eyes she’d inherited from their mother, and full lips that looked even bigger since she waspouting. A true beauty that looked better going than coming, Zurena held her stubborn standpoint for a few more minutes before cutting her eyes in Forever’s direction.

“Hi.”

Obviously, uninterested in speaking back, Forever took her seat again as his aunt placed a bowl of cabbage in front of her.

“Thank you, it smells good.”

“Eat as much as you like.” Maryann winked at her before switching off.

Forever giggled and bowed her head to pray. Blue watched her silently until she looked up and gave him a thumbs up. He’d wanted to make sure she was good, because he wasn’t ready to leave his family just yet, but he wouldn’t have her anywhere she wasn’t comfortable. Her corny thumbs up sufficed, even if he did have to keep himself from laughing at her when she did it.

“What your mean ass been up to?” he asked Zurena as she took a seat at the table, so that she was facing Forever.

Still tight about her own issues and preferring to take them out on everyone else, she rolled her eyes at him and scrolled on her phone.

“Nothing for real, just running the streets.”

“Running the streets?”

“Yep. Problem?”

“Rena, please lose the attitude. It’s unnecessary. Ain’t nobody did nothing to you.”

“I just find it funny how you had time to entertain women as soon as you touched down, but you just now pulling up on me and auntie,” Zurena’s tone was nasty at best. “And still invaded our time with her.”

“Rena, Forever ain’t no random woman, so stop.”

“Or what?”

“Or you’ll continue to embarrass yourself like you’ve been doing since you got here.”

Blue and Zurena’s heads snapped in Forever’s direction when she spoke.

---