Page 186 of Restless
“Indeed, they aren’t,” Pop said. “Roxanne is good friends with Zuria, Jaleena’s mom. They’ve co-chaired several charities, along with Jordan. Zuria’s a Civil Rights attorney and Miah, her father, has a small tech company.”
Uncle Johnnie lifted a brow at Rory. “Are the Davises black?”
“Yeah, Dad,” Rory said testily.
“They human, Johnnie, so shut the fuck up,” Dad barked.
“Because you don’t see color, right, Christopher?” Uncle Johnnie demanded. “That’s a crock of shit by the way. Color is thefirstthing you see on a person.”
“As I said, shut the fuck up. Ain’t my fault if you a stupid motherfucker.”
“I’m stupid? Not seeing color doesn’t remove your prejudices. How can you address issues if you refuse to address differences? So, yes, I take issue with your claim that youdon’tsee color.”
Unperturbed, Dad shrugged. “You take fuckin’ issue with everyfuckinthing, so it ain’t surprisin’. I see color inasmuch Mort’s black and I’m white—”
“That’s seeing color, Christopher!”
“In fuckin’ passin’, Johnnie. You see it all the fuckin’ time. Still not an issue, but the motherfuckin’ fact you judge people because of it,is.”
“Doesn’t sound like you don’t see color to me,” Uncle Johnnie persisted, ignoring Dad’s very valid point. “Youpointed out Mortician is black. I never have, though he’s friends with my wife and I allow my children to refer to him and Digger as ‘uncle’.” He used air quotations when he said the last word.
Exchanging a glance with Uncle Digger, Uncle Mort sighed and folded his arms.
Suddenly, the noisy chatter and laughter that CJ barely noticed died away. Although he hoped otherwise, he suspected the reason, confirmed a moment later when Bishop threaded his way through the throng with Jaleena and her family following behind.
Jaleena, her two sisters, Jillian and Juliana, and their mother all wore metallic dresses with uneven hemlines in various shades of green and gold. Jaleena wore light makeup, unlike her sisters who sported none, and their mother who’d gone all out. A red tie embroidered with snowmen complemented Mr. Davis’s dark gray suit.
It seemed as if the entire room focused on the Davises. As Outlaw’s son, CJ grew up with all eyes on him. The scrutiny didn’t bother him. However, the Davises might feel differently.
Her face inscrutable, Jaleena glanced around, then offered CJ a nod. “Thank you for inviting us to your place.”
CJ returned her nod with one of his own and held out his hand to her father. “Hello, sir. I’m CJ Caldwell. I’d like to introduce you to my father—”
Mr. Davis glared at CJ’s hand, looking toward the table. His brows lifted. “Knox, what are you doing here? Where’s your wonderful wife?”
“She’s with CJ’s mom, helping to prepare dinner, Jeremiah.” Pop appeared at CJ’s side. “Let me introduce you and—”
“Introductions can fuckin’ wait,” Dad said flatly, brushing past them. “Let’s walk home.”
Jaleena turned her back on CJ and whispered to her mother. The two of them laughed, and his ears burned in humiliation.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he followed his father.
“You don’t live here?” Juliana asked, falling into step beside CJ.
Having so many witnesses to Mr. Davis’s snub and Jaleena’s formality knotted CJ’s stomach. “No, I live in a house, Juliana.”
“Prez, you need anything?” Potter called from a barstool, since a new crop of Probates were in training, and one currently served behind the bar.
“Nope.” Dad stormed outside, but held the door open until CJ leaned against it, allowing the others to file out.
“Spooky,” Jillian chirped a couple minutes later as their little group paused at the edge of the forest, while Dad scanned his fingerprint to unlock the walkway gate.
In recent years, lights were installed between the club and the houses, so it wasn’t nearly as eerie as it once was.
Halfway between the club and the houses, the first glimmer of the Christmas lights on their property twinkled.
“If I would’ve known we had to trek through the forest, I would’ve worn a coat,” Jaleena said from directly behind him, her voice rising above the low hum of conversation between Pop and Mr. and Mrs. Davis. “You invited us to your house, CJ, not a magical mystery tour.”
