Page 3 of Defending the Post
Watching her attempt to put in my earbuds amused me, but my enjoyment was interrupted by another text message.
Toni
Hi Marquise, can we start over?
I toggled over and blocked her ass. Malcolm had been playing on my damn phone again. I had no desire to reconnect with his biological mother. She had it rough, but at what point do we move on from the past? Anissa rescued and raised us, we have a better life because of her, and I finally have a dad. I’m good. Khaira pushed the earbud into my ear, but it fell out, and I laughed at the frustration on her face.
As I pulled into my parents’ driveway, I shut down my car and listened to Khaira snore. She fell asleep before I merged onto the freeway. Our two days together flew by too fast, but I planned to approach my parents about the offseason. She could spend the weekends with them and weekdays with me. It’s a win-win for everybody involved, with them having multiple businesses. Iunbuckled my sister from her car seat and rested her sleeping body on my shoulder. Before shutting the door, I grabbed a shopping bag from my front seat.
Mom didn’t allow me to step inside the house before reaching for Khaira. She woke up as I transferred her to Mom.
“Marquise, why is Khaira wearing a gold bracelet??” Mom asked as she patted her on the back to reintroduce sleep.
My jeweler dropped off my order this morning, leaving me more than satisfied with my purchases. I added a gold rope chain to my collection. Malcolm bought Jhae a platinum charm bracelet, and she squealed. For a brief second, I was jealous not having a woman to buy for, but I shook the feeling quickly.
“She wanted to match her brother,” I said, and Mom lifted one brow in disbelief.
I kissed Mom’s cheek before I followed her to the living room. Ivey sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone. I snatched it from her hands as I plopped down and rested lazily against her.
“Marquise, give Ivey back her phone,” Mom said with her back turned.
Ivey extended her hand as if I were going to obey. I scrolled through her unlocked phone, searching for people to harass. The contacts were coded by number and emojis. I peered over at Ivey as she smirked.
“I will send out a group message. Who’s the boy, Ivey?” I demanded.
When she refused to answer, I applied more body weight. She tried to squirm for freedom but couldn’t break away.
“Mom!” she yelled.
“What’s going on in here?” Pops said as he entered from the hallway.
After witnessing us in a sibling tug of war, he continued to walk toward the kitchen.
“Why is Khaira wearing a gold bracelet?” he asked Mom.
“Ask your son,” Mom said, and Pops chuckled.
Ivey tried slumping but remained unsuccessful in gaining her freedom.
“I got you something,” I said, and she stopped moving, rotating her head in my direction. I nodded toward the bag resting on the couch.
A smile adorned her face, as excitement bloomed in her eyes.
“Is it my grill?” she asked, and Pops groaned.
Since the day Ivey came into our lives, he’s been on me and Malcolm about our spending. Ivey gets me every time with her boldness and those brown eyes. As her older brother, if I don’t spoil her, some fool will do something simple, and her head will be gone. If I buy her diamonds, his punk ass better spend more than me and take care of her.
I shifted my body, passing her the bag. She ripped and rambled through it, securing the box inside.
“Yep, it’s my grill,” Ivey confirmed as she lifted in the air to examine the gold and diamonds.
“Son, why?” Pops asked, as his voice echoed from the kitchen
“You know why,” Mom said.
“She’s my baby,” I added.
My parents shook their heads as Ivey popped the grill over her teeth. She elbowed me in the ribs, and I leaned in positioning myself for a picture.
