Page 22 of F*ckin' With Me
I almost forgot he was out there. My eyes darted around the room to find the robe that I had on after we got out of theshower.Showering with Daylen was a life-altering experience.The robe was where I pulled it off. I grabbed it, put it on, then rushed into the bathroom to at least brush my teeth.
When I came back into the bedroom, Daylen wasn’t in there. I heard his loud laugh in the living room.Oh Lord.I walked out of the bedroom toward my daddy and Daylen. Daylen’s smile when he saw me warmed my soul, and my heart felt like it did a double beat. His arm extended to wrap around my waist and pull me to his side before he gave me another forehead kiss.
“Good morning, bedhead. How are you doing this morning?” my daddy asked me.
I smiled. “I’m good, Daddy. What are you doing here?”
“I’m wondering why I didn’t see you at your sister’s wedding breakfast.” He looked at Daylen and me. His eyes settled on Daylen. “Son, don’t bring me a grandbaby before you bring me a ring to approve.”
“Daddy!” My hands flew over my face. I couldn’t believe he said that.
Daylen laughed. “I got you, Mr. Brand. You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll make sure she’s official, official before I put a baby in?—”
“Daddy! I didn’t come, because Lanette uninvited me to all her wedding activities, including the wedding itself.” I wanted to stop what I knew would come out of Daylen’s mouth. We weren’t even having sex.
My father’s jaw ticked side to side, and his eyes turned into slits. “What the fuck do you mean, you were uninvited to your sister’s wedding? I know that’s not what I heard you say.”
“Daddy, it’s alright. I never wanted to be in the wedding party anyway. She only asked me so that you wouldn’t get mad,” I admitted.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t give a fuck about you being in that wedding party. Hell, I was surprised when youtold me that you were in it. The way she treats you, I would have told her hell no.”
When he started to pace, I knew we had a problem on our hands. My father got annoyed often, upset even, but that had him infuriated. “Daddy, I promise, I’m fine. Daylen, Rissa, Rashad, and I are going to spend the day doing stuff on the island.”
“Get dressed. I’ll wait for you here. Daylen, get your ass ready. You’re coming too,” my father instructed.
There was no need to argue with him when he used his father tone. I knew better. “Yes, Daddy.” I grabbed Daylen’s hand. “Come on.”
He didn’t resist me pulling him to the bedroom. I closed the door once we were in it. “Daylen, what do I do? He’s going to cuss my mother and sister out.” It was my turn to pace. “What do I do?”
Daylen sat down on the bed bench. “Well, first, I think you should calm down. Come sit next to me.”
I stopped pacing. When he patted the bench again, I hesitantly sat next to him. “I’m calm.”
“What we’re going to do is shower, get ready, and go with your father. I hope his ass does curse their ass out because they deserve that shit.” He grabbed my hand. “You remember at your house, I told you to let me be your nigga?” When I nodded, he smiled softly. “Let that man be your father.”
He was right. I would let my father handle it. “Alright, let’s get ready. I’ll take a shower in Rissa’s room.”
He sucked his teeth. “Simonette, stop fuckin’ playing with me. Get your ass in the damn shower. If your daddy felt a way, his ass would have stopped you from bringing me in here.”
When he stood up and told me to come on, I came on. I guessed we’d run on and see what the end would be.
It took less than an hour for Daylen and me to get ready. By the time we were done, Rissa had already left to go to the beach, and Rashad had disappeared somewhere. I still wondered which bridesmaid he messed with. It had to be Jessica. She was the only single one.
The wedding party was congregating on their villa’s patio. My mother was out there with them like she was young. She was my sister’s best friend, which would be cool if she still remembered her age. Mr. and Mrs. Everland went to the spa for a couple’s session.
“Simone and Lanette, let me have a word with you two privately,” I heard my father say from where Daylen and I stood in the living room.
I didn’t hear what my sister or my mother said, but I heard when my father told them that he was not asking. He didn’t wait for a response before he went into the living room, sat in the single armchair, and crossed one leg over the other.Oh, he means business.
My mother walked in, wearing a bathing suit that, in my opinion, was inappropriate to be around men other than my daddy. Lanette was on her heels. “Robert, what is the meaning of this? You were extremely rude out there.”
“Explain to me how Simonette was uninvited from the wedding festivities. Also, I want to know when someone was going to tell me?” he asked with an even tone.
Lanette cleared her throat. “Daddy, she was rude, and her green monster showed up at dinner. I don’t need that kind ofenergy around me when this is a weekend of celebration. She finally got a boyfriend, and she’s lost her mind.”
Outside of the voices on the porch, there was no other sound. I side-eyed Daylen, whose undivided attention was on the situation in the room. My daddy didn’t immediately speak.
“Lanette, I love you from the bottom of my heart. You are my daughter, and nothing you do will ever change that. Now that we’ve gotten that out the way…” He shifted in his seat. “Your sister has absolutely nothing to be envious of. Why would she be envious of a woman who is engaged to a man who doesn’t really want her?”
