Page 78 of The Promise

I crouched down to help put on her jacket. “You did a lot today. You ran all around the property, ate lots of goodies, danced with Mommy, went downstairs to check on Uncle Juggy, and you even did Gam-Gam’s hair. Right?”

Chi-Chi nodded, and I took her hand to head to the door. Her father and Amy followed. All the way to the front of the house, people offered their goodbyes to her.

“You leaving?” A throaty, slimy timber sounded. It was Tyreek, standing just in the foyer with a few of Jas’ cousins.

Startled, I glanced around, noting Antoine, Quan, and Myron with him. Two of them shook their heads, while Myron couldn’t even look at me. They had to know Tyreek was a bit too forward. Why did men do this to women? If we showed no interest, why not back off?

“You good, TyTy?” an even crisper tenor rented the foyer.

Jas had walked up, slapping Tyreek on the shoulder, staying close to him as his body pushed forward. It was a rough-housing technique I didn’t understand. Butdamn, was I relieved Jas was there! I mean, I felt safe around all of Jas’ other cousins here today, but none of them felt as protective as Jas.

“Yeah, man.” Tyreek cracked a slick smile. “Just saying how fuckin’ blessed you are to have these two beautiful queens.”

Jas pointed to Chi-Chi. “She’s a beautiful baby. Her moms does well for herself, and she’s family. Amongst us all, she’s family, and family is guarded. You feel me?”

That was a message I’d need time to decode. Either way, I didn’t like how Tyreek’s expression morphed into a crooked smirk and empty eyes. He didn’t respond, nor did Jas wait for him to before continuing with us to the door.

Jas gave Chi-Chi a final hug and kiss, and I followed her and Amy to the waiting car. While reaching inside to apply her car seat belt, I could hear chatter behind me.

“Muah!” I offered while giving her a final kiss. “See you soon, Chi!”

“Bye, Mommy!” She waved at me before I closed the door.

The car pulled off as I waved goodbye. A chill ran through me. All the month of May brought to New Jersey was a break from all-day cold temperatures. That was it. Because when the sun went down as it had hours ago, along with the blanket of darkness came a deep drop in degrees.

Rubbing my arms, I felt goosebumps beneath my palms. “Whew! I need a shot or a—” I turned to him and saw Jas finishing an embrace with Josie.

His attention arrived to me, and when she sensed the shift, Josie found me, too. “Oh! Shi-Shi, you’re here!” She smiled.

I wrapped my arms around my torso and smiled, too, as I sauntered to them near the door. “I am. How are you, Josie?”

“I’m good.” She beamed. I was sure to keep a comfortable distance not to give the slightest impression that I would greet her with a friendly hug. I was tolerant and respectful, two things I had still been waiting for Jas to exhibit regarding my dating life. “Sorry for coming empty-handed—I mean, I already gave Ojasvi his gift last weekend.” She peered up into his eyes. Gosh, Josie was small. She had to be five feet two inches at best—with the heels she wore tonight. “I wish I could have brought something like a dish, but you said nothing was needed.”

Jas shook his head before glancing my way. “My cousin, Chels, and Ashira took care of everything. You want something to eat?”

“Yeah. Can I use the bathroom first? I should have gone before leaving the house, but I was so excited about not being later than I already am,” she giggled.

Jas pushed open the door even further. “You know where it is.”

Josie didn’t take any time to go inside. I wasn’t too far behind her. When I reached the top of the steps, I asked, “She already has the benefit of your full name and knowledge of your name being on this deed so soon into knowing you. Are we allowing her around Chi-Chi already, too? Or do I not get a say on that?”

I didn’t expect an answer, but when I proceeded inside the doorjamb, Jas grabbed my arm, pulling me back. His thick brows were threaded tightly when he shared, “She’s late because I asked her to come when you said Chivon would be gone. Chivon left later than when you said.”

I thought about why we were a few minutes late. It was because of the cake. Jonathan had taken longer than I expected. However, as promised, I’d keep that to myself. But not only that, I didn’t know my schedule affected him. I didn’t know Josie was coming today. Maybe that was my bad, but it definitely felt shitty.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to leave our conversation there and went inside the house.

One shot, two shots, three shots, four…

I’d take as many as possible to get through this party. Changing the plans tonight for the girls and me may not have been the wisest decision. I would determine that after the shots, though.

“So you two know each other, and you two know each other?” Corinne asked Bilan, Lex, and Tasche as we sat out on the patio, where I indulged in a cigar.

“Yup,” Bilan answered.

Lex nodded. “Mmmhmm…”

“But me and her…” Tasche explained with her hands. “…grew up together on someHarlem Prideshit.” She referred to herself and Lex as Lex nodded, holding a glass of wine. “Me and B met mad years later on some, ‘this my girl, I fucks with her hard’ shit.”

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