Page 9 of Meraux Mafia: No Ordinary Love

"We know, but at least he tries." Niyomi stuck to her stance on the subject, but I wasn’t impressed. The term try was generous and relative. Niyomi didn't have a great relationship with her father. He was absent and, unlike mine, who popped in and out of my life, remained that way. Denim had no memories of her father outside of a prison wall, so she was also partially biased.

"Find me something to wear, and I'll go to DuPont Falls," I volunteered to change the subject. I had enough on my heart. I didn't feel like rehashing my daddy issues.

"A night out with your girls is the magic cure for everything."

I hoped Niyomi was right. My heart was aching, and at this point, I was willing to try anything to stop the pain, even get dressed up for a party that I didn't want to attend in DuPont Falls.

"Ayo, get your ass back in the car!" I yelled, already regretting my decision. We hadn’t even made it to the party yet, and Solana was lit.

"You need a drink and fast,” she huffed, plopping down in the seat. The wind in her face had her hair all over the place, but Solana didn’t care. She was just happy to be free.

"At the rate you're going. I'll be sober tonight."

"Do you ever wish things were different?"

"What things?"

"All the rules that come with being a Meraux." She rolled her eyes at the sound of our last name leaving her mouth.

"It isn't that bad."

"Because you can do what you want, but it's different for me. I wish I could be free, you know. Live my life the way I see fit. Not following a bunch of bullshit rules that dictate what I can do and marry.”

"With privilege comes responsibility, and I damn sure don't see your ass complaining when you're blowing down the mall."

"Yeah, because that and charity work is all I'm allowed to do. I'm not complaining because I know we're blessed, but for a twenty-eight-year-old woman, my life is pretty boring.”

"You do plenty. The others don’t know about it.”

"You can't prove that," Solana maintained with a straight face, causing me to chuckle.

"This is me you're talking to."

Solana smiled coyly, but I didn't need her lips to reveal what I already knew. She didn't have the luxury and freedom of dating whomever she desired. While we were free to marry whomever, that decision would eventually be made for Solana.

"I have needs the same way you do."

"Aite, aite." I abruptly put my hand up to silence Solana. "Be safe, Sol. I don't want to have to kill somebody. If you get caught, I'm fucked."

"Because you always keep my secrets," She reached over playfully, pinching my cheek, "I wouldn't trade you for all the freedom in the world, Gi."

"It damn sure didn't sound like it a few minutes ago."

"Whatever, just promise me you'll have fun tonight."

"Tonight isn't about me. I'm making sure your ass gets home in one piece."

"How was your date with Kyerra?"

"You're nosey as hell."

"There's not much going on in my own life. I have to stay entertained somehow." Solana allowed her words to linger before nudging my elbow. "So, how was it?"

"I don't know if you can call running into each other picking up food a date."

"You sat and ate together, didn't you?"

"You know, like I do, Ky can be flaky. She will have to show me if she wants shit to work this time." I knew Kyerra loved me, but she allowed outside forces to get in her head regarding our relationship. It didn't bother me as much then. Now, I wasn't going for that back-and-forth shit.

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