Page 100 of Chemistry: The Chemist

Malachi placed his glass on the table, agreeing with his brother. “You remind me more and more just how much we think the same.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Chem shrugged.

“And you?” I asked Anna.

“Nothing.” Malachi sniggered, picking his drink up again.

She smiled, taking another sip from hers and nodding. She couldn’t deny the allegations and I didn’t want her to, either. If this was what ease looked like for a woman, then I was ready to submit–to the lifestyle, to the person who could provide it, and to my aspirations of acquiring it.

“For the most part, but I help my husband manage his business otherwise.”

A life of leisure. She was the poster girl and I’d noticed it from the moment of her entry. She was waiting on hand and foot. The men made her the center of their attention when she was around and everyone stopped to listen when she spoke. She was treated like a literal Goddess and to have the same treatment was blowing my mind.

They’re different, I surmised. These men are different.

The lone fact that they were his brothers catapulted me into a new space. I saw things from all angles and knew from experience that involving yourself with a person meant involving yourself with their family as well. Most people positioned themselves as acts in the circus that had multiple shows a year, all featuring family members with a hundred tricks up their sleeves.

Second-hand embarrassment was shameful until it knocked on their doorstep. And then, instead of laughing at the family shenanigans, you were part of them. Voluntarily or involuntarily. From deadbeat grandparents to uncles who needed to be underneath the jail for their crimes against the youth of the family, I’d seen and heard it all, and even investigated some.

Nothing about this family stood out to me. Nothing screamed for me to run for the hills. Nothing tried to convince me I didn’t belong at their family reunions, dripped in diamonds just like the ones Anna was covered in, with my head high and my belly swollen.

My family had drifted apart slowly as my sister and brother got deeper on their paths to nowhere. When my father died, that was the end of us. My mother, grandmother, aunts, and one of my uncles were the only family I was clinging to. The idea of joining one three times as big, wealthy, and sophisticated excited me.

“Any children?”

“Not yet, but someday soon, I imagine.”

I wasn’t sure why my eyes scoped out Malachi. The smile on his face as she said those words made it clear to me that he couldn’t wait until the day.

“You?”

They landed on Chemistry next. He waited, unmoving until I responded.

“Not yet, but someday soon, I imagine.”

Dramatically, Anna nodded, lifting her palm for me to match. Her fingers curled around mine as she slowly shook my hand back and forward. Chemistry stared daggers into my heart, but his satisfaction was notable.

More servers joined us as Milo and Makai returned to the table. They’d stepped away as everyone got situated in their seats. Appetizers of all kinds were placed in the center for us to freely indulge. The salmon bites were first on my list of treasures.

“You niggas ain’t spiked my shit, have you? Because I’d go home with you willingly,” Makai began, sipping from his cup.

“If we did, it’s far too late now. You’ve killed it.”

“Just keep it PG and have something rolled. I don’t mind being kidnapped.”

“Shut up, Makai,” Milo suggested. “Stop acting like a fucking fool in front of company.”

“If she’s at this table with this nigga, she ain’t company, Milo. She’s family.” He pointed out.

“Fact,” Chem agreed.

“What’s your name again?” Makai asked.

“Don’t bother,” Milo warned me.

“E–”

“Eclipse. Right. Right.”

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