Page 35 of Make Me Forget

The cop documented a few more things, then they left, taking Jameka’s ass with them. I patted his back as I slowly shook my head. “Come on to the diner, man. You can use the support.”

He nodded then went inside his house. I assumed he was going inside to change. His shirt was torn, and I was sure that girl had done that. As we waited, my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket and saw Cassie’ face. I quickly answered. “I’m sorry, baby. We got held up at Jacob’s, but we’re on our way.”

“Okay. I was hoping y’all were okay, because you should have beat me here.”

“Yeah. See you in a lil bit.”

I turned to Karima and saw the tears in her eyes. “You okay, sis?”

“Yeah. I just hate he’s going through this with that girl. Jacob and I talk a lot, because I always felt for him after what happened between Aunt Jen and Uncle Joseph. He holds a lot inside, and that’s not good. His temper is really bad… like, I think it’s worse than Uncle Storm’s. I’m afraid he’s gonna really hurt her if he doesn’t get it under control.”

I nodded. “I think you missed your calling, sis. You should truly consider going back to school to be a counselor.”

She gave me a half smile. “I’m way ahead of you on that, bruh. I enrolled at Fisk last week. I realized my purpose. It isn’t barrel racing, although I’m damn good at it. That’s my hobby and my nine to five. My calling is leading people, helping them through adversity. That was why I took the teaching job as well.”

“Damn. I’m proud of you, sis. Damn proud.”

CHAPTER 12

CASSIE

“Girl! This outfit is fire!”

I giggled as Maui scanned my outfit. I wore a pink and white houndstooth print jumper with strappy white heels. I believed in dressing. It was rare I was in public looking like I had just rolled out of bed. T-shirts were a rarity. If I wore them, they were tight and had some type of graphic on them. Plus, I dressed them up with heels.

I’d just met the ladies the night of Kendrall and Karima’s celebration dinner. They were so cool. Although they were much younger than me, they took me in as theirs. The twins were somewhat standoffish, but I knew they would eventually come around. Mya, Christian’s wife, had said they were the same way with her, but now they talked to her like they’d known her their entire lives.

As I sat, I noticed they were staring at me. It was making me uncomfortable. I didn’t want to have to tell them something and get everybody all riled up. I was the outsider, but I wasn’t shy or timid. Finally, one of them said, “I heard about you, girl. It sounds like you will fit in just fine around here.”

The other chimed in. “Mm hmm. Daddy Mayor said you a real one. If that nigga approves, then so do we.”

Maui rolled her eyes as she sat next to me. I chuckled slightly. “What exactly did you hear?” I asked.

One of them frowned. “Bali, what you frowning for?” Maui asked.

I memorized her features, or at least I tried to. She seemed slightly bigger than Noni, but they were identical. I didn’t know how I would get it right any time soon.

“I’m frowning because she knows good and got damn well what we heard. She took that charge for Jacob. I know he didn’t like that though.”

I gave her a slight smile. “No, he didn’t, but it was my bullshit that got him in that predicament.”

“Hey, y’all! I got away! Thank you, Jesus! Those Henderson babies are a handful, including mine!”

I chuckled at Angel as she hurried to our table. She was the sweetest. She talked to me almost the entire time I sat by them at the celebration. She hugged me and kissed my cheek, then proceeded to do the same to everyone at the table. Ashanni and Milana were in a deep conversation about some guy Milana had started talking to. I didn’t know what that was about, but I was sure I would eventually find out.

“What’s up, everybody?”

I knew that voice anywhere and could pick it out of that damn Kendrick Lamar Amazon concert. I stood from my seat and hugged my man. He scanned my body and licked his lips.

“KJ, sit yo’ horny ass down. Ain’t gon’ be none of that shit while we’re here,” Noni said.

I nearly screamed when Kendrall picked me up and set me on the table in front of them then stood between my legs. I felt my ass bounce, so I knew they saw that shit. “I think you just wanna see some hot shit you ain’t never seen before, girl. My baby so fucking fine, she got yo’ ass drooling, wishing you were attracted to women.”

I had to be red as hell. Noni turned her lip up and rolled her eyes. “She fine and all, but I ain’t flipping the damn script for nobody. You better talk to Nesha about that shit. I like dick too much, nigga.”

“Uh huh. Let yo’ daddy hear you talking like that,” Kendrall said as he helped me off the table. “I’m sorry, baby. She wanted to see something, so I gave her something to see.”

He kissed my lips, slipping a little tongue inside. Whew, shit! I was ready to strip out of my clothes in front of everyone. He pulled away then smacked my ass and sat at the table next to us with Jacob and Karima. I could tell Jacob was extremely bothered. I didn’t know what was going on with that either, but I would ask Kendrall later.

---