Page 46 of Make Me Forget

I just stared at him to see if he would remember. “A medium vanilla shake. Man, I’m in trouble tonight.”

I laughed loudly as the lady on the intercom laughed too. She gave him the total, and he drove around to the window. “Actually, that shake is going to coat my stomach so you won’t be in trouble tonight.”

“If you say so. It’s after midnight. This gon’ tear yo’ shit up. Ain’t gon’ be no fucking tonight, because I would hate to see what might happen if I put your knees to your shoulders.”

“Eww! Why you gotta say nasty shit?”

“’Cause I’m a nasty muthafucka!”

We died in laughter as we quoted the movie Life. We used to do that all the time when we were younger and had no business using profane words. One of us would say a line from a movie, and the other would spit the next line, especially when Christian, Rylan, and Jacob weren’t there. My time with Kendrall was included in some of my fondest memories as a kid.

“Y’all sound like y’all having way too much fun out here,” the lady in the drive-through window said.

We laughed again. “That’s real happiness. I can’t wait until I have somebody that makes me laugh that way.”

She handed Kendrall the bag and shake then said, “Y’all have a great night.”

We wished her the same. “I can’t believe we already relationship goals,” Kendrall said.

I gave him a slight smile. “It was inevitable, babe. We were meant for each other, and everyone around us can see it.”

“Daddy, I just don’t understand what I did to make her hate me so much. How could a mother treat her own flesh and blood that way?”

“I don’t understand it either, baby. I can’t even believe she would stoop so low.”

“What I do know is you dodged a damn bullet,” my mama said. “If you would have married Mesani, your dad would be in jail by now. Sometimes, I think he still might end up there if he ever sees him out and about. If you could only hear the things he says to me about Mesani fucking with the wrong one.”

Daddy gave her the side-eye. “Kendall, you ain’t supposed to be repeating our pillow talk, baby.”

I chuckled. I loved how everyone tried to keep my spirit right. They refused to allow me to sink in a depressive state. It didn’t help that I could be a whole bitch when I did. I was more than sure Kendrall could remember the huge blowup we had. I eventually broke down crying, and he comforted me the best he could. Now that I thought back on it, it was so sweet. We were only thirteen at the time.

“Price, that was far from being pillow talk. Ebony heard some of it, and I’m pretty sure Evan did too. Evan was probably cosigning everything you said.”

“Whatever. I can’t help it. Cassie is my baby. All my kids are my babies.”

“Yeah, but you and Cassie have a bond that is so special. So I understand, baby. I just like giving you a hard time,” Mama said. “I know what will take your mind off Shayla though. We need to go shopping for wedding stuff! P, Alana, and I are going to have your decorations looking fabulous! Do you think the Henderson women will mind helping us?”

P was her best friend, who ended up marrying my dad’s brother, and Alana was her sister. They played a significant role in my life as well. They were always there for me, especially if, for some reason, Mama couldn’t be there. Memories of all the shopping trips and just hanging out with them would always make me smile.

“Not at all. They are all extremely nice unless they have a reason not to be. I’ve seen Aunt Tiffany in action. She pulled Shayla out of that diner so fast.”

Daddy slowly shook his head. “Yeah, Tiff is hotheaded as hell. She’s the baby girl, though, and they let her ass get away with shit all the time when she was little… according to Kenny anyway. He said they had to give her grace for having to grow up between Jasper and Storm.”

Mama chuckled. “Well, she’s definitely tough to be able to bareback. I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. I’ll fight if I have to, but I’m way too cute to be getting roughed up. I’m not saying that Tiffany ain’t. I’m sure she fights better than me though.”

I shook my head. “Well, I would love to go shopping. Our date is getting closer and closer. I’m so excited. I just hope there’s no bullshit.”

“Well, don’t worry about that. With the Hendersons around, they will diffuse that shit immediately. I would hope no one would come with foolishness with all those hotheaded niggas in one spot. Kenny and Kendrall seem to be extremely mild. Speaking of hotheaded, how’s Jacob doing?” Mama asked.

“He’s doing okay. Karima, Aunt Jen, and Jess have been helping out quite a bit and vowing to do so once he goes home. But that’s why I’m hoping there’s no bullshit, because I know the guys are planning some type of retaliation of sorts, especially the younger ones. They aren’t taking this lying down.”

“When is he supposed to go home?”

“Maybe tomorrow.”

My phone chimed, alerting me of a text. I had gotten out of class early, and instead of going straight home, I stopped by my parents’ house to see them. I could hardly concentrate in class today. Between thinking about Shayla’s and Mesani’s asses and trying to hold in gas until I could get to the bathroom, the professor may as well had been the teacher on Charlie Brown.

Had Kendrall known I was suffering, he wouldn’t have let me live it down. I checked his message to see what he had to say. Hey, baby. How yo’ stomach feeling? I need some action tonight.”

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