Page 24 of Beautiful Harmonies

I put my arm around her and smiled slightly. “The way you’ve handled this thus far is admirable. I don’t know how you’re doing it.”

“Thank you.”

“Mm hmm. Now get off the floor and come have fun with us. Tiana is bound to say something off the wall to make us all laugh.”

She stood from the floor and gave me the biggest hug. I couldn’t help but smile, knowing that my presence was helping her. “And… there’s nothing wrong with admiring another man. But do make sure you are healed from issues before you pull someone into your world. Okay?”

“Okay. Thanks, sis.”

“Anytime. That’s what I’m here for.”

We made our way back to the kitchen, only for me to see Deontray watching us from where he was sitting. I winked at him, and he smiled and did the same. When we got back to the kitchen, Tiana was at the stove again, and Mama was fussing.

“Look, girl! We have guests today. Don’t have me getting loud and scaring the people off. They aren’t southern, so they aren’t familiar with how we get down. Plus, I can tell how much Mari likes Deontray. I can’t be embarrassing her.”

I glanced at Mi with a smile on my face. “How could my favorite girl embarrass me?”

My mama nearly jumped out of her skin as Tiana laughed. I walked over to her as Mi took a seat at the table. I wrapped my arms around her. “Just be yourself, Mama. You could never embarrass me.”

She kissed my cheek and smiled. “That’s why you’re my favorite daughter.”

I slightly rolled my eyes. She always said that. I was heronlydaughter. After chuckling, I went to the table and sat with Tiana, Mulan, and Mi. They were quizzing her up about the industry and being so involved in Tray’s career. Mi was answering their questions, but I could tell it was taking somewhat of a toll on her.

I discreetly gave Tiana a look that she understood meant to change the subject. It was somewhat insensitive to have her talking about the industry after what had just happened to her. Technically, they didn’t know that she had been raped. However, anyone that watched that video long enough could tell that she was out of it.

When Daddy hollered and Tray yelled right after, I stood and went to the room they were in. They were both standing in front of the TV, and Jayden was shaking his head at them. Jay was more of a basketball fan. I slowly shook my head as Tray turned to me. He smiled. I was so grateful that he was getting along with my family.

He extended his hand to me, so I met them in front of the TV. He surprised me when he pulled me to him and kissed my lips. My face heated up as I pulled away, especially when I saw my dad watching. I’d never really been affectionate with a man in front of him or Jayden. My dad smiled slightly and nodded at me, as if giving me his approval.

I circled my arms around Tray’s neck and kissed him again. This felt so right, and I was glad I let down my guard and just took a chance with him. While I knew things wouldn’t be perfect, I also knew that if he and I worked through things like adults, we would be unstoppable. I was dating with a purpose, and I felt like he was too… at least with me.

Falling in love with him was inevitable if things continued the way they were. When I pulled away from him, he pulled me back. He hugged me and said in my ear, “You were nervousfor nothing. I’m loving your family. It’s everything I wished my family was.”

After kissing my ear, he released me. This was ordained by God, and I didn’t understand why. Ultimately, God knew, and that was all that mattered. His divine intervention had led me to a man that would rock me to my core, teaching me all about love, devotion, and what it meant to have those things reciprocated in the most pleasing way.

I smiled at him and said, “I’ll come back to get you when dinner is ready.”

“Okay.”

I walked back to the kitchen just as they yelled again. After glancing back at them, I chuckled. They would be a mess together during football season. When I walked back in the kitchen, Tiana said, “So you just flew yo’ ass all the way back to LA and came back on the verge of love and shit? I need the in between, because I’m missing something.”

Mulan rolled her eyes as Mi chuckled. I’d only talked to my mama about my feelings before I left. “I just felt a pull on my heart to him, Tiana. That’s the only way to explain it. I feel like we were made for each other. I knew it before I left. God ordained this. Had to. It was like I had no control. You know how I feel about men… that umm… that sleep around,” I said, glancing at Mi’Junae.

“Sis, you ain’t gotta say it all nice like that. That nigga was a ho. I wouldn’t want to pursue anything serious with a man like that either. Tray was abigass ho too. He thought he was hiding it, but everybody knew how he got down. So you’re right. The two of you are polar opposites. It had to be God.”

Mama chuckled. “Mi’Junae, I like you already.”

Mi smiled. “Well, in that case, call me Mi or Nae. The people I like most call me that. My mama was tripping when she named me.”

Mulan giggled. “Our mothers must know each other since mine named me after a Disney Princess.”

Mi giggled a little. “Well, mine is deceased now. She died a little over four years ago.”

Mulan grabbed her hand and said, “Mine died last year. So maybe they’re in heaven trying to rename angels, giving God an entire headache.”

Mi laughed. I could see that we would have an amazing sisterhood. At that moment, I was inspired to write, so I politely excused myself and went to the bathroom and locked myself inside. Through hurt, happiness, and love, I would have my sisters to lean on.Sisters.

“They arrestedFAAFO and his manager, but they bonded out almost immediately.”

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