Page 129 of Maceo

“You pregnant, ain’t it?” Kilow asked, poking Shar’s stomach. “I think I see a little pudge.”

She slapped his hand away. “No, I’m not pregnant. And you basically just called me fat!”

Damaris shoved him. “Apologize before she starts being dramatic.”

“My bad, Shar. Well, what’s the big secret?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” I said. “Come on.”

We walked up the driveway and into the garage with Ms. Paul.

“Hey, Daddy,” Shar said, stooping to hug and kiss him.

“Hey, baby girl. What’s good, Maceo?”

“Everything’s straight. How are you?”

“Same shit, different day.”

“Daddy, Maceo and Shar have a secret,” Kilow blurted out.

Mr. Paul looked at us suspiciously as we both glared at him.

“Cicely!” He called for his wife.

She appeared a minute or so later. A smile spread across her face when she saw us.

“Hey, y’all.”

She gave me a hug before pulling Shar into a motherly embrace. Shar had a kiddish smile as her mother smothered her cheeks with kisses. The sound of another car pulling up made everyone look back. My mother, Alec, and Deja hopped out of the car. I decided to ask them to come, too, so we could break the news to both of our families at once.

“Good afternoon.” Alec and my mother said.

The Gladdens returned ther greeting. Kilow was grinning hard as hell as he reached for my sister’s hand. She blushed as she linked their fingers. The two of them didn’t give a single fuck as he leaned in and pecked her on the lips.

“Slow yo’ roll, playa,” I said, sliding my hand right between their faces. “This ain’t that kind of party.”

“You are such a hater!” Deja complained. “I can kiss my boyfriend. It wasn’t even any tongue?—”

Everybody spoke in protest to that one. These kids were gonna be the death of me. They already acted like they were in love or some shit.

“Y’all two need to pipe all that down,” Mr. Paul said. He turned to my mother and Alec. “Y’all got dragged into a reveal too, I see.”

“A reveal?” my mother asked.

Mr. Paul answered. “Another secret.”

His wife groaned. “What is it now? My heart can’t take another scar, Sharina.”

“It’s not a bad secret, Mom. I promise. Can we go inside and talk?”

Her parents looked at each other, then at my mom and stepdad, communicating silently before Mr. Paul stood.

“I’m keeping my blunt for this one.”

We followed them into the house, where the family took a seat while we stood in the middle of the room.

“I don’t see Senior, so I’m assuming he already knows this secret,” my mother observed.

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