Page 17 of Maceo

She pointed, and my eyes followed her finger to this handsome, brown-skinned brother. He matched Maceo’s six-foot height and had his same complexion. His gaze met hers, and he smiled and waved. She gave a flirty smile and waved back.

“I’m definitely trying to jump on that tonight,” she mumbled.

“You better go before your brothers get back,” Jaeda said, rolling her eyes.

“Shit. You’re right.” She downed the rest of her drink and stood, smoothing her bridesmaid’s dress down. “How do I look?”

I giggled. “Like us.”

“Bitch, you know I look better.”

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and switched over to where her potential conquest stood with his other cousins.

I copped a seat next to Jaeda. “That’s your sister.”

“She’s every bit of her daddy. I would say her brothers, too, but Deuce and Maceo have turned it around since you and Salima came into the picture. Y’all are good for them, and I love you both for that.”

I offered a light smile. I wondered how good she would think I was for her brother if she knew I knew what he was doing.

“I love your brother. Does he get on my damn nerves at times? Hell yes. But I love him.”

“I hope one day I find someone to love me the way they love you and Salima. You know… without all the crazy.”

I laughed. “Girl, have you seen your life? You’re surrounded by crazy. I don’t think you’d be able to function without the chaos.”

“I promise I could. I love what I do. I love helping people in need. It’s just, sometimes, the way we do things fucks with me, Shar. I hate coming out of the tech aspect and having to get in the field. I’m trained, and I can handle myself. Sometimes it would be nice to come home to someone who gets me.”

“I get that.”

“Can I ask you for something?”

“Something like what?”

“This is embarrassing.”

Jaeda could be a little shy at times. When I first met her, she had an air of confidence, but the more I hung around her, I realized there were different versions of her. It was like she adapted based on where she was and who she was with.

The Jaeda in public settings appeared to have it all together. She was a bad bitch. The Jaeda I met in the intimate family setting was funny and talked shit with her brothers like the rest of us. Then there was the Jaeda I saw behind closed doors when it was just us. That Jaeda was shy, reserved, and held a little insecurity.

That was the version I was seeing now.

“I’m an open book, sis. You can ask me for anything.”

“Teach me how to attract the kind of man I want.”

I didn’t mean to laugh. “What?”

“You and Salima… you’re both beautiful girls. My brothers can be rude, ruthless, and once upon a time, they were straight up whores. Then you two came along, and they are like putty in your hands. Deuce is married…married, sis. Maceo is slow dancing with you in a room full of people and looking at you like it’s only you who exists. I want someone to look at me like that.”

I picked up my drink to take a sip. “Jae, you’re a total baddie and the smartest person I know.”

“I also haven’t had a boyfriend since high school. I’m twenty-four years old, Shar. I’m a… I’m a virgin.”

I damn near choked on my liquor. “You said what now?”

“Please don’t make me repeat it.”

“I’m sorry. I heard what you said. I just can’t believe it. You’re a virgin?”

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