Page 128 of Maceo

“Shiiiit, she lasted longer than I gave her credit for.”

“Sidenote number two. Did you know Titan was on the compound over at Mia’s?”

“Now that I didn’t know.” He shook his head. “All that bitching she does at that nigga, and she has him over here. Toxic ass shit. I’m not saying a word when they start fighting again.”

“They are already fighting again. They were going at it as I was coming home. Anyway, I went to talk to your dad about becoming part of the organization.”

“Absolutely not. Did you forget that quick what we just went through?”

“Shut up and let me finish. I don’t want to be in the field. I just want to be a part of the nonprofit.”

“Oh… well that’s cool. You can do that. I don’t have a problem with that. At least that way, I’m safe with your pops, and him and my dad are safe from each other.”

I snickered. “Right.”

“So… since my family already knows we’re married, are we gonna break the news to your people?”

I nervously rubbed the back of my neck. “Do you think we should?”

“I mean, there is no time like the present. I’m low-key ready to wear my ring all the time. Let a female approach me. Bitch, I’m married! You see this shit?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, Shug Avery.”

He mushed my head. “We can go over there when we finish eating.”

I groaned and stomped my feet. “Can we tell them from the car so you can just press the gas when my daddy pulls out his gun?”

“That’s dramatic.”

“No, that’s my daddy.”

He chuckled as he turned back to the stove. “Everything will be fine. I’m sure they’ll be upset, but they’ll get over it. I mean, now we have time to plan the wedding we want and deserve and include everybody.”

I sighed. “You promise it’s gonna be fine?”

“Have I ever lied to you?”

“No.”

“A’ight then. Now, sit your ass down and let me feed you. If you’re still nervous after we eat, I have a remedy for that.”

“What remedy?”

He grinned. “This dick.”

I rolled my eyes as I went to sit at the table. Dick might cure my attitude and my nerves in most cases, but this one… I wasn’t sure about that. But hey! It didn’t hurt to try!

I pulledup at the Gladden residence around eleven thirty. Per usual, on a Saturday morning, Kilow and Damaris were playing ball in the driveway, while Mr. Paul sat in the garage, smoking a blunt in his recliner. When we pulled up on the curb, Kilow and Damaris ran over to the car to inspect it. Since my Escalade was a total loss, I’d gotten a new car. I grabbed the same Lincoln Nautilus Shar had in a midnight blue and had Smoke do some upgrades for me.

“Oooo, that shit is clean!” Damaris said as we got out.

Shar slapped the back of his head. “Watch your damn mouth.”

“My bad, sis. This is dope, though. Maceo, you gonna let me test drive it?”

I chuckled. “Maybe later, man. Your sister and me need to talk to y’all as a family.”

He and Kilow looked at each other, then at us.

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