Page 61 of Memphis

“Hell no! I don’t trust shit that comes out of her mouth.”

“So…we’re not going?”

“Hell to-the motherfucking no!”

“I’m cool with that decision,” I said with a shrug.

“Oh, I know you are. I’ma set up a call or something. Maybe a video chat, but I ain’t giving her or nobody else in her household a chance to ambush me.”

“You think they’d really do something like that? I know Tavares is a hot head, but he doesn’t seem calculated enough to do anything.”

“Yeah, but he’s devoted to my mom. She spoils him because he’s her only grandchild.”

“Well, Zaccai is too weak.”

“True. Hey, enough about my messed-up family. Now, what’s your plan for keeping them thighs juicy? I’ll cry if they get skinny.”

I sighed again and shook my head.

“Damn,this is really…regular. Nothing like your high-rise place. You like living here?” Umber said, her eyes sweeping the living room.

“I do. It’s a quiet neighborhood, and it ain’t like I’m living here alone,” I pointed out.

“Yeah, you definitely aren’t,” Lilith muttered.

I sighed. “What’s on your mind, Lil?”

She shrugged, raking her fingers through her hair. “It’s just that I barely get to talk to you anymore; you don’t come to visit…”

“Oh, so you wanna act brand new? You gonna act like you didn’t ghost the whole family when you first got with Ray?” I asked.

Her eyes widened. “I lost contact after I left Marlon. Ray just happened to come along around the same time,” Lilith countered.

“Yeah, she was in mourning. Besides, we’re used to you calling to check on us and stuff, big sis,” Umber said. Her ass was actually pouting.

My mouth dropped open. “Really Danielle Boone? You’re a virtual recluse out there in the woods! You don’t fool with nobody!”

“Nobody but her dog,” Lilith corrected me.

“That’s why you’re supposed to be checking on me!” Umber whined.

I stared at her and lifted a brow when a thought hit me. “Umby, are you…you feeling lonely because Lilith and I are both married now?”

Lilith gasped. “Oh! Are you, Umber?”

Our baby sister lifted one shoulder and dropped it. “I don’t know. It’s like, y’all have these self-contained lives now. Everything is shifting. I just want us to communicate more.”

“Me, too,” I said. “Look, I’ve had so much going on. New marriage. Trying to manage my health. It’s a lot, but I’ma always love my family.Always.”

“Damn, my bad. How are you feeling? You look great,” Umber said sheepishly.

“I feel good so far. Bo takes good care of me,” I said, suppressing a smile.

“Oh, we can see that. He seems so…aggressive. I bet he’s tearing you up in bed,” Lilith said.

“I wasn’t gonna say nothing, but…” Umber mumbled.

“I wouldn’t be with him if he wasn’t,” I informed them. “Anyway, let’s go in the kitchen and eat since Ididinvite y’all to have lunch with me. Bo’s chef can cook his ass off.”

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