Page 84 of A Scoring Chance

I know Ramona has only had Alise to have her back at these things, but now she has me, too. It’s just a family barbecue. What could possibly go wrong?

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ramona

“This was a very fucking bad idea. Why the hell did I let you talk me into inviting Cooper to the barbecue today?” I groan, flopping back onto my bed.

I don’t know why I thought inviting Cooper today would be a good idea. Sure, it’s one of the few things Darius wanted for his birthday. No, I’m not exaggerating. When I asked him right after my birthday what he wanted for his, he handed me a list with Invite Cooper to my birthday cookoutwritten in capital letters across the top. I kept putting it off, but the little shit cornered me last weekend during brunch. How the hell was I going to say no to that?

“How the hell was I supposed to know that your Aunt Thea changed her mind about coming or that her horrible daughter, Trina, would decide to come along, too?”

Every family has one family member they don’t talk about. For the King family, that’s Aunt Thea. Hell, we even call her aunt instead of auntie like everyone else. Most of us would love to pretend we aren’t related. And don’t even get me started on her horrid, spoiled-rotten daughter, Trina. Think of Cinderella's stepmother, Lady Tremain, and her daughters, and that’s my Aunt Thea and Trina.

Ma only invited her because she’s family, but she never comes. I have a feeling this has something to do with Cooper, and that’s what terrifies me. I’m sure my aunts have been chatting nonstop about why Cooper Hendrix would attend our family barbecue. Darius couldn’t wait to tell his cousins, and I’m sure none of them could wait to brag to the rest of their cousins either. It was bound to reach Aunt Thea at some point.

Those two have never been happy with the things they have, always wanting more for no effort at all. Getting close to Cooper and his family will be their ticket to the easy street in their minds. And that’s precisely why I need to keep him as far away from them as humanly possible.

“How do you think he’d react if I called and told him I changed my mind and I really don’t want him to come?” I turn my head toward her, hoping she’ll tell me that is precisely what I should do, but no such luck.

“You know he’d paste on a smile and pretend that the rescinded invitation didn’t bother him, but we both know it’s not that easy.”

“Yeah, I know.” I sigh, wishing she’d have lied to me this one time.

I’ve learned that Cooper will do anything for me if he believes it'll make me happy. I love that he’s willing to bend over backward for me, but I’m worried he’s going to burn the candle at both ends, so to speak. Yes, I know. Pot, meet kettle, but we aren’t talking about me this time. Between running practices here, his rehab on his knee, and attending his team practices, he has to be exhausted, but he always finds time to come visit me at The Pit Stop or talk on the phone for hours on end.

Alise plops down on the bed beside me.“How about we both just skip it?”

“And leave Darius alone to deal with those fucking harpies? Yeah, not gonna happen.”

Ever since my dad and Imani passed away, I’ve heard their snide remarks and whispers when no one knows I’m in the room, but Thea and Trina have been the worst. Aunt Thea is Dad’s youngest sister, and she never liked Ma, which is probably where all of this started. I just happen to be their current target, and I’d love to keep it that way. I’ve spent years in therapy, trying to convince myself that what they think of me doesn’t matter, but everyone has their weakness, and my family is mine.

They don’t stop at talking shit about me either. Darius has been the butt of one too many of their comments, as well, but I’ve done my best to keep him away from the worst of it. There’s no telling what Aunt Thea and Trina will say if they don’t have their favorite family member to use as verbal target practice.

“So, it’s settled. Cooper is still coming, and we are both staying. Now we just need to keep Thea and her horrible daughter, Trina, away from both of you.”

“Easier said than done.”

Aunt Thea and Trina are the type of people that need to make others miserable. I don’t know if it's a need for validation that their horrid lives aren’t as bad as they believe or because they are just downright miserable people. Doesn’t matter which because those two go out of their way to pick at anyone within a five-mile radius of them. It’d be wishful thinking that they would take a break from their usual behavior for one day and not ruin Cooper’s first meeting with the majority of my family. If they have their way, Cooper will never step foot in our backyard again if for no other reason than it would hurt me. I’m not the only one who blames me for Dad’s and Imani’s deaths. Aunt Thea takes every chance she can to remind me of it.

Alise sighs loudly before pushing off the bed and holding her hand out toward me. “Okay, I’m going to head to Auntie Mel’s and instruct Cooper in proper cookout behavior before he comes over. We will be here promptly at noon. No CPT for me today.”

I roll my eyes, knowing damn well that won’t happen. The reason I told her everything kicked off at noon was because it was the only hope I had of her arriving on time. An hour earlier should be just the right amount of buffer to cover CPT. CPT, or colored people time, is the only time Alise runs on. She doesn’t believe in being on time for anything. She was even born a few days late and swears she’d be late for her own funeral if she wasn’t driven there in the casket.

“I’ll believe it when it happens.”

“I know how hard today is going to be for you. I’ll be here on time, I promise.” Alise pulls me in for a tight hug, planting a soft kiss on my cheek.

“Love you, bitch,” I respond, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist.

“Love you too, jerk. Now get up and hop in the shower. Auntie Na will have your ass if you aren’t dressed properly and ready when everyone arrives.”

“Wait. Before you leave…” I head toward my closet and fling it open. “What in the hell do I wear?”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Cooper

“Are you sure this is all I need to bring?” I ask Alise for the millionth time, eyeing the three bags of ice I just placed in the back seat of my truck.

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