Page 85 of A Scoring Chance

If there’s one thing Momma has ingrained into us boys, it's to never show up at someone’s house empty-handed. The first time I was at Beauty’s doesn’t count, even if Ms. King had something to do with me being there. The second time I was there, I brought brunch. It’s probably more than what Momma had in mind, but I think of it as an apology for the first time. I didn’t have a plan for what I wanted to bring to the barbecue today, but Alise was adamant. Ice was the only right answer. Still feels wrong to me, but Alise has known the Kings for a long time. The last thing I want to do is offend Ramona’s family when I’m meeting them for the first time.

“Yes. Like I told you before, this is the only safe thing for you to bring. Anything else could end in disaster. Trust me, Coop, I’m saving all of us some heartache.” Alise rolls her eyes at me before climbing into the passenger seat.

“How can there be so many rules for a barbecue?” I question, climbing into the driver's seat and heading toward Ramona’s place.

“This isn’t a barbecue. It’s a cookout. There’s a big difference.”

“How is that even possible? I understand the length of cooking time for the food and how much time people spend there are different, but is it really that drastic?”

“Would you just take the excuse that it's a Black thing and leave it alone?”

I stop and pause for a minute to think about it. This isn’t the first time Alise has said the same phrase multiple times to me over the years. Most of the time, it makes sense, but in this instance, I can’t wrap my head around it. “Do I have any other choice?”

“No, not really.” Alise shrugs her shoulders, pausing to think for a few moments before continuing. “I don’t know how to explain it to you other than they’re just different. When Auntie Mel hosts a barbecue, everyone brings a dish. There are large cuts of meat like steak, brisket, and even ribs. We have organized games like sack races and drink lemonade out of fancy pitchers. Most of the time, the entire yard is decorated to perfection for the event, as well.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” I always knew Momma went overboard when she hosted anything. After she was introduced to Pinterest, it got even worse. She had a place to source new ideas to ensure people would talk about her event months later. It wasn’t a way for her to brag or show off to the neighbors. She just wanted to make sure that people enjoyed their time so they’d want to come back again.

“No, not bad. It’s just different. A cookout is hamburgers and hot dogs but also collard greens, baked beans, mac and cheese, and any other soul food you can think of. Usually, whoever’s house it's at throws some tables outside with some folding chairs and calls it a day. There are no games, unless you count spades, which you are under no circumstances allowed to participatein. We just kind of go with the flow. Everyone more than likely will overstay their welcome and not even move a muscle until someone tells them to leave.”

“And why can’t I play spades again?” Not that I actually know what that game is or how to play it, but being told not to do something makes me want to do it even more now.

“Because that damn game ruins families. Auntie Na and her sister, Phylicia, still haven't spoken to each other since Darius’s party last year because both swear the other cheated. I can guarantee they both did.”

“And she’s going to be there today, right? That’s the woman I have to keep away from Beauty?”

Alise attempted to give me a rundown of everyone attending today, but I got lost after the second set of cousins on Ms. King’s side of the family. Ramona’s family is enormous compared to mine. I vaguely remember Momma’s parents, but they passed away before Cole was born. Dad wasn’t very close to his parents. His funeral was the first time I met them in person, having only done Skype and phone calls in the past. Neither of them have siblings, so Auntie Peggy and Alise are the only other family we have, besides each other.

“No, that’s Aunt Thea and Trina. You’ll know those two the moment you step foot in the yard, if they even show up. They rarely threaten to attend these things if they don’t plan on coming, but I’d put nothing past either of them.”

“What is their problem with Ramona? I couldn’t imagine anyone treating family as horrible as you described.”

The question has been rolling around in my head since Alise came barging into my room. She was ranting about Beauty’s harpy aunt and her demon spawn offspring—her words, not mine. Family has always been the most important thing to me, even my dumb-ass brother who won’t listen to reason. I’d lay down my life for any of them in a heartbeat, no questions asked.I can’t even fathom being so nasty to any of them that they need someone to run interference to keep me away from them. That’s not how families should treat each other.

“They blame Ramona for something that wasn’t her fault,” Alise deadpans as I turn into the driveway.

“But what?—”

“Shit! Everyone is already here,” Alise exclaims loudly, cutting me off before I can ask the rest of my question. “I promised her I’d be on time, but I figured she’d lied about the start time, as usual, and I’m still late. We need to get in there quickly.”

My truck barely comes to a stop before Alise clambers out of the cab of my truck, rushing toward the back of the house. Loud, boisterous voices and the melody of a song I can’t place filter through the open door.

When Alise said this differed from any event Momma has held at our place, she wasn’t exaggerating. There are cars everywhere. Parked on the grass and the sides of the house, and some are even pulled onto the side of the main road in front of the house. I can see round tables surrounded by chairs placed strategically around the side yard. Most are filled with people, but I can’t make out anyone’s face from this distance.

“Thank fuck you’re finally here.” Beauty jumps into the forgotten open door and throws her arms around my neck, pulling me tightly to her.

“I wasn’t gone for that long.” I chuckle, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into my lap. “Sorry we’re late, but someone didn’t want to adhere to your arrival time.”

“For once, this has nothing to do with Alise’s tendency to be late for everything. Everyone arrived early. It seems the entire family knows about Darius’s special guest.”

“I highly doubt that many people in your family are here just to see me.”

“You have way too much faith in my family. But they aren’t coming because they love hockey. They want to meet you because you're famous.”

“You can’t be serious.”

She buries her nose in the crook of my neck and inhales deeply. “Dead serious. I love my family, don’t get me wrong; they always have the best of intentions, but be prepared to take a lot of pictures so they can show off to their friends.”

“I can live with that.” I plant a kiss on the top of her head before pulling back and brushing my lips against hers. “But the bigger question is, how are you doing? Alise gave me a small rundown about what to expect from today, but she said my number one priority is to keep you away from Thea and Trina.”

---