Page 69 of Jaeda

“Come on, let’s?—”

She paused at the sight of another car pulling up behind mine. The door opened, and out stepped Kerrion. He gave us a head nod as he rounded the passenger side and opened the door. Out stepped a beautiful plus-sized woman.

“Well, this is different,” Jaeda said, folding her arms.

“He’s seeing somebody?”

“If he is, that’s news to me. He’s never mentioned it.”

She smiled as her brother and the woman approached us.

“What’s up?” Kerrion asked. He slapped my hand and hugged his sister. “This is Donna. Donna, this is my sister Jaeda and her boyfriend, Quaid.”

Donna smiled as she extended her hand to me. “Nice to meet you.” She pulled Jaeda in for a hug, clearly surprising her. “Jaeda, I’ve heard so much about you! It’s nice to meet you, beautiful.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Jaeda said once they parted. “Forgive me, but I haven’t heard a thing about you.”

Donna laughed. “I’m sure you haven’t. We’re not really a public thing.”

“Sooo, . . . are you two a couple?” Jaeda asked, pointing between them.

Donna shook her head. “No. We’re close though. Getting closer.”

Kerrion smiled, and I could tell he felt something for this girl. What it was, I wasn’t sure. But it was something.

“Where did you?—”

Her brother cut her off. “What’s with the third degree, Jaeda? You all up in our business.”

Jaeda punched him in the arm. “Don’t show out in front of your friend. Bring your ass on in the house.”

She grabbed my hand and led me inside. The first person to greet us was a girl younger than Jaeda but older than Jaiden. She hugged her brother before looking between Donna and me.

“Okay, I know this is Quaid, because duh, but who is this?” She pointed at Donna. “When did you get a girlfriend, KD?”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” her brother said. “This is Donna. Donna, this is my little sister, Kalia.”

“Hey, beautiful,” Donna said, her smile infectious. “So you’re the fashionista Kerrion has told me so much about.”

Kalia flipped her hair. “That would be me! If you ever need a stylist, I’m your girl.”

Donna laughed. “A young entrepreneur. I love it. You have Instagram?”

“Yes. It’s KayDaFashionKilla.”

“Ghetto ass name,” Kerrion mumbled. “You wanna be a hood baby so bad.”

Kalia shoved her hand in his face. “Don’t be a hater.”

Mrs. Jenkins came into the living room, followed by an older man I assumed was her husband. My gaze dropped to her belly, reminding me that Jaeda said she was pregnant.

“Y’all made it!” she said, coming to gather hugs. Her embrace was as motherly as one could get. “It’s nice to see you again, Quaid. We didn’t have time to really talk before, but we’ll make up for it today.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“This is my husband, Hershel.”

I extended my hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

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