Page 95 of Jaeda

“I’m falling for you too. I don’t have much to compare this to in terms of feelings, but I know. You feel good to my soul.” She gently traced my eyebrow. “I want to love you with everything in me. Just promise me you won’t break my heart.”

“I’d never hurt you, love. Hurting you is like slapping God in the face after He’s blessed you with everything you asked for. I wouldn’t disrespect Him or you like that. As long as you want me, you’ve got me. I’m hoping you want me for the long haul.”

“If you can stomach my family for the long haul, you’ve got me.”

I chuckled. “We’re seeing eye to eye right now, but I’ve made it clear that they can’t run me off. Nothing but death will keep me from you.”

She laughed. “Okay, Celie.”

I playfully mushed her head. “Come on here, Nettie. I wanna see this Lego set.”

She clapped excitedly. “I can’t wait for you to see it! I bought two. I thought we might have a little friendly competition.”

“What’s the wager?”

“Even if we lose, we win. But . . . I do have this new costume I want to try on for you.”

The grin spread across my face was big and wide. I’d loved cosplay since I was a kid. Having someone share that interest without calling me weird was exhilarating. It wasn’t that she was just putting on an outfit. Jaeda got into full character. We acted out full scenes and shit.

Most women I dated in the past wouldn’t even watch some of my favorite shows, let alone act them out. They either called me weird or told me I was too old to still be watching cartoons. It didn’t matter the case. I never felt like I could 100 percent be myself with them.

These days, I never felt more like me.

Today was my father’s birthday, and the whole family was gearing up to celebrate my old man. He was turning fifty, still looking like he was in his late thirties, just with specks of gray in his hair and beard. The man wanted a whole production for his party. It was a 90’s hip hop theme, and everybody had to dress accordingly, or you couldn’t bring your ass inside.

I decided to pay tribute to the queen, Ms. Janet Jackson. My outfit was inspired by her character fromPoetic Justice.My mom did some box braids for me yesterday, and I pulled them into a ponytail with a white head wrap. I was sporting the White crop top and jeans, only mine were a little more fitted, along with some black boots and silver accessories.

Quaid recreated a look from DJ Jazzy Jeff that included a baseball cap, baseball jersey, black shorts, and a pair of retro sneakers from his collection. The simple gold jewelry broughtthe look together. He’d forgone his regular glasses in favor of the classic Dwayne Wayne glasses with the flip shades.

When I saw him, I had to lick my lips because he was the definition of ’90s fine. I’d ogled him for a solid thirty seconds when I opened my front door to greet him. I didn’t even feel bad, because he’d done the same. When he kissed me, he pulled away abruptly, spun me around, and bent me over to slap my ass.

“Janet ain’t got shit on you, baby,” he’d told me.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Currently we were riding behind my brothers and their ladies on the golf carts, on our way up to the party. Music was already blasting. Everybody but Smoke and Romi were in line. They decided to stay in with the twins but promised they would take turns popping in for a little bit.

Quaid and I had Korri and Juri, who was currently all over my man. From the moment I introduced him to her, baby girl had a twinkle in her eye. She was grinning and reaching for him. The moment he picked her up, she rested her head against the side of his face.

“Juri, baby, that’s my man,” I said, peering into her pretty little face.

“No,” she said with so much conviction.

Smoke frowned. “I don’t like this. Don’t come in here making my daughter fall in love and shit.”

Quaid chuckled as he rubbed Juri’s back. “Babies know good people.”

“Give me my baby.”

Smoke tried to take her, but she held on to Quaid with a vengeance, making all of us laugh.

“That’s how you do me, lil bit?” Smoke asked, poking her tummy. “Just ditch your daddy?”

Juri grinned. I knew she didn’t know she was fucking with him, but when she turned her head and kissed Quaid on the cheek, my brother pretended to pass out.

“Stop being dramatic, Devin,” Romi fussed, rolling her eyes. She turned to me. “You two look cute.”

“Thank you, thank you,” I said, running my fingers through my braids. “I hope y’all have your outfits when you come ’cause you know what Daddy said: If you aren’t on theme, you can’t come in.”

Smoke rolled his eyes as he picked Serena up from her bassinet. “I’m in full-time daddy mode. He’s lucky I show up. I’ll walk up in there, throw-up stained shirt and all.”

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