Page 35 of Jaeda

She cupped his face and kissed his lips. Romi sighed as she reached for Smoke’s hand.

“I guess I’ll go too,” she said.

Just as she stood to her feet, there was a loud splash that made everybody stop and look at Salima.

“Oh my God . . .” she whispered. “My water just broke.”

Ipulled into my parents’ house and shut off my car. Today was my mom’s birthday, so we were having a cookout in honor of her. The street was already lined with cars, and I could smell my dad on the grill. I wished I could have brought Jaeda with me, but I didn’t want to pressure her about being around my people too soon.

Being around hers was inevitable because those niggas were nosy as fuck. I still couldn’t believe her brothers were in her house when I dropped her off. Any other man probably would have been scared off, but that wasn’t me. I’d been bullied until I beat the bully’s ass. Not saying I could win every fight, but I wasn’t afraid to square up with anybody, even if I was outnumbered.

Getting out of the car, I went to the back to grab my mom’s gift. Just as I closed the door, Titan pulled up behind me and hopped out of his Jeep Wrangler with a huge gift bag in hand.

I chuckled as he approached and dapped me up. “You know moms is about to have your head.”

He laughed. “I know. I brought something to soften the blow. She would have been on my ass if I didn’t show up to celebrate her.”

“Glad you know it.”

“How you doing, lover boy? How was your date? Yo’ ass could have called me.”

“You just wanna be nosy.”

“Damn right! My nigga went on a date with the woman he’s been lusting after for forever and a damn day. I need details. You hit that?”

I sighed. “Here you go. I’m not trying to just fuck that girl, Titan.”

“Oh, I know! Trust me, I know. I’m just talking shit. Did y’all have a good time, though?”

I nodded as we headed for the backyard. “I did. The date was great. Then we got back to her place, and guess who was waiting up for her?”

Titan frowned. “Them niggas.”

“Them niggas. Deuce answered the door with his gun, and I had to show him mine because I don’t know what the fuck he thinks this is.”

“We’re gonna have to run it with them at some point and get this shit out of the way.”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that. Jaeda already told me she would shoot me if I touch her brothers.”

Titan laughed as we walked through the back gate. “Damn, man. I don’t miss arguing with them at all.” He shook his head. “I do miss Mia, though.”

“What happened now?”

Just as he was about to answer, we heard a loud squeal. Looking up, I saw my mama coming toward us.

“There’s my baby!”

She scooped me up in a tight hug. The woman always acted like I’d been away for years whenever I came to see them. It was all love, though. I hugged her back just as tight.

“Happy birthday, beautiful,” I said, kissing her cheek.

“Thank you, baby.” She turned to Titan who wore a big grin on his face. “Hey, heathen.”

“Come on now, Ma. Don’t do me like that. I showed up just for you.”

“You knew better.” She smirked as she pulled him in for a hug and kissed his cheek. “I missed you too, baby.”

“I knew you loved me. Happy birthday with your fine self. What are you today, twenty-five?”

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