Page 130 of Don Caselli

Stevie looked at me. “Don’t be slow, Navy.”

“What?”

“He bought a basketball team and made you co-owner. Do you think he’s worried about her? Those brothers don’t give a fuck about someone’s feelings. They’re also too honest, so if he wanted her, you would have known.”

“Okay.”

I looked behind Stevie, and Menace stood in the doorway. “Italy, you have guest and you back here talking.”

“Who?”

“Maverick, her name is Navy… where did you get Italy from?”

He didn’t seem bothered that he called me a different country. “Is she staying?”

Menace nodded his head. “She want that wet chicken you slanging back here.”

“I didn’t even make the chicken,” I defended myself because wet chicken sounded horrible. “What is wet chicken?”

“Don’t worry about it… go make her a plate and stand your ground. Don is serious about you, not her. She’s actually being messy by being here.”

Like Stevie instructed, I went and made a plate of food for Kennedy and was about to sit it down for her, and Landon took it from me, holding my hand. He held the chair out, and I sat down.

“You alright, Pooh?” he questioned in my ear.

“I’m fine, baby,” I replied, as he sat the plate that was made for Kennedy down in front of me.

Gently grabbing a hold of my face, he didn’t care that our families were at this table, he was concerned with me, and only me. “You sure? Want me to make her leave?”

I didn’t want to make it a big deal by having him kick her out. I was secure enough to sit at this table and share a meal with her.“No, just make her some food so you can come sit down and eat it, too.”

He left the dining room, and Kora looked at me. “You make him so happy. I haven’t seen Don like that ever.”

“Dear lord, it’s me again… Zoya,” Zoya joked, as she took a sip of her drink. “Now, Avril, I’m gonna need that recipe for roti.”

My mother laughed. “Gul, didn’t you tell me that you don’t cook, and a Jamaican man has a crush on you.”

“Not too much on me, Avril,” she playfully nudged my mother.

My mother took a sip of her wine and winked at me. “I got enough of this to share if you want.” Menace offered my father some of his premade meal.

“Don’t nobody want your meal prep, Maverick,” Kora called him out.

Everybody laughed, while he was perfectly fine with cutting into his chicken. “Kora, leave my husband alone,” Stevie winked.

“Can’t tell her nothing about that man of hers,” Zoya laughed. “Did you tell him about my birthday trip we’re going on…” Stevie was shaking her head and telling her to cut the conversation.

Menace slowed his chewing and looked at Stevie, who was trying to act normal. “A dreammmm, a simple fantasyyyy!” Stevie belted out, and we all stared at her. “What? I sing when I’m nervous.”

“Where we going, Zoy?”

“Nowhere… it’s a girl’s trip and the men aren’t invited.”

“Hmm.”

“Duke going,” he told her, not asking.

“Yep.”

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