Page 19 of Love me Like XO

When I entered the kitchen Ree was beating Fiona’s ass and Irish was standing over Fiona’s husband. He wasn’t even trying to get up. From the looks of it Irish had hit his ass so hard, that he was on the floor trying to recover.

“Reverend stop them, now! Stop them!” My grandmother’s voice could be heard over all the commotion and the crying baby in the doorway.

Rev didn’t give a shit though, because while he held Grams back, he watched Fiona and Ree get their one. Well, maybe it wasn’t a one because Fiona was having her ass handed to her.

“Re, stop let’s go.” I walked over and grabbed her arm unable to watch her barrel down on Fiona any longer.”

After a bit more shoving and like two more licks, she obliged and allowed me to pull her toward Granny’s room. It didn’t stop there because Fiona hopped up a toward us like she wanted more, but I stopped her from getting to Ree.

Then out of nowhere she hauled off and slapped the shit out of me. That’s where she fucked up, because before she knew it, I gave her a good two and both of them connected, knocking her stupid ass backward.

“What the hell is going on in here?” my father’s voice filled the room. I looked up and he stood in the doorway with a mug that could kill plastered across his face. Safe to say I still felt like a child in my father’s sight.

“Yo,I’m grown as fuck and ain’t never been cursed out the way yo’ daddy just chewed us out.” Irish finished sweeping up the rest of Sunday dinner he knocked off the now broken table.

“Shit, be glad we are grown, because of we weren’t we would’ve been grounded.” Taree walked in from carrying the second bag of destroyed food.

“See this is why I don’t mess with y’all fools. I would’ve had me a good meal in me and on the block making my rounds.” Rev walked in from the living room.

“Bitch should’ve kept her mouth shut. How yo’ fist feel Layla?” Taree asked peeking over at me.

“My shit is swollen as fuck because of y’all.” I shook my head and continued to wash the dishes. I was hoping the hot water soothed my now throbbing fist. Though both of my punches connected with her face the second one hit her jaw. I knew her face had to be fucked up right now.

When the room was quiet for too long, I looked up and locked eyes with my siblings before the entire room erupted in laughter.

“What’s funny in here? Not only did y’all mess up my Sunday dinner, but your sister and her husband are in the hospital.” My grandmother shuffled into the kitchen fussing.

“Ma, yeen gotta pretend you care now. Pops is gone, ain’t nobody else here.”

My grandmother shook her head trying to stifle a laugh. She was the main petty one in this family, but now she wanted to be neutral.

“You niggas broke my table.” She tried to find any reason not to think this shit was as funny as it was.

“Did. I’ll buy you another one. But you know she had that coming,” Ree responded with her hand now on her hip.

I cackled. “I didn’t have nothing to do with it though. She slapped me.” I pointed to the red spot on my face.

“You are right, and I’m sure she’ll regret that every time she opens her mouth for the rest of the week. Look I knew y’all were provoked, but I’m saying all of y’all are grown. Just because you’re provoked doesn’t mean you gotta react. We all know y’all sister is a piece of work, but what you gonna do if she provokes you again? Fight her then too? I taught y’all better than that. I can’t help who Fiona is and what she does with her time, but you four I can. Y’all grew up in this house, running back and forth. That is y’all’s sister no matter how much of a pain in the ass she is. Accept it.”

“Uhm Big Mama. I accept that her stale ass is my sister, but does she? It’s cool that you’re giving us this lecture, but your words can only go so far.” You could tell Taree was the one who got the beatings for back talk when we were kids.

My grandmother sucked her teeth and pointed at Taree. “You ain’t too old to go out there and pick a switch. And you.” She pointed at me. “What you learn in those uppity boxing classesstays there.” She couldn’t say that last part without laughing, which caused everybody else to laugh as well.

When we finished cleaning, we all ended up deciding that we had to get something to eat. Like always my grandmother claimed that she’d ate while cooking, so we didn’t have to worry about bringing her anything back even though I knew Irish would still order her something.

We all piled up in Rev’s truck and went to get a meal and something to drink. What I didn’t expect was for us to pull up to Wally’s. It was nothing against the joint, but everything against the fact that I had just laid up with this nigga all night, now I was in his space. Then to make matters worse my phone vibrated in my lap alerting me to a notification. When I looked down it was a message from Zero.

Zero: Wyo?

Me: @ your spot ‘bout to eat with my siblings.

Zero: come to the back right quick.

Me: Y

Zero: Cause I asked.

When we got out of the car, my sister looped her arm into mine. “You think your boy is here?”

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