“Nice to meet you too.”
When we walked inside, I looked around in awe. “Wow. This house is beautiful,” I said softly.
My mama gasped, so I knew Noah had to be in the vicinity. I turned to her to see she had caught sight of him. “Mama, breathe. We can’t have you passing out on us.”
RJ frowned. “Plus, that nigga ain’t all that anyway. He just a’ight.”
“Sounds like my designated hater is calling me,” Noah said from the other room.
I chuckled as RJ led us to the family room where everyone was. I had to grab my mama’s hand so I could squeeze it and bring her back to us from the clouds she could ascend to. Several men stood to greet us. Noah approached first and gave me a hug, then I turned to Mama and X and said, “X, this is Mister Noah. He’s a famous rapper and producer.”
Xavier’s eyebrows lifted. “Rapper? Do you know Exodus?”
Noah smiled big. “I sure do. I’m rapping and singing on a couple of his songs. He’s signed to my production label.”
“Wow! Can I meet him?”
“He’s not here, but I’m sure you will one day.”
Noah brought his attention to my mama who looked like she was about to hyperventilate. He smiled big and said, “Calm down, shorty. Give me a hug.”
“That’s my mama, Justine,” I said as he pulled her in his arms. “She’s a huge fan.”
“Oh my God. Can I take a picture?”
“Yeah, of course.”
He put his arm around her as she smiled big and handed me her phone. I rolled my eyes and took the picture. I was excited to meet him at the restaurant and somewhat starstruck, but she was taking shit too far. She was acting like she was about to pass out at any moment.
“Y’all come on so X-man can play with the other kids.”
“Yay!”
I smiled and followed behind them at a somewhat slower pace. Chozen never left my side. He held my hand and asked, “You in pain, baby?”
“A little. It’s this damn leg.”
He nodded but didn’t say another word. Two men approached us, and I could clearly tell they were related, although one was significantly older. Chozen smiled and said, “Azari, this is my uncle Carrington, the man that raised me to be the man that I am, and this is his brother and Noah and RJ’s father, Ryan Charles.”
I smiled big as Mr. Carrington extended his hand. I shook it as he said, “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. I needed to thank you and your wife for this amazing man.”
Chozen kissed my head as I shook Mr. Charles’s hand and offered the same greeting. Mr. Carrington only smiled and nodded. I could tell he had a quiet demeanor. He wasn’t very talkative, and Chozen didn’t seem to be bothered by it. My leg was starting to throb, so we needed to sit as soon as possible.
As we walked, my leg shifted and nearly dropped me to the floor. I grabbed ahold of Chozen’s arm to steady myself. My face heated up tremendously when I noticed RJ and Noah’s eyes on me. I rested my forehead against his arm. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. Before I could open them, Chozen lifted me in his arms. He always did that, but instead of feeling his care and tenderness, I only felt embarrassment.
Here I was, meeting most of his family for the first time, and I couldn’t even walk to a seat. “Everything okay?”
I glanced up and saw a man that had to be Nate Guillory. He was tall as hell and made everyone around him look like midgets. “Yeah, everything’s good, man. Thanks.”
“Wow! You’re tall!” I heard Xavier say.
Nate chuckled as we continued into the area where everyone was. Once Chozen sat, I quickly slid off his lap to the couch and cleared my throat. He grabbed my hand and rubbed it between his, as my mama sat next to me, and X followed Nate and Noah outside.
“Azari, look at me,” he said.
I hesitantly lifted my head, and he kissed my lips. “You have no reason to be embarrassed, baby. Whenever you’re feeling up to it, we will go to the medical shop near campus and get you fitted for a better prosthetic leg. This one is slowing you down and putting unnecessary stress and pain on you.”
