Page 52 of Reckless Forever
“Don’t move,” she said as she blew on her feet.
Cupcake repositioned and sat still, as if she deserved that kind of treatment, and let her paint them.
“All done, you look so pretty.” She said as she smiled, and Cupcake hugged her. I was so busy looking at her that I didn’t even feel Trouble come behind me to get a closer look, too.
I turned to him, and he raised his eyebrow and nodded. Pushing the door open, I made my presence known, and Cupcake shot out of the chair and ran straight past me to her ugly ass daddy.
“Hey Ma Ma, you being good?” He asked.
“Yes! Auntie Ivy painted my nails.” She said, and my eyes cut to Ivy, who made a pouting face.
“They look pretty. Let’s go see Grandma.” He said, leaving us alone.
I leaned back on the desk, grabbed her hand, and pulled her into my chest.
“How long have you been stuck?” I chuckled.
“Since you’ve been gone. Storm told them that I was their auntie, and they’ve been stuck to me like glue. This is a lot. I’ve never lived in a home with kids before.” She said as she collapsed into me. I laughed at her.
“I want a house full, seven or eight,” I said as her eyes shot to me.
“Judah, please. A little girl named Cupcake just ran me through the wringer, and you think I’m having seven of them?” She scoffed.
Before I could respond, her eyes searched mine, and her body tensed. “How did everything go in Bolivia. Is everyone….okay?” And I knew that she meant, 'How was Santos?' No matter what had happened, she loved him, and I knew that.
“That’s a story for later, baby. Right now, I want you to meet my parents. They’re here.” She immediately looked down at her clothes like she wasn’t properly dressed. Like I told her, we were going to the steakhouse instead of the living room.
“Judah.” She protested.
“You look good,” I said as I kissed her. Both our feet stayed planted as we kissed like I hadn’t seen her in years. With everything going on with this war, it felt good to finally focus on us again.
When we parted, she bit her lip and blushed, but she didn’t have another objection; she just took my hand and walked with me through the house. When I rounded the corner, my mother was sitting at the table. Juree on one leg, Jonah on the other, and Cupcake at the side of her, putting lipstick all over herface. When I didn’t see my father or Blade, I knew they were somewhere together.
As soon as my mother looked up and saw us standing there, her eyes lit up, and she put Jonah down, threw Juree on her hip, and came over to Ivy.
“Hi, Mrs. Jennings. It’s nice to meet you.” Ivy said as she stepped into my mother’s embrace. My mom swayed her from side to side and rubbed her back.
“My name is Meena. I leave Mrs. Jennings to my daughters nowadays,” She smiled as she looked over her shoulder, winked at Kennedy and Storm.
“You are beautiful,” Ivy complimented moms.
“You took the words right out of my mouth. You are stunning, you look like a model.” Moms shot back at her.
“Dang Ma, I ain’t never heard you say that about me,” Kenn said as she rolled her eyes, and everybody laughed.
“Kennedy, please. I tell you all how beautiful you are every time I see you. Even Remy with that wagon she’s dragging behind her,” she laughed as she put Juree down, who had a fit.
Pops came around the corner with Blade on his back, and I was just glad the lil nigga ain’t choked pops out in the back room.
“Pops, this is my girl, Ivy. Ivy, this is my pops, Amar.”
He extended his arms for a hug, and she gave him a quick one. She didn’t even have time to greet him before he was on his bullshit.
“So, you’re the one who has my son in a war all the way in damn Bolivia?” He joked as we all burst into laughter.
“Unfortunately, it’s nice to meet you.” Ivy covered her face in shame.
My mother walked over to the table and pulled out two chairs. One for her to sit in and another beside her.
