Page 40 of Juke
“Long as she treats you right, I’m good with her.” Mama chimed in from beside Jacob. “Lord knows you need a woman who can handle you.”
“Handle him?” Deion laughed. “More like babysit.”
“Aight,” I said, holding up a hand. “Y’all can get out my business anytime now.”
But the damage was done. Sophi was relaxed and laughing softly with Robin while CiCi grilled her about where she liked to shop. Even Granddaddy tossed a few harmless jokes her way, and she took it all in stride. By the time the peach cobbler hit the table, she was leaning in close to me. I just grinned like a simp and let her have her moment… watching her fit in like she’d been sitting at this table for years.
After dinner, everybody drifted out of the dining room like they always did. Sophi ended up on the loveseat with Robin and CiCi, all three of them laughing over something on CiCi’s phone. I caught her every so often glancing my way, like she was checking to make sure I was still there. I was in the recliner next to my granddaddy listening to him and Uncle Mason argue about some old boxing match from the eighties. Deion walked by, patting me on the shoulder. “I taught you well, my boy,” he said under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear. I didn’t respond, but my eyes found her again. She was comfortable while she laughed at something Robin said. Even Mama was smiling at her from across the room, which was rare. Chenelle didn’t warm up to just anybody.
Granny came through with foil-wrapped plates, making sure ‘her babies’ had food to take home, and shoved one into Sophi’s hands before she could argue. “You’re a skinny something,” Granny said. “Make sure you eat all of that food.” Sophi laughed before she thanked her, and when her eyes met mine again, I felt it—like she’d been here all along. Like my people had been saving that spot for her without even knowing it. I leaned backin the chair with my arms folded, just taking everything in. This was the first time in a long time that having someone at my side didn’t feel like a risk, or annoy the fuck out of me.
***
“So,” I said, leaning back into the couch, “how you think that went?”
She smirked. “Better than I thought it would. Your family… they’re something else.”
I raised a brow. “Is that a compliment or you talking shit?”
“It’s a compliment,” she said, taking another bite of pound cake. “They were all real nice. Your grandma’s sweet, but I swear she was tryna see if she could feed me ’til I tapped out.”
“Yeah, if Granny don’t do nothing else, she’s gone feed you.” I chuckled.
Her phone lit up on the cushion next to her with a FaceTime call.
“Hey, Mama.” She answered with a smile.
Her mama’s face filled the screen, revealing an older version of Sophi. “Hey, baby. You look… happy. Where you at?”
“Over at Rashad’s,” she answered casually.
Her mama’s eyes narrowed, and her smile tilted. “Uh-huh… why you smiling like that? Is it because of Rashad?”
Sophi glanced my way, then back at the phone. “Mama…”
“Is he there with you?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Put him on the phone,” Her mama said, waving her hand dismissively.
Sophi handed me the phone, and her mama’s pretty face filled the screen. “How you doing, Mrs. Johnson?” I greeted.
She grinned. “Ooh, he has manners. I like him already. Baby, you can call me Neicy… everybody does.”
“Aight, Mrs. Neicy,” I said with a smirk. “Sophi told you about me?” I glanced over at her.
“She told me some,” she admitted. “Not enough, but I hear you can fight, though.”
Before I could answer, a man’s voice called from off-screen. “Who’s that?”
Mrs. Neicy turned the camera. “Horace, come here. This is Rashad—Sophi’s friend.”
Her pops stepped into view, grinning. “Friend, huh?”
“How you doing, sir” I spoke.
“How you doing, son. You look real familiar,” he said before he realized who I was. “Juke?”
