Page 84 of Juke
“Nic, you got me fucked up,” Buck started. “And Thugga, you shut up. When y’all asses ’round here being grandparents and shit, don’t call me and say shit because I’ma mind my business.”
“Lincoln, shut the fuck up,” Kilo snapped. “Why the fuck would you say that?” he frowned.
“Don’t talk to me. Talk to the lil’ nigga that has your daughter showing all thirty-two of her gah damn teeth.”
“How about y’all get from over there and leave those kids alone. Besides, Jace and Keenan are out there, and they won’t let too much go on,” Kasha input.
“Yeah, aight,” was Kilo’s response.
CRASH!
Stacks groaned, dragging his palm down his face. “Buck, I’m billing you for whatever that was. I know this was one of yours.”
“Don’t worry ’bout my kids, bitch.”
Nic lifted her cup without looking up. “Not too much on my babies, but… yeah. That was probably one of ours.”
“Shaun plays rougher than all the boys put together. She don’t know her own strength.” Kasha cackled.
Buck and Nic named their daughter Nishaun since they didn’t name Benny after Auntie Shaunie like all of them were and the other kids.
We were still laughing when Dominic came barreling out of the playroom. Shaun was right behind her, dragging a toy truck with one wheel dangling.
“Mommy!” Dominic cried, tugging at my leg. “Shaun did it!”
Shaun’s little voice fired right back. “Nuh…uh! Dommy did it!”
“It wasn’t me this time, Dad, I swear,” Jet said with Theo following close behind.
Stacks just looked at Buck and said nothing.
“Fuck out my face, Jackson.” He waved Stacks off and went to pick up Shaun.
I loved when we all got together like this. We were chaotic yet peaceful and I loved every minute of it.
***
The whole house shifted when Mel called everybody into the living room. Liberty sat front and center at the table with a pile of wrapped boxes stacked high. She looked so grown with her braids styled and hanging down her back. She had on a cute off the shoulder top that wasn’t too grown and a pair of ripped jeans and rose gold low Jordan 11s.
“Alright,” Mel announced, clapping her hands. “Y’all sit down and let her open these gifts in peace.”
Dominic and Shaun wiggled into the front row on the rug, clapping like they were part of the show. Jet squeezed in with them, while Theo stuck close by his sister like he was Liberty’s personal bodyguard. Liberty tore into her first few gifts—shoes, clothes, some lip gloss. Every “thank you” came with a shy smile that made my heart smile. She was turning into a little lady right before us. She hadn’t been around that long, but she fit right in.
The moment lil’ Ky held out a small box with both hands, the room went quiet. Liberty opened it slowly, then gasped when she saw the necklace inside. It was a simple gold necklace with a heart charm embedded with small diamonds.
“Oh, my God…” she whispered. “Thank you, Ky. I love it.” She blushed.
The men reacted all at once.
“Hell nah,” Buck barked, standing halfway up. “Where the hell you get money for that, lil’ man?”
“That’s a good question.” Kilo input. “You ain’t even old enough to work, so where you get the money to get that?”
“My aunt helped me buy it.” he explained.
“Uh huh,” Buck cut him off, pointing a finger like a gun. “You better not be thinking that necklace comes with nothing more than a thank you.”
“Uncle Buck, please,” Liberty groaned.
