Page 26 of Girl, We Go Together
The DJ in the corner switched tracks, and before long, the familiar rhythm of the Electric Slide spilled across the floor. Laughter broke out, cousins pulled aunts by the hands, and uncles shouted out steps like the dance needed coaching. Even Orion’s mom kicked off her heels and slid into the line, her red dress swaying behind her to the beat. I sat at the edge of the room, sipping my strawberry margarita. The glimmer of my shoes caught the light every time I shifted. My calf still ached when I moved too fast, a sharp reminder of that bullet wound I was still healing from. So, I stayed put, clapping along with the rhythm as I watched his family be a family. This was something that I was unfamiliar with because it was always just me and my mother, but Orion came from a big tribe.
I looked over to my left and saw that some of his cousins were playing spades at one of the tables while some of his uncles were playing dominoes at another. In my eyes, he had one of those old black families, which made me eager to fit in. Badly, I wanted to be a part of them. The music surrounding the laughter in the room was loud, and the drinks were flowing heavily. Fora moment, it felt like I was peeking into a life I never thought I’d touch. The people in this room had big family energy. The kind of family that had inside jokes, people who knew each other down to their bones. A true village.
Orion caught my eye from the line. His shoulders rolled as he danced with OJ right beside him. He winked with that crooked smile of his that was aimed just for me, and my chest tightened. Butterflies swam around my stomach as I admired how good this man looked. I sat on the sideline and watched him be a fun dad. I couldn’t dance. I could barely walk right some mornings. But the way he looked at me in that moment, I wanted to leap up and join the crowd. I couldn’t, though. The music shifted again, the beat rolling into something slower, and the dance party broke apart with laughter. People scattered back to their tables or directly to the bar. I was busy watching Orion scoop OJ up and spin him like the boy was light as air when a shadow crossed my table.
“Mind if I sit with you for a minute?”
I looked up, and there was Orion’s mother. Up close, she was even more striking. Her silver hair caught the light with every move. I wasn’t sure if the color was natural or if she had gotten it dyed. Either way, it was beautiful on her. Now, her eyes… they held a sharpness that looked like they didn’t miss a thing. She had this look to her that screamed she was not to be played with. I could tell that growing up, her sons probably feared the five-foot-nothing beauty.
“Of course,” I said quickly, shifting to make space.
My palms felt clammy, so I wrapped them around my glass to hide it. She sat, crossing one elegant leg over the other. Her red dress flowed around her like it had been sewn just for her. For a moment, she didn’t say anything. She just studied me with a slight smile that was polite but probing.
“You’re beautiful,” she said finally, her voice smooth and confident. “And different from the kind of women I usually see my son with.”
Heat crept into my cheeks.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Cayla, right?” she asked.
“Yes.” My voice came out softer than I meant it to.
She nodded slowly as her eyes flickered to my calf for just a second. A sorrowfulness came to her eyes as if she already knew about the limp I tried to hide.
“Looks like you’ve been through a lot. It’s a feeling I got. I feel like you have a good heart. The way you’re sitting here, clapping and looking at my son and grandson, says something. I can see the kindness in your heart.”
Her words should have settled me, but my stomach stayed tight, waiting for the other shoe to drop. She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice so it wouldn’t carry.
“I’ll tell you what I told every woman before you. My son can be… a lot. He’s stubborn, hardheaded, and quick to anger, just like his daddy was. But when he chooses somebody, he chooses with his whole chest. He doesn’t bring just anyone around me, Cayla.”
My throat tightened, emotion pricking at the back of my eyes. I nodded while holding her gaze.
“I just… I care about him. That’s all,” I managed to get out.
It was the truth. This man had shown me more in a month than men who strung me along for years had. Her smile widened. It was softer this time and less guarded. She reached out and patted my hand once before standing again.
“That’s all I needed to hear.”
Then, she swept back toward the dance floor, leaving me sitting there with my heart racing, my drink untouched, and thequiet realization that this night meant more than I had prepared for.
Chapter 9
Orion
The party was in full swing. The room was buzzing with laughter and old-school jams. Plates were stacked high with food, everybody’s glass was full, and my cousins were talking over each other. From where I sat, I could see Cayla across the room with my mother. I was nervous for her until I saw her and Moms smile at each other. She looked like she belonged and like she’d been here all along. It was crazy how she fit right into my crazy world. How she fit right in with my crazy family. But my head wasn’t all the way in the room. There was too much on my mind.
Omari slid into the seat beside me with a plate of ribs in his hand. This greedy muthafucka had barbecue sauce dripping down his fingers.
“Yo, this shit is lit. Moms look happy as hell.”
I nodded, keeping my voice low. “She deserves it.”
Omari leaned back, chewing, with his eyes darting toward me like he knew something was off.
“You good, bro? You've been quiet all night.”
I let out a short breath while shaking my head.
