Page 6 of His Heaven, Her Hell
“Bitch?” I questioned.
“My bad…my lady.”
“I ain't trying to invade your space, bruh?—”
“It really ain't shit, nigga. You staying with me, and that's final.”
“You cool with that, Miss Jela?” I asked.
She looked up at me, but before she could respond, my brother spoke up. “She ain't got no say in who I invite into my home. Her ass don’t pay no damn bills,” he said, shoving macaroni in his mouth and immediately spitting it back onto his plate. “Why the fuck didn't you warm this up?”
“I-I did,” she stuttered.
“You lying! This shit lukewarm. Go put it back in the microwave.” He pushed the plate over to her.
I could see the embarrassment cross her face as she stood, took the plate, and carried it back into the house.
“Damien…” Moms started.
“I don't want to hear it, Ma.”
“You need to get control of your anger. That girl can barely look at us because she feels intimidated by us.”
“It ain't my fault she's scary as hell. She had one damn job.”
I frowned. “I know you ain't putting your hands on her, D.” He waved me off and took a sip of his beer. I looked around at my family, and they all looked away. Some of them were snickering at the situation. “Dame.”
“No, Truce, damn. I may yell at her ass, but I don't hit her.”
He was lying.
I could always tell when this nigga lied because he would get defensive as fuck. His bitch-ass daddy used to do the same shit. He’d beat our mother and deny it whenever we would ask what happened to her face while she covered up for him.
I didn't care if they argued, but men hitting on women was where I drew the line, especially coming from my brother, who knew firsthand how ugly that shit could get.
I stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, a’ight. Let’s get these bones going, Unc.” I moved my plate to the side and began washing the dominoes.
“Count me in!” Neveah yelled.
“Me too,” Luke countered.
“We in too!” I looked over and saw my little cousins, Deja and Charmaine, coming out of the house. “Tucci!” Deja yelled, calling me by the nickname she gave me, and rushing over to me. I smiled big and stood as she jumped her little body into my arms.
“Lil’ Bit.”
“Move, Deja, dang! Let me get my hug!” Charmaine fussed as she wrapped her arms around me once I put Deja down.
“Don’t trip, Char. I got enough love and hugs for everybody.”
“I hope you got enough for me,” Aunt LaShaun said, coming out behind Jela.
“You know I got all the love for you, Auntie,” I told her, holding my arms up. She laughed as we embraced, pulling away for her to kiss my cheeks.
“We missed you the last five holidays, baby.”
“I know. I missed everybody too. Y’all got me for good now, so I hope you made my sweet potato pie.”
“That’s wonderful! And you know I did!”
