Page 22 of Autumn & Woods
“Autumn, you ain’t have to hit her,” Sherry laughed, damn near coughing up a lung at the same time.
Everybody laughed, except the one auntie who was still pressed. It seemed that the whole family, from inside, appeared outside to catch the drama. I low-key felt embarrassed, but I’d had enough of Yohana’s bullshit.
“Quamaine!” Yohanma scoffed, face red as hell. “You’re just gonna let this shit happen?”
“I just told you what’s up. Go ‘head and go.”
Uncle Tone chimed in. “Now listen here. Don’t let no dick make y’all out here embarrassing yourselves. Handle business like grown women, not like y’all on Love & Ratchet. Y’all better than that.”
“Unc,” Ty said with a laugh, “it wasn’t even Autumn who started it.”
“I seen everything,” Denise added, looking disappointed. “Yohana, I done invited you and it was a mistake, hun. It’s best you leave.”
Yohana stormed back into the house, muttering under her breath, but nobody stopped her. Woods finally stood and came over as the family trickled back inside. “Didn’t think I could want you more than I already did,” he whispered. I smiled, turning to Taj, who was still shaking her head and giggling.
“Girl,” she said. “You done went and slapped the Thanksgivin’ out that girl.”
“I didn’t mean to,” I lied.
“Yes, you did,” she laughed and she wasn’t wrong.
A n o t h e rh o u ra n dsome change had passed with us vibing outside and getting lit. I was ready to lay up with Autumn’s ass. Looking inside, I saw that everybody else was damn near gone.
Big Mama was knocked out in her recliner with one foot halfway in her slipper and a plate of dessert resting on her belly like she was guarding it in her sleep. Taj’s twins were knocked out on the couch. Autumn and Taj was posted in the kitchen gossiping. That post-Thanksgiving crash was starting to settle in.
I stood up slowly, stretching a little, adjusting my collar before patting Ty’s shoulder. His date was snoring with her head on his shoulder. “Aight, cuz. I’m finna get up outta here. Appreciate y’all for havin’ me.”
“Anytime,” he said, eyes already low from the liquor and smoke. “You ain’t gon’ take no plates?”
“C’mon now. You know how I do.”
He laughed. “You right.”
I stepped back inside, giving hugs to those that was left, catching side smiles and little mm-hmm looks from Aunt Sherry who’d been clocking me and Autumn since we walked back downstairs like nothing happened. I made a few plates and poured up another drink for the road.
Out of the corner of my eye, Autumn was moving through the house all polite and shit smiling, and grabbing her pie tin like it was sacred. The way she walked past me like I was a stranger was crazy. The fuck was she on?
I leaned in her direction. “You need a ride somewhere, gorgeous?”
Ty heard me as he walked inside. “Damn, that’s what we callin’ it now?” he said, grinning as he leaned against the wall.
Autumn looked at him with that dry little smirk. “Boy, shut up.”
Taj chimed in. “You ridin’ out for real? You good? You could always slide back to my spot. I was gon’ pour up and run that R&B playlist again.”
Autumn opened her mouth like she might actually answer, but I stepped forward, hand on the small of her back. “She’s gon’ slide wit’ me, cuz.” Silence dropped around the room like it had weight. I gave Ty a look that said,say something slick again.
“Where y’all goin’ anyway?” Aunt Sherry asked, sipping liquor out of a red cup like it was water.
“Minding our business,” Autumn muttered with a little laugh, but she stayed close.
Uncle Boom chuckled, half asleep. “Y’all grown. Just be safe. Ain’t tryna see y’all on noLookbookpost later.”
“Aight. Y’all be easy. Love you,” I said, balancing plates. We made it to the front porch and were halfway down the steps when I heard the screen door creak open again.
“Quamaine.”
I turned to see Ma stepping out into the cool air in her slippers and robe, eyes shifting from me to Autumn and back. She came down a step, arms folded.
