Page 47 of When You Dance
Mama looked up from what she was doing, and when she saw me and Sandrene, she hopped to her feet, her hair swinging from her shoulder. Sandrene had hair just like her, and it was at this point that I realized they had a lot of similarities. Maybe Ididfind a woman like Anissa, even if it was only in physical appearance.
Pop came from the back, and his eyebrows lifted as Alexz’s had done. Sandrene mumbled, “I take it you’ve never brought a woman to meet them.”
“Nope. You’re the first.”
“Hey, baby boy!” my mama said then turned to Sandrene. “And you have to be Sandrene. If you aren’t, I’m gonna let Alexz knock the hell out of Jamel.”
Sandrene giggled as I frowned. “Damn, Ma. Like that?”
“Yes, like that.”
“Well, spare my man. I’m Sandrene. Nice to meet you in person, Mrs. Anissa.”
She pulled Sandrene in for a hug, and I noticed how comfortable Sandrene looked in her arms. Her eyes watered some at my mother’s gesture. “Pop, this is my lady, Sandrene. Baby, this is my pop, Sheldon Berotte.”
He extended his hand to her. “Nice to meet you, Sandrene. Welcome.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sheldon. It’s nice to meet you also.”
We all walked into the den as Alexz looped her arm through Sandrene’s like they were best friends. I knew what that shit was about. She was gonna be asking Sandrene all kinds of questions and was trying to make sure she was comfortable with her first. As we sat, I heard, “Damn, Mel here early. What’s the occasion?”
When DJ walked into the room, Sandrene’s hand trembled in mine. She remembered him. That had to be what her nerves were about. I stood from my seat and greeted my brother by slapping his hand and hugging him. “I see y’all made it back.”
“Yep. Got back last night.” He looked around me and then made his way to Sandrene. “Hey, Sandrene. I’m DJ, Mel’s brother.”
“Oh. You’re the one that just got married. Congratulations, and it’s nice to meet you,” she said as she shook his hand.
“I see you, Mel. You didn’t give up. I told you patience is a virtue.”
I smiled. “Hell yeah, it is.”
Sandrene smiled and looked away from us, giving her attention to Alexz. She was gonna wear my baby out. DJ patted my shoulder and nodded repeatedly. I knew that was his way of saying he was happy for me. He and Arrow were the only ones that knew just how long I’d been wanting her. She had me so damn sprung, and I hadn’t even spoken to her.
I sat next to Sandrene and grabbed her hand. She turned to me and smiled. “I told you. You were nervous for nothing.”
I kissed her cheek, and everybody was staring at us like they were in shock. “Y’all tripping for real,” I said as I chuckled.
“You brought a woman here. That’s big, Mel. Sandrene the real MVP,” Alexz said.
“Hell yeah. But she don’t need the title since she the only player.”
* * *
“I hopeI don’t have to fuck nobody up at this party, Mel.”
My eyebrows had risen. This side of Sandrene was new to me. I didn’t realize just how possessive and crazy she could be. That was okay though, because I was possessive too. I didn’t realize how much until I met her. “I don’t think Yolanda will be a problem. If she is, then she don’t value her life, because the look on your face could kill. I wasnotgoing to come here and had already told my mama we had plans, but you insisted.”
“I need her to see me so she know this is real. She has a son graduating, so she’s much older than me, but I will fuck up my elder. No remorse.”
Her accent was coming through strong, and I loved that shit. She hadn’t spoken a different language to me in a while. She probably figured there was no point since I didn’t understand her, but that shit sounded sexy as hell. I got out of the car and hoped Yolanda was on her P’s and Q’s, because Sandrene would be looking for the fuckery. Whereas no one would be paying attention to the subtle glances my way, Sandrene and DJ would see it all.
I was slightly nervous about it, because I didn’t want my mama to be caught in the crossfire. She would be the one to get hurt from all this. I hated seeing her cry, and I had a feeling this would bring her to tears. After helping Sandrene from the car, I grabbed her hand, and we headed to the entrance, but not before Ali and Seneca could catch up with us.
“Jamel!”
I stopped my forward progress, and Sandrene turned to see who was calling my name. A slow smile appeared on Seneca’s face. “What’s up, dude?” he asked when he reached us.
We slapped hands, then I slapped hands with Ali. “Y’all, this is my lady, Sandrene. Baby, this is Ali and Seneca.”
