𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 ❷ ⓿ ❷ ❷
THE BATHROOM DOOR OPENED and she nearly ran into his chest, with a chuckle slipping from her mouth. She stood in only her bra and panties with her makeup done, her jaw-length bob crinkled, and Saint Laurent crystal-embellished logo earrings when she reeled her head back to see the lavender envelope in her face.
"What is this?" She asked staring up at Toby.
"A wedding invitation." he informed.
Ishanti placed her hand on her chest with fake shock and jokingly said, "I know my sex is breathtaking, I cook great, I look great, but could you at least get on one knee before confirming wedding invitations."
Toby chuckled lightly as she took a hold of the envelope. "You funny, girl. This is my girlfriend's aunts wedding. She invited me and I get to bring a plus one."
Ishanti peered up from the wedding invitation that has a clear acrylic background with lavender floral on it and gold letters on it. "Your girlfriends aunt's wedding? You're wanting to bring me as a plus one to your girlfriends wedding?"
He snickered at the irritation building in her voice. "She my brothas wife that's had a crush on me since forever. I call ha' that just to fuck wit him and ha'. So, you gon' come?"
"Of course I'll be your arm candy." She smiled, standing on her tiptoes and pecked her lips against his. "But right now, I have to get dressed. I have a date and I'm late." she kissed him once more before walking around him.
"Plan on fuckin'?" he asked, watching her slip on the metallic one-shoulder mini dress.
"You want honesty?" Ishanti queried, sitting on the foot of her bed and putting on her Saint Laurent patent leather pumps one by one. "Possibly. If the attraction is there. But then again, you've fucked me more than enough to even worry about another man being inside of me."
He chuckled. "That's cute."
"Let's not mention sex." Ishanti blew out air as she stood, "Because I'm bound to take this off and let you. . ."
"Lemme do what?" he stepped in front of her with a smirk.
"You. . ." her breathing shuddered. She snapped out of it and pushed his chest as he cackled. "I cannot stand you. How are the boy's?"
"Still strugglin'." he exhaled, "Hendrick tryna stay strong but I hear 'em cryin' in his room at night. Avant sleepin' wimme. He go to sleep watchin' videos of him and his moms or lookin' at pictures. It's not gon' be easy but we got 'em."
Ishanti nodded, smiling softly. "It's going to be a process and long grieving but they'll be okay."
"Yea'. You need to get yo' date tho'." he mentioned, "I gotta get home anyway. Avant blowin' me up."
Ishanti grabbed her purse and keys, leaving her apartment with him. She locked up before he walked her to her vehicle that was parked in front of his Silverado. He opened the door of her Land Rover for her and said, "Lemme kno' how it go."
She pressed her lips on his. "Okay, now go home creep."
They smiled at one another before he walked backward to his car and Ishanti blew him a kiss as she settled in the seat. Toby hopped in his truck and waited for her to pull off before he does, heading home. When pulling into the driveway, the headlights illuminated on someone sitting on the front porch. He parked, turning the key that shut off the lights, and he climbed out.
Toby approached the person on the front porch and immediately recognized it as Lotus. She overheard his footsteps and wiped her face with the sleeve of his hoodie. "Lo? Shouldn't you be in Maryland?"
Lotus looked at him with her puffy eyes. "Yeah, I flew back early even though my Dads wanted me to stay for 4th of July. . But I had to come here. I started knock on the door but I didn't see your car so... I sat here."
Based on the look in her eyes, he could tell she was told the truth. "Y'know bout me bein' yo' birth-dad?"
Lotus nodded as she sniffled. "She flew out there and told me a few days ago. You didn't know."
Toby exhaled deeply, taking those short steps forward to sit beside her on the porch. Lotus continued saying, "She told me the truth. . . Truth I could take but will never understand because I wasn't an emotional scarred child. I had a great childhood. I don't know rather to be pissed at her or let it go."
"You allowed to be pissed off. That's a given." he voiced, "You was in front of yo' birth parents and she was the only one that knew and kept it from both of us. I'm even pissed at that. But after thinkin' on it and lettin' my anger go from it; I understood her decision to put you up for adoption wit good ass Dads that raised you to be the beautiful young woman you are now while allowin' you to embrace yo' black beauty."
Lotus looked at him and asked, "You don't feel you coulda raised me?"
"If I knew bout you, hell yea'." he promptly answered, "But she was right; I was heavy in the streets. I was robbin', fightin', shootin', slangin'—neva' a night I ain't worry if I was gon' make it home alive to the twin's. I kno' certain shit I done was for them but bein' in the streets com' wit heavy consequences. I was shot four times at different times in life when I was younger—near dead the last time.
"I done a armed robbery at eighteen wit two niggas I thought was real homies that yo' moms knew bout. We got away scot-free til four years ago when one of 'em got caught up and his fingerprint matchin' the partial they found. Slapped those years in front of 'em and late night I was picked up and cuffed in front of my son's. I got ten years. I had to look my son's in the eyes and tell 'em the only parent they knew was finna go away for a while and they would be out hea' parentless.
Lotus listened intently as he looked at her and continued, "I couldn't even imagine if I had to look my daughter in the eye and tell ha' the same thing. I was reckless and done whatever I had to do to get what I needed for my son's. I was lucky to have gotten out early than expected or you wouldn't have known nothin' bout me til you was in yo' mid twenties and that's only if good behavior. I am mad her for not tellin' me. Ain't no excuse for it. But I'm not mad at the fact you hadda great life witcho' Dads. You nineteen and we got mo' than enough time to catch up."
Lotus laughed quietly. "Yeah. . . we do. And can this not be awkward between us. You are my father and even though I have two Dads it changes nothing. I mean, one of my Dads may be a little overprotective and a teensy little bit of jealous. But he'll get over it. You are my father and I don't like awkward."
"Ion' fuck wit awkward eitha' so we the same there."
Lotus hugged around his neck with her head resting on his back from him leaning forward. He smiled, as the embrace longed. They both felt some relief and she pulled away. "How's Guppie and AV?"
"Dealin'." he stood from the porch, "AV been askin' bout you. He prolly not sleep waitin' on me but I'm sho' as soon as he see you I'm gon' vanish out his mind."
Lotus laughed, standing from the porch next. "Wait, how are we gonna tell them I'm their sister?"
"They already look atchu as they sista' anyway. But we gon' tell 'em whenever you ready." he pushed the pivot door open after unlocking it and they both walked in, "What's yo' plans for the 4th since you hea'?"
"Uhh, listen to my Dads whine about me not being in New York like we do every year for the 4th with them for the first ever." She replied as he shut the door behind him.
"Ion' mind flyin' you back out there. You ain't gotta miss yo' usual routine wit 'em."
"I leave early tomorrow morning." Lotus informed with a chuckle, "They just think I won't be there."
"I waited on you Dad." Avant rubbed his eyes before he moved his hands and seen Lotus standing there. Tiredness drifted from his body immediately and rushed in excitement as he bolted to Lotus. "Lolo!"
Lotus smiled wide. "Hey, AV. Wanna watch me do more of the mural?"
"Yeah, can I, Dad?" Avant looked to his father for an answer.
"Yea' li'l man. But not too late. Lolo gotta flight in the a.m. and if we wanna get firecrackers in the mornin'."
"Okay!" Avant happily grinned, pulling Lotus behind him as he leaded to the family room.
Toby chuckled quietly as he footed towards the hallway just as Gabe left the bathroom in only his boxers. "Put som' bottoms on. A lady in the crib."
Gabe sucked his teeth as he reached his room. "Man, who? I'm tryna be comfortable and let shit breathe, hell."
Toby laughed, "then close the door mufucka." It shut behind him as he passed by the next room and overheard sobbing. He stopped his strides abruptly and stood in front of the bedroom. He opened the door and seen Hendrick laying on his head crying. "Guppie, you aight?"
Hendrick sniffled and wiped his tears. "I'm. . . I'm okay. No, I'm not okay. I gotta get it out."
"Yea' you do." he sighed lowly, "Wanna be by yo' self?"
"Yes sir."
Toby nodded and left his son alone. He checked on the twins and noticed Troy's bedroom empty. He offered quick knocks on Tyson's bedroom door before he pushed it open. "Aye, you kno' where—" his words were cut off by a woman's squeal.
"Pop!" Tyson covered his lower body promptly as the female hid underneath the comforter.
"Oh damn," Toby chuckled, spinning around to face the hallway. "How bout you lock the door next time? Where the hell yo' twin?"
"Ion' kno' he left." Tyson responded as a body thudded on the floor. "Dammit."
"Did you fall or ha'?"
"Pop close the door!" Tyson hollered as Toby closed the door with laughter.
Pulling out his phone, he called Troy twice but got his voicemail. He wasn't going to worry because he trust that his son wouldn't disappoint and result back to what brought him down. He went to his bedroom that was finally De-free from snoring in his bed. He hopped in the shower quick and when he footed out his phone was buzzing and ringing on his bed.
"How was yo' date?" he placed the phone on speaker and tossed it back on the bed.
"Fucking horrible." A door slammed on her end as he laughed, moisturizing his body with lotion. "First he gets there late even though I was late. But he was later than me." her heels thudded as she kicked them off, "Thennnn he done nothing but talk about his damn self. I try to mention one thing about me, he starts talking about himself. Again! Like, do you not see my fine ass sitting across from you?"
His door knob twisted. "Com' on, Ace, open da' the fuckin' door. I'm tired."
"So go lay on the couch or in Troy room." he responded to De, "You ain't comin' in hea'. I'm naked anyway. Gone mufucka."
De snickered. "Who you got up in there?"
"Nobody bye." Toby responded as the footsteps receded down the hall.
"De?" She questioned as she stripped from her dress.
"Yea'," he pulled on his boxers. "What else bout yo' date?"
"Ugh, forget him." She plopped down on her bed as she waved the conversation off, "You say that you're naked right now?"
He smirked. "Just bout."
"Hm," she turned over on her stomach as she bit her bottom lip, "Wanna have some FaceTime sex?"
Toby chuckled as he picked up his phone. "FaceTime sex? We thirty minutes away from each otha'. You want dick, com' hop onnit. Ain't no way I'm finna waste my nut in my hand, watchin' you play witcho' pussy through a screen. If I was outta town, sho'. But I'm not."
Ishanti giggle and leaped up from her bed. "Say no more."
The call disconnected and Toby tossed his phone back on the bed. He opened his bedroom door and poked his head out. "Ishanti finna com'! Open the door when she get hea'."
"Oh, so she takin' my spot in that big-ass bed?" De shook his head opening the door to Troy's empty bedroom, "Scandalous."
Toby laughed. "Go home, De." he said before backing into his room.
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