Page 123 of The Need to Know

“This is some surprise,” my father remarked.

“Daddy,” I warned. “Be nice. You know how you get.”

“And how do I get, Nastasia?”

I shot him a look. “You know.”

“What are you, her bodyguard?” my father challenged.

As Ezekiel snaked an arm around my waist, I stood strong. “Yes.”

“And who are you, her bodyguard?” my father questioned Ezekiel as he sized him up.

Ezekiel didn’t let me go. “I know you family, Mr. Graham, but always.”

My father nodded. “Good answer.” All too quickly he lightened up and smiled at each of us. He tipped his head at Oisin and extended his hand. “David, nice to meet you. You have to forgive us, because Ali never brings anyone home.”

Oisin wasn’t bothered in the least as he shook with my father and mother. “Trust me, I get it.”

“Ezekiel,” Ezekiel said next as my father came to him.

“Well, let’s eat!” my mother announced, showing a hand down the hall toward the kitchen.

One step into the kitchen and the smell of fresh fried catfish hit us and a wave of ohs chorused out. My mother fried the best fish. I knew she’d done it for Ali because it was her favorite dish growing up.

At home, I simply baked fish, so it wasn’t often I got to eat it fried. This would be a treat.

Spread out in various pans across the stove and countertops, were collard greens, mashed potatoes, candied yams, green beans, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, and golden-fried catfish fillets. Awkward meal or not, I was definitely taking a to-go plate home.

“Oh snap,” Ezekiel said from behind me as he spotted the array of food.

I got a good look up at him. “We’re not sharing.”

He wasn’t fazed.

“Every time I get around yo’ ass I’m eatin’ something good.” Ezekiel buried his face in my neck and kissed me three times, making me squirm and laugh.

There was so much delicious food, I greedily made two plates because I was weird about my food touching each other. As soon as we settled into the dining room, Ezekiel made a show to stick his fork in one of my plates and help himself to my macaroni without asking.

I narrowed my eyes, watching his magical mouth chew my food. Even if I wanted to be upset, I couldn’t be.

We sat around the dining room table digging into my mother’s cooking. Ezekiel and I were on one side of the table, while Alannah and Oisin occupied the other, with my parents on each end.

“This food is amazing, Mrs. Graham,” Ezekiel spoke up to tell my mother.

Pleased, she gave Ezekiel a smile. “You can call me Miss Brandy. Do you cook?”

“Yes, definitely,” Ezekiel said as he sat up and wiped at his mouth. “My folks made sure I was very independent on all fronts.”

That was something I respected about Ezekiel. He had a good foundation that made him out to be an incredible man. Really, I was spoiled entirely by him, the way he would cook for me or love on me. I had never had it so good.

“Good,” my mother seemed to accept with a firm nod of her head. She looked over at Oisin. “What about you?”

He grinned as he pointed his fork at Ezekiel. “You’re killin’ me, bro.”

Alannah, Ezekiel, and I laughed while my parents were left out, not getting it.

“My mom is really nurturing,” Oisin confessed as he cut into a piece of catfish. “I can cook, but my mom’s very big on inviting you over for dinner, and for so long I wasn’t turning her down.”