Page 30 of Betrothed To Love

“Ten thousand percent positive. Do you eat the eyes?” she asks.

“Nah. That’s all Shuga and now my baby. She could never get us to even try it growing up,” I tell her.

“Never,” Deuce adds before gathering his stuff. “I gotta bounce and get to the club.” He kisses the side of Shuga’s face. Asali leans back a little in his chair then extends his hand. Deuce slaps Asali’s hand.

“Don’t work too hard, son,” Asali says.

“We don’t know any other way,” Deuce says. He walks to our side of the table then leans down and kisses the top of Niya’s head. “Nice to meet you, sis,” he tells Mireya.

“You too.”

“And bruh, hit me this week,” he says to me.

“No doubt.”

After Deuce’s departure, we all eat while having small talk. Niya’s unusual shyness wears off and she dominates the conversation about her Bluey birthday party that I have no knowledge of. Apparently, she has it all envisioned and she’s excited to invite her two little friends she met in school. Against Shuga’s wishes, two weeks ago, she started Pre-K at Diamond Elite Academy. If Shuga had her wish, she would homeschool Niya and have her every day, but I want her interacting with other children, especially girls, and getting a well-rounded education.

“When is your birthday?” Mireya asks.

“In a few weeks,” Niya answers.

“More like a few months. It’s February,” I correct.

“The eight,” Niya finishes.

“My birthday is in February too,” Mireya reveals.

“The eight too?” Niya asks.

“No, it’s a week after yours on the fifteenth.”

“You having a party with your friends?” Niya asks.

“Probably.”

The conversation tempers down and we finish our food. Mireya actually tasted and ate most things on her plate. She’s open to my family and our food and I really like that, a lot. She fits.

“If you want any more, get it now before I pack it all up for the twins. They are heading back to college and I swear they are stockpiling food,” Shuga tells Mireya.

“Oh no. Thank you though. I’m full full in a good way. Everything was delicious. I have to learn how to make that seasoning blend and rice,” Mireya says.

“I can definitely teach you, but Quintus knows. All my boys know how to take care of themselves. I taught them how to cook, clean, laundry, you name it. I didn’t want them depending on a woman,” Shuga says.

“And I know too,” Niya adds.

“That’s right. My little princess knows too. She loves helping in the kitchen,” Shuga says and both Niya and Mireya smile.

“Then you can teach me,” Mireya utters to Niya and she nods. Shuga stands and grabs hers and Asali’s plates. When she reaches for Mireya’s, she stops her. “Oh no. I got this. Let me help with cleanup. It’s the least I can do for the invite and this delicious dinner,” she says, then turns to me and Niya. “Are y’all finished?”

“Yeah,” I answer and Niya nods.

Mireya and Shuga walk off with the plates and trash. Niya gets up and follows them. When my eyes linger on them for a minute, Asali clears his throat then chuckles.

“Be careful,” he says and I turn to face him.

“With what?” ask, truly wondering the hell he’s talking about.

“That need in your eyes. I see you, son. A woman has to need you more than you need her. She doesn’t seem like she needs a man. She’s a judge, hasn’t been married, and has no kids. You entered into a marriage already at a disadvantage.”