Page 56 of Surrender to Love

“Then I’m happy for you, bruh,” he says.

“Me too. Real shit,” Tre adds.

For the last month, I’ve been planning this birthday trip. It has to be perfect because my baby deserves nothing but perfection. Plus, I’m gonna ask her to marry me once we’re there. I don’t have the proposal totally planned out. I just have the ring. When I finally ask her, I want to be inspired by the location, her, and whatever we are doing. I have six days to make it happen and we’re not leaving Hawaii without being engaged.

“’Preciate that for real,” I tell them, then nod before hitting the blunt.

Deuce gets up from the table and grabs the last beef rib from the grill. Sis is on some beef thing right now, so Quintus fired up the grill and cooked steaks, ribs, and oxtails then called us over after Shuga’s group text. She sent it to us, Sis, Kyrah, and my nephews. We are having Thanksgiving dinner in one of the cabins at the Blue Mountain Resort and are supposed to spend the night before there.

“Do they even have cabins big enough for all of us?” Tre asks.

“Shit, I hope so. I’m not sharing no fucking room with any of y’all big niggas,” Deuce says.

“Shuga better have two cabins if they don’t,” I add. “Our family is big ass shit. We need space. Is TJ coming home?” I ask Tre. TJ enlisted in the Navy and just finished boot camp in Illinois.

“He has three days for leave, so he’s coming Tuesday.”

“What about your crew?” I ask Deuce.

“Them niggas coming. When Shuga cooks, they ain’t missing out. Nish’s crazy ass texted asking if she can come through. Deric must have told her about the cabin,” Deuce says, referring to his second son and his mother.

“You letting Nish come through?” Tre teases.

“Fuck nah. You know I’m not,” Deuce scoffs as he walks back to the table.

A few minutes later, Quintus walks out with a pan in his hand. The door closes and we see Niya standing on the other side.

“She’s dying to come out here and tell y’all good night,” Quintus says while shaking his head. “My kyau made this apple cobbler. It’s right out of the oven,” he says as he places it on the grill warmer.

“Shit. Where’s the ice cream?” Tre asks.

“In the fridge.” Quintus nods toward the outside fridge and Tre gets up.

“Let me tell my favorite niece goodnight. Don’t eat all the damn cobbler,” I tell Tre.

“Nah. I’m coming in too,” he says.

“Me too,” Deuce says.

We all walk into the house ,and as soon as I’m inside, I scoop Niya up with one hand, practically raising her to the ceiling.

“Uncle Shiro,” she squeals while giggling.

We toss her around for a little bit like always, then tell her goodnight. She runs upstairs after hugging us and we go back out to the patio. Quintus has his cobbler and ice cream, sitting at the table eating.

“Where’s Ace?” I ask. It was obvious when we were in the house that he wasn’t.

“He left. Something’s up with Sade. He looked mad but didn’t say shit besides he’ll see us at the cabin,” Quintus says.

“I told you I heard her yelling. That’s fucked up,” Deuce says while shaking his head. “I hope they don’t bring that shit to the cabin.”

“He won’t, not in front of Shuga,” Tre says. “She already don’t be feeling Sade.”

“You think so? Kyrah says that same shit. I just ain’t never paid it no attention but she says it after every Sunday dinner.”

“Peep that shit at the cabin. You see how Shuga is with Mireya and Kyrah. It ain’t none of that with Sade. I mean, Shuga speaks, hugs her, and smiles and shit. But I’m telling you, it’s not the same. Y’all be so caught up in your girls that you don’t see it, but I do. Watch,” Tre says.

“I mean, Kyrah says it. You might be right.”