Page 58 of Surrender to Love

“Shit, a lot.”

“Did you change your flight?”

“Yeah, we leave out of CFA at eight tomorrow. We’ll land in Hawaii at two o’clock Friday morning their time; six o’clock here.”

“And she has no idea that you’re proposing?”

“None, unless you told Sis, then she knows for sure.”

“I didn’t tell her. I wouldn’t ruin this for you, bruh.”

“’Preciate it. It just gotta go right. My baby can’t have no half ass proposal. Her ex nigga fucked things up with her bad and I’m going to right all those stupid wrongs and give her the marriage and life she deserves.”

“All you gotta do is love her, bruh. It’s that simple. Love her and talk shit out. I can’t believe my wild ass brother is getting married.”

“Shit, I had to. My lil bruh already showed me up and beat me to the damn altar. I have to do something,” I tease and we both laugh.

He grabs the cooler and bags from his ride and I get our cooler and two overnight duffels. I leave our luggage for the trip inside. When we make it to the main entrance, Ace opens the door and grabs one of Quintus’s bags.

“Wait until y’all see this shit,” Ace says in awe. As soon as I walk in, I understand the amazement in Ace’s tone. This shit is banging. From the small foyer, we walk right into a huge theater room and Shuga’s favorite movie is on the screen. She watches Soul Food every Thanksgiving, which means we watch it too. Everyone is sitting in the theater chairs and all the luggage is in the corner. “Put your bags over there. We can’t pick rooms until everyone is here. Shuga’s rule,” he says while shaking his head.

“That’s right,” she says as she walks into the room from the right.

“I texted everyone. Alami and her friend are ten minutes out,” she begins and Deuce interrupts.

“You letting her bring a nigga here?” Deuce asks with a frown.

“She said her friend didn’t have a place to go for the holiday and asked if they could come. You know I don’t like anyone to starve on Thanksgiving, so I told her they can. I didn’t ask if it was a boy or a girl, and if it’s a boy, you are going to be nice,” Shuga warns.

“Nice after I school the lil nigga,” Deuce says.

“Facts. She has brothers and he needs to know that,” I add.

“Brothers and nephews,” Hassan adds.

“Is this what Niya has to look forward to?” Shuga asks while shaking her head.

“What?” Niya asks.

“Nothing, lil cuz. You not getting a boyfriend until you are thirty,” Hassan says.

“My daddy said twenty-five,” Niya counters in her little sassy tone and we all laugh.

“That’s right, baby girl. Twenty-five,” Quintus says and Sis playfully pushes him in his side.

“TJ is outside,” Tre says.

“And Travon and Deric are at the gate,” Shuga says. “I just don’t know about Twon. He didn’t answer yet.”

“He’s coming and bringing his new girl,” Hussain says.

“We have enough room for everybody,” Shuga says with a huge smile. She absolutely loves when all of us get together.

“Where’s the kitchen? I can take these coolers,” I say.

“Not yet. Wait for everybody. Just sit and calm your nerves,” she says and I shake my head.

“You and yo’ rules. You do know we’re grown as hell,” I tease as I sit.