Page 36 of Kisses Behind The Spotlight 2: Finale

My eyes bore into Amill, and she returned an equally intense stare.

“You look nice tonight, Amill,” I complimented, ignoring his greeting.

“Thank you,” she replied with a nervous smile.

The rest of their family started spilling out of the house, and Amill spun around to greet them, breaking into a stare-down.

“Good evening, everyone, welcome to Quincy’s birthday dinner. The birthday boy is on the way, and he told me he brought a plus-one, so give me a minute to rearrange the seats,” Khaleesi announced, rushing across the pool deck with her heels clacking the entire way.

She clutched a chair tightly, and Xain stepped in her way to slow her down.

“Stop running in those tall-ass heels, and give me the chair. I’ll carry it. You should’ve told me to come get it,” Xain scolded her.

“Thank you, Xain,” she bubbled, following him to the table.

Another woman rushed out of the house behind Khaleesi, wearing jeans and sneakers, with a medium-sized clear storage tote. I took the storage bin from her and carried it to the table. It was full of dishes, and she set up another place setting for Quincy’s extra guest.

“Now nobody else better show up with an extra guest because they’ll be sitting in the grass!” Khaleesi exclaimed.

I helped the woman carry the bin back to the storage room. All kinds of shit were strewn about in that room, so I set the bin on top of an empty chair.

“Thank you. Can you tell Khaleesi I’m out of here? I was already supposed to be gone twenty minutes ago.”

“I got you,” I agreed.

She shuffled toward the front door, and I debated going or staying when my feet started moving toward it. As soon as she swung the door open, Vincent and Anilla walked inside, thwarting my plans.

“Wassup, Stepp, I’m glad you could make it,” Vincent dapped me up.

“Thanks for inviting me,” I lied.

“Hey Stepp,” Anila greeted me with a brief hug, and I felt her belly through the dress.

“You’re finally starting to show,” I noted after breaking the hug.

“Yes, this baby is giving that she’s going to be small.”

“Y’all having a girl? Congratulations.”

“Yeah, man. I’m already prepared to jump in a monkey suit if a nigga play with my baby girl,” Vincent snipped.

“Stop,” Anila giggled.

“Where you was going? I know you wasn’t about to leave? My chef prepared the food. You better come get in this good grub.”

“I uhhh….”

“Man, bring yo ass on.” Vincent shoved me back towards the common areas.

The escape wasn’t happening, and I said fuck it. I could use some good food. A nigga hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Stepping back into the backyard, I saw the table overrun with Vincent’s family. Blood or otherwise. Tech, Jury, and their daughter Fallan sat on one end; Boy Corey, Girl Quori, Vez, and Yarissa on the other; and everyone else fell somewhere in between. Khaleesi’s mom sat next to her, looking like her twin. Vincent and Anila went around the table offering greetings until they took their seats. An empty chair sat between Amill and Q, and two open seats sat near the head of the table closest to the water. I quickly surmised the single seat was for me.

Sauntering over to the table, I looked down and noticed there were place cards. I was always going to have to sit next to Amill.

“You right here, Stepp!” Xain gloated, pointing across from him.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he helped Khaleesi with the seating chart. Devious nigga. Q dapped me up before I took my seat, and we had a brief conversation. He was still in touch with his father’s side of the family and kicked it with his cousin Karmello whenever he was in Miami, so we slid to the club together a few times over the years.

Taking my seat, I noticed the warm string lights crisscrossed overhead, their soft glow reflecting off the plates and wine glasses that were arranged perfectly across the table. Low jazz music played from the speakers on both sides of the backyard. This setup was nice.