Page 218 of The Ninth

I got out of the bed and got myself together. Washing my face, brushing my teeth, changing into a one-piece swimsuit with shorts over top of it. Now all I have to do is find my man!

The doors in the villa were huge and wooden. I pulled it open, silently walking through the halls and to all the little family rooms. I didn’t know if it was extremely quiet or if everyone was just in a separate part of the house. My flipflops clicked on the tile lightly as I patted my pockets, realizing I didn’t have my phone to call him. As soon as I was about to give up and turn around, I stumbled across the kitchen where Mama J, Piper, and Cassie were.

Mama J’s face was serious as she cut fruit, making a huge bowl. Piper and Cassie talked while sitting at the large island. She looked up at me, dropping the concentration and smiling. I couldn’t help but feel emotional as she dropped everything, wiped her hands, and sped to me.

“Good morning, beautiful! If this is how you look waking up, then Duke is very lucky. Give me hugs!” We hugged tightly as she kissed my head. “Come sit! We finally get to have girl time since K3 freed Cassie!”

“Can I help you?”

“You don’t have to, baby, but you’re welcomed!”

“Oh shoot, I didn’t offer and now I feel terrible!” Cassie giggled.

“Girl, please. K3 told me all the stuff you’ve been whipping up. You’ve done enough. You and Piper can finish cutting this fruit so I can help Devy.”

Cassie gladly took the fruit and chopping board as we stepped to the stove. There were a ton of things like eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, French toast, Canadian bacon, etc. I grabbed the bag of potatoes and decided to sit and dice them. Piper pulled her chair up next to me and smiled.

“Hey girl! Can I show you some tattoos I’m thinking about getting? I asked Uncle Man-Man to pay for it and he said he would definitely pay you.”

Cassie cackled as Mama J scoffed.

“Yes, of course! I’m surprised you didn’t just ask him. He’s phenomenal.”

“I would much rather have woman energy for my tats, no shade to that man. Also, it would be a good time for us to talk!”

“You’re completely right!”

She showed me very beautiful tattoos. I could tell she has been building a vision board for a while. They were all carefully picked out with specific placement. Her taste in designs reminded me of my own self. Multiple flowers that were extremely intricate. She even had hand and finger tats.

“Are you not worried about looking professional for grad school and your career?” I looked at her while dicing the potatoes.

Her face immediately screwed up, “OH, NO!”

“Yeah, we don’t believe in that!” Mama J agreed. “Tattoos shouldn’t be seen as dirty and unprofessional. I’ve watched my son create beautiful things since he was three. If someone wants to exclude her because of them, then she was never truly welcomed.”

“Exactly!” Piper agreed. “All of these mean so much to me. I picked them for a reason, y’know? I deserve to be in those spaces while expressing myself.”

I swallowed hard three times while looking at the tattoos through tears. When will my inner child fully heal? Hearing the way this grandmother speaks about her child and granddaughter that were both similar to me is both heartbreaking and rewarding. Rewarding because I’m so happy to be around likeminded people who respect my passion. Heartbreaking because I would do anything to go back in time to have this for myself. I deserved to grow up with this type of love.

“You coo, my girl?” Cassie’s voice brought me back.

Piper smiled softly before walking away. Mama J threw a worried glance over her shoulder before turning back to the popping grease. I nodded my head quickly to shake off the tears.

"Yeah! I just really love being around you all.”

“And we love having you, dear. My son has never introduced me to a woman. I used to be offended but now I see why. He wanted me to meet his wife, not girlfriend. Same goes for Kenzo. Where are they anyways?!”

Piper slapped her hand on the island, “PROBABLY DICKING AROUND WITH MICAH’S DUMB ASS!”

“Aye little girl!” K2 barked, walking into the kitchen.

He hugged the four of us before sniffing and loving all over his wife. His sons truly act just like him.

“I’m sorry, Pops, but they always dragging my man into something!”

“His lil bird chest ass need the stripes!”

“He needs to be with me! They call and he just leaves.”