Page 139 of Lau Ahi
I knew that there were cultural elements that were going to be involved on Asha’s side and I wanted to have the same part of my grandfather’s culture represented as well. Black American culture was going to be woven into everything but there were still family traditions from both sides that I wanted to be highlighted. Thekapalawere traditional bamboo sticks that acted like pattern stamps, imprinting designs on kapa fabric. We would use it since I was paying homage to tradition.
“That’s perfect.” I shook his hand and he nodded at all of us, getting ready to give us space before he turned to leave.
“Make sure mine is money-green.”
Mr. Leon smiled and glanced at me for approval. I gave it because I didn’t care what color out of the rainbow they chose. “That can be arranged.”
“First Xerx had us with the Dru Hill jumps and now I gotta have Tina Snow knees. At least Li let me beat somebody’s ass since he had me in a skirt.” Yacouba was back to bitching but I was sure his ass loved this shit.
Liam’s eyes narrowed, and his lip turned up into a sneer. “Akilt, muthafucker.”
I stepped in hoping to defuse the situation before they started cutting up. “Mir the only one I didn’t have beef with about how his shit went. Just a tuxedo and some regular nuptials.”
Yacouba smirked his eyes trained on Mir. “His ass got blown up at his shit though.”
We all looked over at Mir who was staring at Yacouba like he was gonna beat his ass. But damn if he hadn’t made a good point. Mir had the most normal wedding and somebody tried to kill his ass immediately after.
“Why the fuck would you bring that up right now?” He looked pissed at the reminder that he’d spent the rest of his wedding night and the first few days of his marriage out of it. He was unconscious for almost a full day and I knew he’d tossed around the idea of giving Nyima a second wedding to make up for how their first ended.
“I’m saying if we're looking at track records, the normal wedding ending in the most fucked up way. So maybe y’all should be thankful that I’m having you as a part of this and stop complaining.” I shrugged and removed the temporary tuxedo jacket and placed it on the hanger for Mr. Leon to collect.
“Damn, this is actually making sense.”
Xerxes shook his head laughing at Yacouba. “No, zhe fuck it’s not.”
“The two outsiders are in this, right?” I laughed at how Yacouba characterized Hakeem and Alec.
“Yeah, they’re in it. Got fitted earlier this week.” I knew the backlash was coming and it was swift, with a pair of socks landing on the side of my face.
“Yoo playing favorites and shyte?” Liam’s arms were folded across his chest and I found it comical.
“Y’all had to come from out of town, get over yourself.”
Yacouba waved his hand not trying to hear what I had to say. “Nah, I’m feeling some kind of way about this shit. You changing up, O. First you're getting married—”
I pointed at Xerxes to get the attention off me. “I did it so that this man could marry the woman of his dreams!”
“That’s some bullshit and you know it. We know that this shit ain’t have shit to do with obligation because you would’ve found a way to get out of it if necessary. Xerx would’ve cooked some shit up just to make sure neither of you had to marry her. Instead, you’re over here volunteering as tribute and shit. OhKatniss Everdeenmuthafucka.”
We cracked up laughing ‘cause he was gone talk shit no matter what.
“Yacouba—”
“E’s right and yoo keen it. We could’ve found a way if yoo truly dinna want to be with ‘er. Money or a bullet to the head—”
My gun was out and aimed at my brother before he could finish his sentence. The smirk on his face and the look in his green eyes had me realizing I’d played right into his hands.
“And yoo think we believe yoo dinna feel something for ‘er? Us who ‘ave kenned yoo yoor entire life?”
I tucked my gun back into the small of my back and cracked my neck to ease the tension. I didn’t feel like talking about thisshit for the second time this week. Especially not with them. I didn’t have the capacity to take on figuring myself out while I had everything else going on.
“Shut up.”
There wasn’t any other comeback I could have because I’d already shown my hand.
“Cheer up, Ori. You’ve found yourself in good company and everyone seems to like her. Nyima thinks she’s sweet and I trust her discernment.” Mir patted me on the shoulder attempting to comfort me. Which only made me madder.
Smoke spoke up damn near scaring my ass. “Jada likes her too so you can take that endorsement.”
