Page 16 of Senior

“Well, maybe fate will be on your side. We love a good second chance romance. Now your son… that’s a different story.”

“I ain’t worried about my son. I brought him in this world. He can’t tell me shit.”

“That might be true, but that’s his mom. You know how he feels about her. I, on the other hand, would love to see the Senior love story play out in real time. I’m just gonna say a silent prayer that you find love, whether it’s old or new.”

I smiled. “Thank you, baby girl.”

She kissed my cheek and busied herself with setting the table, then helping me plate the food. Everything was ready by the time Deuce returned with Darlyn and Liam.

“Hey Pop Pop!” Darlyn said, running and jumping into my arms.

“Hey, suga. How’s my big girl?”

“I’m good. Can you take me to school?”

“I got you.” I scooped up Liam, who was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Hey, big man. You good?”

“I tired, Papa,” he said, groaning. “Can I stay with you today?”

I chuckled. “Nah, man. You gotta go to school. If you behave, you can stay with me tonight and I’ll take you in the morning, okay?”

“Okay.”

I kissed both their cheeks and placed them in their respective seats.

“That’s why they are so spoiled now,” Deuce muttered.

“Shut up, Stanley,” Salima and I said in unison.

“You are the main one that spoiled them,” Salima said. She pointed between us. “Neither of you stand on business when it comes to these kids.”

“I’ll stand on business with the next one,” Deuce promised. “Darlyn is my firstborn and only girl. Liam is my boy. Cut me some slack. It ain’t like you ain’t spoiled too.”

“One… I wrecked my body twice to give you two beautiful babies. Two… I work, cook, clean, and perform my wifely duties very well, so I deserve to be spoiled. And three, we ain’t talking about me. Go on and sit down Deucy. Don’t make me embarrass you in front of our father.”

Deuce grinned as he sat his ass down. I would always maintain that Salima was the perfect woman for him. She damn near had this nigga trained and I could tell he loved it here. Hell, all of my girls had my boys under control. Maceo knew when not to act up with Shar. Romi was the only person that could keep Smoke from being the abrasive asshole he was at times. Steel was a sucker for Neha. Quaid was puddy in Jaeda’s hands, and Titan… well Titan was a different breed behind Mia.

Those two grew so much in the last couple of years. They were nowhere near where they used to be and that was all I could ask for. It was a beautiful thing to witness my children happy, healthy, and in love. My grandbabies were growing and thriving... all fourteen of them muthafuckas. I was shocked that nobody had gotten pregnant again in the last four years. Knowing these niggas, it was coming and when it did, I’d be right there ready to welcome them with open arms.

“I know you better know that schoolwork like you know those song lyrics, Johnny.”

Currently, I was sitting on my front porch while he trimmed the hedges and rapped along to the music coming from his phone. He called himself trying to put me on to the latest artists, but the boy listened to nothing but mumble rap and auto tuned voices.

“You sound like my grandpa,” Johnny said, grinning. “I’m on the honor roll, Ms. Stephanie. All As and I’m set to graduate at the top of my class.”

“What! Johnny, that’s amazing! I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you, Ms. Stephanie.”

“I see all those days of you doing your homework here have paid off.”

He chuckled. “You’re coming to my graduation, right?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“I’m accepting gifts in the form cash, Cash App, Zelle, PayPal⁠—”

“Boy, if you don’t get back to work and stop trying to hustle me.”