Page 8 of Senior

“Auntie Steph, please,” Kalia said. “You know you look good.”

“Looking good and feeling good are two different things. As beautiful as you are, you won’t always feel like it. That’s when you have to do something just for you. That little insecure voice in the back of your head can be just as much trouble as the voices of others. Always love you first and give yourself grace, baby.”

“Amen to that,” Tavia said. “Emmy, go tell Jaiden and your daddy to wash up for dinner.”

“Okay. G-Daddy, are you eating with us?”

“I am.”

“Good. Sit next to me. I gotta tell you about school.”

I chuckled. “Okay, Emmy.”

She bopped out of the kitchen and upstairs. If there was one thing Emmy was gonna do, it was gossip. She was the child you had to watch what you said around, because she was nosy and didn’t have a problem telling your damn business.

“So,” I said, turning back to the ladies. “Can I help with anything?”

“You can set the table,” Tavia said. “Kalia, pull out my serving dishes.”

“I’ll help you,” Steph said, moving to grab plates. We work silently to gather everything we need before heading into the dining room. For a good minute, that silence continued. Every so often, I glanced over at her. She seemed a little down today and I didn’t like that.

“You good, Steph?” I asked quietly.

She looked over, offering me a light smile. “I’m fine.”

“You sure? You don’t seem like yourself and I haven’t heard from you this week.”

She sighed. “I promise I’m okay, Stanley. You don’t have to worry about me so much. If I’m ever not okay, you and our son will be the first to know. I’m just a little tired. Haven’t gotten much sleep lately.”

“I have something that might relax you.”

She raised an eyebrow as she placed a hand on her hip. “And what is that?”

“Weed. Blake has this new shit that will mellow you right out.”

“Oh. Well, I guess I’ll take that.”

“I got you. I don’t have it on me, but I’ll bring it by later.”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course you will. You think you’re slick.”

I grinned. “You always say that, yet I’ve been on my best behavior for years now. I can’t check in on my best friend and make sure she’s good?”

She smiled softly. “I’m always good. Even when I’m not good, I know I’ll be good because you and our son will make sure I’m okay.”

“I’m glad you know that. I guess that means I get in on this smoke session tonight?”

She playfully bumped me. “Fine. When you come in the house, don’t bring that negative complaining ass spirit.”

“I ain’t negative nor do I complain. You just want to watch some bullshit.”

“I can watch what I want in my house.”

“I’m a guest.”

“Shut up, Stanley. You have never been a guest. You bring your ass in there and make yourself at home. Cut the shit.”

I laughed. “I guess that’s where my kids get it from.”