“Wow,” I whisper, stepping inside as Rose piles in behind me with Maya behind her.
“This is sweet! You know, I can totally slide into your act if you want.” Maya shoves me playfully on the arm while blazing up a joint.
I think over what she has just said, obviously playing with the idea in my head.
“I was kidding,” Maya says, her eyes flying between Rose and me. “Tell her I was kidding.”
“What’s wrong with being in my act?” I scold her, dropping the box onto the white marble kitchen counter. “I happen to think my act is going to be pretty fantastic.”
Maya chuckles, shaking her head. “I’ve come to love you, Sef, but I can’t be living with someone who uses words like ‘fantastic’.” I ignore her new nickname for me, bringing it down to Maya and her peculiar personality.
I flip her off as she disappears up the stairs. “Of course she furnished it,” Maya calls out. “Sometimes I hate her.”
My eyebrows raise at Rose.
Rose shakes her head. “I’ll explain later. We are having a housewarming, aren’t we?”
I shrug. “I don’t see why not.” I want to talk with Rose about everything that has happened, but I don’t know when or how.
I climb the stairs and examine the bedrooms. Mine being the master room. It’s much like the boys’ RV, with my room being where King’s is. Soft pink covers are on the bed with gloss white posts where the bed sits in the middle.
“I was joking,” Maya interrupts my examining. “I mean, as much as it would be an honor to come into whatever you’re about to begin—”
“Stop.” I bring my hand up, stopping her. “You don’t need to say any more, Maya. I know.”
She stares at me, her almond eyes coming to mine. “It’s not that. It’s that I’ve always had my own act because…” She stops, and for the first time since I’ve known her, I watch as she cowers slightly. She exhales. “My mother. She’s, well, persistent.”
I lean against the doorframe, my arms coming to my chest. “Who’s your mom?”
Maya blushes, and I almost feel bad for asking. “Well…” Her hand comes up to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. “It’s Delila, actually.” She rolls her eyes.
I lean back, shocked. “Your mom is Delila?”
“Yup!” Her eyes slant. “Don’t judge me for that either. My old man was much cooler.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “I’m not judging you at all.”
“Good!” She smirks, nudging her head back downstairs. “Let’s have one big party before you bring in your new recruits. I always hate when newbies come in.”
“Jeez.” I shove her playfully. “Thanks.”
She laughs. “Girl, I’m not even sorry.” Of course she isn’t.
Hours pass as I settle into my room, hanging my clothes on their hangers. I pull out my phone and dial Richard, feeling bad on how I left him on our last call. I need to tell him that I won’t be able to make it back when I wanted, and then I need to find something to wear tonight.
Because I need to blow off some steam.
Some ancient, fucked-up, and mentally unstable steam.
After hanging up with Richard, I’m ass deep in my closet with Maya, Rose, Val and Mischa sitting on the bed.
“Just wear a bikini,” Val says, smirking from behind her glass. She has already started drinking. Surprise, surprise.
“I’m not wearing a bikini.”
Val is someone I have come to tolerate, but not necessarily like. I feel like I want to swap stories with them all. Who they are? Why are they here? Who are they damn well related to?
My fingers brush over a short black slinky outfit. “What are the chances of us maybe hitting a club later?”
They all pause before chuckling. “I mean, we can,” Maya purrs. “We just never really have.”
“What?” I scold, standing and grabbing some shoes that will match this scandalous little getup. “You’re in The Big Easy and you’re telling me you guys have never hit Bourbon Street?”
Val quirks an eyebrow. “Yes, we have, but not to go out as just the girls. Usually The Brothers are with us, if you know what I mean.” She smirks, looking to the side.
My hands drop to the side of me and I step closer to her, my head tilting. “Are we going to always have this problem between us, Val? Because we’ve both danced on King’s dick?”
Val freezes, her eyes slanting as they come to me. She seems to battle with her thoughts inside before