Every Kind of Way

19.

"Me? You! And these curls are everything."

"Thank you, thank you." Asha fluffed the springy curls. "Stand up right now and let me see you." she signaled for Toria to rise. She wore a silver gown with a single shoulder strap and a cut out side for a little hip action. "Amazing. I hate y'all."

"We hate you too. Now let's all go take pictures in the booth before we're drunk and look like shit." Victoria gestured for the whole table to get up.

"Twinnn!" Drew threw his arm around Asha and kissed her head.

"Look at you all happy because Jema is here. I see thru you."

"That's the affect she has on me." he dusted his button down like something was on it. "I'ma get her to crack tonight."

"Good luck." Asha patted his chest.

They reached the photo booth and Victoria talked a tipsy couple into letting them go first. They all piled in the area, trying their best to fit in the frame with it being so many of them. Ten minutes went by before they called it quits because they played mix match with who was all in the photos until they were all satisfied.

"You still ain't snatched that boy up and made him yours? What are you waiting for? Look at him." Blanca approached Asha as she poured herself a cup of strawberry Hennessy.

"I see him almost everyday. Your point?" Asha didn't even bother to glance in Sanchez's direction while Blanca shortly stared.

"He is fine as hell. What's wrong with him? It gotta be something if you just letting him walk around single. Commitment issues? Trust issues? He a hoe? I wouldn't be surprised."

Asha snickered. "In due time, Blanca."

"What does that mean?" Blanca followed Asha to the dance floor. She didn't respond.

Chingy's Right Thurr started blasting from the speakers causing the crowd of people to roar in cheer. Asha held her dress up with one hand as she hit the chicken head like it was '03. Blanca appeared in front of her hitting it just as hard with a head bob, letting Asha know they were on the same frequency right now. At the same exact time they both put their hands on the back of their head and bent down lower with it.

"Check me out, check me out!" Drew pushed thru them and started to kill the dance.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Asha egged him on until the DJ scratched the track, switching to Juvenile's Slow Motion per someone's request.

"Uhh I like it like that she workin that back, ion know how to act!" the people on the dance floor all sung. The dance floor was mostly filled with the teens and young adults of the family and of course, the lady of the hour. Sydnie had yet to sit down and the drank in her system was going to keep her there for the rest of the night.

Sydnie two stepped thru the crowd until she reached Asha and Blanca. She pulled the bottom of her dress up, swaying her hips as she lowered down in a squat where she began whining her waist. The two girls yelled over her and fanned their hand. Asha grabbed the hand her mom had in the air causing Sydnie to sway back up to her feet. The second she was standing again she pulled Asha into a hug, sharing a laugh.

"You know mama loves you more than anything in this world right?" Asha nodded as her mom began to confess her feelings in a drunken manner. "Okay good. I just want you to know I've been in Ash's ass about everything going on. He won't play with my baby, you hear me? Not while I still have breath in my lungs."

"Yes ma'am." Asha chuckled at her mom's drunken state. It was rare to see but Asha always found it amusing.

A few songs later, the young people were kicked off the dance floor so the older folks could slow grind to Trillville's Cutty Buddy. Asha now felt the effects of her first cup and went back to the drinks to  fix herself another cup of strawberry Hennessy before reclaiming her seat at the table. Victoria was already seated with a small pout on her face watching couples gyrate their hips against each other.