"Mani, you really my peace."
?*??───?*??
Imani don't do rappers.
Not when attention come before intention, and every smile hide a secret. But when a late night studio session her best friend forces her to go to, puts her in the path of Messiah Jam...
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Messiah pulled into his parents' driveway just a little after 10 a.m., music low, gold grills peeking as he yawned behind the wheel.
The smell of smoked meat and fried something already floated in the air before he even stepped out the car.
The front door was wide open like always when family was over, and as soon as he walked in, the house was full of noise—pots clanking, somebody laughing loud, the hum of old-school R&B in the background.
"Ayyye, look who finally decided to show up!" Aunt Tanya called from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
Messiah smirked, dipping his head. "Don't do that, Auntie. I been up early."
"Uh huh, up where? In bed?" Aunt Yvonne chimed in, barely glancing up from where she was mixing something in a big glass bowl.
"We needed them chairs from the garage out thirty minutes ago."
"I'm on it, I'm on it," Messiah laughed, giving his mama a quick kiss on the cheek as he passed through. "Morning, Ma."
"Morning, baby," she said with a smile. "Go on and help your aunties before they cut you out the will."
The kitchen was alive—Aunt Angie on the stovetop frying fish like it was a championship, Diane taste-testing everything with her "mm-mm-mm" stamp of approval.
His pops sitting at the table cracking jokes with all of 'em like he wasn't outnumbered.
"You better be bringing that girl you was talkin' 'bout," Aunt Diane said, waving a wooden spoon at him.
Messiah blinked. "What girl?"
They all looked at him like he lost his mind.
"Don't play dumb now," Aunt Angie said. "Not that singer. But the one you posted and tried to crop out like we ain't peep her pretty green eyes."
Messiah chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Y'all too invested."
Way too invested.
Fuck they know about Instagram anyway.
His pops leaned back in his chair. "That mean she comin', huh?"
He nodded, that grin tugging at his lips. "Yeah. She comin'. Her and her friend."
The aunties lit up, immediately shifting into planning mode.
"We gon' have to be on our best behavior," Tanya fake whispered.
"No we not," Yvonne said. "We gon' be regular so she know what she signin' up for."
Messiah shook his head, already regretting telling them anything.
But deep down, he loved it. This was home. Loud, messy, nosy—and full of love. ┌──❀*̥˚───❀*̥˚─┐
