Nouveau

Chapter 67: Bon Temps

Louisiana's cool February air brought on the constant reminder that Laive was finally back home. Tremaine cracked the back windows to let the month's breeze reduce the stuffiness of the heated car. The smells of seasonal crawfish and fragrant seafood boil didn't stall as they pulled into the gravel paved driveway. L's nerves were causing rumbling pains to her abdomen the closer they got to Grandmother's front door.

The family estate sat covered with white shiplap panels, a black painted steel roof, and black trim. Passed down one generation, the renovated home sat on an acre of land and received add-ons almost every 2 years to keep up equity. L's heartbeat thudded through each ear while she tried to soothe her own nerves. The last time she brought a man home to be vetted by her family, things didn't end well or really end at all. Family hearing Tremaine in the background of some calls and facetimes was totally different from seeing the man in person. L had only confessed to being business partners, never giving away the fact they'd moved way beyond being just friends.

She ran the introduction through her head a few times last night...

This is my friend Tremaine.

Or

This is Tremaine, my good friend.

Or

This is my good friend Tremaine.

"Pull your pants up." Laive whispered walking up the steps to the porch. L checked Trey's clothes a million times for wrinkles and color coordination leaving the house. Even got his barber to pay a visit before getting on the plane to line him up. She didn't want anyone trying to pick him apart.

Tremaine tugged the waist of his jeans and responded to Laive's rushed expression, "My bad babe."

Tremaine

He couldn't keep his eyes off her as they stood to ring the  door bell.

L wore an olive long sleeve ribbed knit dress, a Black and white Burberry Logo scarf paired with casual leather black boots. The dress hugged every accentuated curve on her frame while her curly hair complimented her almond shaped eyes and high cheek bones.

He pulled at her hips for a kiss and L swatted him away.

"You don't see that camera?"

It was located right above the door frame. Tremaine smacked his lips once he saw it and kissed her anyway.

"Stop playin' with me."

The man dressed in everything L asked him to and here she was damn near sweating waiting for someone in her family to answer the door. Tremaine wearing a monogram motif pullover from Givenchy with black jeans and black retro 11's wasn't a reason for L to be stressing the way she was. He pissed her off before they left Cali refusing to cut off his braids. Trey asked Laive if she could give him a fresh set since she was the only one concerned about what her family would say. L sassed that she didn't want them redone, she wanted them gone. Tremaine let his temper get the best of him and told baby girl he didn't give a fuck about them people or their opinions. Said that he was a grown ass man and would wear his hair however.

Absentmindedly, Trey asked for another kiss. Laive didn't hesitate to give him a short peck on the lips until a random voice yelled behind the latched door.