Together From the Start

EIGHT

Chapter Eight| Trevor

I'm not going to lie and act like I'm not happy that Brandon and Nini aren't together anymore. 

I'm not just happy, I am over the moon. Jumping with joy, about this news. Although, I should beat his ass for cheating on her. 

Trying to sit at this table and not crack a smile is hard as hell. 

"You punched him, destiny?" Tyler asked.

She nodded her head. 

"Shit I'm proud of you," he laughed.

"Language," Lily said.

Everyone laughed and Tyler apologized. 

"Destiny, I understand why you put your hands on him because I would have done the same," Dahlia spoke. "But, just be aware you can't lash out like that all of the time. Some people get butt-hurt and like to press charges. And I don't need to be bailing my baby out of jail." 

"I know, ma, I'm sorry. Won't happen again," Nini said.

Breakfast went by fast, it was finally time for us to have the Thanksgiving football game. We always have it right after breakfast to burn off that food from earlier. 

So, I went back over to my house to get the football and flags. 

"Yo," Tyler knocked on my bedroom door. "You got the black chalk."

I check through my bag, and as I search through it more, I realize I don't have it. "Naw bro, I think I forgot it." 

"Damn, I forgot mines too."

"Uhh, Let's check if Nini has something."

"Why would she have it?"

"Girls got all types of that makeup stuff, she probably got it." 

We go through the gate connecting our backyards. I hand the stuff over to Nick, as he and Marcus set everything up. My mom and dad and Eric and Dahlia, start to prep the food for later when I pass through the kitchen. I head upstairs to Nini's room door and give it a knock. 

When she opens it, Sza's voice seeps out of the room from the vinyl record player I bought her for Christmas back in high school. 

"How may I help you, sir," she crosses her hands over her chest, that's when I noticed she is dressed in my college football jersey. 

"Do you have any of your makeup stuff that we could use for chalk?"

"Oh my gosh, y'all still do that stupid chalk shit," she allows me to walk into the room.

"Of course, we gotta let y'all know we serious." 

She points me to sit down at her vanity as she searches through her makeup bag. "This is my thick lip liner, it'll probably work."

I go to take it from her. 

"Uh no, Imma do it because yall ain't about to ruin my stuff. I paid too much for this."  

She tilts my head up and starts to apply. "Stop squirming."

"I'm not." 

She finishes one check and then moves to the other. 

"You okay?" I asked her.

"Yeah," she answers nonchalantly.

"I know holidays are hard for you," I say. "Just know that I'm here if you wanna talk or something. I won't leave you alone."

"I know, Trev, I know," she sighs 

"CAN YALL HURRY UP," we heard Tyler yell from downstairs. 

We both laugh. "WE COMING," I yell back.