Finding Us (Christian Interracial Romance)

Grammy Night At the Evans'

Jeremy

I'm sitting on the edge of Cecilia's parents' couch with Cecilia's siblings; Sheila, Carlissa, Lucas, Eric, Jake, and Zayna, my hands wrap around a sweating can of soda. The air is thick with anticipation, excitement, and the smell of spicy Dominican food along with oven baked chicken. Cecilia's family is gathered around, along with mine, glued to the screen as the 65th Annual Grammy Awards roll on. Mr. Evans leans forward, his eyes fixed on the TV, while Mrs. Evans stands behind the couch, arms crossed like she's ready to jump in at any moment with Cecilia's aunts and uncles from both her maternal and paternal sides of the family, especially with the addition of Cecilia's  grandmother, Yvette, who is seventy eight years young, as she likes to put it as her smooth and rich deep brown skin, barely shows the lines of age. Her hair, mostly black with just a few strands of gray glinting through, falls in loose waves down to the middle of her back. She carries herself with an energy that matches the brightness in her dark brown eyes, always alive with curiosity. And then there's her smile—huge and warm, like she's welcoming the whole world into her joy. It's that same grin I've seen on Mrs. Evans and even on Cecilia, but Yvette's has this extra spark, as if time itself has decided to linger a little longer on her side. It feels like a home team's in the Super Bowl, and they're rooting for their star player.

My parents sit on the love-seat across from me, while my siblings, Amber, Dylan, Thomas, Bradley, and Ellie, spread out in the living room. Dylan's got his arm around his wife, Renae, who's trying to keep their younger kids—Delilah, Aimee, and Dylan Jr.—from running around too much while the oldest, Montana is playing on her phone. The kids have already been bribed with empanadas and tamales.

Athena is with Cecilia, Reagan,Misty, Sylvia, Draya, and Jacqueline actually at the Grammy Awards. Amber is watching Athena's daughter, Anneliese. They sent a few selfies of themselves in their dresses earlier, flashing huge smiles in the back of a limo. Cecilia looked stunning in that apricot dress of hers. I could see the excitement in her eyes, but there was something else too—a hint of nerves, like she's holding her breath. It's been three months since I last spoke to her, but I can still read her like that.

"They're about to do a performance," Jake announces, turning up the volume on the TV. "Sam Smith and Kim Petras."

I exchange a look with Dylan. He raises an eyebrow. "I bet this one's gonna be... interesting."

Renae chuckles, adjusting Dylan Jr. in her lap. "Interesting is one way to put it."

The lights dim on the stage, and the camera shifts to Sam Smith in a red outfit, surrounded by dancers in devil horns and cages. Kim Petras sits in a cage as flames roar behind her. The music pulses, and the performance is intense, like something straight out of a gothic fever dream. They start singing "Unholy", and it's obvious that they've gone all out with the theme.

I hear my mom let out a small gasp. My dad's brows furrow as he leans forward, watching the dancers twist and writhe onstage. Mrs. Evans looks horrified, while her husband makes the sign of the cross. Even I'm stunned. Sure, the Grammy's are known for pushing the envelope, but this feels like they tore the whole envelope apart.

Dylan clears his throat, glancing around the room. "Uh, is it just me, or does this look like the 'Sodom and Gomorrah' reboot nobody asked for?"

Mr. Evans lets out a dry chuckle despite the tension in the room, and my dad shoots Dylan a look, half-amused, half-scolding. "No, seriously, I think I saw this in the book of Revelation somewhere," Dylan adds with a smirk.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure they missed a chapter. Maybe called 'Thou Shalt Not Put This on Primetime,'" Even Renae stifles an uncomfortable laugh before she shields Dylan Jr's eyes with her hand. "Kids, cover your eyes!"