Jermaine
I rubbed my hand violently down my face as I headed downstairs and to the kitchen for the sixth time in an hour to get Alysia's pregnant ass more grapes. It was a Saturday and the plan was to host a game night at our house while my mom watched all of her grandkids, but at the rate she was going we'd have no food to serve.
I was very proud of my mom. She had come such a long way and was doing so well for herself. Trey and I made her a partial owner of Ink Endeavor, our tattoo shop and family business, and she was also the manager there since neither Trey or I worked there anymore. Technically she would have been retired by now, so we wanted her to rest as she got older in age, but she hated sitting around doing nothing. She'd always say "I'm old, not dead." Truth was, she was more active than some of the women my age and didn't look a day over thirty even though she was pushing sixty.
"Jaliyah, get yourself together. Grandma will be here soon to get you."
Looking around my home before heading upstairs to my wife, I was happy with where I had ended up. After following in my little brother's footsteps and receiving my bachelor's of arts in both art and business from Temple University and attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia for architecture and design, I was a successful architect watching and waiting as my first design was being built in downtown Philadelphia.
My mom was ringing the door bell just as Jaliyah was jogging down the stairs with her earphones in her ears. I couldn't even believe I had an eight year old little girl. And a son on the way. I never saw my life like this. The married with kids life, but growth was important and I was just happy to have my best friend by my side while I did it.
Trapped in my thoughts I didn't even hear Jaliyah answer the door and my mom walk in.
"Hey beautiful." I greeted as I kissed her cheek taking in the scent of Chanel number five that Megan had gotten her for Mother's day before she sat down the grey Dior bag that Alysia had gotten her. They spoiled the hell out of my mom and she spoiled the hell out of them. She acted like Trey was still with Megan half the time and I know he hated it, but his girlfriend hated it even more.
"Hey my baby. Next time I want to be invited for the festivities." She jokingly fussed.
"You're always invited." I chuckled before looking at my watch.
Everyone was supposed to be showing up at around six, which meant I only had an hour to have everything together since I wasn't allowing Alysia to do anything. The kids at work were putting a lot of stress on her body, so when she was home she wasn't allowed to do anything but be my queen.
"We're going to go so we can beat this traffic. You ready little one?"
I always knew what kind of love my mother would have for her grandkids because of how she was with Genesis even way back in the day. Her love for her family was admirable and I was glad to have her back.
The house was silent once my mom and daughter left and I popped the wings I had bought in the oven to warm along with the straight from bag frozen meatballs. Alysia would be pissed that I didn't make it, but shit they better eat it and enjoy. Dumping chips into bowls I sat them on the coffee table and pulled out a few games already disgusted at the feeling of being as old as we were.
"Babe," I called from the bottom of the stairs. "Trey and Kayla are pulling up you can come down now." I told her throwing back a much needed shot of penny. I couldn't see how women did this house wife hostess shit, it was stressful.
Trey walked in dressed in dark denim jeans, a white t-shirt and wheat timberlands. It was funny to see him dressed down when he only wore stacy adams shoes and ties to work . I almost forgot he owned regular clothes. Kayla stood right by his side in a burnt orange maxi dress.
