“I'm sorry Savannah. I’m frustrated about another matter and I am sorry for taking it out on you. Please forgive me.”
“Of course you're forgiven Seph; you’re my brother and I love you”.
“Josh, you too, I'm sorry.”
“I forgive you but we are still gonna talk about that shit.” He nods his head and the moment is over.
After a few tense moments, Anson says to me “welcome to the real househusbands of Mississippi” and we all laugh.
The meal looked amazing; braised beef short ribs, over cheesy creamy polenta, glazed carrots, a salad, and peach lemonade rounded out dinner. We began to fix our plates and the conversation flowed around the table. I peek over at Joseph and he seems to be a little better but he is definitely not as talkative as the others. But it’s not my business and I only mind the business that pays me.
Just as I am about to take another bite Aryan says, “So True, are you and my brother an item?”
I look at Atlas but respond, “ um why?” I ask without answering his question.
“Cause I’d like to take you out to dinner,” He says.
“The fuck?” Atlas yells. “Your raggedy-ass isn’t going to be taking her anywhere.”
“Why not? She didn’t say y’all was an item and you didn’t dispute her so she’s single and available, “ he says.
“Well hell since we are shooting our shot I wanna take you to a picnic and a movie,” Asher says.
“Let me tell you little shits something. None of you are taking her any damn where, True is mine.” Atlas declares.
“Not until she says she’s your’s Atlas, until then she is fair game,” Joseph chimes in.
“First of all what the hell am I, a heffer on the auction block? I am not a side of meat to be bid over, that shit might be cute for some women but it ain’t to me. Oh and by the way I don’t run through families, so thanks for the offer but I’m gonna have to decline.”
After a few silent seconds the silence is broken.
“Well, I think she passes the vibe test,” Anson says and Atlas and I both are looking at his brothers like they're crazy.
“So this was some sort of test?”
“Kinda we gotta make sure you can stand your ground, can stand up to Atlas and you are badass enough to be a part of the family.”
I frown as I look over to Savvy whose husband won’t even let her pour her own drink, and wonder how she got past the vibe test.
“Don’t let the smooth taste fool you” Jabarri says “Savvy is far from a pampered princess.”
“Shut up Jabarri, I’m a pampered Queen, get it right, I’m just a pampered Queen who can and will whoop-ass or put a bullet in a bitch.”
I nod my head but I still have my reservations about Savannah being a badass. Luckily for me, there were no more date requests but I notice that Atlas isn’t talking as much as he was before even though the conversation picked right back up and flowed as easily as it did before.
Atlas’ brothers are amazing and funny and you can feel the love from the other side of the planet that these brothers have for each other. I don’t know why I was so nervous to meet them, they made me feel so welcome and a part of their family. When Jaasiel brought out the caramel apple upside-down cake I thought I had died and gone to culinary heaven. The cake was amazing, still warm from the oven and gooey with homemade french vanilla ice cream, before I knew it I ate three pieces. And this is why my ass can’t lose this stomach. I started to push away the plate with the rest of the slice on it and Atlas pushed it right back to me.
“Eat the cake True I like every inch on you exactly where it’s at” he whispers in my ear as a shiver makes its way up my spine.
I do eat the rest of the slice and now I am not fit to do anything but sleep. I lay my head on Atlas’s shoulder and pull my feet up and enjoy being here with Atlas and his brothers. He puts his arm around me and repositions my head to his chest as he continues to talk to his brothers. After the fourth yawn I try to hide, Atlas tells his brothers we are going to bed and Jaasiel tells him he’s making breakfast.
“We’ll be there,” I say before he gets the sentence out.
“It looks like you have another fan,” Atlas says as he ushers me to his rooms.
“Good night,” I say over my shoulder.
“Good night,” they all reply.
Once we make it back to the room we’re both too tired to make good on any of the promises we spoke on earlier so we both get undressed, get in the bed, and go to sleep. There’s no rush...I hope.