“Okay, I was just asking. You know you and Mia can talk to me about anything. I don’t want y’all to feel like you have to keep secrets from me,” Von said staring at him.
Tre couldn’t take the way his father was looking at him, so he looked away. It’s like he saw right through him and the lies that he was telling.
“I know that Von. I tell you everything.”
“Good and make sure you keep it that way,” Von laughed. “But seriously, you know we have to do something nice for Mimi’s graduation. Aside from the cruise thing that y’all planned.”
“Maybe we can do a dinner or something. You need to check with Moonie first to see if she had something planned,” Tre replied.
“Yeah, I’ll probably call her later. Where are you about to go now?” Von asked when Tre picked up his keys from the counter.
“I’m going to the group meeting with Mr. Warren,” Tre replied.
“I like him, and I’ve never even met him. Obviously he’s saying something that you need to hear since you keep going back.”
“He’s the truth, but you need to meet him. Maybe we can do something and invite him and his family over one day,” Tre suggested.
“Just say the word and I’m on it,” Von promised right as he walked out of the house.
Tre got in his car and sent Mia a text before he pulled off. She was in school, but they needed to have a serious talk as soon as she got home. It was time for them to come clean with Von, and they needed to put a plan in motion. He didn’t want to cruise anywhere without Von knowing that she was not only his God daughter but also his daughter-in-law.
C hapter 22
The next three months flew by, and Mia was preparing for her high school graduation. Things between her and Tre were going good, and she had no complaints. They were still creepin’ around, but they were about to put a stop to that very soon. Tre felt like Von was getting suspicious, and they really didn’t have a choice. When Tre told her that Von asked if he was feeling her she knew that it was time to be mature and come clean about everything. He seemed to be in a good mood lately, and she was hoping that their revelation didn’t change that. Von and Tanya had been spending a lot of time together, and Mia knew that her Godmother was the reason for him smiling so much. He was done with Cheryl ever since Mia and London’s fight at Terri’s repast. She’d been damn near stalking him for the past few months, but he was sticking to his decision. That still didn’t stop her from calling all the time. A few times she popped up over there or at different places that he was known to frequent. Even after putting her in her place several times, Von still couldn’t get rid of her.
“Stop staring at me like that,” Mia said to Tre as they laid down in his bed.
“Stop lying to me then,” he replied.
“I’m not lying to you, Tre. Two weeks is all I need. Just let me wait until after graduation before we talk to him,” Mia begged.
Things had been going great between her and Tre for the past few months, but, of course, it didn’t last too long. She had only two weeks before she graduated from high school, and she was excited. Even more so now because she had been accepted into the college that she wanted to go to. She even got approved to stay on campus, but Tre didn’t think it was a good idea.
“We don’t have to tell him on the same day that you graduate. I just don’t want to be going on a cruise to Jamaica having to sneak into my girlfriend’s room for seven whole days. Truthfully Mia, we really don’t have a choice anymore.”
“I know, and I’m ready to get to over with. This sneaking around is too draining, and I’m all out of energy. We can talk to him the day after graduation. I’ll talk to Moonie on my own. She probably won’t care one way or another. It’s Von that I’m really worried about.”
“I’m really going to hear his mouth now, especially since he asked me, and I said no. You got me lying and denying you and shit,” Tre laughed.
“I’m scared Tre. Everything just seems so different now,” Mia said.
Tre blew out a frustrated breath before he spoke. “Do you trust me, Mia?”
“Yeah,” she replied lowly.
“Okay, well you need to start acting like it. We’ve been over this a million times, and nothing has changed. You know I got you no matter what happens. You sitting here acting like Von is the big bad wolf or something. I don’t want to piss him off any more than you do, but it is what it is. I don’t have any regrets, and I hope you don’t either,” Tre said looking to her for a response.
“I don’t have any regrets,” Mia assured him.
“It’s too late if you do. You’re stuck with me for life, so you might as well marry me.”
“Why because…” Mia started to say.
“No, because I love you,” Tre replied cutting her off. “You want to be my girlfriend for the rest of your life?”
“No, but I’m too young to think about getting married,” Mia stated.
“That’s not true Mia. Mr. Warren is forty-eight years old, and he’s been married for thirty years to the same woman. That means he was the same age as you are now when he got married. His wife was only seventeen, and both of them were virgins,” Tre informed her.
“That sounds like something straight out of an urban fiction book. Besides him, who else do you know can say some shit like that? As many problems as we’ve had, I’m surprised that we’re still together.”
“I never said that they didn’t have problems Mia, but they’re still happily married. Stop always looking for perfection,” Tre argued.
“Obviously I’m not looking for perfection if I’m still with you,” she joked.
“I see you got jokes,” Tre laughed.
“But seriously Tre, I know that some people get married at a young age, but I don’t think we’re ready. We just got back together a couple of months ago, and I don’t want to rush anything.”
“You’re only saying that because you don’t really trust me like you should. I know I messed up Mia, but you can’t hold that over my head forever.”
“It has nothing to do with our past. I trust you, but I want to know that we’re making the right decision. I don’t want to you to marry me just because….”
“I know that baby,” Tre said cutting her off mid-sentence. “I want to marry you because I love you, and I can’t see me spending the rest of my life without you. Can you see yourself being without me? And be honest.”
“No, I can’t” Mia replied honestly.
“Okay, then that’s reason enough for us to do it,” Tre responded.
“Let’s just get over one hurdle before we try to jump another. Once we talk to Von, then we can talk about marriage and everything else. That’s the hardest part of it all.”
“Or we can just elope,” Tre smiled.
“Shut up and go to sleep,” Mia laughed as she snuggled up against him.
Von was in Biloxi with Tanya and Mia was happy that she and Tre were able to spend a few days together without having to worry about being seen. She usually didn’t stay over on school nights, but Tre would have a fit if she went home. Two more weeks and it would be all over with.
***
“Alright, Mia! That’s my baby!” Moonie yelled as Mia’s name was called to receive her diploma.
Brandis had already walked across, and they screamed and yelled for her too. Von was so excited, but the moment was bittersweet. He wished that Rainey was walking across the stage with them, but she took another route. She still wasn’t talking to him and the last time he saw her was at Terri’s funeral. He kept in touch with her mama, and that was how he found out that she’d dropped out of school and got her GED instead. Rainey was a smart girl, and he didn’t understand that decision at all. Still, he was happy for his baby girl more than she would ever know. Mia didn’t grow up in the best environment, but she didn’t give up like so many others in her position would have.
“I’m so proud of you baby,” Von said while hugging Mia.
“Thanks, Von,�
�� Mia smiled hugging him back.
“My baby is the first one in my family to go to college. My girl is about to be an accountant,” Lamar bragged loudly.
The graduation was over, and they were all standing around taking pictures of Mia and Brandis with all of their family and friends. Mia was a little disappointed that her friend wasn’t going out to dinner with them. Brandis’s family planned a dinner for her at her grandmother’s house. Mia and her family were going to a restaurant, but Duke was going with his girl. Once they were done taking pictures, Brandis grabbed Mia and pulled her away from everyone.
“I can see that you’re nervous, but it’s going to be okay. You know Tank got your back,” Brandis said encouraging her friend.
“I know, thanks, girl,” Mia smiled weakly.
“You feel alright?” Brandis asked her.
“Yeah, just the usual,” Mia replied.
“Okay, well call me if you need me. I can’t wait for our graduation party. From the way you’re looking it looks like I’ll be turning up by myself,” Brandis laughed.
Von, Moonie, and Brandis’s mother decided to throw both girls a party at a hall not too far from The Court. Von and Lamar were cool with the owner, so he gave them the place for free. They just had to bring in their own food and decorations. Mia fell in love with the outside décor, so she was happy about the choice they made. Since everyone was having graduation parties, they scheduled theirs for three weeks after to make sure they didn’t have it on the same day as anyone else.
“Bye heifer, have fun,” Mia said before she rejoined her family near their cars.
“You good baby?” Tre whispered while standing next to her.
“Yeah,” Mia said just so he wouldn’t worry.
“If you want to wait to talk to Von we can. I don’t want you to be stressing over this,” Tre whispered.
“I’m good Tre. Besides, we really don’t have a choice. I’m tired of all this sneaking and hiding.”
“Let’s just go eat and we’ll talk later,” he said walking off with Mia following behind them.
The rest of the night was filled with nothing but fun and laughter. Mia and all of her siblings were there along with Tre and his family. Although Duke went with Brandis, Tanya decided to stay with Von. Thankfully it was a weekday and the restaurant wasn’t very crowded. They had over twenty people with them, so they had to have an area all to themselves.
“We need to talk when you get a minute,” Lamar said kneeling down next to Mia.
“What’s wrong daddy?” Mia asked with a worried look on her face.
“Nothing is wrong, baby. I got some good news to tell you, but we’ll talk tomorrow,” he said kissing her cheek.
Mia didn’t know what her father wanted to say, but he was all smiles. She hadn’t seen him that happy in a while. She figured that maybe it was Nina that had him feeling like a school boy. Nina had been staying with him for the past few months, and they seemed to be getting along great. She really didn’t care what it was, but she was happy that he was in a good mood.
***
Mia all but skipped into Von’s house three days later. Von wasn’t home yet, but Tre was there waiting for her. They were supposed to talk to Von the day after graduation, but he’d been by Tanya’s house since then. He was supposed to be coming back home that same day, and Mia was ready. She was still nervous about what they had to do, but she was ready to get it over with.
“I better be the reason for that kool aid smile on your face,” Tre said wrapping his arms around Mia’s waist.
“Usually you are, but I’m happy about something else this time. Guess what?” Mia asked while looking at him.
“What?” He asked smiling back at her.
He knew why she was so happy, but he wanted to hear her say it.
“Lamar is going to rehab. We just went out to eat, and he told me. I’m so happy. He couldn’t have picked a better time than now.”
“He finally told you huh?” Tre asked.
“Wait, so you already knew?”
“Yeah, he talked to me and Von about a week ago. I took him with me to see Mr. Warren, and he’s hooking everything up. He just wanted to wait under after your graduation before he went in. Since it’s voluntary, he has to pay for it, but I got him.”
“You are too sweet. Its times like these that you make me want to run off and marry you,” Mia said kissing his soft full lips.
“Girl don’t tell me that. You about to make me start doing charity work and shit,’ Tre joked making Mia laugh.
“Bust seriously Tre, I really appreciate that. Moonie is getting herself together, and now Lamar is trying to do the right thing and get off of drugs. It’s like my family is finally starting to come together. I need that now more than ever.”
“And you still got me,” Tre replied.
“Yes, I still got you,” Mia smiled.
“Von is coming home today. You ready to do this?”
“As soon as I take a nap I will be. I need all of my energy to have this conversation.”
Tre laughed because Mia had just about taken over his bed since he got it. When Von was home, and they couldn’t sleep in the same room, she started putting him in the guest room just so she could sleep in his bed. He didn’t mind, though. Mia got whatever she wanted from him, and that would probably never change.
C hapter 23
An entire week had passed, and Mia and Tre still hadn’t talked to Von, not that they were in a hurry to. If he wasn’t busy ripping and running the two of them had something else going on. Lamar was scheduled to go to rehab for ninety days, and Mia was helping him get his affairs in order before he left the next day. He was allowed to bring certain things in with him, so Von gave her some money to make sure he was straight. Moonie had started going to GED classes at the recreation center at The Court, and things had been looking up for her as well. Aside from Dalvin calling her every five minutes she was trying hard to make things work with Mitch. Aside from Shad and Paige, Dalvin also had a few others enemies in the drug game. It was rumored that he got drugs from his supplier and decided not to pay the man back after he sold it all. His mother even had to move out of her house after receiving several death threats. Mia was happy that Moonie was no longer with him because she would have been in danger too. He’d been hiding out somewhere, but he still called Moonie all the time trying to make things right with her. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Mitch’s ex-girlfriend Melissa had been on some fatal attraction shit lately. She started playing on Moonie’s phone, and she actually followed her home from the mall one day. Moonie was ready to beat her ass, but she drove off before she could get to her.
“What is this bitch doing here?” Mia asked when she and Tre pulled up to Von’s house.
It was Terri’s birthday, and she went with Tre to put some fresh flowers on her grave. He picked her up early that morning, and she’d been riding with him ever since. Mia wished she would have driven her own car because she would have been on her way home by now. This was her second time being without her car when she needed it, and she was kicking herself once again.
“Chill out Mia. You better not even think about fighting with nobody, and I mean that shit,” Tre warned.
“I’m not trying to fight nobody, but that bitch better not say anything to me.”
“I’m not playing with you, Lamia. Don’t piss me off,” Tre fussed.
Mia sucked her teeth and got out of the car. Tre was staring at her like he didn’t believe that she would behave herself. She was surprised when they pulled up and saw Rainey’s car parked in front of Von’s house. As bad as she would have loved to tap that ass again she knew that she couldn’t. Tre would probably kill her if she did.
When they walked into the house, the living room was empty. Mia heard voices coming from the kitchen, so she headed in that direction. Of course Tre was right up on her trying to make sure she didn’t start anything. When Mia and Rainey locked eyes, they just stared at each other both refusing to
look away. Rainey didn’t speak to Mia or Tre, and they didn’t bother speaking to her either. Von felt the tension and decided to speak up on it.
“So this is what we’ve been reduced to? We’re family, but we can be in the same room with each other and not even speak. What is going on with y’all?” Von asked.
“I’m about to go Von. I just came by to talk to you,” Rainey said as she stood to her feet.
She had only been there for about twenty minutes, but she was ready to go. As much as she used to hang with Mia and Tre before, she just couldn’t take being around them at the same time now. It was too embarrassing to even be in the same room with them. Ro had ruined her reputation, and she was happy that someone had taken him out of his misery. He didn’t deserve to breathe anymore after what he’d done to her. The look that Mia gave her was one of pure hatred, but she refused to look away. Rainey wasn’t scared of her, and she needed to know that. She caught her off guard the last time, but that would never happen again. After all, she really didn’t have a reason to be mad since she obviously came out on top. She still had Tre wrapped around her finger just like always. Rainey just never understood why. Tre had women that practically threw themselves at his feet, but he chose Mia. She just didn’t understand what Mia had over her and so many other women that wanted him. Mia was pretty, but so was she. Rainey’s shape wasn’t as nice, but she still had sex appeal. She’d spent as much time around him as Mia did, but he looked over her and chose Mia instead. Rainey was hoping that it would be just a fling, but they ended up falling in love with each other. Even when she confronted him about it, he didn’t even know how to explain it. He just kept saying that the heart wants what it wants as if that was an answer. When Rainey saw that she didn’t stand a chance she started throwing London on him instead. Aside from oral sex and one sexual encounter, Tre sent her on her way and was chasing after Mia once again.
“You don’t have to leave, baby. Stay until I’m done with this food, so you can get you something to eat,” Von insisted.
Creepin' 2: A New Orleans Love Story Page 18
