johnson family bbq. | jey. u
parings : jey uso x black! oc (serena)
warnings: smut (itās who i am), oral receiving (fem receiving), cursing, bathroom sex, ex boyfriend trope, annoying family members,
šļø: everyone thinks serenaās ex is the one that got away. she deals with hearing it once everyday. wait until, her brother brings him to the family barbecue.
āif it aināt my beautiful granddaughter, where jey at?ā
serena sighed yet again. she was tired of the shits. every time her family had one of these bbqās, someone couldnāt hold back on bringing up her ex. maybe itās that old folks thing about the new young peopleāthey never really break up, honestly.
but that wasnāt the case. when she told jey, she was done with his bullshit last year, she meant it. she blocked him on everything, even xbox live, and changed her number. he wanted to run the streets across the earth slanging dick to any nxt newbie who smiled his way, go ahead. she wouldnāt dare be apart of it.
serena and jey, were never āofficialā official. but wasā¦official. yāknow?
they both posted each other, were always booād up at the club, slept over at each others places, he even flew her to his matches or wherever he was in the worldā¦heāll, they even met each others families.
which is proving to have done more harm than good.
āgranny, yāknow me and jey arenāt together no more.ā serena sighed before kissing her granny on the cheek
āyea yea, but you kids always breakup, than makeup, breakup, than makeup again. next thing, ya pregnantāā
serenaās mother let out a gasp from the side of her, āalright mama, serena aināt pregnantā¦right?ā
āiām just askin, girl damn. she aināt lyinā at least. but mama, serena and jey arenāt together. letās let her be today, alright mama?"
her granny frowned, waving her hand dismissively. she was old but not that old. "nah, i ain't buyin' it. that boy looked at you like you hung the damn moon, serena. i've been around long enough to know when somethin's real."
serena shifted uncomfortably on the plastic lawn chair, and swirled her cup. if the ground could swallow herā¦do it now.
"i remember when he first came 'round here," granny continued, her eyes going distant with memory of him. "so respectful. callin' me 'ma'am' and bringin' those fancy chocolates i like. not like them other boys you used to drag through here."
"listen to me, child. when yo granddaddy first caught my eye, it was the same way. that fire. that boy jey was your one. i felt it in these old bones. the way he'd look for you first thing when he walked in a room."
serena stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the concrete patio. "i need another drink."
she walked toward the back house, ignoring the concerned looks from her cousins. the quiet of the kitchen was a relief after the noise of the backyard. she yanked open the refrigerator, grabbing a high noon and cracking it open with more force than necessary.
the door creaked open behind her. her mother's perfumeāalways the same since serena was a childāfilled the small space.
"you okay?" her mother's voice came from behind her.
serena turned, leaning against the counter. "i'm fine. just tired of everyone bringing up ancient history."
"a year ain't ancient, baby girl."
"feels like it." serena took a long sip, the cold bubbles burning her throat. she knew her granny didnāt mean any harm. jey was a sweetheart and a charmer. everyone loved him. it was natural for them.
"you know granny means well. she just thoughtā"
"ma, seriously? you too now?"
her mother raised her hands defensively. "i'm not saying get back with him. i'm just askin if you heard from him. he called the house last week."
serenaās hand froze, the drink half way to her lips. she could feel her heart beating in her ears damn near. "he what?"
"listen. for someone who claims to have not been official, you were real hurt, serena. i could barely get you out your house inna mornin' to meet me for breakfast."
"ma, why did he call here? why are you ignoring my question?"
"baby, i saw how much you loved that boy," her mother said softly, coming closer. "the way your whole face lit up when he'd call. how you'd be runnin' around gettin' all dolled up when he was comin' to town."
serena rolled her eyes, but her mother pressed on.
"you've always been like this, since you was little. reactive. feelin' everything so big. when you hurt, you hurt deep. and that's okay, butā"
serena palmed her face, "ma, you still ain't answered my question about why he called here."
her mother sighed, leaning against the counter. "i understand y'all weren't official or whatever, but was that ever really discussed between y'all? 'cause from where everybody else was standin', it sure looked official."
"i'm not takin' his side, serena. i promise you that. i'm on your side. always have been. that's why seein' you so torn up over him had me worried. you was cryin' for weeks, wouldn't eat right, wouldn't go out."
serena looked down at her can, picking at the label with her thumbnail. the truth stung more than she wanted to admit.
"ma, please just tell me why he called the house." serena's voice cracked slightly.
her mother busied herself straightening the napkins on the counter before letting out a sigh. before serena's mom could open her mouth, a familiar voice boomed from the front of the house.
serena's heart dropped to her stomach. she knew that voice. her body tensed up as her eyes shot to her mother's face, which had guilt written all over it.
"ma?" serena whispered, her voice barely audible.
the sound of footsteps and male laughter grew louder. serena's mom suddenly became very interested in rearranging the potato salad on the counter.
"i was gonna tell you, butā"
serena's older brother drew's voice carried down the hallway. "yeah man, everybody's out back. ma and granny been cookin' all day."
serena gripped the counter, her knuckles turning white. "you didn't."
her mother finally looked up, her expression apologetic but firm. "drew called yesterday sayin' he was bringin' a friend. i didn't know it was jey until this mornin', and by thenā"
"by then what?" serena hissed, panic rising in her chest. "you couldn't pick up a phone? send a text? 'hey baby girl, by the way, your ex that broke your heart is comin' to the family barbecue'?"
serena felt like she'd been slapped. how could they? how could he? before she could respond, drew appeared in the doorway, his broad frame filling the space. and right behind him, looking exactly the same as he had a year ago, was jey.
"look who i found wanderin' around downtown," drew announced, oblivious to the tension in the room. "said he was in town for a show tomorrow."
jey stood there in his fitted black tee and jeans, tattoos showing under his sleeves, that same half-smile on his face that used to make serena's knees weak. his eyes found hers immediately, just like granny said they always did.
"hey," he said softly, only to her.
serena's throat closed up. she gripped her drink tighter, searching desperately for words, any words.
drew looked between them, finally sensing something was off. "uh, y'all good?"
"drew, come help me with somethin' outside," their mother said quickly, grabbing drew's arm and practically dragging him toward the back door.
the back door slammed shut, leaving serena alone with jey in the suddenly too-small kitchen. the silence stretched between them like a rubber band about to snap.
the ticking of the old kitchen clock filled the silence. serena felt like she was underwater, everything moving in slow motion. jey took a step toward her, that familiar look in his eyesāthe one that used to make her forgive him anything.
the nickname hit her like a physical blow. she felt the aluminum can give way beneath her fingers, crumpling with a satisfying crunch. without a word, she pitched it into the trash can beside the fridge, the metallic clang punctuating her silence.
jey reached out as she moved toward the door. "can we just talk for aā"
she didn't slow down, just raised her palm to his face as she brushed past him, close enough to catch that same cologne he always wore. his words died in his throat. the heat of his body nearly made her falter, but she kept moving, pushing through the screen door and back into the noise and sunshine of the backyard.
serena scanned the crowd, ignoring the curious glances from relatives who'd clearly seen jey arrive. she spotted sierra by the grill, laughing with their cousin marcus. sierra, who'd held her while she cried over jey more times than she could count.
"hey cuz," sierra said as serena approached, her smile fading when she caught sight of serena's face. "what's wrong withāoh shit." her eyes widened, looking past serena toward the house. "is that who i think it is?"
"sierra, i swear to god i'm about to lose my fuckin' mind," serena whispered, grabbing her cousin's arm. "did you know he was coming?
"hell no! i would've warned you."
marcus raised an eyebrow, "who we talkin' about?"
"nobody," serena snapped, then sighed. "sorry, marcus. justā¦ can you give us a minute?"
he nodded, backing away with his plate of food. "y'all women and your drama. i'll be by the speakers if anybody needs me."
as soon as he was out of earshot, sierra grabbed serena's shoulders. "what happened? what did he say to you?"
"nothin' yet. i didn't give him the chance." serena's hands were shaking. "sierra, i can't do this. not today. not here with everybody watchin'."
sierra glanced toward the house where jey had emerged onto the back porch engaging in a conversation with her brother and few of her cousins, "you want me to create a diversion so you can escape? i could fake an asthma attack."
despite everything, serena let out a small laugh. "you don't have fuckin' asthma. i do."
"details, details." sierra waved dismissively. "seriously though, you want me to take you home?"
serena sighed, glancing around at her aunties and uncles who were already watching her with curious eyes, "nah, i can't just bounce. you know how they get. by tomorrow mornin' the whole family group chat would be blowin' up about how i ran off 'cause jey showed up."
"easy for you to say. you ain't the one they be analyzin' like a damn science experiment." serena rolled her shoulders back, straightening her spine. "i gotta just deal with this shit. act like it don't bother me."
"you sure? 'cause your face tellin' a different story right now."
serena took a deep breath, smoothing her expression into something she hoped looked like indifference. "i'm good. i'm grown. it's been a year."
a deep, familiar laugh cut through the backyard chatter, making serena's stomach flip despite herself. she turned to see jey standing with her granny, who was patting his cheek like he was still her favorite. she was smiling up at him, nodding along to whatever he was saying, completely captivated.
"unbelievable," serena muttered. "look at granny actin' like he's the second coming."
sierra snorted. "you know how she is about him. always thought he hung the moon."
serena watched as jey leaned down to listen to something her grandmother whispered. whatever it was made him look up, his eyes scanning the yard until they locked with serena's. his smile shifted, something softer and more private passing over his face.
without thinking, serena raised her hand, middle finger extended high and proud in his direction.
"childish ass bitch," sierra muttered, though the corner of her mouth twitched up. "real mature, 'rena."
"what? he deserved it." serena dropped her hand, heat rising to her cheeks as she realized several relatives had witnessed her little display.
sierra shook her head. "you really tryna convince everybody you over him with that move? 'cause all i'm seein' is a girl who still got feelings strong enough to be mad."
"shut up," serena grumbled, grabbing a fresh drink from the cooler. "i ain't got no feelings except annoyance."
"mhmm. that's why you flippin' him off in front of granny and the whole family." sierra's eyes tracked something over serena's shoulder. "heads up, he's coming this way."
serena's spine stiffened. her body froze, once again. "he better not."
"too late." sierra stepped back slightly. "i'ma give y'all some spaceā"
"don't you dare leave me," serena hissed, grabbing her cousin's wrist.
"fine, but i ain't being your buffer all day." sierra crossed her arms as jey approached, his steps slow and deliberate, like he was approaching a spooked animal.
"hey, sierra," jey said, his voice gentle as he came to stand before them.
sierra gave him a once-over, her lips pressed into a thin line. she didn't respond, just took a long, pointed sip of her drink while staring straight through him like he was made of glass.
the silence hung heavy between them until serena couldn't take it anymore. "why the hell are you here? one of those nxt bitches didn't let you fuck or something?" the words came out sharper than she intended, dripping with venom.
jey's expression fell, a flash of hurt crossing his features before he schooled them back into neutrality. "it ain't like that, rena."
"don't call me that," serena snapped. "and you didn't answer my question."
he shifted his weight, glancing around at the relatives who were pretending not to eavesdrop. "can we talk somewhere private?"
"hell no," serena laughed, the sound hollow and bitter. "anything you gotta say, you can say right here."
sierra's eyes bounced between them like she was watching a tennis match. "i'ma go check on granny," she muttered, finally removing herself despite serena's death glare.
jey waited until sierra was out of earshot before speaking again. "i'm in town for a show tomorrow night at the arena. drew hit me up when he heard i was comin'."
"and you just thought you'd crash my family barbecue? for what?" serena crossed her arms tight over her chest, creating a barrier between them.
"i didn't know you'd be here," he kissed his lips at her expression. "alright, that's a lie. i knew. i wanted to see you."
"well, now you've seen me. mission accomplished." serena moved to step around him, but he shifted slightly, not quite blocking her path but making it clear he wasn't done.
"renaāserena," he corrected himself when her eyes flashed. "i justā¦ can we just talk? five minutes."
serena felt eyes on her from all directionsāher nosy-ass cousins, her aunties, her grandmother who was watching with naked hope on her face. she couldn't make a scene, not here.
"no," she said through gritted teeth. "you saw me. you ruined my fuckin day. get out. now."
jey ran his hand over his face, exhaling deeply. "look ian mean to ambush you. drew invited me, and i didnt have a choice. i thought maybeā"
"stop talking to me," serena hissed, cutting him off. "just stop."
she turned away from him, her eyes landing on the back porch where her mother stood, watching the whole scene unfold. her mama's expression was a mixture of guilt and concern, her hands nervously twisting the dish towel she held.
without another word to jey, serena stormed past her relatives, ignoring their whispers and stares. she pushed through the screen door, brushing past her mother without acknowledging her.
"baby girlā" her mother started.
serena kept walking, taking the familiar path through the house to the stairs. each step creaked under her weight as she climbed, muscle memory guiding her to her childhood bedroom. she slammed the door behind her, the sound echoing through the old house.
her room was exactly as she'd left it years ago when she moved out. trophies from high school track meets lined the dresser. polaroids and concert tickets were still stuck in the frame of her mirror. the faded pink comforter on her bed was pulled tightāher mother must have made it up, knowing she might need a retreat.
serena sank onto the edge of the bed, dropping her head into her hands. the nerve of him. the absolute audacity to show up here, in her safe space, with that puppy dog look in his eyes like he hadn't been the one toā
a soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"go away," she called, not bothering to lift her head.
the door creaked open anyway. "it's just me," sierra's voice came soft from the doorway. "brought you a drink. figured you might need somethin' stronger than that high noon."
serena looked up to see her cousin holding two red cups. "is that uncle roy's special punch?"
sierra grinned, closing the door behind her. "you know it. man pours half a bottle of hennessy in there and calls it 'just a splash.'"
serena accepted the cup, taking a long sip and wincing at the burn. "thanks."
sierra settled beside her on the bed, the mattress dipping under their combined weight. "soā¦ that was intense."
serena snorted. "that's one word for it."
"everybody downstairs actin' like they ain't just witnessed a whole telenovela episode." sierra nudged her shoulder. "auntie mabel already on the phone with her prayer circle."
"lord, they gonna be burnin' sage and prayin' over my love life by sundown."
they sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping their drinks. the muffled sounds of the party continued belowāmusic, laughter, the occasional shout.
"he looks good," sierra said after a while, her voice careful. "got his hair all different."
serena sighed, staring into her cup. "i noticed. that mullet always made me wanna just sit on his stupid face."
"i know you gonna tell me regardless." serena sighed, throwing an arm over her face
sierra took another sip, studying serena's profile. "i think you still care about him."
"course i care," serena mumbled, the alcohol loosening her tongue. "don't mean i want him back."
sierra twirled the ice in her cup. "soā¦ you gonna avoid him all day?"
serena leaned back against the bed, her eyes fixed on the glow-in-the-dark stars still stuck to her ceiling from when she was fourteen. "that was the plan."
"you know he ain't leavin' without talkin' to you. stubborn ass."
serena closed her eyes, feeling the alcohol warm her chest. "i hate that he still looks so damn good," she admitted quietly. "like, why couldn't he have gotten fat or lost all his hair or something?"
"girl, i know. it's been what, nearly a year? and he still walkin' around looking like that. it's disrespectful."
they fell silent again, the bass from the music downstairs vibrating through the floorboards. serena traced the rim of her cup with her finger, the words she'd been holding back for so long suddenly pressing against her throat.
"sometimes i miss him," she whispered, so softly sierra had to lean in to hear. "like, stupid things. the way he'd call me pretty or call to stay on facetime. how he'd send me flowers wherever he was across the world, or pulling me to sit in his lap if it was hella chairs near us."
"i was in love with him, si. like, really in love." serena's voice cracked slightly. "even though we both kept sayin' we didn't want commitment, that we were just havin' funā¦ we belonged to each other. y'know?"
"i know, girlā¦shit, everybody knew. that's why the family still asks about him."
serena wiped at a tear that had escaped. "it's so stupid. he fucked up, not me. i shouldn't be the one sittin' here cryin'."
"love ain't about who's right and who's wrong," sierra said, putting an arm around her cousin. "it's messy. and yeah, he fucked up. but that don't mean you can't still hurt."
serena took another long sip of her drink. "the worst part is, even after everything, there's still this part of me that wants to hear what he has to say."
"and then what?" serena asked, throwing her hands up. "forgive him? go back to whatever the hell we were doing before? he cheated on me, si."
sierra raised an eyebrow. "did he though? y'all wasn't official, right? that's what you kept tellin' everybody."
"we weren't, butā¦" serena trailed off, frustration evident in her voice. "we were something. and he knew it. he knew what we had."
"so what are you really mad about? that he slept with someone else, or that y'all never put a real label on what you had?"
serena opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again. she couldnāt think straight. hell, she was mad about something.
someone else had her man...in ways she was promised only sheād see.
serena swirled the drink in her cup, watching the ice cubes clink against the plastic. maybe sierra was right. maybe she wasn't even sure what she was mad about anymore. the hurt had calcified into something hard and protective around her heart, and she'd been carrying it for so long she wasn't sure how to put it down.
"i don't know, si," she finally said, her voice small. "i thought i was over it. over him. and then he walks in looking likeā¦ that, and my stomach does that stupid flippy thing and i'm right back where i started."
sierra squeezed her shoulder. "listen, rena. i ain't sayin' forgive him or take him back or nothin' like that. i'm just sayin' hear the man out. closure, y'know?"
serena thought about it for a moment, her mind racing through all the possibilities. what if he just wanted to apologize? what if he wanted her back? what if he was just being polite because drew invited him?
sierra leaned in closer, her voice low and serious. "any nigga worth showing up to a family barbecue is worth hearing out. especially one who's still got you this twisted after all this time."
serena snorted, rolling her eyes. "oh please. they all love his 'main event' ass. they wouldn't let his ass get a paper cut." she gestured vaguely toward the window where the sounds of the party continued. "granny's probably down there feedin' him her special sweet potato pie right now. the one she only makes at thanksgiving."
"so what?" sierra challenged. "you gonna hide up here all day? let everybody think he sent you runnin'?"
serena's jaw tightened. "i ain't runnin'."
"sure looks like it from where i'm sittin'."
serena knocked back the rest of her drink, the alcohol burning a path down her throat. "fine. i'll talk to him. five minutes, that's it. but not here, not with everybody and their mama watchin' and listenin'."
sierra grinned, looking far too pleased with herself. "that's my girl."
"don't look so smug," serena warned, standing up and smoothing her dress. "i'm just tired of hidin' out in my childhood bedroom like i'm sixteen again."
she caught her reflection in the mirror, noting the slight flush in her cheeks from the alcohol. her hair was still perfect, thank god, and her makeup had held up despite the heat. at least she looked good while her life was falling apart. again.
sierra hopped up from the bed, adjusting her dress. "well, if you gonna face him, might as well do it with a full stomach. i think i smell granny's mac and cheese from here."
serena took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "alright. let's do this."
as if on cue, her mother's voice carried up the stairs. "serena! sierra! y'all come on down, food's ready!"
sierra raised an eyebrow. "saved by the bell."
they made their way downstairs, serena's heart hammering against her ribs with each step. as they reached the bottom, a small group of serena's uncles and their friends were pushing through the front door, laughing loudly.
"y'all got any more of that hennessy punch?" uncle roy called out, leading the pack toward the kitchen. "we drank the cooler dry!"
serena's mother appeared from the dining room, wiping her hands on a dish towel. her eyes immediately found serena's, relief washing over her face.
"there you are, baby girl," she said softly.
before serena could remember she was supposed to be mad, she found herself crossing the room and wrapping her arms around her mother. the familiar scent of cocoa butter and the same perfume her mother had worn since serena was little enveloped her.
her mother hugged her tight, one hand coming up to stroke her hair like she used to do when serena was small. "i love you always," she whispered into serena's ear. "you're the prize, remember that. don't you ever forget it."
serena squeezed her eyes shut against the sudden burn of tears. "i know, ma," she murmured.
when they pulled apart, her mama cupped her face. "you good?"
serena nodded, managing a small smile. "i'm good."
"alright then," her mother said, patting her cheek. "everybody's waitin' on us. your uncle lewis been eyein' that brisket for an hour."
they made their way through the house and out to the backyard where tables had been set up and loaded with food. the smell of barbecue and her granny's famous sides filled the air. serena kept her eyes carefully trained on the spread, avoiding scanning the crowd for jey.
she grabbed a plate and got in line behind sierra, trying to ignore the feeling of eyes on her. she could hear jey's distinctive laugh somewhere to her left, mingling with her brother's and cousins'.
"serena, baby," her granny called from her seat of honor at the head of the longest table.
serena sighed, already knowing what was coming "yes, granny?"
"make jey's plate," her grandmother said, not even trying to be subtle. "that boy's been workin' hard, travelin' all over. probably ain't had a home cooked meal in a minute."
"his hands ain't broke, granny," serena said, her voice coming out sharper than she intended.
granny's eyes widened, her expression hardening. "serena marie! where are your manners, girl? that boy is a guest in this house."
"it's fine, ms. elaine," jey said, suddenly appearing beside serena in the food line. he smiled down at granny with that charming grin that used to make serena weak. "i got it. actually, let me make your plate too, rena."
he reached for serena's empty plate, his fingers brushing against hers. the brief contact sent an unwelcome jolt through her body.
"it's serena and i don't need you to make my plate," serena said, trying to pull it back. "i can do it myself."
but jey had already taken both plates, stepping ahead of her in line. "i know whatchu like. still no baked beans, extra mac and cheese, right?"
serena stood there fuming as jey moved down the line, carefully filling both plates. the audacity of this man. she caught sierra's eye across the yard, her cousin giving her a what-the-hell-just-happened look.
jey was piling her plate with all her favoritesāher grandaddy's secret smoked brisket, granny's mac and cheese, potato salad with extra paprika the way she liked it. he even remembered to keep the greens separate so it wouldn't touch the other food.
"here you go," he said, turning back to hand her the loaded plate. their fingers brushed again as she took it, and she hated how her body betrayed her with a shiver.
"thanks," she muttered, not meeting his eyes.
jey nodded toward an empty spot at one of the tables. "mind if i sit witchu?"
before serena could respond with the firm "get the fuck out my face," that was on the tip of her tongue, granny called out from her table.
"jey, baby, come sit by me! i wanna hear all about your travelin'."
serena had never been so grateful for her grandmother's interference. jey hesitated, looking between serena and granny.
"raincheck?" he laughed softly.
serena just shrugged, already turning away. "whatever."
she watched as jey made his way to granny's table, settling in beside the older woman who immediately began fussing over him like he was still family. the betrayal stung, even if it was expected.
sierra slid onto the bench beside serena at the far table she'd chosen. "so that happened."
"don't start," serena warned, stabbing at her mac and cheese.
"i'm just sayin', he remembered exactly how you like your food."
"so what? i ain't forget how he likes his food either. don't mean nothin'." serena shoved a forkful of brisket into her mouth, chewing aggressively.
sierra raised an eyebrow. "alright, what's his favorite then?"
serena paused mid-chew, her fork hovering over her plate. she glanced over at jey's table where he was laughing at something granny said, that same easy smile lighting up his face. "ribs. extra sauce. potato salad but not with eggs. corn bread, mash potatoes on the side with extra gravy and sweet tea so sweet it could put you in a diabetic coma."
"damn, girl. you really just proved my point."
"shut up and eat your food."
serena tried to focus on her plate, but her eyes kept drifting to jey's table. he was being his usual charming self, listening intently to granny's stories and asking all the right questions. her younger cousin jasmine had somehow wormed her way into the conversation and was batting her eyelashes like jey was gonna give her his autograph.
"that lil girl need to sit down somewhere," serena muttered under her breath.
"who, jasmine?" sierra followed her gaze. "oh lord, she really is layin' it on thick. somebody need to tell her she look desperate."
"not my problem," serena said, though her grip on her fork tightened when jasmine giggled at something jey said.
"mhmm. that's why you stabbin' your mac and cheese like it owe you money."
serena forced herself to look away, focusing on her cousin randal who was telling some story about his new job. she nodded at all the right moments, laughed when she was supposed to, but her attention kept wandering.
after what felt like forever, people started clearing their plates and settling into the lazy afternoon rhythm of a family barbecue. the older folks claimed the chairs in the shade, the kids ran around the yard with water balloons, and the adults her age congregated around the speakers where someone had put on a throwback playlist.
serena was helping clear tables when jey appeared beside her, collecting empty cups.
"you don't have to do that," she said without looking at him.
"i know. i want to help."
they worked in silence for a few minutes, the tension between them thick enough to cut. serena was hyperaware of his every movement, the way he would get to close to her, and reach for the same stack of paper plates and cup she would to attempt to brush against her.
"yo granny's somethin' else," he said as they both reached for the same stack of plates. "she made me promise to take some leftovers back to my hotel."
"that's granny for you. she'd feed the whole world if she could."
jey nodded, his expression thoughtful. "she asked about you, you know. when you went upstairs earlier."
serena stayed quiet. part of her remember what sierra said earlierā¦to hear him out. another part of her wanted him get the fuck away from her before she tried to see how hard a plastic knife could stick him.Ā
"what did you tell her?" serena asked despite herself, still not meeting his eyes.
"told her you was probably tired. long day." jey's hands stilled on the plates he was stacking. "she said you been workin' too much lately. not takin' care of yourself."
serena rolled her eyes, "granny talks too much."
"she cares about you. they all do." jey glanced around the yard where her family was scattered in their usual post-meal contentment. "missed this, you know. all of them."
"well they clearly missed you too," serena said, the bitterness creeping back into her voice. "jasmine damn near climbed in your lap during dinner."
jey's mouth quirked up at the corner. "you jealous of a nineteen-year-old?"
"boy, please." serena rolled her eyes, but heat crept up her neck. "i just think it's funny how you show up here after all this time and everybody acts like you never left."
"not everybody," jey said quietly, his eyes finding hers. "you act like you wish i never existed."
serena finally looked at him fully, taking in the familiar planes of his face, the way his eyes crinkled slightly when he was being serious. "some days i do."
the honesty in her voice seemed to catch them both off guard. jey's expression softened, something vulnerable flickering across his features.
"don't." she held up a hand, stepping back. "justā¦ don't."
jey didn't move, his eyes still fixed on her face. "can we talk? please? just ten minutes."
serena looked around. the kitchen had emptied out completely, everyone heading to the yard to start doing the cha cha slide.
jey took a step closer. "ten minutes, that's all i'm asking. and then if you want me gone, i'm gone."
a loud splash followed by raucous cheers and laughter erupted from the yard. serena glanced toward the sound, then back at jey. the kitchen was quiet now, just the two of them standing amid half-cleared plates and the lingering smell of barbecue.
"fine," she finally said, crossing her arms. "ten minutes. and after that, you leave. i mean it, jey."
relief washed over his face. "thank you."
serena leaned against the counter, creating distance between them. "your time's already ticking."
jey ran a hand over his face, suddenly looking nervous in a way she'd rarely seen before. "i don't even know where to start."
"maybe with why you're really here," serena suggested, her voice cooler than she felt. "because i ain't buying that drew just happened to invite you and you just happened to accept."
"i asked him to," jey admitted. "when i found out i was coming to town for the show, i reached out. i've been trying to find a way to talk to you for months."
serena raised an eyebrow. "thats bullshit."
"you changed your number."
"there's a reason for that."
jey nodded, accepting the hit. "i deserved that. i deserved all of itāthe blocking, the number change, everything."
silence stretched between them. from outside, the sounds of the party continued, but they felt distant, like they were in their own bubble of time.
"clock's ticking," she reminded him, tapping an imaginary watch on her wrist.
he nodded, running a hand over his hair. "i fucked up. i know thaā"
"we weren't together," she shot back automatically. "remember? you made that very clear every time i brought up where we stood."
jey's shoulders slumped. "i know. and that was me being stupid and scared. i didn't want to put a label on us because i was afraid of fucking it up. and look what happenedāi fucked it up anyway."
serena laughed, the sound hollow. "you expect me to believe that? after what i saw?"
jey took a deep breath, leaning against the opposite counter. "what you sawā¦ god, rena, i wish i could take it all back."
"but you can't," she said flatly. "so what now?"
ey stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "what you saw was me being the biggest fool on the planet. i ain't got no excuse that's good enough, but i need you to know something."
he took a deep breath, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "i love you, serena. i always have. never stopped, not for a single day."
serena's breath caught in her throat. "don't."
"it's the truth," he continued, his eyes glistening. "i've loved you since that first night in new orleans when you cussed me out for spillin' your drink and then made me buy you two more."
he ran a hand over his face, struggling to find the words. "the whole time we were togetherāor whatever we wasāi kept thinkin' i wasn't enough for you. not good enough, not stable enough."
serena stared at him, speechless.
"i grew up watchin' my pops lose every damn thing trying to make it in this business," jey said, his voice rough with emotion. "he was gone all the time, chasing that next booking, that next big break. my mama raised us practically alone while he was out there living his dream. and when he finally came home for good, broken down and bitter, she didn't even know him anymore."
jey's eyes were intense, almost pleading. "i swore i'd never do that to someone i loved. never make them sit at home waiting, wondering if i was coming back, if it was all worth it. but then there i was, doing exactly that to you. on the road 300 days a year, asking you to understand, to wait."
"i never complained about that," serena said quietly.
"you shouldn't have had to. i was becoming my father, and i hated myself for it." jey's voice cracked slightly. "so i kept telling myselfāand youāthat we weren't serious, that we were just having fun. because if we weren't really together, then i wasn't really failing you."
serena felt tears pricking at her eyes. "so you slept with her instead? to prove your point?"
"i was trying to sabotage the best thing in my life because i convinced myself i'd ruin it eventually anyway." jey stepped closer, close enough that she could smell his cologne. "i wanted to be the man you deserved, but i didn't know how. not without giving up everything i'd worked for, and i was too selfish to do that."
serena's heart hammered in her chest. "you could have talked to me. told me how you felt."
outside, the music shifted to something slow and soulful. the late afternoon sun slanted through the kitchen window, casting long shadows across the floor between them.
he looked down at his hands, flexing them slightly. "i was scared that if i fully claimed you, made you mine officially, i'd do to you what he did to my mama. i'd drag you into that life of always wanting more, never being enough."
"that wasn't your choice to make," serena said quietly.
"i know that now," jey admitted. "but back then, i thought i was protecting you. so i kept us in that gray area, tellin' myself we was just having fun, that you were free to walk away anytime."
serena crossed her arms, shaking her head as she processed his words. "you're not the only one who was scared, jey." her voice came out smaller than she intended. "i wasn't any better than you. not really."
jeyās eyes glossed over as he leaned against the counter, "whatchuā mean?"
"i mean i played along with the whole 'we're just having fun' thing because i was terrified too." she laughed bitterly, blinking back tears. "every time you'd say we weren't serious, i'd just nod and agree, pretending that's what i wanted too."
"of course it wasn't!" serena threw her hands up. "i was head over heels in love with you, but too damn proud to admit it. i wanted youāall of youā100%. i wanted to be your girlfriend, your woman, not just some girl you were 'having fun' with in every city."
jey took a step closer, hope flickering across his face. "why didn't you ever say anything?"
"for the same stupid reasons you didn't. i was scared. scared you'd choose the road, the career, anything but me." she wiped at a tear that had escaped. "so i played it cool, acted like i was fine with whatever we were, even though it was killing me."
"and then when i saw you with her, it was likeā¦ confirmation of everything i feared. that i wasn't enough, that i was just one of many." her voice broke slightly. "so i ran."
they stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their confessions hanging in the air between them. serena finally looked up, meeting his eyes.
"so what? what's the point of telling me all this now?" she asked, her voice rising with emotion. "we were both cowards, we both messed up, and now what? you think you can just walk back into my life after all this time andā"
her words died in her throat as jey closed the distance between them in two quick strides. his hand caught her by the belt loop of her jeans, tugging her against him. before she could process what was happening, his mouth was on hers, hungry and desperate.
for one stunned moment, serena froze. then something inside her broke looseāall the anger, all the longing, all the love she'd been trying to bury for two years. her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer as she melted into the kiss.
jey's hands slid to her waist, lifting her slightly so she was perched on the edge of the counter. she could feel his heart hammering against her chest, matching the frantic rhythm of her own. his fingers tangled in her hair as he deepened the kiss.
with a sudden surge of need, serena pushed against his chest. his eyes widened, thinking she was rejecting him, but she slid off the counter in one fluid motion. her fingers curled into his shirt as she backed him toward the pantry door, her eyes never leaving his.
"what are youā" he whispered, but she silenced him with another kiss, reaching behind him to turn the knob.
they stumbled into the dark pantry, the door clicking shut behind them. the small space was filled with the scent of spices and flour, barely enough room for both of them. serena pressed him against the shelves, canned goods rattling as their bodies collided.
"we shouldn'tāyour familyā" jey managed between kisses, his hands already sliding under her shirt.
"shut up," she breathed against his mouth, her fingers working at his belt buckle.
the metal clinked in the darkness as she yanked it open, her hand slipping beneath the waistband of his boxers. he gasped against her mouth when she found him, already hard and straining against the fabric.
jey's head fell back against the shelf as she stroked him, his breath coming in short pants. "fuck, renaā"
his hands tangled in her hair, pulling her in for another desperate kiss before his lips traveled down her neck. the scrape of his stubble against her sensitive skin sent shivers down her spine, her body arching into his touch.
"listen to me," she whispered fiercely, her hand stilling as she gripped his jaw, forcing him to look at her. even in the dim light filtering through the cracks of the door, she could see the heat in his eyes. "i ever find out you're giving dick to another bitch, i'll kill you. i swear to god, jey."
"i'm yours. only yours. i promise, ma."
his hand slid up her thigh, disappearing beneath her dress. "prove it," she challenged, her breath hitching as his fingers found the edge of her panties.
"right here?" he asked, his eyes darting to the door. the sounds of the party outside seemed impossibly distant.
"right here," she confirmed, already working his jeans down his hips. "right now."
he spun them around so her back was against the shelves, lifting her effortlessly. her legs wrapped around his waist as he pushed her dress up, his mouth reclaiming hers in a kiss that left no doubt about who she belonged to.
"someone gone hear us," he murmured against her lips, even as his fingers hooked into her panties.
serena bit his lower lip, her eyes locked with his. "then you better make sure i stay quiet."
the shelves creaked ominously as jey pressed closer, his hands everywhere at once. serena clung to him, as he slid her panties to the side and slid inside her in one complete thrust. her mouth opened on a silent scream.
serena threw her head back, biting her lip to keep from crying out as jey's thick dick stretched her pussy, splitting her wide open. the feeling was overwhelmingālike coming home and discovering something brand new all at once. she clutched his shoulders, nails digging crescents into his skin through his shirt.
"fuck," he growled against her neck, immediately starting to fuck her with deep, relentless strokes. "so goddamn tight, baby."
he shifted his stance, wrapping one muscular arm under her ass to support her weight while his other hand reached up to grab one of the shelves above her head. the new leverage let him drill into her cunt with punishing force, each thrust pushing her higher against the wall of canned goods.
"i missed yo ass so much. i missed this pussy," he whispered harshly, his breath hot against her ear. "thought about it every fuckin' night."
serena's eyes rolled back, pleasure building at the base of her spine. "shut up and fuck me," she hissed, her voice barely audible over the sound of their bodies coming together.
jey obeyed, his hips snapping forward with renewed vigor. the shelf above them creaked dangerously with each thrust, threatening to give way under his grip. serena bit down on his shoulder to muffle her moans, the taste of cotton and his cologne filling her senses.
"nobody fucks me like you," she admitted in a breathless whisper, her pride momentarily forgotten in the haze of pleasure. "nobody."
his pace faltered for just a second before he redoubled his efforts, one hand sliding between them to find her clit. "and nobody ever will," he promised, circling the sensitive bundle of nerves with his thumb. "you belong to me. yea?"
the dual sensation of his dick stretching her walls and his fingers working her clit had serena climbing rapidly toward release. she could feel herself getting wetter with each thrust, her slick arousal making obscene sounds as he pounded into her.
"i'm close," she warned, her voice tight with desperation. "don't stop, please don't stopā"
jey's fingers pressed harder against her clit, making tight circles as his hips pistoned relentlessly. "tell me, baby. tell me what i need to hear."
serena's body tensed, her cunt clenching around his thickness as the pressure built to an unbearable peak. she choked back a sob as her release neared, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes from the overwhelming sensation.
"did you miss me?" jey whispered against her ear, his voice rough with need. "did you miss this dick?"
serena couldn't hold back anymore, all her pride dissolving in the heat between them. "yea," she cried out, the admission torn from her throat in a choked, broken sound.
"yea?" he pressed, slowing his strokes to deep, deliberate thrusts that hit something perfect inside her.
"mhmm," she managed, the sound low and desperate.
"mhm," he mimicked, matching her mewl as a smirk played across his lips, his eyes never leaving hers.
something about his cockiness ignited a fire in her. serena slid her hand into his mullet, fingers tangling in the longer strands at the back of his neck. she tugged hard, using his hair as leverage to pull him closer. the sudden pain made him slam into her with unexpected force, hitting so deep she accidentally let out a scream.
panic flashed across jey's face. he immediately released the shelf, his hand flying to cover her mouth. his palm pressed firmly against her lips, muffling any further sounds as he continued to fuck into her soaking wet cunt.
"shh, baby," he whispered urgently, his eyes darting toward the door. "you tryna get us caught? everybody and they mama gone be in here if you keep screamin' like that."
serena's eyes rolled back as she moaned against his palm, the added danger of possibly being discovered only heightening her pleasure. her tongue darted out, tasting the salt of his skin. serena's eyes rolled back, her muffled moans vibrating against his palm
jey's hand remained over her mouth as his thrusts became more erratic. serena's nails dug into his shoulders, her eyes rolling back as she finally tipped over the edge. her orgasm crashed through her in violent waves, her pussy clenching and pulsing around his dick.
"that's it," he encouraged, his voice strained as he fought his own release. "cum all over this dick, ma. show me how much you missed it."
serena's nails dug into his back, leaving crescent marks through his shirt as her body convulsed with aftershocks. her pussy contracting violently around jey's thickness.
she felt herself gushing, hot slick flooding between them as her release drenched his dick. her release coated him, slick and hot, making each thrust wetter than the last. her thighs trembled uncontrollably, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.
"fuck, baby," jey groaned, feeling her cum drench him. "i can feel youā"
his words cut off as his own orgasm hit without warning. with a final powerful thrust, jey buried himself to the hilt inside her spasming cunt, a guttural grunt tearing from his throat as he came.
she locked her ankles behind his back, pulling him deeper, refusing to let him pull out. the message is clear.
"you sure?" he asks, his control slipping. when she nods frantically against his palm, he loses what little restraint he had left.
his fingers dug into the soft flesh of her ass, holding her firmly in place as he emptied himself deep within her, his cum pulsing hot against her walls.
serena felt each throb of his cock as he filled her, their releases mixing together in a mess of heat and desire. their bodies remained locked together, both of them panting against each other's skin as they rode out the aftershocks.
"goddamn," jey finally whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. "i forgot how good we are together."
serena let out a breathless laugh, her body still tingling from her intense orgasm. "shut up. we ain't good together. we're fuckin' incredible together."
his smile was bright even in the dim light. "can't argue with that."
the sound of someone calling serena's name from the kitchen suddenly brought them crashing back to reality.
"shit," serena hissed, unwinding her legs from his waist and hastily adjusting her dress. "that's my mama."
jey quickly tucked himself back into his pants, fastening his belt while serena smoothed her hair and wiped at the corners of her mouth.
"serena? you in here?" her mother's voice was getting closer.
"just a sec, ma!" serena called out, her voice surprisingly steady. she turned to jey, her expression suddenly serious despite their disheveled state. "this doesn't fix everything."
jey nodded, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. "we need to talk for real. not just...this."
serena nodded, suddenly unable to meet his eyes. "i know."
before she could answer, the pantry door swung open, flooding the small space with light.
serena froze, her hand still smoothing her rumpled dress as the pantry door swung wide open. the harsh kitchen light flooded in, illuminating their guilty faces and jey's frantic attempts to stuff himself back into his boxers.
her mother stood in the doorway, one hand on her hip, the other still gripping the doorknob. her expression shifted from confusion to realization to exasperation in the span of three seconds.
"a damn shame," her mother said, shaking her head slowly. "just a shame. not official my ass." she gestured between them with a dismissive wave. "get yall asses together and get out my damn pantry with that freaky shit."
jey cleared his throat, finally managing to secure his belt. "ms. johnson, i apologize forā"
"boy, save it," she interrupted, though there was a hint of amusement beneath her expression.
before her mother could finish her thought, her eyes landed on something behind them. her face morphed from mild amusement to absolute horror.
"lord jesusā" she gasped, reaching past them to grab a shelf. "y'all knocked over myā"
her mom slams the pantry door back and says, "i just bought them damn peaches, my fucking god. nut assses. its a damn lock on that pantry too."
serena and jey stood frozen for a moment before laughter bubbled up between them, the absurdity of the situation hitting them all at once. they collapsed against each other in the dark pantry, shoulders shaking with silent giggles like teenagers caught making out.
"she really more worried about them peaches than us fuckin' in her pantry," serena whispered, wiping tears from her eyes.
jey's body shook with suppressed laughter. "yo mama ain't changed a bit."
after their laughter subsided, serena straightened her dress one more time. "c'mon, we better get out before she comes back with reinforcements."
they slipped out of the pantry, checking that the coast was clear before hurrying through the kitchen. they managed to make it upstairs without being spotted, ducking into serena's bedroom and shutting the door behind them.
"shit, i look a mess," serena muttered, catching sight of herself in the mirror. her lipstick was smudged, hair disheveled, and there was a distinct flush across her chest that screamed "just got fucked."
jey came up behind her, his reflection appearing over her shoulder. "damn, you look beautiful," he said softly, his hands settling on her hips.
serena met his eyes in the mirror. "don't start again. we ain't got time for round two."
"not what i meant," he said, pressing a gentle kiss to her shoulder. "but i wouldn't say no."
serena rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. she turned to face him, suddenly serious. "we still need to talk. for real this time."
jey nodded, his expression matching her gravity. "i know. and we will. tonight?"
serena hesitated, then nodded. "yeah. tonight."
she moved to her dresser, pulling out a hairbrush and some makeup wipes. "but first we gotta fix ourselves before the whole family figures out what we been doin'."
jey leaned against the wall, watching as she touched up her makeup. "you think your mama's gonna tell everybody?"
serena snorted. "please. that woman loves drama more than her soaps. by the time we get back downstairs, even the neighbors gonna know we was in that pantry."
jey laughed, the sound warm and familiar. "guess we better come up with a good story then."
serena paused, meeting his eyes in the mirror again. "or we could just tell the truth."
"you wanna tell em, i just fucked you in yo mama pantry?"
"no, goofy!" she laughed as she tossed a shirt at him, "tell em we together...we back."
jey's face broke into the biggest smile she'd ever seen. he lifted her off her feet, spinning her around the small room before setting her down and kissing her deeply.
"alright, alright," serena laughed against his mouth. "we gotta get back down there before somebody comes lookin'."
they finished fixing themselves up, serena adding fresh lipgloss while jey tried to tame his hair. as they headed for the door, serena grabbed his hand.
"you ready for this? 'cause once we go down there together, the whole family gonna know. and you know granny, gonna start planning our wedding and shit."
"too late for that," jey laughed, pulling her toward the door. "she been planning that shit since the first time i showed up here."
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heyyyyy <3. was so excited to get this one out !
special dt to @prettyfilmz for the little liner i used of āyea.ā āyea?ā š©·
