Page 116 of Free Agent

In any case, I was here now, and ready to meet the woman Dennis was apparently trying to make Amina's stepmother.

They stood to greet me as I apologized.

A good hug for Dennis, who I actually had not seen in the flesh in quite a while, and the same for Amanda, a tall, gorgeous sister who looked familiar to me somehow, I just couldn't seem to place it.

I chalked it up to her having good energy.

The three of us fell into conversation very easily, and by the time our designated date was starting to wind down, I understood exactly what Dennis saw in her, besides her beauty.

It was clear he had a type. She actually reminded me quite a bit of Nova.

But someone else, too.

In looks, not personality.

"I'm so sorry, have you and I met somewhere before?" I finally asked, unable to keep it to myself any longer, knowing very well that the answer could simply be no.

A clear discomfort crossed Amanda's face, and she glanced at Dennis, who gave her a little nod.

Then he said, "Hey, you ladies keep talking. I'm gonna excuse myself to the bathroom real quick."

"Okay…. now I'm a little scared." I chuckled as he stood and left me and Amanda alone.

"Don't be," she assured. "If anybody should be scared, it's probably me," she said. "You and I haven't met, but I've always heard how much I favor this one particular cousin of mine. Me and her don't get along very well, though. Very different lifestyles."

I raised an eyebrow. "Who is the cousin?"

"Melissa James."

I frowned. "Melissa James? Melissa… Ja— Yams?" I exclaimed, my eyes going wide when I made the name connection.

Beside me, Amanda's eyes widened too, just not in surprise like mine.

Hers was embarrassment. "Yeah," she agreed. "An insane thing to proudly let people call you, but like I said, that woman is a whole different breed."

I shook my head. "Is this some kind of joke?" I asked, still processing what she just told me.

"It's not,” Amanda sighed. “This has actually been super uncomfortable ever since I realized, when those pictures of them together went viral last year, and she was on the internet acting an ass. I actually almost broke up with Dennis because I didn't want there to be anything weird. I tried to break up with him, and he wouldn't let me," Amanda said with a little smile. "He didn't think it was fair for our relationship to not be able to go forward because of something a cousin I don't even like was doing."

"And he's right," I told her. "You're not her, and nobody should be looking to punish you for her actions. It's definitely awkward, though. I mean, if you and Dennis are going to be serious, if you guys get married… it kinda tangentially makes her my family, too, in a way. Makes Monty my family." I shuddered.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Amanda mumbled, then immediately covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, I just..."

"No, no. What was that?" I asked, leaning forward.

"This is so damn messy," she groaned, shaking her head.

"Yeah, it is. But you've already said it now. You may as well finish spilling the beans."

She sighed. "Look. We had another cousin of ours graduate recently. Afterwards, everybody got together to eat, play cards, normal family stuff. Well… she was there. Bragging about all the things she has, money in her accounts, things for the baby. Bragging about all the different ballers she could pin the baby on. She gets a payday off it either way. But Monty...”

“His money is the longest,” I guessed, immediately picking up what she was telling me. "All this drama and the baby might not even be his…”

Yikes.

Honestly, I felt a little bad for him, knowing how much he wanted children.

But… whatever.