"Can I have everyone's attention?" Rissa said loudly as everyone looked at her, giving their attention.

Cherish tried to hide in the cut because she knew her aunt was about to give a speech like she had been gone for a decade or something. Some of her family members were definitely dramatic, but she still loves them.

"I just want to say that I'm happy to have my baby home where she belongs. You're my niece, but you have always been my baby. I have watched you grow into the beautiful and successful woman you are today. I have watched you dream, then accomplish those dreams. Your parents' and especially Raheem, would be so proud of you, just like I am." Rissa smiled causing tears to fill Cherish's eyes.

Cherish remembered nothing at all during the time her parents died. It was like there was a black hole where that memory should be. She used to have a dream of her mother lying down somewhere, but never made sense of it. Her brother, Marcus, and both her Aunt Rissa and Aunt Kenya all told her the same thing; that her parents died together, which wasn't the truth. They died in different ways on the same day, but they led her to believe otherwise. It was easy to continue that lie, since Cherish blocked out that memory, probably right after she was informed.

"You were just a scared little girl when you came to live with me. You didn't talk for an entire month. Not to me, not to your brother, not to anyone. I got as much information as I could on how to better help you come out of the state you were in. So, I bought you a sketchbook and color pencils so that you could somehow express how you feel. The next day I noticed you drew some outfits to the best of your ability. You were so young, but so talented and very ambitious even then. I sat next to you and I said, why outfits? Just to see if you would talk. And for the first time in a month, you responded you wanted to make clothes. You wanted to be a fashion designer when you get older."

"You doubt yourself a lot through different aspects of your life, but I have always believed in you. You can do no wrong in my eyes, even though I'll call you out on the wrong you have done. Nothing will ever make me look at you differently. Welcome home, sweetie." Rissa finished her speech. People clapped while Cherish walked over and hugged her aunt.

Cherish had never heard that story because of the black hole that's blocking a certain memory. She didn't care about the tears that fell down her cheeks. She loves her aunt; both of them so much. It was true that a dark cloud often followed her around. Though she eventually dealt with the death of her parents, then her brother's part of her is still broken. Both her aunts and Patience always saw the best in her when she sometimes didn't. During the times she would try to push Priest away and shut him out, she could always talk to his mother.

"I know I'm always telling you this, but I love you so much. I owe you everything, and there's never a time when I'm not grateful for you." Cherish told her aunt.

"You owe me nothing. I told you that when you tried to buy me a big house. When you tried to pay every single bill, I had off. When you tried to pay for the wedding. You owe me nothing, and I won't have you thinking that you do. I meant what I said. No matter the choices you made, I would never look at you differently. I love you just as much."

__

It was hours later; the party had been ended, but some people were still at her aunt's house. Cherish stood talking to Yazmine, Monica, Alisa, and Paris. After Shooter got on Paris, she apologized to Cherish and stated that she was just in her feelings. Cherish let it go for now, but knew they needed to have a proper conversation. Yazmine was over Paris but knew, like many times before, Cherish would accept Paris's apology. Both Yazmine and Paris kept saying smart remarks to everything the other was saying, and Cherish was tired of hearing it.

To add to that, from across the room, Cherish could feel Priest staring at her. She had to laugh at the moment. Here he was staring a hole in her face while sitting next to his "girlfriend" without a care. It really didn't help that Rod Wave- Girl of My Dreams was playing, and that's what priest used to say Cherish was.

No one was in the living room aside from Priest and his friends, including Crystal. Rarri and his son left. Then there was Cherish, her cousin, and her friends. Her kids were upstairs asleep and the older folks were outside on the back patio talking.

"Hey, thickness. I missed you." Cherish felt a hard slap on her ass.

"See, I told you I was getting thick." Cherish said to Yazmine while chuckling. Knowing she definitely wasn't getting thick.

"Now why would you slap my booty like that. Just extra." Cherish laughed while turning to hug Julissa. Marcus was standing behind Julissa along with Assad, who's looking fine as hell.

Marcus was late, since he had to wrap up some business. Julissa would've come without him, but planning a wedding was stressful. Marcus mentioned Cherish's welcome home party to Assad, and he decided to come along. Priest didn't know Assad, far as he's concerned Marcus and Assad aren't friends, so Priest wondered what was Assad doing there.

"Y'all heard the sound effects? Your booty is so soft and jiggly. Now I see why Soul is still in love with you." Julissa said loudly while smirking. It was loud enough for both Priest and Crystal to hear, which they did. Julissa was another one who didn't like Crystal. Assad wasn't even trying to look, but the moment Julissa's hand connected, he couldn't help it. He knew from the sound either Cherish had no panties on or was wearing a thong.

"Stop being messy." Cherish chuckled while shaking her head. "I don't have time to be arguing with no one over their man."

Assad looked at Cherish. After what happened at the label, he thought those two were together or something by now. It wasn't hard to tell that they have history together. Now that he knows they aren't together, he was going to try to get to know Cherish.

"Exactly. Don't get fucked up." Marcus told Julissa before hugging Cherish and Yazmine at the same time. "My bad for being late, Lil cuz. What's up, Paris."

"Hey." Paris cleared her throat, Yazmine peeped the look Paris made while clearing her throat and made a note of it in her head.

"It's okay." Cherish said before looking at Assad, who was already looking at her. "Ahmad right?" She asked, she had genuinely forgotten his name.

"Assad. How you doin' gorgeous." Assad smiled, and she damn near hit the floor. He was too fine and for his own good. Of course, Priest was always the most handsome and finest man in the room to her, but Assad came to a close second.

"Assad. I like that, it's different." Cherish smiled, Priest was across the room frowning.

Cherish unintentionally looked in Priest's direction since she was trying to look away from Assad and saw Priest mugging her, while Crystal once again had her nose turned up. She just rolled her eyes.

"So, Assad, you're late to the party, but I believe there's some food left. Are you hungry?"

"I can eat." Assad once again smiled showing off his Colgate teeth.

She motioned her head for Assad to follow her. As she was walking, she heard Assad mumble damn from behind her. Without looking back, she knew his eyes was glued to her ass that swayed to its own beat.

As stated before, she's slim thick. Her booty definitely jigged whenever she walked. You could see it perfectly depending on the clothing she wears. Assad felt like Cherish was the most beautiful woman he has ever came across. Her features were stunning and he just knew when she walked into Marcus's label that she had a man.

"Who that fine ass dark chocolate nigga Cherish just walked off with?" Paris asked.

"See. Nothing but a hoe." Yazmine shook her head.

"I'm just asking." Paris rolled her eyes.

"Girl bye. You are always giving me very much snake vibes." Yazmine frowned.

"I can't stand you, Yaz." Julissa laughed. "Leave people alone."

"I didn't do anything." Yazmine said.

Moments later, Cherish and Assad were sitting by themselves, just laughing and talking after he finished eating. She liked his vibes, but she'll need more time to trust that his vibes are genuine. Assad said something that had her cracking up.

"Ain't shit that damn funny." Priest frowned.

"Why do you care what's going on over there?" Crystal folded her arms.

"Yeah, why do you care? I like him for my cousin." Yazmine spoke as Priest looked at her, surprised by what she just said. Yazmine wasn't feeling the way Priest was treating her cousin, then getting jealous after allowing Crystal to stay at her party.

"Shut the fuck up talking to me. Both of y'all." Priest said.

"Somebody in their feelings." Yazmine laughed.

"So, are you going to let me take you out?" Assad asked Cherish.

"As friends right? My life is too complicated for anything else at the moment."

"Is the complication sitting across the room mugging me?" Assad chuckled. Cherish looked and saw Priest with a mug on his face.

"I'm going to keep it real with you. Soul was my first and only boyfriend. I've been single for 6 years after the breakup. The only thing that's keeping us tied together is our daughters." Cherish cleared her throat.

"Daughters?"

"Yep. A six-year-old, and a two-year-old."

"So, y'all fell into old habits. That's how your youngest came about?" Assad asked rhetorically, she didn't want to answer that question, anyway. "It's surprising that you've only been in a relationship with one person and single for six years. You're too beautiful for that. You mean to tell me you haven't even gone on a date?"

"Nope." She replied truthfully. She used to meet Von at hotels, and it was never liked that between them. They were friends with benefits. Honesti's sperm donor was only a one-night stand, so there definitely wasn't a date. They met at a bar. Got drunk, then slept together.

"You plan on staying single for the rest of your life?" Assad smiled. "You're what? Twenty something?"

"Just turned 26. It's hard for me to let someone in. With a relationship, I have to let my partner all the way in at some point. I'm not sure if I'm ready for someone new to see deep into who Cherish is. You know?"

"I feel it. How about this, we exchange numbers and keep things simple; as friends, of course." Assad looked at her.

She smiled. "I'd like that."

After exchanging numbers with him, he left. She was still smiling when she walked over to everyone else. "I know that smile." Yazmine said, being messy.

"Shut up." Cherish bit down on her lip. "I'm about to go check on my daughters, then head out. I have to get my purse out of your car, Yaz. I'm not really sure why some of you are still here, but yeah, the party's over." Cherish said before making her way up the stairs.

Opening the door to the guest room her kids slept in, she stepped in before closing the door behind her. Both Malaysia and Honesti were knocked out. They played themselves to sleep.

She smiled before kissing both their foreheads. She heard the door open and turned around to see Priest, rolling her eyes, she turned back around. Priest walked to the other side of the bed before staring down at his daughters. He still couldn't believe that he is a father. It's only been 4 days, but he already loves Honesti as if she was biologically his. His love never stopped for Malaysia, even when thinking Cherish got an abortion.

"So, what you about to go fuck ole dude?" Priest frowned, causing her to take a deep. He had been testing her a lot, but engaging in an argument wasn't something she was about to do, especially with their daughters asleep. He could be as childish as he wanted, but she wasn't about to join in.

"Stop. That really is enough, Soul. You are not about to keep disrespecting me, then jumping into my business. You lost the right to worry about what I might or might not do with another man. You see me give someone the slightest bit of attention and can't handle it. What, you don't want me, but no one else could have me? I should be bitter and miserable, which is what you're hoping that I would be." She scoffed.

"I thought you ended things with her?"

Priest just looked at but didn't reply.

"We really have nothing else to talk about unless it has to do with these two. You said you still love me, Soul. What you did that night wasn't love. I deserved your anger. You being mad at me. You yelling. I was prepared for all of that, but I did not deserve what you did." She sighed, she wasn't about cry anymore.

"We used to be best friends back when we were together. We were each other's first love. I would continue to say that I messed up. That I apologize. I know it's my fault that things are like this between us. But at the very least, you would think because we meant so much to each other that you would show me the slightest bit of respect. You didn't even apologize for what you, did which tells me you don't care. Moving on from your first love is hard, but it's not impossible when the right person comes along. I'm finally moving on from you, no matter how hard it'll be."

"You're being so childish. You're damn near 30, Soul. You could continue going about things the way you are, or you can find some way to at least tolerate me. I get it; you hate me, but for the sake of our daughters we need to find some common ground. This summer I plan to do a lot with them. Like take them on a mini vacations, water parks, picnics in the park, carnivals. Out to places where they could play games and have fun. I want you to come and do all those things with us. How can we, though? I don't expect much from you especially in four days, I'm just asking when we are in front of our daughters, can you at least act like I'm not a piece of gum on your shoe?"

"I can do that." He looked at her.

"We can finally close this chapter. I wish you the best and I hope Carmen can make you happy, but I don't want her around our daughters. That's all I ask." She folded her arms underneath her chest. He wanted to laugh at her pettiness with calling her the wrong name again, but didn't.

"I didn't plan on having someone temporary around them, anyway. She only knew who they were when she heard Malaysia call me daddy and Honesti sticking to me like glue. I still didn't introduce her as anything. I told her I had daughters, but I wouldn't have them around her without your knowledge. Putting our daughters in the middle is not something I'll ever do. After today, Crystal being around them won't happen again, you have my word."

"Thank you." Cherish turned to leave.

"You were right about me acting childish. I don't even be on childish shit."

"Glad we agree on something." Cherish sighed.

"Cherish." Priest stopped her from walking out, she stopped but didn't look at him.

He walked over and stood in front of her, placing his thumb underneath her chin and his index finger underneath her bottom lip; he lifted her head. "I could never hate you."

Cherish stared into his eyes before taking a step back while clearing her throat. "Good to know." She said before leaving out of the room.

Priest ran a hand down his face, realizing that it was really over between them. No rekindling their relationship or anything. He couldn't trust her or forgive her just yet, so it was for the best. He felt bad for what he did that night because she didn't deserve it. Being around Cherish just angers him. She deserved an apology; he just couldn't give her one right now.