Free Head Over Heels by Crystal B. Bright Page A

actually started to slow Thane’s raging heartbeat. He found that he missed a personal connection like this, one his brothers had been offering to give him all day.
    The front door opened. He saw Eboni and Janelle walk through before Gideon and Gunnar walked in behind them. Not wanting them to see him looking vulnerable, Thane released Victor. He handed the older man a napkin to wipe away his tears before going to the kitchen.
    In the small space, he found a lithe African-American woman he remembered meeting one time before during his visits home, but he couldn’t recall her name. She had her Afro slicked down in the front and trumpeting out the back in a huge puff. Her tight, black dress left nothing to the imagination. The tears in her eyes spoke volumes. She pulled out a tray of sliced ham and placed it on the table.
    “You probably don’t remember me.” She grabbed a napkin and wiped under her eyes. “My name is Shay. I worked with your mom, I mean, I work at the hair salon.”
    Thane nodded. Now he remembered her. She’d flirted with him when he’d met her the first time. He didn’t mind flirting back. The attractive woman could catch any man’s interest. He didn’t view her as a serious girlfriend. Had he only used her for a good time, his mother would have killed him.
    “Thane.” He pointed to himself.
    She nodded while her face broke. She raised her arms and enveloped him in them. Her large breasts pressed against his chest as she cried. With each gasping sob, her body trembled.
    Thane couldn’t help but hold her. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist.
    “She let me live in the apartment over the garage when my boyfriend—” Shay stopped and cried even harder. “She saved me, her and Gunnar.”
    Thane released his hold as soon as he heard Gunnar’s name. With his arms by his side, he jiggled his jacket pockets, which clinked the small bottles against each other. Shay pulled back from him and peered down.
    “Glad my mother could be there for you.” He moved back from her and returned to the living room, which now had filled up with bodies.
    Some people he recognized from his mother’s businesses, like Tillman and Tisha, also from the salon. The rest of the people came from Elizabeth’s side of the family, like her sister, Millie, who looked nothing like Queen.
    Whereas Elizabeth carried a statuesque height, Millie stood shorter than height-challenged Victor. Millie’s eyes reminded him of autumn, full of light brown, green, and gray colors, depending on what she wore. Unlike his mother, Millie flaunted a fuller figure.
    Thane had no problem hugging his aunt. “Hey, Aunt Millie.”
    She squeezed him like she wanted to absorb him into her compact body. Thane took a deep breath. His aunt didn’t even smell like his departed mother. Millie always reminded him of spring and summer. She smelled like fresh-cut grass and honeysuckle.
    She pulled back from him. Thane had expected to see tears filling the woman’s eyes. Instead, she looked strong. She kind of reminded Thane of Gunnar, like she had to be the rock.
    “Your mother loved all of you boys so much.” Millie’s voice remained steady as she spoke.
    “We loved her . She will be missed.” Thane’s voice broke, but he took in a deep breath to keep from crying.
    “You three are going to have to be like Elizabeth and I were when our parents died.” She rested her hands on his shoulders. “You have each other. Lean on your family.”
    Thane put his hand on top of his aunt’s. “If you need anything, you know you can call any of us. You’re family.”
    Millie smiled. “I know, baby. But I’m more concerned about you three. I know what a force of nature my sister is…was.” She shook her head like she couldn’t wrap her mind around the concept of Elizabeth being gone. “She saw strength in each of you. You all are going to have to hold each other up for a while. There’s no shame in asking for help.”
    Thane didn’t see his