It was over pizza that the truth came out.
Ryan bit into the slice of three-meat pizza, sipping his coca-cola afterwards, when Tess blurted out.
"So, when are you and Chels gonna marry?"
Nia almost slapped her, but settled for a punch on the arm.
"Tess!." Booker and Levi both shouted.
Raven rounded on her.
"Young lady-"
Chelsea stopped her.
"Rae, let me handle this. When I'm good and ready!."
The rest of the dinner was in silence, though Levi sent several glares Tess's way. She later tried to apologize, but he slammed the door in her face.
"Well, I deserved that." She managed.
Nia was livid.
"What were you thinking!?"
"I wasn't trying to rush them. I've seen how great they are with Levi, and I though-"
Nia almost grabbed her by the hair, but thought better of it.
"They've bbeen through a lot, all of them. You have to let them sort things out, got it?"
She nodded.
Chelsea soon called Ryan, apologizing for what had happened.
"Chels, it's fine, she just got excited."
"Yeah, over-excited."
Both made small talk for a bit before she hung up.
"Mom?"
"Hey, kiddo."
"Nia and Tess are gonna work things out, right?"
"Yeah."
"Can we talk?"
"Sure, honey."
"I wanna be happy for you, but, I'm nervous, along with everything else going on. It's nuts."
"I know the feeling."
"Yeah?"
"I've been through it before."
She told him about some of the times her and Raven had had their fair share of troubles.
"Sounds crazy."
"It was, but we worked things out eventually."
"If dad finds out-"
"We'll be ready for him."
She hugged him.
"You gonna be alright?"
"Yeah, I just need time. I wanna know Ryan better."
"And you will, relax."