44. Corinthians #3
“Which one is his daddy?” he asked. His eyes searched mine.
When I didn’t answer, he laughed and nodded.
“Don’t worry about it, baby.” He kissed my forehead then stepped back.
“I need to make a call right fast and let Nine know I need the plane. I gotta make a quick work trip. Won't be gone for more than a day at the most. Finish talking to your grandma and let me know when you’re ready to go.” He kissed me again, this time on my lips before pulling away and walking out of the front door.
***
“You’re mad,” Judah said from the backseat. Uri’s bracelet started to beep, and he grunted. “And you’re beeping. That’s means you’re mad.”
“N-n-n-no,” Uri replied as he drove.
“Yes, you are. You said that when you’re mad or nervous, you stutter,” Judah replied. “You’re stuttering.”
Uri parked his car in the garage, then turned it off. “I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I’m not m-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-mad,” he replied, then turned around to face Judah.
“Breathe, Uri.”
“Breathe, Four.”
We spoke at the same time. Uri closed his eyes, then nodded and took a deep breath.
“I could’ve been nervous, and you just called me out on it.”
“What would you be nervous about?” he asked.
“It’s a pretty girl in my front seat that I like very much.” He motioned his head towards me. “I get nervous around her sometimes.”
“It’s my mama,” Judah replied, sounding unimpressed. “What is there to be nervous about?” I turned around in my seat with my mouth open. He unbuckled his seat belt and shook his head. “She’s a girl.”
“Who is smart, really beautiful, and can cook. I’m telling you right now that’s all the reason to be nervous.”
Judah looked at Uri and me, then sighed. “Four, if you like her, then you gotta tell her. No reason to be nervous. It’s not like she can beat you up.” He stopped, then quickly looked at me, then back at Uri. “She can fight. Can she beat you up?”
“Truth?” Uri asked with a small laugh, and Judah nodded. “Yes, she can. Always has been able to and always will be able to.”
“But you can’t feel pain,” Judah replied. He stood and held on to the front seats. “How can she win if you can't feel pain? You don’t ever have to stop because something hurts.”
“I feel everything when it comes to your mama, man,” Uri replied.
“She’s my kryptonite.” He looked over at me then back at Judah.
“Come here, let me tell you a secret.” Judah came towards Uri.
“Baby, back up so me and the man can talk.” I laughed, then moved back so that Uri could whisper something in Judah’s ear.
Whatever he said made Judah slowly smile.
Uri moved back then put his hand out for Judah to dap him up.
“My guy, I like this for us. Now come on so I can get y’all situated before I leave.
” Uri looked over at me and winked before getting out of the car.
“We’re not staying at the hotel anymore?” Judah asked once we were out of the car.
“Nah, we are staying at my house,” Uri answered. “Give me a second.” He put in the code for the door, then walked in, making sure to close it behind him. Through the glass, I watched him take his gun from behind his back, then disappear around the corner.
“What did Uri say to you in the car?” I asked Judah. I didn’t really want to know; I just wanted his attention.
“Man stuff,” Judah answered. “I can't tell you.”
“No?” I reared back, surprised. “You keeping secrets from me now?”
“Just a few,” he said, then shrugged.
“I thought we didn’t do secrets.”
“Sometimes we have to,” Judah replied.
Uri came back to the door, opened it, then stepped aside. “Come on,” he said. Judah ran into the house and headed straight for the living room, only stopping to take off his shoes and leave them by the door. I walked in, stopped near the door, and bent down. “Stop playing with me.”
“What?” I looked up to see Uri glaring at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Do you do that or do I?” He asked, nodding at my hand.
I looked down, then looked up at him. “How many times have you taken your shoes off around me?” He moved my hand from my shoe, helped me stand, then put his hands around my waist. “Up.” After setting me on the counter, Uri took off my shoes then put them next to Judah’s. “That’s my job.”
“I can take off my shoes, Uri,” I laughed as he stepped between my legs. I put my arms around his shoulders and ran my nails through his hair. “You need a cut.”
“You got supplies upstairs,” he said, and I lifted my brow. “I bought them a while back, never got a chance to tell you, but they're up there.” He buried his face between my face and shoulder. “Cut my hair for me later?”
“I’ll do it before you leave for the trip,” I told him. I cupped the back of his head. “Hey, look at me.” Uri did what I asked. “We need to talk about what you heard earlier.”
“Later.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Now.”
“Later,” he said, then kissed me. “I gotta handle some business first, then when I get back, we will sit down and talk.” He started rubbing my thighs.
“Right now, I just want to chill with you and Judah. And after he goes to bed, I want to curl up on that couch, cuddle with you, and make another movie.” He kissed along my jaw. “Is that okay?”
“Yeah,” I answered with a nod. “But we are going to talk, Uri.”
He chuckled. “I know.”