Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
J unicia
Franklin’s dry wig momma and bald-headed ex had me messed up.
Franklin did, too, since he didn’t open his mouth.
I didn’t hesitate to leave her house because I would have gotten disrespectful if I stayed.
We’d just established our relationship, and already we had a problem—a big one at that.
Franklin didn’t talk about his parents often, but I knew if he had to choose between them and me, it would be them.
I was lucky it was a rideshare nearby because I would have hated to wait for one. That would have given Franklin an opportunity to try and talk me out of leaving, and I didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. I for sure didn’t want to talk to his mom.
I was grateful the car pulled off as soon as Franklin opened the front door. In my opinion, he took too long anyway. If he cared enough, he would have come right after me. I didn’t know if he told his mom about herself or not, and I wasn’t sticking around to find out.
As soon as the car got a few feet from the house, I called Lauren.
“What happened? Quan called Franklin. I couldn’t hear what he said, but it sounded like he was upset.”
“As he should be. His raggedy-ass momma pretended it was an emergency, but it wasn’t. Instead, she had his bobblehead ex over there. The bitch sat there looking like a stick was up her ass.”
Lauren cackled. “How she look?” I guess she whispered because Quan was still at her house.
“Like a cute bobblehead.” I giggled, even though I was pissed. “She had a short haircut, which made her head look bigger, but her face was cute. I didn’t like how the bitch sat there smirking like she had one up on me.”
I wanted to knock the smirk off her face, and the wig off his momma’s head, but my parents taught me to have manners. Franklin’s mom was my elder, so I couldn’t dog walk her like I wanted to. If she kept playing with me, I’d get my momma on her, and she wouldn’t want that.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve met his mom, right?”
“No. Remember I said she was at the restaurant and was dismissive to me then? That lady didn’t even try to get to know me. It’s obvious her son doesn’t want anything to do with that girl, so I don’t know why she pulled that bullshit.”
“What did Franklin say?”
I sucked my teeth and rolled my eyes. I should have told the driver to drop me off at Lauren’s house since it was closer, but I went home instead.
Franklin pulled into my driveway just as I got out of the car. I wasn’t sure how he made it there so fast since I left before him.
I thanked the driver and got out of the car. I tried to walk right past Franklin.
“Junicia. Can we talk about what happened?”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Franklin. It’s clear your mother has an issue with me and wants you and your ex to get back together. I won’t stand in the way of that.”
I tried to walk away, but he grabbed my wrist.
“Junie, I’m not that other nigga. If we have a problem, we are going to talk about it. There will be no arguing or walking away. Now, let’s go in the house and talk this out like two adults. Your nose is getting red and shit, and I don’t want you getting sick.”
I looked at the back of his head as he walked away. Who the hell did he think he was telling me what to do?
“I guess he told you.”
I had forgotten I was on the phone with Lauren.
“Girl, he didn’t tell me anything. He’s standing on my porch watching me,” I whispered.
“I bet he is. You better find out what he has to say. And remember, cousin, he isn’t loser Leo.”
I sucked my teeth and looked up at Franklin again. The impatience on his face had me moving my feet faster.
“I’ll call you later.”
“Okay,” she sang, then hung up.
I put my phone in my pocket and took out my keys so I could open the door. It was cold outside, but if I was being real, I was curious to hear what Franklin had to say.
He did get to my house rather fast, so maybe he didn’t agree with his mother’s stunt. Or maybe he was trying to break things off quickly so he could get back over there. My mind came up with multiple scenarios.
“Something wrong with your feet, Junie?”
I wanted to be mad and ignore him, but something about this demanding side of Franklin turned me on.
I stomped up the steps and shoved my key into the door. “No, Franklin. There is nothing wrong with my feet. There is something wrong with you being here.”
He pushed up against me as I turned the lock. “Nah, it’s not a problem. The only problem I see is you thinking that we are done or something.”
I never told him we were done, but I guess he assumed it when I left the way I did. I didn’t blame him, though, because I would have thought the same thing.
When I got the door opened, I stepped inside and turned the alarm off. Franklin was on my heels, so he closed and locked the door.
I took my coat and shoes off, walked into the living room, and sat down. Franklin did the same thing and sat next to me.
He lifted my chin and said, “I think we need to get a couple of things straight. I’m not sure what you are used to—although I think I have an idea—but this,” he pointed between us, “is a relationship where we talk about things that are bothering us. All that leaving and ignoring ain’t gonna cut it.
Now, I know I didn’t handle that situation at my mother’s house the way I should have, and for that, I apologize.
“I was thrown for a loop because I went over there thinking something was wrong, and to find out she pulled a stunt like that had me baffled. I have not seen nor heard from my ex in a long time, and I had no clue my mother still talked to her like that. I’m not surprised, though, because my ex had my mother fooled, thinking she was something she wasn’t.
There is a reason why I hardly talk to my parents, especially my mother, and this just made me not want to talk to her even more. ”
He turned toward me and grabbed my hands.
He rubbed soft circles on my knuckles. “I know we literally just started this relationship, but I’m not letting anyone come between that.
There is a reason why I asked you to be my girl.
I like you a lot, Junie, and I’m falling in love with you.
Not my mother or anyone else will ever come between that.
” He let one of my hands go and pushed his glasses up.
He gazed into my eyes as he continued holding my hands. My body warmed, and I shifted in my seat. I could see the love he had for me, and it was crazy that it happened in such a short time, but I couldn’t deny I felt the same way.
“But I don’t want to come between your relationship with you and your family, Franklin.” We could both feel what we felt about each other, but family was family, and I wasn’t trying to compete with that.
“I’m trying to build a family with you, Junie.
It doesn’t have to be right now, but I could see us having kids and shit one day.
My mother is either going to have to get with the program or she will miss out.
I’m not compromising my happiness for what she thinks is best for me.
I’m a grown ass man, and I know how to make grown ass decisions, and I choose you. ”
A feeling I couldn’t describe washed over me.
I believed everything Franklin said because he was so quiet, so when he talked, he meant it.
I didn’t want to be the reason he didn’t see or talk to his parents, but it was clear nothing would stop him from being with me, so I couldn’t deny him.
The only thing I could do was pray things worked out between them and be there for him whether or not they did.
“Franklin, this past month or so has been amazing with you, and I don’t want it to end.
The thing with your mom is in the past, but I do hope you guys can talk and come to an agreement.
I got upset because you didn’t say anything, and I didn’t want to be in the middle of that.
I am falling in love with you, too, and I want to continue to build with you as well. ”
He let go of my hands and pulled me into his arms. After a second he released me, then kissed me with so much passion it made my body melt.
Once we broke the kiss, he pulled away a little and looked me in my eyes. “Now that we got that situated, and we had to cut our night short, let’s have a little fun of our own.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Go to your room, and I’ll meet you there in ten minutes.” He winked, pecked my lips, then helped me up from the couch.
I wasn’t sure what he had planned, but my pulse accelerated with anticipation. I ran upstairs and took a quick shower. I found something cute to put on and waited patiently for Franklin to come upstairs.
I didn’t know how things would turn out with his mother, but I knew I didn’t want things to end with him and me. The last month, I had been the happiest I’d been in a long time, and I’d be damned if I let someone else take my happiness away. I was in it for the long haul with Franklin.