13. Baby
BABY
Today is Valentine’s Day and I’mma be lonely as hell tonight. Everybody going out to celebrate, and I’mma be sitting here stuffing my face with Butter Pecan ice cream.
Auntie Misha left not too long ago with her man, Kenny. We barely spoke to each other since I got out, but he’s here all the time and he seemed like a good dude for her. Leah out with her man, I'm assuming, but that bitch was a box of secrets these days, so who knows.
Jayda over here waiting on her man to pick her up. I asked her why she ain’t wait at her house, and she replied she ain’t want her mama to see him, and I get that. Auntie Mona can do too much sometimes.
“Yeah, she would’ve taken thirty pictures. You remember how she was on prom night,” I reminded her.
She laughed, fixing the straps on her body-con dress from Fashion nova.
“You look good. The hair is giving too,” I commented, then used the palm of my hand to fluff out the end of her curls.
“You too,” she remarked, and I gave her a knowing look. I know she tryna make me feel better, but I ain’t got on nothing but pajama shorts and a tank top. Her ass needs to stop with the lies.
She giggled, touching my hair. “Well, this is still cute.”
She checked the time on her watch, sighing out loud. “Why you won’t come out with us? I don’t want you here by yourself on Valentine’s Day. That’s so sad cousin.”
I did a double-take. What’s even sadder than sitting at home, is crashing somebody else’s date night.
I am not that desperate, no matter how lonely I am. “Girl, no. That man about to dick you down, and you tryna bring company? I’m good here, thanks for the invite though.”
“Well then, call Love,” she suggested, smirking at me knowingly.
She’s the only one who knows how I really feel about him. It’s been many instances where she caught me staring at him back in the day, so she already knew what’s up.
“For what? He’s my parole officer, Jayda. We can both get in trouble.” Even If I did have a phone, I wouldn’t have called him. The temptation to hear his voice was too much, but I had to stay strong.
I flicked through the channels to keep myself busy, sulking miserably. She snatched the remote from my hand to get my attention.
“How much trouble?” she asked.
I licked my lips, shrugging my shoulders. “I’ll probably go back to jail.”
Her eyes widened, before a sympathetic expression crossed her face.
“I don’t even think it was right for him to take my case.” I fell back dramatically into the cushion. “He can get in trouble if somebody found out we knew each other.”
She pulled me towards her and placed my head against her shoulder. “You poor, Baby.”
Giggling at the double meaning, I sat back up. “It is what it is. I’ll live vicariously through you tonight.” I looked at the time on the T. V guide. “Ain’t he late though?”
She nodded her head, and I frowned. What kind of bum nigga she dealing with? I wish a nigga would make me wait for him, his ass will be standing outside my door all night doing the same.
“This happen a lot?”
“I guess,” she said, shrugging. “One time, he left me stranded outside the metro store. I had to call my mama to come pick me up.”
Giggling, she placed her hand over her mouth like it’s funny. I think she really laughing to cover up how hurt she was. I find nothing amusing about this, and it ain’t sit right with me that she’s okay with the way she being treated.
“And you sure you like him?” I inquired.
She rolled her eyes at me. “Yes, Baby. He apologized, and we moved past it.”
“Uh huh.” The conversation ended, and we both jumped when we heard a loud knock on the door. Jayda leaped up to answer it, and she almost bust her ass in them heels. I followed behind her so I could speak.
“Hey, boo,” she threw herself at him, flinging her arms around his shoulders, which made him stumble back on the heels of his feet.
I gave him a once-over. He decent enough, but not as fine as Love. His eyes skimmed over my body lustfully.
“Baby, this is Kai. Kai, meet my favorite cousin, Baby.” She held onto his arm, using her hand to gesture between us in an introductory manner.
“Sup, Baby.” He held his hand out for a handshake, and it took willpower to place my hand in his.
“Nice to meet you.” I gave him a tight smile before pulling my hand away, rubbing it on my shirt. Jayda was too busy staring at him to catch that, but since he was watching me instead, he saw what I did.
He bit his bottom lip, which made me shoo them out the door, “Okay. Time to go. I need some me time. Have fun, Jay. Love you.”
I pushed them until their feet were on the front porch step, closing it shut behind them.
“Creepy ass nigga,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
I went in the kitchen to get some popcorn when I heard another knock not even five minutes later. I assumed Jayda left something, so I rushed to open it again.
“Girl, did you forget some— Love?” My eyes widened. I was shocked to see him standing on the other side. However, that shock quickly changed to embarrassment, when I realized what I had on.
I reached up, folding my arms over my chest to cover up my hard nipples. His eyes trailed from my feet then slowly moved up my body, nipping the corner of his bottom lip. I did the same to him while taking in his blue jeans, Nike T-shirt and all-white Nike air forces.
I could feel the heat of his gaze on my skin, leaving me standing here squirming, uncomfortable at the wetness growing in my panties.
Once he got his fill of me, his eyes collided with mine. I had a hard time swallowing around the lump in my throat, not while he’s looking at me with such intensity. My gaze flickered to his mouth when he opened it.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Baby.”