24. Love
LOVE
Mama had the worst damn timing and, when she called while I was with Baby, I started not to answer her ass. I was still pissed off about her throwing me up under the bus. I didn’t even wanna pick her up from Delia’s crib.
“Aye, man. Lemme holla at you!” I shouted at T.K., who had his back to me. He was talking to another dude I grew up with. When he spoke, I hit him with a head nod but didn’t take my eyes off the man in question.
“Fuck you want college boy? I ain’t think you knew a nigga no more,” he spat, his hands stuffed in his pockets. I waved him off, turning to the dude on the side of him.
“Lemme rap with him real quick.” He nodded, walking over to a group of people nearby. I stared him down, and crossed my arms against my chest.
“Where my brother at? I know you know something, so just tell me,” I claimed, and he chucked, flicking his nose with his thumb.
“I ain’t fucking that nigga, man. How I know where he at?” he retorted with annoyance.
I pointed my finger at him. “He with that nigga Tank, stop playing games with me, T.K.”
“I haven’t heard anything from him in days, either.” The way he grinned slyly, I knew he was about to make me mad. “You worried about V but, when he asked you for money, you ain’t have shit for him.”
I should’ve known Valentine was gone run his mouth to this nigga. They ass like two peas in a pod, so I found it hard to believe he didn’t know where he was.
“Man, that’s family business and I handle my brother how I wanna handle him,” I boomed, seeing him glare at me. “But while we speaking on shit that ain’t got nothing to do with us, what you got going on with Baby’s sister, muthafucka?”
“So, she told you, huh?” He scoffed, kicking a rock at his feet. “It was about time.”
I reared my head back. “What that supposed to mean?”
He sucked his teeth. “Nigga, let’s not play dumb. I knew you liked her. Hell, we all did. Giving googly eyes to each other from across the room like I won’t notice, but I peeped everything.”
I mean, I wasn’t exactly subtle. I eyeballed her whenever I had the chance. I ain’t care who saw me, including his ass.
“If you knew this shit, why you get with her then? And what’s up with you and her sister?
“Me and Leah got a mutual understanding,” he stated, rubbing his hand over his mouth. What understanding could he have with that little ass girl? “And if we being honest, I only got with her so you wouldn’t.”
Ain’t that some shit?
“Like I said before, I don’t know where your brother at, or Tank,” he finished, looking around. “But it’s hot out here in these streets. Wherever he at, he needs to stay there.”
He tried to dap me up, but I curved his ass. Just because we had a civil conversation that ain’t make us cool.
Mama was waiting outside for me when I pulled up to my auntie’s house. She was sitting on the swing with her bag already on her shoulders like she was ready to go. However, I needed to have a talk with Delia, so I hopped out and walked up to the door.
“Where you going, baby? I’m ready to leave,” my mama called out to me, but I walked right past her into the house.
“Love, honey. I’m glad to see you out. Trish told me what happened,” she said, pulling me into a hug.
It’s sad that she was showing me more love than my mama. Delia was the youngest out of my dad’s siblings, and she’d always been nice to me. The other two could care less about me and my brother, but the feeling was mutual.
“Yeah, it’s all good. How was she?” I leaned against the wall in the kitchen and watched her slice through a piece of cake.
“You know Trish, Love,” she replied, giving me a knowing look. “One day at a time, though.”
I nodded, zoning off.
“What’s on your mind?” she questioned, cutting her eyes towards me.
Walking over to the dining room table, I placed my hands on the back of the chair. “I need mama to stay here with you.”
She sat the knife down, throwing her hands on her hips with a raised eyebrow. “I can’t watch her all the time, Auntie. It’s getting harder to deal with her, and I can’t do it by myself.”
Delia retired from teaching a few years now, and she ain’t have any kids. I ain’t see the problem.
“You know I don’t mind, but she don’t wanna be here with me,” she told me, looking towards the front door. “You see she waited outside until you got here.”
I nodded. “She ain’t no better with me. When I called to tell her I was in jail, she told me to take the charge for Valentine.”
She let out a gasp. “She said what?”
Ignoring her, I pleaded my case. “You know I won’t ask if I ain’t really need it.”
“Well, alright, but you telling her,” she pointed out, wiping her hands on a towel.
I nodded, thanking her. Mama was in the same spot on the swing, and I sat down next to her.
“We gotta talk.” I leaned over to put my arm on the back of the seat.
“Can we do it at home? I’m tired,” she told me, letting out a yawn.
I shook my head. “Ma, you staying here with Delia.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “The fuck I am, take me home right now!”
“You are home,” I emphasized. “She gone take care of you, make sure you got everything you need.”
She gripped my leg in desperation. “Love, please. You can’t leave me here.”
“I’ll come over every week and see you.” I tried to touch her shoulder, but she flinched away.
“Don’t touch me!” She glanced with a look of disgust, moving her purse tighter against her chest. “You just gone pawn your own mama off to somebody else? Valentine would never do this to me.”
“Yeah? Well, where his ass been at this whole time?” I screamed, hopping up from the chair. “I’ve been taking care of you by myself my whole life mama, but I can’t do it no more.”
Delia was standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
She gave a tight smile, mouthing for me to go.
Mama ain’t even bothered to look up when I glanced at her.
I was so goddamn mad, my hand gripped the steering wheel hard on the way home.
I called Baby because I figured she could calm my nerves, but she didn’t answer.
By the time I parked in my driveway, all I wanted to do was smoke a blunt and chill. I was supposed to call Lauren to get on her about what she did, but I was too pressed right now and liable to make the shit worse than it is. I needed to clear my head before I addressed her.
I got out my car and walked to the front door.
When I left the house, I remembered keeping the living room light on.
Seeing them off now was unusual. I frowned while opening the door, feeling around for the light switch.
After I flickered it on, I scanned the room for anything suspicious.
My eyes landed on a figure sitting in the corner.
Squinting, I cursed. “Valentine?”
“Heard you were looking for me,” he coughed out, holding his stomach.