Ethan Whitmore
“Yo, this shit doesn't make any sense.” I laughed at Ace. “You sat around talkin’ all that shit about me and Ava, now look at you.”
“This nigga sprung like a muthafucka.” Duke laughed.
“I would ask what is Julia doing to you, but I don’t want to know.” I shook my head in disgust.
Julia had his ass in a headlock. All this muthafucka wanted to do was be cooped up underneath her.
I wasn’t saying there was anything wrong with that, because being under and around Ava was my new happy place.
All I was saying is, I see the obvious change in my dawg.
And this muthafucka was a complete dawg.
So, I’m surprised my little pasty ass sister happened to be the one to tame his ass.
“Yo’ chocolate loving ass don’t have no room to talk. Don’t think that collar around yo’ neck is invisible, nigga. My sista be dawg walkin’ yo’ ass. You the one going out sad, not me.” Ace shook his head.
“Aye, yo’ sister can walk me like a dawg anytime she wants. As good as that pussy is—”
“Yo! Chill with that shit.” Ace shot up from his seat. “I swear you gon’ drive me crazy. I don’t need those types of details when it comes to my sister.” He gagged.
“Well, quit playing in my face, muthafucka.” I laughed. “Talkin’ about she dawg walkin’ me. Yeah, alright. We both walkin around with leashes, yours lookin a lil tighter than mine though.”
“Shit, I don’t know. Both of yall going out sad if you ask me.” Duke shook his head.
“Anyway, enough about all that shit. When is the next trip to Vegas, so we can get the ball rolling?” Ace asked.
“Two weeks,” I answered.
“And the club?”
“Reconstruction starts in a few days. Ava hasn’t decided what she wants to do yet, so I’ma just have that shit gutted out.” I glanced at my watch. “Let me get outta here. I’ll holla at y’all later on.” I dapped my boys up.
I told Big Momma twenty minutes ago that I was on my way back to her spot.
I had spent my entire morning with my mom, only to step out for a couple of hours to handle business.
Outside of Ava and Zoie, spending time with my momma was the best part of my day.
When I pulled up, Big Momma was standing outside watching the landscapers clean her yard.
She stood with both hands on her hips, and a newspaper rolled up in one hand.
I could tell by her stance, that she was out there bothering them when she should’ve had her ass in the house.
“Boy, if you plant them tulips too close together, I’ma make you dig em’ back up.”
“Woman, why are you out here harassing these people? Let them do their job in peace.” I chuckled.
“Oh no, you know I have to make sure everything is just the way I want it.” She waved me off.
I continued on into the house, leaving Big Momma to stand guard over her yard. As soon as I walked in, the home health nurse on duty was walking past with a tray of food in her hands.
“Good evening, Mr. Whitmore.” She nodded.
I hated that Mr. Whitmore shit. To be honest, I only liked it when it rolled off of Ava’s tongue.
“Just call me EJ.” I corrected her. “How is she doing today?”
We came into the living room where my momma was sitting comfortably in her recliner.
She sat gazing out of the window across from her, rather than focusing on the TV.
Big Momma had bird feeders placed right outside the window, just for momma.
Humming birds were her favorite. I had one tatted on my chest with her name underneath.
“She’s been doing good.” The nurse smiled.
I kneeled down beside momma's recliner and caressed her face.
“Ma, I’m back.”
I watched as her eyes slowly found mine.
“You didn’t eat earlier. I need you to eat a little bit before it’s time to get you in bed. Can you do that for me?”
I motioned for the nurse to bring the tray over to me. Momma just watched me as I held on to her hand. Next thing I knew, I felt her fingers move followed by a gentle squeeze. I looked from her eyes down to our hands then back up.
“Go get my grandma.” I said to the nurse.
As soon as Big Momma came into the room she had a worried expression on her face.
“What’s happened?” She rushed to my side.
“I asked her a question and she squeezed my hand.” I smiled, still staring at my momma.
“You sure?”
I paused for a second to glance at Big Momma.
“I know what I felt. Ma, do it again.” My thumb rubbed against her fingers.
She didn’t move, she just stared at me.
“Ma, I love you.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “You do know I love you, right?”
Then, very slowly, her fingers tightened around mine once again.
“Oh my Lord!” Big Momma gasped.
Tears instantly filled her eyes as we came to the realization that my momma was trying to communicate.
It had been so long, and doctors had been saying for quite some time that there was a slim chance this would happen.
At that moment, I felt like a kid again.
For the next two hours, I chilled with momma and made sure she ate at least a few bites of her food.
It felt good to know that she was starting to show better progress since I brought her back home.
Her interactions had been far and few but that was better than none.
On my way back home, I vibed to the music as I went over business moves in my head. In the middle of rapping to Str8 Like Dat by Joyner Lucas, my phone rang out through the Bluetooth speakers. It was Ava.
“How you doing, beautiful?” I answered while changing lanes.
“I’m doing fine. What about you, handsome?”
The sound of her voice put a smile on my face.
“I’m good, I just left my mom. What you doin’?”
“Nothing, I just finished prepping all of this food for tomorrow’s event. Have you eaten anything yet?”
“Nah, I haven’t seen you all day. How am I supposed to do that?” I smirked, listening to her giggle.
“Food, Ethan.”
“Eatin’ you is like eatin’ food. You’re my favorite meal.”
“Stop,” she giggled.
“You tryin’ to come over? I know you’re tired, we can order something and chill.” I said.
“I can.”
“Well hurry up and bring your fine ass to me then.”
“Okay.” She giggled.
By the time I pulled up to my spot, Ava was pulling in right behind me.
We exited our cars at the same time, and she came straight to me, reaching out for a hug and kiss.
I led the way inside, and she got comfortable in the living room as I went to change into something more comfortable—no shirt and a pair of red basketball shorts.
As soon as I came back into the living room, I laid on the couch with my head on her lap.
Shit, the moment her fingers started rubbing against my scalp, I closed my eyes.
I was in my right mind to take a nap until she started speaking.
“Do you know what you want me to order?”
“Nah. You already know what I have a taste for.” I smirked with my eyes still closed.
“I am starving, Ethan.” she giggled. “I’ve been around food all day. I was so busy, the only thing I had today was a small bag of popcorn. I want to know what kind of real food you want to eat. I’ll serve you dessert afterward.”
“We can serve each other now and afterward.” I licked my lips, looking up at her. “But nah, I don’t care. Whatever you order, I’m cool with.”
“Okay.” She pulled out her phone.
After she ordered our food, I continued to lay on her lap while we talked and laughed at stupid shit.
She was telling me that she and Aja had an appointment to get their hair done, right after she delivered the food to Julia’s friends event.
She explained how she was indecisive about whether she wanted bundles or a lace front.
To be honest, I loved her natural hair. She didn’t need any of that shit, but I understood how women liked to change up styles and whatnot.
However, I did suggest she’d get bundles rather than a lace front.
I didn’t want her complaining when I sweat or pull that muthafucka off.
The sound of my doorbell ringing cut our laughs short as I leaned up to go answer the door.
“Aye, baby, go ahead and get some plates!” I called out to her.
When I opened the door, I wasn’t expecting to see Carla standing on the other side.
“Hey, boo.” She smiled.
“What the fuck you doing here?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“You ordered food?” She dangled the bag.
I reached to take it from her hand.
“I miss you, EJ.” She pouted, giving me a puppy dog look.
“Ella te echa de menos, maitre.” She rubbed between her legs.
“I’m good on that,” I said as I noticed her attention focused behind me.
“Oh, I see.” She chuckled. “You’re still kicking it with the new bitch. I mean, new sub. Is it necessary to cut me off? I’ll play nice, and I’ll share, papi. Don’t just leave me hanging.” She pouted again.
“I’m sorry, boo, but he’s obviously not interested,” Ava spoke as she wrapped her arms around my waist from behind. Her soft hands caressed my bare chest, and it felt good as hell. “And I can guarantee that he doesn’t miss that loose ass pussy as much as it misses him. Isn’t that right, maitre?”
I felt Ava’s lips kiss the middle of my back, directly on my spine. But that’s not what made my dick hard. It was hearing her call me maitre, and the way it rolled off her tongue so sweetly.
“That’s right.” I smirked.
“Thank you. And, FYI, I don’t like to share my dick. I’m selfish, and it’s just not healthy, baby. Now, enjoy the rest of your day.”
“So, this bitch speaks for you now?” Carla rolled her neck.
“I don’t know what bitch you’re referring to, but you heard what the fuck I said.” Ava stepped to the side of me.
I held my hand out to block her from getting in front of me.
Carla looked like she was ready to throw hands, but I wasn’t about to allow any of that to go down.
Why? Because Mi Amore was too pretty to be scrappin’ with bitches who had low morals.
I would bust out my pistol before I allowed any bitch to put hands on her or play in her face.
“Alright, you need to roll out,” I told Carla.