30. Mercy #2
“First off, everyone in that room needs to sit on that lady's couch because that shit isn’t normal,” Legacy said, shaking her head.
It had taken years for Legacy to get semi-comfortable with the thought that I could and would kill someone, but we’d finally gotten there.
But at times, she would show her disdain for me freely speaking about it.
“Second, I knew he was off when I first met him, so I don’t know how you didn’t see it. ”
“Because he’s fine?” I jokingly replied, and she rolled her eyes. “People don’t think I’m off when they first meet me.”
“Yes, they do,” she laughed and wiped her hand over her braids. “You hide your crazy until you can't, and then?” she shrugged and playfully rolled her eyes. “But that’s beside the point.” My mouth dropped open in surprise, and she waved me off.
“What's your point, then?”
“That you fell in love with a man who is just as off as you are, and you don’t know what to do,” she answered.
“So, you gonna give me some advice?” I asked, and she shook her head. “Why not?”
“Because you aren’t going to like what I have to say,” she shrugged as she stood. I watched as she went to the kitchen and washed her hands.
“Tell me anyway.” I sat up, turned around, and rested my chest against the couch cushions to watch her cook. Whenever we were younger and were going to have serious conversations, Legacy would cook. It was her way of solving a problem and keeping her hands busy.
She grabbed the ingredients for garlic butter steak, mashed potatoes, and southern green beans. We were going to have a serious conversation and then eat well.
“You didn’t expect to fall for Givens,” she started, and I nodded even though she wasn’t looking at me. “You thought he was quiet but not a pushover because you knew of his rep.”
“True.”
“But you used the fact that he didn’t know yours to your advantage.
You let your good girl image pull him in, and bit by bit, you showed him that it was a front.
” She looked up at me to see if I would object, and when I didn’t, she smiled.
“I know you, so I know you said little slick stuff that he thought was a joke. You probably even offered to kill someone a few times, and he declined.”
“Once or twice.”
She pointed her knife at me and smiled. “Because you knew he didn’t take you seriously.
You enjoyed that he liked you because you were Mercy DeCorte, not Mercy DeCorte, the basketball player.
Then you factor in Faylin and the fact that she is a good kid with a piss poor excuse for a mama, and it was bound to happen.
” She went back to preparing the food, and I sat there quietly.
“He’s a good guy despite the news reports.
He makes you happy. He makes you smile, and that scares you.
I get it. After the shit you went through with Ben back in the day, you weren’t ready for that.
And let's not factor in your family liking him.” She shrugged.
“So, you saw this happening?”
“From my little corner,” she answered with a nod. “But I love it for you because you need it, Mercy. You fucking deserve it because you are that damn dope.”
“But he lied,” I sighed.
“He did, and I get why.” I looked at her, confused, and she laughed softly. “If he came home and said that he woke up and found Shai in his room, but nothing happened, would you have believed him?”
My face twisted, and I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“You wouldn’t have because the shit sounded like something Ben would’ve said. You went through years of being lied to and cheated on. There is no way you would’ve believed him, even though you knew his baby mama wasn’t shit.”
“So you’re saying I should forgive him?”
“Haven’t you, though?” she glanced at me before smirking. “That’s why you have been short-tempered these past few days. You forgave him and don’t know how to wrap your mind around it because you think it’ll make you look weak.”
“You don’t think it does?”
“Who the hell am I to judge your relationship?” she laughed.
“My best friend who always tells me the truth,” I answered, and she smirked.
“Alright, so as your best friend that always tells you the truth, I’m telling you that you loving that man despite him fucking up is okay. Y’all have built something real, and it works for y'all, so that’s all that matters. You can move past this after a serious conversation and-“
“I kill his baby mama,” I interjected, and she rolled her eyes.
“That and-“
“Some dope ass sex,” I said, cutting her off.
“Mercy DeCorte, shut the hell up so I can finish,” she laughed, and I threw my hands up in surrender. “Thank you. Now, as I was saying, it'll be fine after y’all talk and get some things sorted out.” She looked over at me and smiled. “And you kill his baby mama and have some bomb ass sex.”
“Thank you!” I laughed and clapped.
“No problem,” she replied with a smile.
I reached back, grabbed my ringing from the table, and sighed. I’d been ignoring my family for the last few hours, and I knew they were going to lose their shit when they finally got in contact with me.
“Which cousin is that?” Legacy asked. I held up the phone so she could see my grandmother's name. “Oh, you’re in trouble.”
“I know,” I sighed, and she laughed. I blew out a soft breath and swiped the screen. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Your family is sitting in my living room with your cousins, and I’m trying to figure out why you aren’t here?”
“My family?”
“Girl, don’t be slow; Givens and Faylin are here; where are you?”
“At Legacy’s,” I answered. “She’s cooking, and we’re talking.”
“Oh,” Madea replied. “Well, tell her I said hello and stop by the shop when you leave. Cross said she had something waiting for you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, hung up, and then turned back to Legacy. “He’s at my grandparents’ house with Faylin.”
“He said y’all weren’t done,” she said, laughing. “I guess he was serious.”