Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Cadence
I got up early today and went to see my mama since she told me she would be off today.
I had a few things planned, so I wanted to get her out the way first. After I dressed, I grabbed my things and headed to her house across town.
I made it just in time because she was in the middle of making lunch.
“Looks like I’m right on time,” I announced as I walked into the kitchen.
“I knew you weren’t going to make it until around this time. You knew you weren’t going to make it for breakfast,” she called me out.
“Well, at least you know,” I simpered. “I caught up on some much-needed rest,” I mentioned.
“Mhm... I bet you did. Your lack of rest wouldn’t have anything to do with that football player, would it?” She eyed me, and I felt like I just got caught missing curfew.
“Mama...” I started, but she cut me off.
“Don’t even try it. I had to find out through blogs and TV interviews that my daughter is rumored to be dating Titan Samuels. I saw your face plastered all over the screen from the game you attended,” she fussed.
“I was going to tell you, but it’s new and I wanted to see how things would work out.” I lied. I couldn’t risk telling my mama the truth, and she told it.
“Well, you should’ve thought about before you started dating a professional athlete,” she sassed as she placed a plate in front of me.
My mouth watered at the pasta salad and wings she sat in front of me.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled with a mouth full of food.
“Mhm,” she countered. “So, how are things between the two of you. From the pictures I’ve seen, he seems to be smitten.
The pictures that were taken when y’all weren’t paying attention, he was always staring at you.
” I blushed at my mama’s statement because I saw a few of those pictures and he was looking at me almost like he loved me.
“Things are okay. Like I said, we’re taking things slow and just enjoying each other’s company,” I confirmed.
“I hope not too much?” She looked at me and lifted her brow after her statement.
“Ma,” I groaned.
“Don’t Ma, me. I just want to make sure you don’t get caught up in that life, that’s all.” Her tone was sincere, and I knew she had my best interests at heart.
“I hear you, Mama.”
I stayed with my mama for a few more hours talking and catching up. I promised her that I would bring Titan by to meet her soon. I knew I would have to convince him to play along, but hopefully he wouldn’t give me a hard time.
By the time I left my mama’s, it was after five, and I was going to have to fight through this traffic. As I maneuvered through traffic, Ailani called.
“Hey, girl,” I answered.
She was a cool girl and she kind of inserted herself into my life like I was her brother’s real girlfriend.
“Hey, what you doing?” she asked.
“Just left my mama’s. Wassup?” I asked as I navigated through traffic.
“Oh okay. Is everything good?”
“Yeah, I just went to check in because I haven’t been in a while. I wish I would’ve just called instead because she let me have it for not telling her about your brother.” She laughed.
“That’s what y’all get. Mommy fussed at him too for not introducing y’all before the game,” she blabbed.
“I mean, it’s not like this is for real, so I guess it just slipped my mind.” I shrugged.
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” I heard her laugh just as I had another call coming through. It was Titan.
“Uhm, I have another call coming in. Let me call you back,” I said.
“Okay, bye.” She hung up, and I clicked over and answered the other line.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Wassup, Tink. What you got going on?” He asked.
“Nothing... just leaving my mama’s house,” I let him know.
“Word? How that go?”
“She let my ass have it,” I laughed.
“Damn, Tink. What you do?” He joined in the laughter.
I told him what my mama said and how she felt, and that she wanted to meet him. By the time I was done, I started feeling bad again because my mama was left out of the loop, but it wasn’t intentional.
“Damn, Tink. My bad. Set that shit up and I’ll make sure that I’m there,” he countered, and I was shocked.
“You’re serious?” I asked for clarity.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Silence...
“Tink,” he called out.
“Yeah?”
“I wanna see you when I get back tonight?” He voiced.
For some reason, I got nervous.
“Uhm... that’s fine. Do you want me to meet you at your house, or you coming to mine?” I asked.
“I’d prefer you to be there when I get in. I’ll have Lani let you in,” he stated.
“Uhm... okay. I can do that,” I agreed. “I’ll even get something to cook so you won’t have to call Chef Thot.” I rolled my eyes because that hoe was pathetic.
“You ain’t shit for that, Tink,” he laughed.
“I’m just saying,” I countered.
“Yeah, I bet. Let me call Lani and I’ll see you in a bit.”
We said our goodbyes and hung up the phone.
I headed straight home to pack a bag and head to the grocery store to pick up a few things.
This actually worked out good because his birthday was coming up in a few days and I wanted to do something for him because he’d be out of town again and I wouldn’t see him until afterward. This would be the perfect timing.
***
I was nervous as hell to be in Titan’s house without him.
Lani met me here to let me in and stayed while I prepped dinner and did a little decorating.
She was the one who told me his favorite dessert was peach cobbler, and luckily I had my grandma’s recipe, so I made a small one, but not without promising to save her some.
I asked her not to let Titan know what I was planning, and she promised.
She was just excited that her brother finally stopped messing with every hoe he came across.
I assured her that what we were doing was only on a friendly level, and she waved me off.
She’d been gone for about thirty minutes, and I had time to shower before Titan got in.
I showered in the guest bathroom so I wouldn’t invade his space.
Once I was done with my shower, I dressed in a pair of blue cotton shorts that had a single white stripe going down each side and a white baby tee.
My hair was still in a bun from earlier.
I slipped my feet into my fuzzy slides and headed back into the kitchen to check on everything.
I had the food and cobbler still in the warmer so everything would still be hot.
As I was closing the door to the oven, I heard the door open and my heart started beating out of my chest. I turned around and Titan was walking further inside but stalled his steps when he saw the setup.
I had blue, white, and silver balloons floating in the air and a few scattered on the floor.
There was a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner and blue twenty-nine balloon on either side.
I couldn’t read the look on his face, and I was starting to think I overstepped until he walked over to me and pulled my body into his and kissed my lips passionately.
“Damn, Tink. You did all this shit for me?” He asked once he gave me back possession of my lips.
“I wanted to do something for your birthday. I know it’s not until next week, but you’ll be gone.”
He looked around, and a genuine smile graced his face, showcasing his dimple.
“I fuck with this shit, Tink,” he replied. “Wait...” he paused and sniffed the air. “Is that peach cobbler I smell?” He asked.
“Yes,” I nodded. “I didn’t have the money to buy a gift, so I asked Lani what your favorite dessert was. I figured I could give you that in place of a gift,” I simpered.
He turned around and looked at me. The look on his face let me know that he appreciated my effort.
“You didn’t have to do all this for real, but I really appreciate it.
Outside of my family, nobody has ever taken the time to do no shit like this for me.
All those bitches wanted was dick... they didn’t care to know what else I had to offer.
But you, Tink,” he paused and shook his head.
“You didn’t ask for none of the shit I provided you, and that alone made me want to give you every-fucking-thing I can put my hands on.
” He spoke with so much conviction and sincerity that I didn’t even have a response for it.
“Let me go put this shit up and freshen up. I’ll be right back.” He placed a kiss on my forehead and trekked to his bedroom to put his things up.
While he did that, I prepared our plates and couldn’t help the smile that crept on my face. I don’t know what we were doing, but I was starting to like it... a lot.