Chapter 8 #3
“How can you be with me like this and walk away, Rose? Have you ever felt like this?” Minx dared him.
“Nah, and I probably never will again.”
The microwave beeped. She hopped off the counter.
She didn’t know what else to even say after that.
She grabbed the Twix and other junk food she set out for her and Brenyn and left Rose alone.
Her mind, heart, and body were all on a collision course right now.
The impact was sure to be treacherous if she succumbed to her injuries from it.
Minx was taught to be strong, always, and it was all that she knew how to be.
She’d be damned if she let a motherfucker see her sweat.
Rose didn’t go after her, and that took all the strength that he had to do so.
Minx and Brenyn vibed out in the guest bedroom together.
For the first time, B acted like a teenage girl.
She had that innocent, naivety back, and Minx couldn’t help but smile while watching her laugh at Hakeem on Moesha.
The throwbacks brought Minx back to a familiar, nostalgic time too.
Soon, Brenyn passed out, and Minx decided to go grab a blunt so she could smoke before retiring to bed herself.
She ran into her mother in the hallway coming from Mille’s bedroom.
“Is he asleep?” Minx asked.
“Yep. Rose just left,” Mila stated, watching her daughter tense up at the mention.
She knew Minx in and out, even as a grown woman, so she knew that something was wrong.
“What about Brenyn? She sleeping?”
“Yeah. She finally passed out. I was just going to smoke, try to clear my head,” Minx responded.
“Come on. I got some of that good-good.” Mila threw her arm over both of Minx’s shoulders and led her to her and Max’s bedroom. “Talk to me, Minx. What’s wrong?” Mila asked once they were inside.
Pulling out her bedside table drawer, she removed her container where she kept her stash and all her “weed tools” as she called them.
It was mostly different pipes she collected over the years and those new tips she could attach a blunt or joint to so she didn’t burn her nails.
Minx plopped down into the bed and tossed herself across it.
“Ma, I came for a smoke session, not a therapy session.” She propped her head into one hand and played with the lining to the comforter on the king-sized mattress.
“Girl, they one in the same.” Mila lit a pre-rolled joint and took a deep pull.
“You ever thought what would happen if me and Rose got together?” Minx asked, reminding Mila of when she was a little girl.
The time was limited for her after Mickey was killed.
Minx seemed to mature from that day forward.
She didn’t play with toys anymore and barely with other kids.
School became her main focus, then Mille came along.
Taking care of him was something Minx did without question.
She never thought she’d have another sibling, so she cherished Mille from day one.
Her parents were also young and still doing them so Minx was depended on often to care for her brother.
“Have you ever thought about it?” Mila prodded, giving her full attention.
“Ma, I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t.” Minx shook her head.
“Well, then yes. I have always thought about it. You two have always had this connection that I never quite understood until you got older. Rose became your protector. He took Mickey’s spot when she left you.
He is your best friend, and… I think that he would die for you.
He loves you in a way not even I or your father do. It’s deep, baby.”
“Can’t be too deep if he can just push me away,” Minx muttered.
“Let me explain something to you. Men can be dumb. Like little school bus slow, chile. Your father was the worst. He talked shit and teased and taunted me for years. It took him seeing me with someone else to finally step to me. Pride in men can be a good and bad thing. Especially a stubborn ass black man.” Mila laughed as she thought about Max.
“Well, I don’t know about Gannon either. He’s good to me when he’s around. But even when I am with him, Rose is never far from my mind. The nigga should be paying me rent as much as he’s in my head.”
“Rose loves you, Minx. Give him time. But you do not have to put your life on hold for him. I love him too, but he’s a man at the end of the day. If he’s smart, like your father, he will get it right,” Mila assured her.
She passed her the joint, and Minx inhaled deep.
After finishing the session with her mother, she went to check on Brenyn.
Since she was sleeping soundly, Minx went to her own bedroom and climbed into her bed.
Even though Rose had left the house, she still felt him.
She flashed back to all the times he lay in bed with her over the years.
The fact that they were the opposite sex wasn’t something either of them ever really focused on.
Glancing at the empty pillow beside her, she would give anything to have him there now.