Chapter 10
BLISS
It had been a couple of weeks since I’d taken Sosa’s number, and the shit was literally burning a hole in my pocket.
As fine as he was, a part of me was nervous that he was just like Jordan, and I wasn’t trying to jump into some more shit that was going to leave me in a worse off place than I already was.
Truthfully, I was holding out until I felt like I could be strong enough to get the dick and walk away, but with the luck I was having, the man would have me even more turned out and ready to turn into a whole stalker.
Finally pulling up to my parents’ home, I put the car in park and shook off thoughts of that nigga.
Gathering my purse and the bag I’d brought for my honey, I climbed out just as Essence parked in front of me.
She stepped out onto the street looking cute in a pair of jean shorts and an oversized hockey jersey with her hair pulled back in a huge clip.
Since I hadn’t talked to her in a few days, I rushed over to greet her and find out if she’d heard from Valentino.
The day I left Jordan’s house and had gone back outside, I called her, and we spent the day at the mall. She’d filled me in on her date with Maxwell and how Valentino had bullied his way into her hot ass box like some shit from an urban book, and now I was fully invested in their story.
“Sister!”
“Heeeey! Don’t you look cute!” She gushed, pointing at the pleated skirt and crop top I was wearing.
Unlike Essence, I was always ready to show off my stomach, but that was mostly because I went out of my way to ensure it was flat, while I didn’t bother with any other part of my body.
But even if it was a little pudgy, I would’ve shown it off because who was gon’ check me?
As much as people tried to make me believe my body wasn’t tea, I knew for a fact that was bullshit because bitches were dying on the operating table for the ass, thighs, and titties on me.
Turning to the side, I poked my butt out.
“Thank yooooou!”
“You know Daddy gon’ have a fit about how short it is, though, and you having that belly button out,” she said matter of factly, and I waved her off.
Our daddy always had something to say about our clothes, but my mama never hesitated to put him in his place.
She loved how comfortable me and Essence were with our bodies and had raised us to be proud of how we looked.
Since we were little girls, she always made it a point to speak life into us and tell us how beautiful we were, which was why when other people talked shit, I didn’t internalize any of it.
Besides, it wasn’t like it happened that often anyway.
Most people either wanted to get my number or tell me I was looking good.
“Ain’t nobody thinking ’bout Daddy uptight ass. You’re the only one who lets him scare you into covering up when you come over.” We started up the walkway, and she bumped me with her hip.
“Only ’cause I’m not trying to hear his mouth the whole time.
Then, Honey gon’ say something, and they gon’ be arguing.
” She made a point, and I had to agree with her there.
I loved my honey, but listening to her go back and forth with my daddy for half an hour or longer was not the move.
I really didn’t even know why he liked to rile her up anyway because that lady loved to argue and did that shit for sport.
“That’s true. Ain’t nobody tryna hear all that,” I admitted as we reached the porch, and the door swung open. It wasn’t even a surprise because our mama watched that damn Ring camera like it was TV, so she probably saw the exact moment we pulled up.
“Awww, look at my two girls looking like models!” she gushed, filling the doorway with her arms stretched wide. Octavia James looked every bit like Jackée Harry and had the big personality to match. She gassed us up every time, and we always did the same.
“We got it honest!”
“And did!” she said, striking a pose with her hand on her hip.
“Girl, let them in! I’m tryna see my baby!” Honey fussed from behind, bumping her out the way. We both rushed over to give her a hug while our mama stood by, feigning irritation.
“Y’all gon’ stop tryna show favoritism around here. That old lady ain’t going nowhere. Y’all could’ve hugged the woman who gave birth to y’all first.”
“Aww, we love you too, Mommy!” I was the first to break away from Honey and wrap my arms around my mama while she tried to act like she didn’t want to hug me back. Essence was right behind me, making it a group hug and kissing all over her face.
“Yeah, Ma, you know you’re that girl,” she added.
“Mmhmm,” she dryly said, finally hugging us back before waving us away. “Go on, now. Go say hey to y’all’s daddy with your phony asses.” Shutting the door and locking it, I could hear her trying to help Honey back into the living room while we went in search of our father.
Before we even made it to the kitchen, the smell of barbeque quickly filled my nostrils, and I stopped to look in the aluminum pan that was resting on the island.
It was already full of hot dogs and chicken wings.
I quickly snatched up one of the hot dogs and continued outside where we could see our dad on the grill.
“Okaaaaay! Hook it up, Daddy!” Essence’s lame ass cheered, making him turn around with a wide smile.
“I didn’t know y’all were here already! How’re my favorite girls doing?”
“Hey, Daddy,” I said less enthusiastically as I stepped out the patio doors. Since Essence was in front, she was blocking my body, but the second she moved enough for him to see what I was wearing, the smile slipped off his face.
“Don’t ‘Hey Daddy’ me. Where the hell is the rest of those clothes?” he immediately started going in, and I rolled my eyes. The way he acted like we were still teenagers was crazy when we were literally well into our thirties.
“Please don’t start, William.” I called him by his name, and his eyes narrowed.
“You know I don’t like when you go out of your way to be disrespectful, Bliss.”
“And you know I don’t like when you talk about my clothes, Daddy. It’s really not even that bad. Plus, it’s shorts underneath.” I found myself explaining despite my previous thoughts.
His expression softened a little, and I saw the fight leave his shoulders. It was too early in the afternoon to be at odds with him, especially when this was supposed to be my safe place.
“Fine,” he finally muttered, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “Next time, though, wear some jeans or something like your sister,” he added, needing to have the last word as usual.
Grumbling, I bit into my hot dog and headed back inside to better company while Essence stayed behind.
For the next hour, I watched the Golden Girls with my honey, resting my head on her lap while she played in my hair.
That was our normal routine whenever I came over unless I was there doing her or my mama’s hair since I was the glorified family hairdresser.
As soon as my mama called for us to come eat, I helped my honey to the half bath to wash our hands before heading into the dining room and taking the seat beside her.
The table was full of everything from baked mac and cheese, greens, yams, and potato salad to steaks, burgers, chicken, and hotdogs.
I started her plate first while she told me what all to put on it until my mama entered.
“Oh, no, Bliss. I got Mama’s plate right here.” She pushed the plate I was making away and set down one that was full of vegetables and one piece of bland looking chicken breast.
“I know you fuckin’ lying! What the hell is this, Octavia? I ain’t eating this shit!” Honey immediately started going off, and I couldn’t say I blamed her. Nothing on that plate looked appetizing, and I wondered where it even came from since I hadn’t seen it when I passed through the kitchen.
My mama rolled her eyes and set her eating utensils down next to her. “Ma, you know the doctor told you to cut back on unhealthy foods to keep your blood pressure down. Don’t even start.” She walked off and took a seat across the table, close enough that she could keep an eye on her.
“So, y’all tryna starve me? If you’re tryna kill me for the inheritance, let me just tell you now that you’re not getting shit!
I left everything to my angel babies, so you’re doing this for nothing.
” Honey slammed her hand on the table, but my mama was already making her own plate, completely unfazed.
“Mama, you know ain’t nobody tryna kill you,” she said dryly. “And I don’t need your inheritance anyway ’cause I been got life insurance on all y’all.”
“Dang, really Ma?” I’d been laughing, but I quickly stopped when she said that shit In fact, the whole table went silent, and she had the nerve to look surprised.
“It’s responsible ,and now since you girls are in your 30s, you should be getting some, too, so you have something to hand down to y’all children.”
“Octavia, the girls aren’t thinking about kids right now, are you?” my dad quizzedm grilling us both.
While I quickly agreed, Essence looked like she’d swallowed her food whole. Thankfully, she recovered before our parents noticed, but I was definitely going to ask her about that shit later.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have a moment to ourselves for the rest of the night, and by the time we left, I was focused on getting in the shower and getting under some crisp sheets.
I carried a plate wrapped in foil to my car and climbed behind the wheel, feeling good and full as the Summer Walker album I’d been listening to started blasting through the speakers.
While I drove, I thought about calling Sosa and quickly changed my mind.
I was having a good night, and the last thing I needed was a nigga disrupting it.