Chapter Twenty-Five
Tyler sat on the couch talking to Shugg and Spice, while Logic silently watched Sage pack his bag for the weekend.
Pepper was supposed to be on her way to get him, but she was running late.
Sage had faith, but Logic already knew what it was.
Pepper was most likely standing him up, and instead of telling him that, she was dodging his calls.
Her tardiness was like the elephant in the room, but it didn’t stop Sage from gathering his belongings.
“Bro, you don’t have to watch me. Go on your lil date,” Sage huffed, tired of Logic’s intrusive eyes following him around the room.
“Fuck you getting mad at me for?”
“Because you standing there like I'm going to break. If she comes, cool. If she don’t, then it is what it is. Either way I'm Gucci. I’m not going to cry, I’m not a baby.”
“Yet you marching around this bitch with a chip on your shoulder.”
“I’m just asking for some space.”
“Aight, man,” Logic sighed. “I’m going to head out. Ms. G on her way, and if Pepper don’t show up, don’t leave out this house.”
“I can’t sit on the stoop?”
“Nah, you can’t. It’s getting late and you don’t need to be in the streets.”
“It’s the stoop,” Sage reasoned. “Not the streets.”
“The fuck I just say bro,” Logic snapped. “Order some food, play your game, and chill. If yo mama don’t come, I’ll do something with you when I come home.”
“I don’t need you to do nothing with me. Go on your lil date,” Sage snapped, attempting to brush past his big brother.
“Aye,” Logic stopped him. “I’m trying not to flip the fuck out because I know you’re in your feelings.”
“I’m not in shi-
“I dare you.”
“I’m saying, stop trying to project your feelings onto me.”
“I’m not projecting shit, you’re the one walking around with a funky ass attitude. Matter fact, every time you come from over there you got a chip on your shoulder. I’m going to stop you from going over there.”
“How you gone stop me from spending time with my mama?” Sage stuck his chest out.
“Who gone do something about it?” Logic arched his eyebrow. “You feeling froggy my nigga?”
Sage started to reply, but his phone started ringing. A smug grin pulled at his lips as he pressed the phone to his ear.
“Hey Ma,” he spoke into the phone. “Hello, Ma, I can’t hear you,” Sage said, stepping back in his room and closing the door in Logic’s face.
Running his hands down his face, Logic took a deep breath and headed back into the living room. Sage was clearly in his feelings, and until he was ready to talk it out, Logic was going to give him a little space.
???
Back in the living room, the twins sat on both sides of Tyler, talking her ear off.
They asked her about fashion tips, boys, and spilled the tea on all the drama going on in their high school.
From the hallway, Logic watched them intensely.
Unlike Scottie, Tyler was really engrossed in the twins' conversation. She replied to their questions, nodded, and made animated facial expressions while they talked, and the twins were soaking it up. Their need for a woman's advice made Logic feel some kind of way. He hated that they didn’t have a mother figure to go to, but thanked God they didn’t act out and search for approval in all the wrong places.
“Did you go to your homecoming dance?” Spice asked, chewing on her lip.
“No, I didn’t go to any of my dances,” Tyler answered.
“Did boys ask you?” Shugg questioned.
“Mm, not really. I wasn’t the popular or it girl. I was a tomboy, and nobody wanted to go to a dance with the girl who liked baggy clothes and braids to the back.”
“Their loss cause you a star now.” Spice tapped her thumb and index finger together.
“Isssss,” Shugg added. “So look,” she whispered, looking around to make sure Logic hadn’t stepped back into the room. “There’s this boy in my class name Rico and he asked me to the dance.”
“And his cousin Louis asked me,” Spice admitted.
“Are they nice boys?” Tyler asked.
“Yes,” Shugg answered. “Rico is on the basketball team and Louis plays chess.”
“Chess, oh he’s smart.”
“Yep,” Spice grinned. “And he’s cute,” she whispered, sliding Tyler her phone.
Tyler slyly peered down and peeked at the picture. Smiling, Tyler nodded her head in approval. He was a chocolate lil cutie with starter locs, thin eyebrows, and a goofy grin.
“Okkkk!” Tyler tapped her index finger and thumb together. “He’s handsome.”
“Not too much.” Spice took her phone back.
“Well, listen,” Tyler spoke, and both girls leaned in close to suck up whatever she was about to say. “If they are nice and treat you good, then yea, go to the dance with them, but that’s it. Yall are both smart, pretty, and it takes more than a dance for a boy to be your boyfriend.”
“So, we shouldn’t make it official?” Shugg inquired.
“No. You don’t need a boyfriend right now. As fun as you think it is, trust me, it’s not all that. Sure, it looks cool to have someone to hold your hand and walk you to class, but then what’s next? Other girls claiming him and all that extra high school stuff?”
“She got a point.” Spice glanced at her twin. “Because since Louis asked me, Brandi has been moving a lil funny. She didn’t even sit with us at lunch.”
“And she ain’t gotta worry about sitting with us after she get out her feelings,” Shugg snapped.
“Ok, now dresses,” Spice changed the subject as someone knocked on the door.
Logic didn’t give them a chance to answer it because he stalked from the back and snatched it open. When his eyes landed on Ms. G, Logic stepped to the side so she could enter.
“Well, hello to you too,” she greeted, handing him the bag she was carrying. “Say you was waiting on me without saying you was waiting on me,” she flirted.
“Always.” Logic took her coat. “Who dropped you off?”
“My son. He would’ve came in, but his little girl is sick and that wife of his is being dramatic. Did yo triflin’ mama get here yet?”
“Nah.”
“Good.” Ms. G pursed her lips. “I been waiting to give her a piece of my mind.”
“No need.” Logic took her overnight bag. “I’m already on it.”
“I hear you.” She rubbed her hands together. “Well, where is this girl you’re going out with. I need to meet the hussy that’s got my baby all blushing and shit.”
“Don’t tell her that.” He looked away bashfully. “She already got a nigga chasin’ her.”
“And ain’t nothing wrong with that. I had all the boys chasin’ me,” Ms. G said sassily, making her way into the living room.
“Hey Ms. G!” Spice and Shugg greeted, pushing up from the couch.
“There go my girls,” she cooed, taking the twins in her arms. She planted a kiss on both of their foreheads before pulling back. Scanning the living room, her eyes landed on Tyler, causing her to pause. As if she’d seen a ghost, Ms. G's skin grew clammy, and she started violently choking.
“Coronavirus,” Spice joked, waving her hand in her face.
“Aht, aht.” Shugg covered her nose and mouth. “We love you, Ms. G, but I been working on my ballroom hustle, I can’t miss this dance.”
“See if she need some water!” Logic barked. “Don’t be rude.”
“You right, you right.” Spice nodded her head. “Do you want some water, cough drops, or a face mask?”
“N-no, I’m ok.” Ms. G gathered her bearings, still focused on Tyler, who was now standing to her feet, slightly concerned.
“She probably just starstruck. Don’t worry, Ms. G, you not the only one. We tried to smother the girl when we first met her, but we’re passed all that,” Shugg promised, standing next to Tyler.
“How you doing, sweetheart?” Ms. G smiled, holding her chest.
“I’m fine.” Tyler approached her. “Are you ok?”
“Yes, you just look so familiar.”
“This is Ty, also known as beat a nigga with a Birkin Ty,” Shugg introduced. “Beat the nigga with a Birkin, if he get slick, leave the nigga jerkin,” she freestyled.
“Aye!” Logic barked. “Cut it out.”
“Ok, ok. She’s a famous singer too, dang. Don’t be so testy, Lo. Ty and I are besties.”
“Oh ok.” Spice glared at her.
“Girl chill. We’re soulmates, that beats besties any day, yall gotta lighten up a lil bit.”
“Hmmhm.”
“So you’re the girl that’s giving my baby a run for his money?” Ms. G asked Tyler.
“Ahh, if that’s what you wanna call it,” Tyler laughed lightly. “He’s a lil stalkerish, so I don’t know if I’d classify it as me giving him a run for his money.”
“Here you go,” Logic chuckled. “Stop telling people I’m stalking you before someone believes you.”
“I’m just saying, but I guess you cool.”
“Yea, aight.” He handed Ms. G a bottle of water. “I’m about to dip, text me if yall need anything. You ready, baby girl?”
“Yes.” Tyler made her way to him. “It was nice meeting you, Ms. G.” Ty gave her a warm smile.
“You too, sweetheart,” Ms. G uttered, still trying to process who was standing in front of her.
With those departing words, Logic led Tyler out of the front door. He walked her to his truck, opened the door, and helped her inside before jogging around to his side. When he shut the door, Tyler was staring at him with her arms folded.
“What?” Logic asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Did you empty her lil panty drawer?”
“Yep and sprayed it with Lysol. It’s ready for you to drop some of your pretty panties in there.”
“Just pretty ones? You don’t want the granny panties?”
“I mean you can bring them but stuff the shit in the back. Matter fact, put them in a Ziplock bag.”
“I am not.” Tyler giggled.
“We cool?”
“I guess.”
“You miss me?”
“A lil bit.” Tyler blushed.
“Fuck outta here.” Logic playfully mushed her. “I got my hair cut just for your ass. I know that shit made your pussy wet.”
“You wish.”
“Can I get a kiss?”
Instead of answering, Tyler leaned over and placed her lips on his. Grabbing his beard, she softly pulled his face closer, deepening their kiss. Moans filled the truck as Logic’s tongue massaged hers. His hand found the nape of her neck as he slowly pulled away.
“Lo,” Tyler moaned, trying to climb across the console. “Let me sit on it.”
“I got you, baby girl,” he promised, releasing her. “I need to make a stop real quick, aight?”