Chapter 61
Carlos
“So I take it you heard?”
“Hell yeah. I had reporters in my building looking for Sophie when we got back. I don’t even know how the fuck they knew where to find her.” Trooper was heated, which had me wondering how it’d played out.
“They’ve been running the story nonstop for the past twenty-four hours.
The Prescotts are big news around here. They had Sophie and her mother all over the news, trying to get a statement.
Shit is crazy. They even had pictures of you and Sophie the night we were at that black-tie shit we went to.
I’m guessing that’s how they knew to look for her at your place. ”
“Well, I need them to stay the fuck away from Sophie.”
“It will die down, but it’s news right now. Look at this shit.”
I turned on the TV and William and Harold’s faces were on the screen
“People are calling it the Prescott family curse. William Prescott was found murdered at his mistress’s home while his father was found in his car shot in the head at his mistress’s home.
Authorities struggle to find suspects. Neither woman was home at the time and both have alibis for the time of death.
It has also been confirmed that both homes were purchased by the Prescott men, with their mistresses listed on the deeds.
The family is remaining quiet and there is still no word from Alana and Sophie Prescott.
We’ll continue watching and reporting on the case as we gain more details on what actually transpired. ”
I turned the TV off again and looked at Trooper, who still looked pissed, but I could tell he was thinking. I was almost expecting him to comment about what we just watched, but he totally threw me with what he actually said.
“Yo, I think I want to marry Sophie.”
“You think or you do?”
Trooper’s hand moved down his face before he gripped the back of his neck and leaned back on the sofa.
“I know I want to marry her, but I think I want to do it soon.”
“Soon? Like how soon?”
He grinned, likely because of the look I gave him. “Shit, I don’t know, like real soon.”
“Damn, bruh. Two point five and a dog,” I said, then chuckled.
“Don’t start that shit, man. I’m serious as hell.”
“I know you are, that’s what’s so gotdamn funny about it. The Trooper I know wouldn’t commit to a dinner date, but you sitting here telling me you want to get married. Where that shit come from?”
“Things change, but I’ll be the first one to tell you I never saw this coming. Sophie just kinda happened. She just said something that got me thinking.”
“So this is about her then? That makes sense ’cause I know this shit wasn’t your idea.”
I looked his way with a smug grin and he laughed. “Nah, actually it was my idea. She doesn’t know anything about it.”
“Damn, that’s even worse, Troop. So what the fuck she say that got you talking about marriage?”
He paused for a minute like he was processing, then spoke up. “She’s not a Prescott.”
“Fuck you mean she’s not a Prescott? I know we just smoked some good shit, but she is a Prescott, bruh.”
“Muthafucker I know that, but what I mean is, she doesn’t want to be associated with that name anymore.
It makes sense after everything that went down, and she’s grown, so there’s no point in her taking Story’s last name since she’ll eventually have mine.
So why not do that shit now? I plan on marrying her anyway, so why not just do that shit? ”
I sat silently, staring at him. Mostly because I really couldn’t believe he was actually considering this. To know where he came from and who he had been, felt like I was sitting in front of a completely different person.
“Damn, say something, bruh. You looking at me like I said some crazy shit,” Trooper said with a grin.
“That’s because you did.” We both laughed, then I got serious. “You know you my people. I support whatever you do, and to be honest, I agree. You’re on your grown man shit right now. I don’t even know who you are anymore. I should have made your ass show me ID before I let you in my shit.”
“You dumb for that shit, bruh. I’m still me, just doing what’s right.”
“Just because it’s right don’t mean it’s what you want.”
“Nah, I’m good. It’s what I want. I love her, Los.
It’s crazy for me to even hear myself say that shit, because before I met her, I can honestly say I had no clue what that even was.
You know my story. I ain’t saying I’m on some profound type shit, but I do know I like who I am when I’m with her.
I want that for as long as I can have it, so it’s what I want. ”
“Ah, shit now, Trooper done flipped that shit and grew up on me.” We both laughed again. “Nah, but real shit. I feel you on that. Maddie got me on some thoughts about what’s next. I ain’t getting no younger, so it’s about time to settle into some serious shit. I need a little shorty too.”
“Word?” Trooper looked at me with raised brows and a smirk.
“Yeah, muthafucker, damn. Can I be on my grown man shit too? I’m not saying we need a buy one get one on that rock you ’bout to purchase, but I’ll be checking shit out while you looking, just to see what I’m in for.”
Trooper chuckled and moved his hand across his head. “Aight, then. I’m getting married,” he said with a big ass grin.
“Cool, when?”
“Next week.”
“Next week? Damn, your ass said soon, but I didn’t think you mean like right fucking now.” I shot him a look and he nodded.
“No time like the present. Where Maddie at? I need her help with this shit. In fact, I need her to plan it for me.” He looked around like he was searching for her.
“With Maureen’s pushy ass. They went for massages. We got dinner later, but I’ll tell her to hit you up.”
“If you don’t think you’re right behind me, your ass is in denial. They ain’t getting no damn massages. They’re at a jewelry store right now and Maddie is trying on diamonds, bruh.”
I smirked, because knowing the two of them, he was probably right.
“Well, it ain’t happening until I say it is, so I don’t give a fuck what she’s trying on.”
“We’ll see,” Trooper said before he leaned forward and lifted his glass, stood, and headed to my kitchen to refill it.
I just let my head fall back and closed my eyes. Things were changing for all of us and I had no complaints about that.
“Maddie, it’s just me, why are you sending all this food?” I looked across my apartment toward the kitchen where my mother and Maddie were and smirked.
I loved my mother, but I was ready for her to go home. Mostly because I had plans for Maddie’s body and watching her little skinny ass walking around in the short ass dress she had on was trying my patience.
“You might have a visitor, so I’m sending enough just in case.” Hearing that made me look up just as my mother waved her hand dismissively at Maddie, but now they had my full attention.
“He’s working late, and shhh, before my son hears you. I don’t want to have that conversation with him.” My mom was trying her best to whisper, but I heard that shit loud and clear. I was on my feet and heading their way quick as hell.
“He? Who the fuck is he?” My mom was barely five feet, so I towered over her and waited.
“He is none of your business.”
“Don’t try me. Real shit, Ma, who the fuck is he?” My brows dipped in and my eyes stayed on her.
“Carlos Alonzo, I don’t care how old you are or how tall you get. You will not talk to me like you’re the parent and I’m the child.” She lifted her little ass hand and pointed her finger at me, which forced a grin onto my face.
“I don’t know what you’re smiling at, I’m serious,” she said, looking at me like she ran shit.
My ma knew what was up. I loved her ass to death, but she wasn’t about to have some dude around that I didn’t know and approve of.
Not that anybody was good enough, but I at least needed to have a conversation with the dude first to let him know if he fucked up, he’d deal with me.
“I’m smiling because you know the rules. I don’t play that shit, Ma. You can’t just be dealing with anybody.”
“What I know is you need to mind your business.” She pointed at me again and turned to Maddie, who mouthed, “I’m sorry”.
“Baby, don’t worry about him. Ain’t nobody worried about him.”
“Aight, bet. Keep thinking that and watch me run up on his ass. You better set somthing up before I set something up on my own. If it’s up to me, he won’t be around long after I run shit down for him.”
Maddie handed over the bag with the food she had packed for my mother. The two hugged and my mother tried to leave the kitchen, but I stepped in her way with my arms folded across my chest.
“Carlos, move.”
“Ma, I’m serious as fuck. I need to meet him, and soon. You know who I am and you know what that means. You can’t just be all cozy with random muthafuckers.”
“Boy, this is not about who you are, this is about you trying to dictate who I let in my life. Now get out of my way before I embarrass you in front of Maddie.” She scowled at me like it meant something.
I chuckled before delivering a kiss to her cheek. “You set it up or I find him on my own. It’s up to you,” I said from the kitchen as Maddie walked her to the door.
My mother waved me off and I headed back to the living room.
Not long after, Maddie slid into my lap and looped her arms around my neck. My hand now rested on her thigh while I continued watching Sports Center, but I felt her watching me.
“What, man?”
“You know your mother is grown?” she said, tilting her head to the side.
I glanced at her with a neutral expression before I focused on the TV again.
“And? That don’t mean shit. I’m the only man in her life she don’t need approval to be around. I know she’s grown, but she also knows my life complicates hers.”
Maddie offered a grin before she responded. “Is it really about that or about you not wanting her to be with someone?”
“First of all, hell no. I don’t want to think about that shit, but I can’t do anything about it other than make sure he’s legit and not trying to get with her to come for me. Second of all, why the fuck you trying to be her advocate? We got a system, it works, so mind your damn business.”
I kissed her neck and she rolled her eyes at me.
“Oh, and Troop needs you to call him. He needs you to help him with something for Sophie.”
“For Sophie? What does he need help with?”
“Didn’t I just say call him?”
“Carlos!” She pressed her little ass hand against the side of my face and I grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to me.
“You really want to take it there?”
She frowned at the smile I wore and rolled her eyes again.
“Ay, but I need to talk to you about something.”
“Okay…”
I laughed at her expression and pulled her into a kiss. “Stop stressing, it’s not bad.”
“Okay fine, talk,” she said, relaxing a little.
“You in this, right?”
“If you’re asking me if I’m happy with you and us, yes.”
“Nah, I’m asking if you’re in this. Like you riding with me on some real shit?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t I?”
“Shit, I don’t know. My life is complicated.” I laughed to myself before my hand moved down my head, smoothing my waves. “But I’ve been thinking about things and maybe it’s time for a change.”
“A change?” she questioned with raised brows.
“Yeah, a change.”
“And what has you thinking about that?”
“You.” I looked her right in the eyes and she smiled big as hell.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, man, with your goofy ass. I can’t just walk away. It don’t work like that. It’s a process, but if you’re willing to stick it out with me, I’m really considering it.”
“I’m not going anywhere. How long will it take?”
I rubbed my chin, processing the question before I answered. “Shit, a year or two to completely be done.”
Maddie didn’t really care what I did. Not to say it didn’t make her worry, but she had never once made it an issue.
I noticed she was always cool about little things like the late nights and having to cancel on her when I had situations, but I just knew that if I planned on making things serious with her, I needed to be in a place where I wasn’t putting her at risk.
That meant I needed to let that shit go.
“I can handle that,” she said with confidence.
“You sure?”
“You’re lowkey telling me you want me around for the next two years, so hell yeah. I can handle that,” she said with a big ass grin.
“Your ass, I swear.” I kissed her again. “Just be patient with me. I’m not making any promises, but I like what we have, and if you’re willing to put the time in, so am I.”
“Carlos Alonzo, are you asking me to go steady with you?”
“Man, get your lame ass up. I’m about to go steady alright, but in you and not with you.”
I gripped her and she laughed. Yeah, I could get used to something permanent with her. How the fuck that happen?