Chapter 13 #3
“Mama, what happens if my stepmama see them charges on Daddy’s credit card statement from you swiping his card to pay for movers? If she smart, she will track it down and find out it’s you using it.”
“If she's digging that hard, she deserves to get her feelings hurt. I’m swiping the magnetic stripe off this card. My only advice to her is, ya reap whatchu sow! She had a front-row seat to my misery and should be glad I’m not a willing participant in her marriage like she was in mine.
” My mother pointed her finger. “And watch yaself. You ain't got no fucking stepmama.”
Knock, knock
My smile faded when our eyes landed on the figure at the doorway.
Damn.
“Well, damn!” my mama said, voicing my thoughts aloud, and Tunan laughed.
He stood there sporting denim shorts and a graphic shirt with the sleeves cut off to show his muscles. A chain hung from the belt loop of his shorts, and he had on a pair of Jordan 1s. I could tell he’d gotten a fresh cut today, and that made me turn my nose up.
“Well, I think I hear the baby crying.” My mama stood.
Liar.
The baby was sleeping peacefully according to the monitor.
“Hello, beautiful,” Tunan greeted my mama as she approached the doorway.
Blush appeared on her cheeks, plain as day, as she rubbed her hand down the nape of her neck, smiling like a schoolgirl. “Hello, son-in-law. That smells good.”
He flashed her that same white panty-dropping grin that had me busting it open in his old-ass car. “Dat’s good to hear. I left yo’ food in the kitchen.”
“You’re a good man. It’s no food here, and I haven't gotten a chance to shop.”
“I’ll order some groceries. Don’t trip.”
I could see the hearts jumping from my mama’s eyes. If she only knew that Tunan was fresh out of jail, she wouldn’t be so happy-go-lucky.
“Thank you, son.”
Tunan walked in right as my mama walked out, closing the door behind her.
Crossing my arms under my breasts that were free of a bra underneath the oversized graphic I was wearing, I shot daggers at Tunan.
“How you feelin’, Glow?”
“You care?”
He placed the food on the nightstand, his cologne nearly overpowering whatever was in the bag. “If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t ask, my baby.”
Shit.
I wasn’t wearing shorts, only panties, and he’d already ruined them that fast, so I pressed my thighs together.
“I’m just saying… You got a haircut and all that. Looks like you’ve been too occupied to care about me.” I sounded bitter because I was.
I didn’t want Tunan, but I didn’t want his ass with anyone else.
He chuckled but didn’t reply as he removed the carryout tray from the thank you bag. The food smelled good; I couldn’t lie about it. He tore the fork from the plastic while holding the carryout tray.
“You handling my food with nasty hands?” I asked, trying to get a reaction from this man.
“I washed my hands in the kitchen, Glow.”
“You can leave the key on the nightstand.”
“Aite, my baby.”
I’d given him the key to check on my house when he left the hospital. It was a spare key I didn’t need, but I just wanted to be petty since he wouldn’t bark back.
“Where have you been, Tunan?”
“To the barbershop and den to pick up yo’ food and den here.”
“Stop fucking playing with me, Tunan. I’m talking about when I decided to stay in the hospital.”
“When the last time you ate?” he asked, completely ignoring my question and my growing irritation.
“Why?”
“Cuz I know dey made you eat in the hospital. When you here, you be on some other shit.”
“My mama cooked breakfast. So I’m actually not hungry.”
“Well, it’s past noon. Lunchtime.”
Flipping the container open, a mountain of food had me nearly gagging. From what I could see, there was mac and cheese, candied yams, greens, and three large pieces of catfish piled on top of the sides. Forking the greens, the juice from them dropped onto the catfish.
“Open up.”
My eyes turned into slits at the request. “You think you cute?”
“Nah. Dat little puppy yo’ neighbor got, who keeps shittin’ on yo’ lawn, is cute. I ain’t nuttin’ special, but I do think you pretty as fuck. We can elaborate on dat more when you've had some food, doe.”
“All this food for lunch? This is too much. Perhaps a salad?”
“Mane, perhaps dis fork in yo’ mouth, white chick. Either you gonna open up, or I’m gonna open dem lips up for you.”
“You sound like you're into taking.”
His bushy brows, a stark contrast to his crisp line, lifted. The sun had given his pecan skin a golden glow, as if that were his name instead of mine.
“Taking from dese niggas? Yeah. I may have made a muhfucka, or three, come clean, but pussy?” He pushed the fork into my mouth. “I ain’t gotta take nuttin’ dat’s handed over willingly.”
The greens on the fork were juicy and bursting with flavor.
I’d eaten a lot of food. I’ve visited a lot of restaurants and even had quite a few soul food reviews posted on my platforms. These greens were undefeated.
As a matter of fact, his mama’s were the only ones that could come close.
These had a smoked spice flavor, while hers had a seasoned flavor.
Looking up at him as he towered over me, I chewed the greens before allowing them to slide down my throat.
He followed it up with a second helping, doubling the amount on the fork from earlier.
Then, the mac and cheese was up next. He pushed the fork into my mouth, and I didn’t expect it to be so cheesy and gooey.
“Good, right?”
My reply was an eye roll as I chewed. He laughed in response—a hearty, sexy-ass, fuck-nigga laugh.
After three forks of mac and cheese, he went to the yams. The candied yams were the right amount of sweet. They were my favorite, and I wasn’t even a “candied yams” person. By the third serving of yams, my stomach felt heavy, and I gagged.
“Hol’ it in, my baby. Here…”
Tunan put the fork in the tray and handed me an opened bottle of water. I took a big gulp, and he shook his head. “Slow sips. Pace yo’self, my baby.”
“I’m full, Tunan.” I groaned, taking another sip of water.
“You ain’t had enough protein just yet. Eat at least one of the fish, and you can be done.”
I placed the water bottle back on the nightstand and held my mouth open as he picked up a fried fillet. “You know, I can feed myself.”
“Open up, Glow.”
I bit down on the catfish that was fried to perfection. I could tell the grease was fresh, and whatever seasoning blend they used was a ten.
“You know, my mama thinks you’re so… everything. You and Glee’s baby daddy. Ugh, those words don't even sound right in the same sentence. Apparently, she met him. Have you?”
His eyes locked in with mine. “I know him. But you gonna have to wait till sis wakes up. Let her tell you her own shit.” He pushed another piece of fish into my mouth.
“Ughhh! Y’all make me sick,” I said between chews.
He chuckled and shook his head, constantly feeding me. When I gagged, he picked up the water bottle and watched me sip it slowly. He waited until I gave him the go before feeding me another piece.
“Can you at least tell me this?” I held my hand in front of my mouth as I chewed since that piece was bigger. “Is he at least a good guy? Like… Will he be a good daddy to my niece?”
“My baby, he’s solid. He loves your sister too. Cut her some slack. Open.”
He pushed the fork into my mouth, loaded with more candied yams. The agreement was that if I ate the fish, I’d be done, but Tunan had to do too much.
My stomach was full to capacity as it was.
The last time I’d eaten this much food was at his mama’s house, and I felt full for days. I didn’t eat for two days after that.
“And ’fore you start, it wasn’t my place to tell you. It’s still not my place. Besides, I really just found out myself. Trust dat yo’ sister is in good hands. Any nigga I associate with is a hunnid. Haven’t you been good with me?”
Still staring up at him, I swallowed the candied yams. The cinnamon was so comforting, I almost wanted to ask for more.
“Let my mama tell it, you’re the best thing since sliced bread.”
“You lookin’ salty as fuck dat mama feelin’ me. At least I know, you still gone be bad as fuck when you’re of mature age.”
“That’s what y’all call fifty-year-olds now? Mature?”
“Dey damn sure ain’t old. Fifty is the new thirty.”
“If my mama be out here on bald-headed hoe shit like some of the thirty-year-olds I’ve seen, I’m gonna gag for real.”
“Don’t be mad dat mama feelin’ a nigga. I got to the daughter first, so she safe.” He pushed more yams into my mouth. He did it so fast that I felt the syrup drip on my shirt.
“My mama can’t do nothing with a Memphis hoodlum.”
Tunan closed the container and placed it on the nightstand beside the monitor so that I could still view her. “Mama find out her daughter fuckin’ on a Memphis hoodlum who likes to fuck hard and deep, and she gon’ be ready to take yo’ ass to get prayed over.”
Nah, she’s going to be ready for you to put her on one of your uncles.
“You did good. Now, we need you to keep it down.”
Tunan palmed my face, my breath hitching in the process. With my legs still pressed together, I watched as his eyes lowered. He swiped his thumb across my chin, wiping the yam syrup away. When he removed his thumb and ran it down his tongue, I felt a release between my thighs.
Oh God. I said I wasn’t fucking this man no more.
“Come on. Let’s run you some bath water.”
“You saying I stink?”
He placed his foot between my legs and gently kicked them open. “Ion know. Lemme sniff and see.”