I held my hands out to retrieve the bags from Zyro. He mugged me.
“If you don’t want me in your home, at least let me place the bags inside by the door. My Mama taught me better than that, baby,” Zyro said, brushing past me. He set our things at the door and then backed out of the house, only to stop at the doorway. His tall frame towered over me. “You wanna go to the fair?”
I shook my head. “I have more things to worry about than the fair. How much do you think it’s going to cost me to fix my car?” I queried. No lie, I was surprised Zyro even asked if I wanted to go to the fair. Was he interested, or was he just feeling bad for me and Ermias?
Zyro shrugged. “We gotta do a diagnostic to check the issue, but whatever it is, don’t let it stress you. Now, about this fair homeboy just told me ‘bout, you wanna hit it? He got me all excited about it the way he was talkin’ ‘bout it when he woke up from his nap.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Ermias loves the fair. I’m tired, though. I had planned to go tomorrow, but?—"
“Then we can go tomorrow. On me.”
I ran a hand through my bundles and sighed. “I have more things to worry about.”
Zyro crossed his tatted arms across his chest. “Like what?”
“Like getting Ermias to daycare and myself to my job in the morning,” I screeched out, growing irritated from all these questions.
“Look, I’m just asking because maybe I can help with a solution,” he replied in an even tone.
“Thanks, Zyro, but I’ll figure it out. I appreciate you for taking time out of your Sunday to even do what you did.”
“No big deal.” Zyro took a step back. “I have ya number. I’ll call you when I figure out what’s wrong with ya car. You enjoy the rest of your day, Eriss.”
“You too,” I exhaled.
Ermias ran to my side before I could shut the door and yelled out, “Bye, Zyro!”
“See ya later, homeboy.”
Mahlia cackled loudly when I told her about her cousin. With Ermias bathed and in bed, I ended up on the sofa, covered with a blanket with the TV on after my shower.
“Girl, don’t play with that man—ever. I know my cousin. Telling me that he was offering to take y’all to the fair is screaming that he likes you. I even know that nigga did shit like that. Hell, he ain’t even offer to take the girl he’s screwing!”
“My point exactly! What I look like entertaining a nigga that’s in a relationship?” I snorted through a chortle.
The last thing I wanted to do was share a nigga. I’d been sharing a nigga who I didn’t even know I was sharing until a baby was made.
“Zyro isn’t in a relationship, sweetie,” Mahlia cleared up. “He’s just doin’ him without being tied down.”
“Scared of commitment, noted it,” I shot out, and we laughed.
“Aye now, he and Leek are my favorite cousins. Not too much. Not toooo much. Anyway, I’m off tomorrow, so I will come scoop you and Ermias, taking him to daycare, and you to work. Zyro and his team normally work fast. They’re the best.”
“My car is all the way in Love Grove, Mahlia.” I groaned.
“Shit, it’s time for a new one anyway. That bitch got more miles on it than a hoe’s pussy.”
She cackled while my jaw dropped, shocked she would talk about my baby like that.
“Fuck you, Mahlia,” I giggled.
Mahlia was still cackling on the other end of the phone. I pulled the blanket up to my chin and sank deeper into the cushion of the couch.
“She’s tired, baby. Put her out of her misery.”
I rolled my eyes, though she couldn’t see it. “Whatever, Mahlia.”
“But seriously, E… I ain’t never seen or heard that Zyro was offering to take you and Ermias to the fair. Shit, that nigga took y’all home! He would have put a bitch in an Uber and called it a fuckin’day.”
