Eriss attempted to push past me, but I grabbed her up.
“Talking about my damn son like that as if he wasn’t here before you decide to open your legs, bitch!” she hollered. Thewoman appeared, waddling. She was okay-looking, but didn’t touch Eriss at all. Her braids looked to be a year old. Eriss laughed hysterically. “You keep letting that bum of a nigga shoot inside of you, dummy. Go. Get. My. Son. Since. He. Is. Not. Wanted.”
The girlfriend crossed her arms over her belly, watching Eriss with a mix of shame and boldness.
“Get from in front of my door. Bitch can’t even see, but wants my damn son. I should?—”
Before that nigga could say more, I’d cracked him wit’ a clean right hook that sent him stumbling back inside and onto the floor.
“Stay here,” I told Eriss, who, with wide eyes, nodded swiftly.
Stepping over the nigga who was attempting to get his bearings together, I called out to Ermias.
“Homeboy!” I hollered.
“Big dawg?!” A door opened, and Ermias came running out to me, hugging my legs. “My dad said I would never see Mama again,” he sniveled.
“Grab your tablet and whatever else so we can go. Your Mama is outside waiting on you,” I told him. He ran back into the room and did as he was told.
The girlfriend started mouthing off again. “Y’all are foul. You hit my man!”
“And I’ll do that shit again if he disrespects his son’s mother again. Shut the fuck up ‘fore you stress that baby out,” I spat. Delion was trying to get to his feet, but was too dazed.
Ermias came running out with his backpack and tablet in his hand. He ran right into his Eriss’ arms. She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him, kissing his cheeks over and over.
“You don’t have to worry about an extra mouth to feed, ‘cause he’s good,” I said. “If I catch you comin’ ‘round them, you won’thave to worry ‘bout my fist.” I lifted my shirt, exposing the butt of my gun. “I don’t make threats just to be makin’ ‘em. I’m really ‘bout that.”
I closed the door behind us with a sharp pull, locking eyes with Delion one last time through the crack before it shut. I slid my palm against the small of Eriss’s back and steered them both toward the truck, which Ermias got excited about seeing and getting inside again.
Rain still drizzled on us, but the storm in Eriss’ eyes didn’t ease. She held onto her son’s hand like she was scared somebody might snatch him back. I wanted to make a U-turn and pop that nigga in his mouth again, knocking some teeth out after he said that slick shit about Eriss. I prayed we crossed paths again. Just me and me.
We got to the truck, and I opened the doors for both of them. I smirked a little. Eriss knew not to touch that door. Baby girl was learning quickly.
“Can I...sit in the back with him? I mean, you don’t mind?” she whispered.
I brushed a strand of wet hair out of her face.
“I don’t mind.”
I helped her up in the back. She buckled Ermias, and in turn, I buckled her. Eriss’ eyes met mine and then looked away just as fast. I shut the door and rounded the back of the truck to the driver’s side.
“I wanna go home now,” Ermias said through a yawn.
“We’re going home, baby,” Eriss said quickly. “You don’t have to worry about coming over here ever again.”
Through the rearview mirror, I saw him nod.
“Hungry?” I asked. “We can stop and grab something.”
Ermias shook his head. “Just sleepy.”
“I feel you. I am too,” I said.
I pulled out of the driveway. As soon as I started the both of them fell asleep, Ermias lying on his mama, and Eriss against my window. Good thing because I wasn’t headed to her house. I was heading to Love Grove.
The rain had stopped. Ermias had shifted in his seat, his little head resting on Eriss’ shoulder, and I couldn’t help but smile. He was happy to be under his mama. Then I caught the tension in Eriss’ body. She wasn’t relaxed, and when I made the turn onto the highway toward my house, I saw her stir, and her eyes fluttered open. She looked out of the window.
“Wait…” she gasped. “Wait, where are we going? Where are you taking us, Zyro?”
