Uncle Tim was frying the fish since he was the one who handled all that when we got together. I just bought all the shit, and the women made the sides.
Soul music blasted from the speakers, Leek and Mahlia cutting up on the makeshift dance floor. The kids were running around playing tag, my boy Ermias with his shirt off.
“You’re a good man, baby,” Mama said, coming to stand next to me. “That woman is beautiful, and I want you to make sure she knows that every single day. I feel good about her. Now that Leesa girl…”
I frowned. “Speaking of Leesa. Why the fuck is she here?”
“And in that short ass shit. I bet her ass out and these kids over here. I bet she thought she was coming to get fresh with you,” Mama grunted with her nose balled up. “Hoe.”
I cackled. My eyes flew to Eriss, who had stopped dancing with Mahlia and Zyleek after he dragged her over. Her eyes were on me, too.
“Aye, Leesa, lemme talk to you for a minute,” I heard Mahlia say, but Leesa waved him off and kept marching toward me. I sighed. If she wanted her feelings hurt around my family, then so be it.
“Aye, you heard my cousin, wanch!” Zyleek hollered.
“Leek!” Mama chastised. Although she didn’t care for Leesa, she didn’t like for a man to call a woman out of her name around her. Now what was said not in her presence was a different story.
“Hey, baby,” Leesa said with a smile as she approached me. Mama grunted and took off. That’s another reason why I couldn’t fuck wit’ Leesa. Her ass ain’t even speak to my mama or anyone else. That disrespectful ass shit.
“Leesa, come take a walk wit’ me,” I told her. She started toward my house with her tongue out and a huge grin. “Nah, let’s talk over there by yo car.”
Her brows pinched as she stood confused. As pretty as she was, her elevator didn’t go all the way.
“Oh…okay,” she said. When she attempted to grab my hand, I pulled away. “Can you tell me what I did?” she questioned. “Like, you didn’t hug or kiss me.”
“Do I ever do that shit, Leesa?”
“No, but-,”
“Well, there’s yo answer, but check this out,” I started as we made it to her Kia Forte. “My girl in there…”
Her eyes ballooned as she spun and thought she was ‘bout to go check some shit. Leesa better think twice ‘cause she’d be buried wit’ a broken neck in my backyard fuckin’ wit’ Eriss. I jerked her back by her arm over to where she’d been standing.
“Ow,” she whined, rubbing her arm when I let go.
“I don’t know who you feelin’ like, love, but you ain’t fin do shit but take yo lil’ ass on, Leesa. What we were doin’…that shit been over once I got a whiff of Eriss”
“Eriss? That bitch with one eye?” she screeched.
It took everything in me not to put my hands on this girl. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. “Watch yo’ fuckin’ mouth, and get the fuck up outta here. Don’t care back ‘round my shit,” I let her know.
Her expression turned from defiant to hurt, her eyes welling with tears. “That’s it? You just dismiss me like that?”
“Yeah,” I replied simply.
“I’m fucking other niggas anyway,” she laughed. “Fuck you.”
“I don’t care, love. I always strapped up. Now get the fuck from over her ‘fore I change my mind and decide to teach you a lesson you won’t fuckin’ forget.”
Leesa hauled ass to her car. I felt a sense of relief. She was out of my life…for good if she knew what was best for her. Picking wit’ Eriss was not the fuckin’ move she wanted. Now I could focus on what truly mattered.
As soon as I stepped back in the yard, all eyes were on me. It didn’t bother me. I made my way to Eriss, who was now over by my Uncle Tim as he placed cooked fish in the basket she was holding.
“Everything straightened out?” she quizzed, tilting her head.
“Everything is gravy, baby.”
“Hungry? I can fix you a plate.”
