Apparently, she was strong as hell too. Somehow, she’d gotten me from that chair to her bed and tucked me in like a newborn baby. I shook my head as I pushed up on my elbows and looked around the room. I felt self-conscious about being naked since I was at her mom’s house, but I slid out of the bed in pursuit of that ringing sound. I found my phone where I left it on the bathroom counter. Just as I picked it up, my brother Keywan was calling again.
“Yeah?” I answered after hitting the green button.
“Man, I should kick your ass!” he barked.
“What now, ugly ass boy?”
“My wife been walking around this muthafucka singing ‘Bombs Away’ for over two weeks. We even had sex to it the other night. I ain’t think nothing of her saying ‘like a cannon. You hit me like a cannon’ over and over, ’cause it’s a good song. I just realized that got damn girl is talking about your black ass. You got my wife singing that shit with your ugly ass. We fucked to that song!”
“Wait, what the hell are you talking about, boy?”
“So, you ain’t heard your own woman’s songs?”
I’d listened to Carteay’s album before it came out but avoided it once it dropped. Apparently, there was another song I knew nothing about aside from “Tie Me Down.” I didn’t have time to play a guessing game with my brother though.
“What do you mean she’s talking about me?” I asked him.
“Think about it, dumb dumb. You hit me like a cannon. You hit her ass like a cannon, Kannon. I don’t know if y’all freaks talking about sex or what, but you fucked up my whole night when I realized what the hell was happening in my own home.”
“Boy, fuck you.” I laughed.
“Yeah, you already knew that shit was about you. Y’all probably worked on it together and shit. All lovey dovey and sprung. I like it.”
“Son, get off my line with all that.”
“I love you, boy. I know you been making some moves. I had to check in on you. Let me know if you need me.”
“I’m trying not to. I know you got a daughter on the way.” I was tempted to mention that Carteay was pregnant, but I knew she wanted to wait to tell people. I wanted to share this with my brothers.
“Just let me know.”
“I will. I love you, Bro.”
Keywan ended the call, and I eased out of Carteay’s bed and found my clothes neatly folded in that chair. I chuckled under my breath and got dressed before heading out of the room to find her. I heard voices as I moved down the long hallway to the kitchen. My phone buzzed in my hand. I looked down and saw Blaine’s name.
Blaine:
Outside
“How far along are you?” her mom asked.
“I don’t even know, Mama. I’m scared to find out. I really want this for Kannon.”
“Is it his?”
“I don’t know.”
I could tell that Carteay was crying, and that broke my heart. Emerging from the hallway, I stepped into the kitchen to make my presence known.
“I guess that drive took more out of me than I thought,” I stated.
“I’m sure you needed the rest.” Carteay’s mom smiled at me, but that didn’t take my mind off Carteay’s tear-stained face.
“You good?” I asked her.
“Yeah, just glad to see my mom. My little sister’s here too. She can’t wait to meet you after seeing how you acted at that show.”
“That wasn’t part of the show?” her mom interrupted.
