“She’s a little worked up,” Patricia said apologetically. “She doesn’t usually stay this late, so she’s probably confused.”
“It’s cool. We’ll be aight.” I took Brixxi carefully, and she squirmed in my arms and relaxed. Throughout my time with Halo, I’d built my own relationship with Brixxi. If I sent Halo something, I never left her out. “Thanks for staying late.”
“Of course. Have a good night!”
“Aight, Brixxi,” I said as I loaded her into the car. “It’s you and me for the next few hours. Let’s not be on bullshit.”
She barked again.
“Yeah, I figured you’d say that.”
We made it to my house in no time, and I got Brixxi set up and fed. Halo had texted me so much shit it wasn’t even funny. I looked at the clock. I had a few hours before I needed to get ready for the club. Instead of crashing immediately, I grabbed my keys.
“Come on, B. Let's go see the other Big Momma.”
Twenty minutes later, I was walking through my parents’ front door, Brixxi trotting beside me. This dog was so bougie, and she knew it, too. It wasthe funniest shit to me to have her with me. But my baby loved her, so I loved her too.
“DaVinci?” My mama's voice came from the kitchen. “That you, baby?”
“Yeah, Ma.”
She appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel, and stopped when she saw Brixxi. “Now I know that's not a dog in my house.”
“This is Brixxi. Halo's dog. I'm babysitting.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Babysitting a dog? On a Friday night?”
“She had to work late. Mandatory overtime. I picked Brixxi up from daycare.”
My mama stared at me for a long moment, then a slow smile spread across her face. “Come sit down. You hungry? I made meatloaf,whippedpotatoes, and green beans.”
I caught her emphasis on whipped and didn’t bother denying it.
“It’s how you raised me to be.” I laughed with a shrug. “But nah, I'm good. I got a club thing later. Just wanted to stop by since I just got off the road. Pops here?”
“No, baby, he’s in Portland for a few days on business. I miss himbad.”
“Alright, chill ma.”
We sat at the kitchen table, and she poured me some sweet tea without asking. Brixxi settled at my feet, already comfortable.
“I’m just saying I hate being in this big ass house all alone. I might fly to him.”
I shook my head at them but smiled inwardly at the love they shared. It was beautiful.
“Anyway,” my mama said, sitting across from me. “You’re babysitting her dog.”
“Something wrong with that?”
She nodded slowly, that knowing look on her face. “You love her.”
It wasn't a question.
“Yeah,” I said. “I do.”
“You couldn't take your eyes off her the whole night.” She took a sip of her own tea. “And now you're picking up her dog from daycare and taking it to the club with you.”
“Yeah.”
