“That for the gala?” I asked, making her jump.
She turned to me with a menacing glare. “Vinny, why have you been ignoring your mother? Did I not give birth to you? Am I not worthy of your time?”
“Ma, I’ve been on the road and in hot pursuit of my future wife,” I joked. She was so dramatic, must’ve been where I got it from.
She didn’t laugh.
I dragged my hand down my face. Here we go.
“Hmm. That’s why I’ve been calling,” she said. “You and Miss Halo are cute together, but people are paying attention. This is the second time you two have been spotted together.”
“Okay, what’s the issue? She got ten kids or something I don’t know about? And who spotted us?”
That was news to me.
“Gossip with LaLa thinks she has some picture of you and Halo at a grand opening. You two get caught up in heated predicaments each time. You won't be able to hide it much longer. These weirdos are comparing pictures. It's sick how invested people are.”
“I ain’t even know. It is what it is. But I’ll get Marsha on it. She's been on me about dating for good PR, anyway. I ain’t feeling it, and I told her that. Maybe we can shut this down until Halo is ready.”
“Hmph, of course, the robot would want that. Look, I say, do what you want, son. I just wanted to check on you. This is the first time you've been serious about anyone since Devyn. I want to make sure you know what you're doing, and it's not just an infatuation."
Ma did not care for Marsha. She said she gave her bad vibes because she was too obsessed with image, when mistakes were what made us human. Flawed would always outweigh perfect because perfect didn't exist. Perfect was an illusion, a lie. And lately, I'd been understanding what she meant.
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “It’s not infatuation, Ma. I don’t even move like that.”
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t know yet,” I said honestly. “But it’s something. She’s exactly how I like my women, different, set apart. Ain’t nobody touching Halima Grant. Nobody.”
“Different how?”
“She matches the fire in me, Ma,” I said. “With her, I’m just me. Even though she’s my biggest fan, I barely know her. Being around her feels like the sun coming out on a cold winter day. I can only imagine what it’s gonna feel like when I actually get to know her. When she lets me in.”
My mom’s expression softened before she touched my cheek. “Oh, Vinny.”
“What?”
“You just compared a woman you barely know to the sun.” She smiled. “That’s not infatuation. That’s the beginning of something beautiful. Like my Stetty Bear and me.”
“Ma, for real?” I rubbed the back of my neck at her, pulling out my stepdad’s nickname. And in public, was wild behavior. I shook my head. “Maybe. But I gotta get her to give me a real chance first. I need to be in one spot. She deserves my full attention.”
“Which is why you’re retiring.”
“Did y’all have a family meeting before I got here? Everybody keeps saying the same thing. For the last time, I’m retiring because my body’s telling me to,” I corrected. “Don’t you want grandkids?”
She studied me for a long moment, then walked closer and narrowed her eyes. “Watch that attitude, DaVinci Javion Bryns.”
“My bad, Ma, but dang.”
“Okay. I forgive you.” She sighed. “Son, just promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“That you won’t lose yourself trying to prove something to her,” she said. “You’re enough, Vinny. Just as you are, if she can’t see that, she’s not the one.”
“I know, Ma.” I covered her hands with mine. “But I think she might be. I’m not proving myself to her. More to myself. I lost Devyn before we really got to love and live the way we wanted to. I got a second chance. If that requires more effort than I’ve ever put in, I’m gonna do it.”
“Then I can’t wait to meet her.” She smiled. “Now, about the gala. It’s in two weeks, and I need to finalize everything. Are you bringing her?”
