“You pickin’ her up and dropping her off?” Ron asked, one brow raised.
“Yeah.”
“You grabbing something to eat?”
“Maybe.”
“Then it’s a date,” they said together and burst out laughing. I cracked a smile as I shook my head.
“It’s not a date. Her sister couldn’t make it. I’m just takin’ her to her art show.”
“Wait. She’s an artist?” Zy’s voice perked up.
“Yeah. She cold with it, too.”
“You think you could bring one of her paintings back?” he asked, sounding serious. I knew art was his thing, so I nodded.
“I’ll see what I can do, Nephew,” I told him.
“So, now my question to you is…” Ron’s voice went all serious. “Why ain’t it a date? You been feeling her.”
I didn’t answer right away. I straightened my blazer instead, staring past both of them. “Because I ain’t in no position to be takin’ somebody out, not right now. I need to get my shit together.”
“Get your shit together?” Ron raised a brow.
“Yeah, I ain’t even got my own place.”
“Q… love don’t always wait till you perfect, man. Sometimes it meets you right where you are.”
That hit harder than I wanted it to, and I let out a slow breath.
“I hear you.”
“Make sure you get her some flowers. The weird, artsy girls eat that up,” Zy called out, and both Ron and my eyes flew to him.
“What you know about what girls like?” I questioned. These new-aged teenagers were something else. When I was sixteen, I didn’t give a shit about bringing a female some flowers.
“I get the girls, Unc,” Zy replied.
I shook my head but didn’t argue. The way his phone stayed ringing, I knew he was speaking facts.
“For the record, this house? It’s gonna be yours soon. I bought us a spot, been sittin’ on it for a while. I knew your sister wouldn’t abandon this house until you were out and ready to take it over. Now, I’m just waitin’ on yo’ sister to finally let me make her my wife.”
Zy’s eyes went wide. “You gon’ marry my mom?”
“Damn right,” Ron said. “As long as it’s cool with you.”
“Yeah… I mean, y’all already kind of are. As long as I ain’t gotta change schools. My girlfriend not gon’ like that.”
“You won’t. You’ll actually be closer.”
I stared at Ron for a minute before speaking. “You serious?”
“Serious as a heart attack.” He nodded.
My chest tightened a little. My big sister was finally getting the happiness she deserved, and with a dude I actually respected. Ron had stepped in and held it down without ever asking for shit. He worked hard, stayed out of the way, and treated Jess and the kids like royalty.
“When are you doing it?” I asked.
