“I can’t sit on the stoop?”
“Nah, you can’t. It’s getting late and you don’t need to be in the streets.”
“It’s the stoop,” Sage reasoned. “Not the streets.”
“The fuck I just say bro,” Logic snapped. “Order some food, play your game, and chill. If yo mama don’t come, I’ll do something with you when I come home.”
“I don’t need you to do nothing with me. Go on your lil date,” Sage snapped, attempting to brush past his big brother.
“Aye,” Logic stopped him. “I’m trying not to flip the fuck out because I know you’re in your feelings.”
“I’m not in shi-
“I dare you.”
“I’m saying, stop trying to project your feelings onto me.”
“I’m not projecting shit, you’re the one walking around with a funky ass attitude. Matter fact, every time you come from over there you got a chip on your shoulder. I’m going to stop you from going over there.”
“How you gone stop me from spending time with my mama?” Sage stuck his chest out.
“Who gone do something about it?” Logic arched his eyebrow. “You feeling froggy my nigga?”
Sage started to reply, but his phone started ringing. A smug grin pulled at his lips as he pressed the phone to his ear.
“Hey Ma,” he spoke into the phone. “Hello, Ma, I can’t hear you,” Sage said, stepping back in his room and closing the door in Logic’s face.
Running his hands down his face, Logic took a deep breath and headed back into the living room. Sage was clearly in his feelings, and until he was ready to talk it out, Logic was going to give him a little space.
???
Back in the living room, the twins sat on both sides of Tyler, talking her ear off. They asked her about fashion tips, boys, and spilled the tea on all the drama going on in their high school. From the hallway, Logic watched them intensely. Unlike Scottie, Tyler was really engrossed in the twins' conversation. She replied to their questions, nodded, and made animated facial expressions while they talked, and the twins were soaking it up. Their need for a woman's advice made Logic feel some kind of way. He hated that they didn’t have a mother figure to go to, but thanked God they didn’t act out and search for approval in all the wrong places.
“Did you go to your homecoming dance?” Spice asked, chewing on her lip.
“No, I didn’t go to any of my dances,” Tyler answered.
“Did boys ask you?” Shugg questioned.
“Mm, not really. I wasn’t the popular or it girl. I was a tomboy, and nobody wanted to go to a dance with the girl who liked baggy clothes and braids to the back.”
“Their loss cause you a star now.” Spice tapped her thumb and index finger together.
“Isssss,” Shugg added. “So look,” she whispered, looking around to make sure Logic hadn’t stepped back into the room. “There’s this boy in my class name Rico and he asked me to the dance.”
“And his cousin Louis asked me,” Spice admitted.
“Are they nice boys?” Tyler asked.
“Yes,” Shugg answered. “Rico is on the basketball team and Louis plays chess.”
“Chess, oh he’s smart.”
“Yep,” Spice grinned. “And he’s cute,” she whispered, sliding Tyler her phone.
Tyler slyly peered down and peeked at the picture. Smiling, Tyler nodded her head in approval. He was a chocolate lil cutie with starter locs, thin eyebrows, and a goofy grin.
“Okkkk!” Tyler tapped her index finger and thumb together. “He’s handsome.”
