The scent of marijuana woke me up. I cracked one eye open to see Shad sitting on the edge of the couch, shirtless. The morning light filtered through the window.
I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head. “It’s too early for your bullshit,” I mumbled, my voice muffled by the fabric.
“You gon’ have to eat a Pop-Tart or som’n,” he said through a cough. Shad smiled widely.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“Merry Christmas, Daee.”
My stomach fluttered. It was Christmas morning. I had completely forgotten. Here I was, snowed in a man who didn’t give a damn about it, but was thoughtful enough to wish me a merry Christmas.
Soft ass Grinch.
“Merry Christmas to you, too, Shad,” I whispered back. “Did your family call?”
He snickered. “Yeah, bright and early. My mama and sister.”
I smiled. “That’s nice.”
“I have ‘bout thirty percent if you need to call yo’ people,” Shad offered.
My face lit up. “Let me go wash my face and brush my teeth first.”
I pushed the blanket off me and rushed down the hallway. When it was daylight, it was easier to make my way around his place without knocking into shit. I quickly handled my business and hygiene.
Mama knew Christmas was my favorite holiday, and I would be at their house before noon. We opened gifts, ate, and played games with the family. Thanksgiving, I was always with friends, but Christmas was always for family.
Shad reached out his phone to me when I approached him. I took it, and before I walked away with it, I leaned down and kissed the tip of his nose. Shad scrunched up his nose.
“Girl, what the fuck? I ain’t no lil’ kid. You better kiss these lips or this dick. “Don’t go looking through my photos! Might see some shit that might piss you off ‘cause I can tell you’re fallin’ in love, girl.”
I rolled my eyes. “I like you better when you just don’t talk,” I smacked, bouncing off to talk to my family.
“Hello?” Mama’s voice came out with hesitation.
“Hey, Ma. It’s me.”
“Holidaee! Oh Lord. Are you okay? We’ve been trying to reach you, girl!” she squeaked out.
“I know. I know. My phone is dead. This is Shad’s phone,” I told her, biting on a nail.
“Mmmmm Shad, huh? You said his name like you’re really familiar with him, Holidaee.”
I smirked, and she couldn’t see it. Looking around to make sure Shad wasn’t around, I whispered, “I think I like him, Ma.”
“Excuse me? What’s his name so your dad can look him up, Holidaee?”
I snickered and was horrified at the same time. My dad was a police officer in Heartville. All my past boyfriends, he did a background check on them. Some had clean backgrounds and still turned out to be a fuck nigga.
“Holidaee, are you… Are you having sex with him? Is he making you call me, Holidaee? Is this a…answer my FaceTime, Holidaee!”
I groaned when the video call came through. I answered it.
“No, Ma. I’m not messing with him,” I lied through my teeth.
My mom’s face filled the small screen, her eyes wide with a mix of relief and suspicion. Her hair was wrapped in a silk scarf, and she was sitting in her recliner with her coffee mug.
“Don’t lie to me, Holidaee. I can see it in your eyes and all over your damn neck!” I gasped, forgetting my neck was covered with Shad’s markings. I let out a sigh. I was caught and didn’tknow what else to say. “Daee, be careful. You didn’t know this man, but you’re just giving it out.”
