My eyes ballooned. “You’re making me sound like a ho,” I huffed out.
Her eyes softened. “I would never think of you like that, but I know how I was at your age. A fine man did something to me back in the day.”
I scrunched up my face, not wanting to hear anymore. “I’m being careful,” I assured her. “I just wanted to call and tell y’all Merry Christmas. This is a Christmas for the books for sure.”
“Merry Christmas, but don’t try to change the subject, little girl. Run me his whole name, and if you tell me you don’t know it, I’m going to shake my head. Can’t be giving up the goodies and not know his first and last name.”
“Shad Davis,”
My breath caught in my throat when Shad walked up.
“Is…Is that him?” Mama inhaled.
All I could do was nod.
“You might find a few charges under my belt, but that shit is in the past,” Shad continued.
“What kind of charges?” Mama asked.
Shad took the phone from me, and I could have gone outside and buried myself under the snow and frozen to death. This was so embarrassing.
“Drug charges. I used to slang it,” he told my Mama. My hand covered my mouth.
“Um…okay, at least you’re honest. You do know my husband…Holidaee’s father…is a police officer, right?”
“I know now, but what that mean? I ain’t scared of them.”
Oh my gaaaaawd, I screamed on the inside.
“It means that he’s going to do a thorough background check on you.”
“Is that needed?” Shad asked her, licking his lips. “Me and Holidaee aren’t a couple. Once the snow melts, she’ll be on her merry way.”
I don’t know why, but my heart sank to my ass when Shad said that. It was reality, though.
“But if we did…you know…become a couple, that’s on my background. Just know your daughter is safe with me. I’ve been taking really good care of her,” Shad said, wiggling his brows. I had to reach out and slap his arm and yank his phone from him. I was mortified, but my heart did a few flips at what he’d said.If we did…
“Nice meeting you Holidaee’s Mama!” Shad called out before winking and walking away. I watched him. Just for a little bit because he walked with his legs apart, and I knew exactly why.
My eyes slowly dragged back to my mama on the phone screen.
“Well…” she started, “he is very handsome. I see why you are falling for him.”
I hope Shad wasn’t listening.
“But?” I asked because I knew abutwas coming.
“He admits to having been selling drugs,” she whispered. “When your father does a background check on him?—"
“It’s my life, though,” I said, cutting her off.
My mom’s eyes widened. “It…is,” she said with a single bob to her head, “but you know we just want the best for you, Daee. What does he do now?”
“He drives for UPS, but Mama, we’re not dating. So this is really just irrelevant. As Shad stated, when the snow melts, I’ll be out of his hair and on my way.”
Her eyes squinted. “Something is telling me that’s not what you want.”
“To go home?” I quizzed with my brows dipping. “I miss my bed. I miss my Christmas décor. He has none.” I snickered.
