East smirked at the fact that his mother was pouting.
“She missed you, trust me. You being home and her falling right back into her normal routine is a clear sign. It’s like you never left. If she was stuck up under you, it would be a different story. Let her do her thing”
“Mmhmm.” She shook her head but smiled at his answer.
“But, Ma…”
“No, I’m fine. Don’t baby me, East. When I’m not, I’ll let you know. I’m home, so my baby is gonna be home with me. Besides, I know you’re ready to have your life back.”
He read right into the look she gave and smiled again. “I had my life when she was there. I don’t know what you think I be doing. I handle my business and take my ass home. That’s it.”
“Now you know I know better. How many times have I caught those little fast tail girls naked up in your room? So many, I can’t even remember their names or faces.”
East chuckled and raked his hand over his curly hair. “You can’t remember their names because I never told you. I wasn’t with them like that, so I can barely remember their names.”
“Oh, I know why you were with them.” Priscilla glared at her son. “You didn’t have a revolving door while my baby was there?”
This time, East released a full-blown laugh.
“Ma, hell no. I don’t have a revolving door, and if I did, I damn sure wouldn’t allow it while Kelsey was with me. She’s not about to grow up thinking that’s okay.”
This time, Priscilla was the one smiling. The thought struck a nerve with her son, and she was amused. He had handled other men’s daughters that way but wasn’t going to stand by and allow another man’s son to handle his sister that way. It was a double standard, but Priscilla knew there was no argument to be had.
“How long are you staying? I think I want to cook something.”
East’s stomach growled at the thought. His mother could shut a kitchen completely down with her skills, but he had to get to the shop. With him filling in last week and cutting, he had dropped the ball on paperwork. It had to be handled today.
“I’m heading out now. I’ma be there until late tonight because I’m a little behind on things and we have a card game after the shop closes.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll put a plate up for?—”
“Why you sorry, Ma? Me being behind is not about you.”
“You had Kelsey and I just assumed…” She offered him a soft smile that had his chest tight.
East would work a million hours straight to make her life easier and never once complain.
“Nah, it’s not about that. I had a barber out and filled in for him. That’s all.” He stood and made his way over to Priscilla. Kissing her cheek, he leaned into a hug by dropping his strong arm around her shoulders. Priscilla pressed her face against the side of his and remained in the moment until she pulled away. Connections were hard for his mother. Knowing why sent fire through his veins, but he made peace with it.
“I love you, beautiful. I’ll check on you later. Kiss Kels for me.”
“You’re not gonna tell her bye?”
“Nah, she’s playing. I’m not trying to get stuck getting cheated at Goldfish.”
East didn’t want to risk Kelsey wanting to leave with him. She loved both her mother and brother, but over the past three months, she had gotten comfortable in his home and in his space. His mother couldn’t take that blow, so he elected to ease out unnoticed.
“Okay, baby. I’ll see you soon.”
With a nod, East left the kitchen and traveled through his mother’s home. The one his father purchased years ago but East ended up paying for years later. It was nice, but small, holding memories that he wasn’t sure why his mother wanted to keep. East could afford to move her into something three times as big, but Priscilla refused.It fit her and she was too old to move.East left it alone. She was happy, which was all that mattered to him. If and when that changed, he would do whatever necessary to make sure she was happy again.
“Things feel off,Ny. Like, really off.”
Joi was still going through Reg’s story, looking for anything that didn’t seem right. It had been a few days since the night at Presidential,and in her opinion, the days after, he was trying too hard. The next morning, he showed up at her lash and brow loft with breakfast. That same night, he took her to dinner and stayed at her apartment. They sexed until early morning, and the two slept cuddled up until she had to be up the next morning to open her shop. By midday, he had showed up with lunch, and that night, he begged her to stay at his apartment with him, promising to get up early to make sure she made it across town to her shop. What should have been viewed as normalbehavior of a caring boyfriend, Joi viewed as suspect behavior of a boyfriend with a guilty conscience.
“Off, how?”
“Just off. He’s up my ass too much lately. It’s like he’s making up for something I don’t know he did.”
