“You’re not much of a talker, are you?” Chloe asked with a smile.
Sweetie shifted slightly as heat rose to her cheeks. “Honestly? I just never really had any friends before, outside of Boogie. Females never really liked me.”
Chloe laughed. “You must have been surrounded by a bunch of dust bunnies. They’re just jealous, pooh. Bad bitches know what’s up.”
Sweetie admired Chloe’s confidence. She was gorgeous with her curly bob and toffee-colored skin. Her personality was all that too. She was a true girl’s girl, and Sweetie loved that about her. It was why she was able to connect with her when they first met at the strip club. Chloe always made her feel comfortable and appreciated, two things she didn’t get too often.
“I’ll have to keep that in mind,” Sweetie said with a half-smile.
Chloe waved her off. “Don’t worry. I’ll properly introduce you to some of my friends. You’ll love them.”
Sweetie liked the idea of that, but it felt like something that wouldn’t happen any time soon. There was too much going on at the moment to worry about getting some girlfriends.
“Has this ever happened before? Being confined to the house, I mean?” Sweetie asked.
She grew up in a powerful family, but she never had to go through phases where she had to keep a low profile.
“A few times. I remember the first time it happened for me was when me and Zel just met. Girl, I didn’t know what the hell I had gotten into. I’m a simple around the way girl who grew up in the hood. I didn’t know nothing about the DeLuca family or street beefs or nothin’. We had to stay holed up here for a whole month.
“I was livid. It was at the end of a semester in college, and I couldn’t even go on campus. I almost left Zel’s ass, but I stuck it out. I’m glad I did. From what I understand, they take their safety really seriously. If there’s even the smallest threat, they don’t play, especially about their women, so while it can be frustrating to be stuck in this big ass mansion, it also isn’t that bad, and it’s really out of love.”
Sweetie absorbed Chloe’s words. She was used to being holed up, but that was kind of the problem. She had just found her independence. Now, because of her fatheragain, she had to be confined. She was sick of it.
“I feel like I need to do something. Try to talk some sense into my father.”
“You think that’s possible?” Chloe asked with a raised brow.
Sweetie slouched. “No.”
“I didn’t think so. The way Zel talks about him, he seems like a menace. No offense.”
“None taken.”
They sat in silence for a while, lost in their own thoughts. Sweetie’s phone vibrated, and dread filled her. Lately, whenever her phone rang, it brought bad news.
Slowly, she grabbed her phone from her pocket and looked at the screen. It was a FaceTime call from her mom. Sweetie’s brows pulled in as she answered.
“Ma?”
Her mother’s tear-filled face graced the screen, and Sweetie’s heart dropped.
“Sweetie, Granny wants to talk to you.” She paused for a moment and whispered, “I don’t think she has much longer. The doctors are here making her comfortable.”
Sweetie shook her head. “What do you mean? You said she had a few weeks . . . months?—”
“It’s not going to be that long, honey. She’s asking for you. I tried to explain why you weren’t here, but her mind . . . it’s not as sharp as it used to be. She’s not really understanding . . .”
Sweetie closed her eyes and allowed her tears to stream. She felt a hand on her knee and knew Chloe was trying to comfort her. She appreciated it, but she wanted Boogie. She opened her eyes and whispered, “Can you call Boogie? Please? I need him.”
Chloe nodded and hopped up so she could step out into the hall to make the phone call.
Sweetie focused back on her mom. “Let me talk to her.”
Valarie nodded sadly and then walked into the room they had Lucille in. When her granny’s face filled the screen, Sweetie did her best to smile.
“Sweetie? Is that you? Where are you?” Granny asked, and it broke Sweetie’s heart.
“I can’t be there right now, old lady. How you feelin’?” Sweetie asked, trying to add some lightness to her voice.
