I sighed heavily and leaned against the kitchen counter while I watched my mom move around the stove. She was cooking up a full meal while gossiping loud as hell on the phone with whoever was on the other end.
I couldn’t help but smile a little.
Having her here with me had been good for my sanity. She kept the house clean, kept food cooking, and kept me company when my mind started drifting too dark. Good food alone could put a nigga in a better mood.
I grabbed my phone and stepped out of the kitchen before dialing Rellianah. I didn’t even know why I wanted to call hermean ass… but I needed answers. If anybody had heard from Layloni, it would be her. The phone rang once before she picked up.
“What the fuck your one-word ass want?” she snapped immediately.
Same attitude as always.
I chuckled.
“I’m guessing your husband still ain’t gave you no dick, huh? Being stuck in the doghouse must be rough.” I grinned ear to ear picture her rolling her eyes.
She didn’t respond, but my phone buzzed a second later with a FaceTime request. I accepted it.
Rellianah’socean-blue eyesfilled the screen immediately, glaring straight at me. The camera angle showed she was lying in bed, and next to her was Cream. The whole scene was hilarious.
Cream was completely ignoring her while talking to their baby girl in a soft, playful voice. Little Christina was giggling and babbling back at him while Christian slept peacefully with his head resting on Rellianah’s chest.
Rellianah lifted her chin proudly.
“You wish you had my life, don’t you?” she said smugly. “I don’t know what a doghouse is, weirdo.”
She was such a spoiled brat. Cream glanced over at the phone and smiled.
“I’m starting to think y’all two becoming best friends,” he joked. “Y’all talk every day now just throwing shots at each other.”
“That’s because of him,” Rellianah shot back, pointing toward the screen. “My homegirl won’t talk to him, so he keeps calling me trying to see if I heard from her.”
I exhaled slowly.
“Apparently you ain’t heard from her either…” My voice trailed off as that familiar frustration crept back in.
Truth was… I was starting to sound desperate. I just wanted to know how she was doing. How she was healing. I craved to hear her soft ass voice even if it was used to piss me off.
I knew her mom wasn’t worth shit, but Layloni still loved that woman. After everything Prince put her through, she had gone through some serious trauma… and whether she wanted to admit it or not, that kind of pain sticks with you.
Rellianah rolled her eyes before answering.
“For your information, Ididtalk to her,” she said. “And she was acting funny as hell. It ain’t in my nature to kiss nobody’s ass though.” She scoffed.
She shifted slightly in the bed, adjusting Christian so he didn’t slide off her chest.
“All I can do is give her space, King. She ain’t like us. She ain’t used to seeing people die. That night… she saw us in a whole different element.” Her voice softened slightly.
“It’s up to her if she decides to come around again. I know she will… she just needs time and space to grieve that punk-ass mama of hers.”
Cream frowned instantly.
“Relli, watch your mouth around my princess,” he warned, nodding toward Christina.
Rellianah waved him off.
“Cream hush. She doesn’t even know what I’m saying.”
Christina just kept smiling and babbling happily at her father.
