“Baby, don’t worry about him. Ain’t nobody worried about him.”
“Aight, bet. Keep thinking that and watch me run up on his ass. You better set somthing up before I set something up on my own. If it’s up to me, he won’t be around long after I run shit down for him.”
Maddie handed over the bag with the food she had packed for my mother. The two hugged and my mother tried to leave the kitchen, but I stepped in her way with my arms folded across my chest.
“Carlos, move.”
“Ma, I’m serious as fuck. I need to meet him, and soon. You know who I am and you know what that means. You can’t just be all cozy with random muthafuckers.”
“Boy, this is not about who you are, this is about you trying to dictate who I let in my life. Now get out of my way before I embarrass you in front of Maddie.” She scowled at me like it meant something.
I chuckled before delivering a kiss to her cheek. “You set it up or I find him on my own. It’s up to you,” I said from the kitchen as Maddie walked her to the door.
My mother waved me off and I headed back to the living room.
Not long after, Maddie slid into my lap and looped her arms around my neck. My hand now rested on her thigh while I continued watching Sports Center, but I felt her watching me.
“What, man?”
“You know your mother is grown?” she said, tilting her head to the side.
I glanced at her with a neutral expression before I focused on the TV again.
“And? That don’t mean shit. I’m the only man in her life she don’t need approval to be around. I know she’s grown, but she also knows my life complicates hers.”
Maddie offered a grin before she responded. “Is it really about that or about you not wanting her to be with someone?”
“First of all, hell no. I don’t want to think about that shit, but I can’t do anything about it other than make sure he’s legit and not trying to get with her to come for me. Second of all, why the fuck you trying to be her advocate? We got a system, it works, so mind your damn business.”
I kissed her neck and she rolled her eyes at me.
“Oh, and Troop needs you to call him. He needs you to help him with something for Sophie.”
“For Sophie? What does he need help with?”
“Didn’t I just say callhim?”
“Carlos!” She pressed her little ass hand against the side of my face and I grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to me.
“You really want to take it there?”
She frowned at the smile I wore and rolled her eyes again.
“Ay, but I need to talk to you about something.”
“Okay…”
I laughed at her expression and pulled her into a kiss. “Stop stressing, it’s not bad.”
“Okay fine, talk,” she said, relaxing a little.
“You in this, right?”
“If you’re asking me if I’m happy with you and us, yes.”
“Nah, I’m asking if you’re in this. Like you riding with me on some real shit?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t I?”
