She snatched the property lien notice from his hand and cursed to herself. “Don’t be touching my shit.”
“My bad, apparently they’re handing these bitches out like candy. Pops got one too. So maybe him going away is a good thing,” Erys attempted to sell her a dream.
“For who exactly? Not him, nor me. The only one benefiting from this kidnapping is you. So you can go back to your frigid little life with your egg whites and shit,” she quipped.
“For him and you,” he said with a pointed glare. “You shouldn’t be running around with an old ass man. Get you some friends. A nigga or something.”
“Been there, done that, it’s all overrated. And please let your “concern” with me be none. When he gets up, I’ll walk him over,” Remedy said, attempting to close the door.
Erys placed his foot in the way, blocking her from shutting him out. “His stuff needs to be packed.”
“Oh, I must’ve missed the part where your rude ass said please and thank you,” Remedy grunted.
“Why am I saying thank you?” Erys quizzed thick brows furrowed.
“If you have to question why you should thank someone for looking after your daddy and letting you take him without a fight, you’re more of an asshole than I thought,” Remedy shot back with a roll of her swollen eyes.
Erys pulled in a deep breath, half frustrated and half intrigued. “While he’s still sleep and calm, would you mind helping me pack his shit?”
Remedy gave him a pointed look.
Erys groaned. “Please.”
“No,” she replied, trying to push the door closed.
“Got damn it, woman,” he grunted, clasping his hands together. “I’ve let you slap me. I’ve let you talk to me out the side of your fuckin’ neck-”
“Let me?” she laughed, just to spite him. “And I’m talking to you out my mouth. You’ll know when I get to talking out the side of my fuckin’ neck.”
Erys closed the space between them and glared down at her as if his size up close and personal was going to strike fear into her. That wasn’t the issue; she wasn’t afraid of him…attraction was another thing on her long list of never ever agains.
“You-” he stopped himself, pressing his lips together firmly before continuing. “I need your help. You’re the only one who knows what he likes, what he doesn’t. This shit is already fuckin’ hard. Could you not make it any more difficult for me?”
She shoved him backward. “First of all, stay out of my face, that won’t end well for you. Second of all, Franklin, this little help I’m extending isn’t for you, it’s for Ernie. Move out my way.”
Remedy pushed her feet into a pair of slides and stomped out across her creaky porch.
“Franklin?” Erys posed.
“Yeah, the turtle. You look just like him with your ugly ass,” she quipped, tramping across the yard. In the house, she went straight to his room. Ernie was never going to be without his suits. It was a staple and after all these years, they were still in mint condition.
“He’s not taking those,” Erys’ voice sounded off behind her.
Now free of Ernie, she could get loud with his increasingly annoying son. “Now you demanded me over here to help you pack his shit. You aren’t going to dictate what I pack and what the fuck I don’t pack because you want to flex that you can make the big dick decisions. Is that a military thing or some shit? Don’t answer that. Leave me alone so I can make sure he’s comfortable. Where are you taking him?”
“Piedmont Assisted Living Home.”
Remedy spun around on the balls of her feet. “No the fuck you aren’t!”
“Excuse me?” he asked, as if her audacity had been a surprise.
“Did I stutter, Mr. Sergeant Nigga?” Remedy sounded off.
Erys’ face scrunched. “I was a Major.”
“Nigga, I don’t give a fuck. Fuck you and your rank. You’re not taking him to Piedmont Assisted Living. That’s the only place your little military salary could afford? You want him to die, don’t you?” Remedy asked, brown skin tinting red, eyes narrowing, nostrils flaring and tears of anger pricking her eyes.
“They can’t be that bad.”
