“Look at you. A hating ass hoe nigga. I know a hating ass hoe nigga when I see a hating ass hoe nigga. Look at him, Rem, you can still see it. You sure you don’t wanna dump him and come back home to me?” Ernie spoke with a laugh before he blew. “Ohhweee. You are May’s granddaughter without a doubt. Look at that. Make it shake, Rem. Just one time. For your twiiinnn.”
Remedy laid her head on Erys’ shoulder and laughed. “I’m going to assume that he likes the aide.”
“Like? I got her up there right now making my bed and drawing me a bath. I don’t know what I like more, the party or this,” Ernie shared, letting a soft smile cover his face as he watched the couple breathe one another. “Erys, where you letting her go with her ass poking out like that?”
“Your eyesight is already going,” Erys started. “You want me to finish the joke?”
“If you feeling froggy, nigga, come jump. Jump, nigga, jump,” Ernie taunted, raising his hands up in the air. “I’ll fight about mine.”
Remedy shook her head in laughter and sighed. “I have a lack of work clothes because I thought I’d be sitting around the house talking shit with you all day.”
“Ah nah,” Ernie said. “You weren’t going to be doing that. I told you a long time ago you were bigger than the program.”
“Ernie, you tried to turn me into a madam,” Remedy said with a deadpan expression.
“I just figured you had some of your grandmother in you,” Ernie shared.
Remedy’s made up face frowned. “May was not a madam.”
“Not entirely. She took care of my hoes and me from time to time. But she had it in her. When her bitch ass son left her there with nothing, I looked out for her,” Ernie continued.
Remedy’s frown deepened. “What are you talking about, Ernie?”
Ernie stared at her a long while before grunting. “Cherie, grab some money out of my top drawer. Make sure you got enough for your errands. Walk your momma to the car, Erys.”
Remedy tried to figure out if Ernie was really having a lapse or if he was purposely changing the subject to avoid any further line of questioning. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to dive into what was and what wasn’t. But she was going to put a pin in it to return to it later. There was something there. Something he knew that he was keeping under lock and key.
Erys caught the puzzle settling over Remedy’s pretty face. “You ready? I got your dress in the car.”
Remedy nodded, picking up her phone and purse she’d laid down on the counter to hug Ernie. “You’re driving?”
“Oh, you know I am. I gotta take the pictures like it’s your first day of school,” Erys teased, referencing her telling him nights ago that her pivotal moments were only celebrated by May. He studied the photo album she rescued from the curb. Photo for photo and there were a few things that stood out to him. But like Ernie, some things had to stay under lock and key until the time was right.
Remedy nipped a grin and swayed her head. She headed out of the side door ahead of Erys, leaving the men to share a knowing look before he joined her outside. Erys opened the passenger door to the Mercedes and smacked her ass as she slid past him.
“Ernie is crazy as hell, but you are indeed fine as hell. I got to be the luckiest man in the world,” he spoke, kissing her cheek. “You and all that mouth.”
Remedy laughed and sat in the seat. “You want to strap me in too?”
“Next you’re going to be asking me to carry you in and out,” he laughed at her sarcasm.
“I mean you got a good, wide, strong back. You got it,” Remedy teased with a wink and kiss blown before he shut the door.
Erys got inside and pulled off toward the gate. “Do you know what time you’re going to wrap up?”
“The itinerary says six-thirty.”
“I’ll be outside by six,” Erys assured. “I’m going to hit the studio, see what Desi sounds like for real. Get Jamani handled and I’ll be there.”
“This manager role looks real good on you,” Remedy commented, placing her hand on the back of his neck after his found her pillowy thigh. “Lookin’ like a boss.”
“It feels good. Way different from snatching lives. Shaping them is kind of my redemption,” Erys said with a sigh of relief.
“You’re going to be amazing at it. And don’t let Desi do that soft singing shit that’s popular. The girl can sing.”
“But…” Erys posed.
“But she’s impatient. Fast money has been the way she survived so she’s going to need to fully understand the process of what she’s stepping into. And it’ll be your job to make sureshe trusts you. Which I don’t see that being an issue because you have my stamp of approval,” Remedy shared.
