“You did what?” Uncle Kenny’s eyes grow into big, red discs as he looks at Aunt Faye. “You told that dude about Roberto, Faye? Roberto ain’t about to waste his time with him.”
Aunt Faye blubbers out a loud sigh, grabbing her head. “Lovie…”
I throw my arms up. “He just wants to talk to you. He wants?—”
“ButIdon’t wanna talk to him,” Uncle Kenny snaps. “Can I just have one day of peace around here? One! I don’t think I ask for much around here, dammit.”
A loud knock on the front door rumbles throughout the house, interrupting us.
“Ken…” Aunt Faye huffs.
He narrows his eyes at us while I roll mine back to the chicken thigh I kept plucking the crust off of.
“It’s probably Chico,” he mutters, pushing back from the table. “He forgot some of his DJ equipment in the back of my truck, and no, I’m not asking him to stick around to entertain this bullshit.”
As soon as he ambles out of the kitchen, Aunt Faye glares at me.
“What?” I ask, sitting back in my chair and crossing my arms.
“You knowwhat. This is still Kenny’s house.”
“And Rich is still my friend. He can dislike him without disrespecting him.”
She blows a breath out of her nose. “Ken is right.”
“Oh, so you agree with him disrespecting Rich? You agree with him not wanting to help Rich get away from here? It’sgetting harder and harder for me to see this so-called love you have for Rich.”
“Do not go there with me. We all need to have a talkwithoutRich.”
“I’m not gonna talk about him behind his back. That’s wrong and you know it.”
She shakes her head. “Lovie…you’re…you’re overstepping.”
“Well, I’m sorry that I care,” I hiss. “Do you want to be the only woman in his life who cares? Is that what this is about?”
She grabs her forehead. “Lord, this is my fault. All of this mess is.”
“How is it your fault that we became friends?”
“You don’t understand. This thing with him ain’t gonna end how you think it will, and Rich should’ve known better than to put that false hope in your head.”
I ball my face up. “What are you even saying right now?—”
A loud masculine voice intermingles with Uncle Kenny’s from the front of the house, and for a split second my heart patters.
My eyes meet Aunt Faye’s squinted ones.
It could be Rich at the door. The part of him that lingers inside of me after making love makes me hopeful that he finished up at Lucky’s and came over here just like he said he would.
“How you been, my guy?” the voice bellows.
My heart settles.
Rich didn’t talk with a northern twang, though.
“I didn’t miss dinner, did I?” they ask. “We left the stadium a little later than usual. I meant to shoot you a text, but I got caught up in a meeting mid-flight.”
“Oh, man. No worries at all. You’re right on time. Come sit with us. We’ll fix you a plate.”
