Everybody started moving toward the kitchen, grabbing plates and piling on food. turkey, dressing, mac and cheese, greens, yams, cornbread. My mama could cook her ass off, I had to give her that.
I fixed my plate and sat down at the table next to Yatta. He had already made his plate, and I noticed he got me a glass of juice without me even asking. Little shit like that made me like him even more.
"So, Zu," my mama said, sitting down across from me. "How's everything going at the club?”
"It's going good."
"Mm-hmm. And what about JJ school? He doing okay?"
"He’s doing great. His teacher said he’s really smart."
"Well, at least he got that from you and not his daddy." She laughed, but it was that fake ass laugh that really meant she was being messy.
I felt my face get hot. "Mama—"
"I'm just saying. Jamie was never the brightest. I told you not to fuck with him, but you ain't wanna listen."
"Shaunie, leave her alone," Trigg said from across the table. "It's Thanksgiving."
"I am leaving her alone. I'm just talking to my daughter."
"You doing more than that," I said, my voice tight. "You always gotta throw something in my face."
"Oh, here we go. You too fucking sensitive, and overly dramatic Zu. I can't never say nothing to you."
"Because you don't never say nothing nice! Everything that come out your mouth is sarcastic or shady."
"Well, maybe if you made better decisions, I wouldn't have nothing to be sarcastic about."
I felt tears sting my eyes, but I wasn't gon' cry in front of everybody. "You know what? I'm not doing this with you today."
I stood up, grabbing my plate, and walked toward the back door. I needed air. I needed to get away from her before I said something I'd regret.
I heard footsteps behind me and I knew it was Yatta before he even said anything.
"Zu, wait."
I stopped, turning to face him. "I can't be in there with her, Yatta. She always gotta say something to make me feel like shit."
"I know, mamas. Come here." He pulled me into another hug, and this time I did cry, just a little bit. I was so tired, tired of Jamie, tired of my mama, tired of feeling like I wasn't good enough.
"I'm sorry," I said, wiping my eyes. "I'm ruining Thanksgiving."
"You ain't ruining shit. Your mama just be on some bullshit sometimes."
"All the time."
He smiled a little, wiping a tear from my cheek with his thumb. "You wanna leave? We can go back to your crib, order some food, watch movies or some shit."
I shook my head. "Nah. I'm not letting her run me out. I'ma go back in there and finish my food."
"That's my girl." He kissed my forehead again, and I felt that flutter in my chest again.
We walked back inside, and I sat back down at the table, ignoring my mama pointed looks. Yatta sat next to me, his hand resting on my thigh under the table, and I felt better knowing he was right there.
This Thanksgiving wasn't going how I planned. But at least I had Yatta. And that was enough.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
