I mean, I wasn’t exactly subtle. I eyeballed her whenever I had the chance. I ain’t care who saw me, including his ass.
“If you knew this shit, why you get with her then? And what’s up with you and her sister?
“Me and Leah got a mutual understanding,” he stated, rubbing his hand over his mouth.What understanding could he have with that little ass girl? “And if we being honest, I only got with her so you wouldn’t.”
Ain’t that some shit?
“Like I said before, I don’t know where your brother at, or Tank,” he finished, looking around. “But it’s hot out here in these streets. Wherever he at, he needs to stay there.”
He tried to dap me up, but I curved his ass. Just because we had a civil conversation that ain’t make us cool.
Mama was waiting outside for me when I pulled up to my auntie’s house. She was sitting on the swing with her bag already on her shoulders like she was ready to go. However, I needed to have a talk with Delia, so I hopped out and walked up to the door.
“Where you going, baby? I’m ready to leave,” my mama called out to me, but I walked right past her into the house.
“Love, honey. I’m glad to see you out. Trish told me what happened,” she said, pulling me into a hug.
It’s sad that she was showing me more love than my mama. Delia was the youngest out of my dad’s siblings, and she’d always been nice to me. The other two could care less about me and my brother, but the feeling was mutual.
“Yeah, it’s all good. How was she?” I leaned against the wall in the kitchen and watched her slice through a piece of cake.
“You know Trish, Love,” she replied, giving me a knowing look. “One day at a time, though.”
I nodded, zoning off.
“What’s on your mind?” she questioned, cutting her eyes towards me.
Walking over to the dining room table, I placed my hands on the back of the chair. “I need mama to stay here with you.”
She sat the knife down, throwing her hands on her hips with a raised eyebrow. “I can’t watch her all the time, Auntie. It’s getting harder to deal with her, and I can’t do it by myself.”
Delia retired from teaching a few years now, and she ain’t have any kids. I ain’t see the problem.
“You know I don’t mind, but she don’t wanna be here with me,” she told me, looking towards the front door. “You see she waited outside until you got here.”
I nodded. “She ain’t no better with me. When I called to tell her I was in jail, she told me to take the charge for Valentine.”
She let out a gasp. “She said what?”
Ignoring her, I pleaded my case. “You know I won’t ask if I ain’t really need it.”
“Well, alright, but you telling her,” she pointed out, wiping her hands on a towel.
I nodded, thanking her. Mama was in the same spot on the swing, and I sat down next to her.
“We gotta talk.” I leaned over to put my arm on the back of the seat.
“Can we do it at home? I’m tired,” she told me, letting out a yawn.
I shook my head. “Ma, you staying here with Delia.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “The fuck I am, take me home right now!”
“You are home,” I emphasized. “She gone take care of you, make sure you got everything you need.”
She gripped my leg in desperation. “Love, please. You can’t leave me here.”
“I’ll come over every week and see you.” I tried to touch her shoulder, but she flinched away.
