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“I’ve been a lil’ busy.”

“So busy that you can’t give me a call back?”

I sighed. “Mama, what’s goin’ on that’s so important?”

“Nikki’s sister called.” She took a seat across from me.

I made sure to keep my face straight.

“What she want?”

“Nobody has heard from Nikki. She hasn’t been to work and her car ain’t home. Her family says she hasn’t called anybody. Now her sister is talking about filing a missing person report.”

“And what does this have to do with me? The last time I talked to her was last week, and she didn’t mention anything to me. She sounded fine.”

“Her sister also said that Nikki told her that you were cheating.”

I shifted in my seat. So, Nikki was running her fucking mouth.

“We talked ‘bout it. I wouldn’t say cheatin’ ‘cause we were never in a relationship.”

“Who were you cheating with, son? If you were sleeping with her and doing things like a couple would do, you can’t tell her you weren’t her man.”

“Who I was sleepin’ wit’ ain’t got nothin’ to do wit’ her ass bein’ missin’.”

“I mean if y’all had a disagreement before then it has a lot to do with it.”

“No, you’re bein’ nosy.”

“Shameek King.”

I smiled a little because I knew I was getting on her nerves.

“Mama, Nikki found some shit she didn’t like. We argued. She told me she was done fuckin’ wit’ me and needed her space. I left her ass alone, and that was that.”

The lie came too easy. My mama didn’t blink as she stared at me. I knew she was studying my ass.

“You loved that girl.”

“Still do,” I said.

“Then why you sitting here acting like you don’t give a damn that nobody can find her?”

I don’t know why her question got under my skin.

“I do give a damn. What is it y’all want me to do? You’ve always said do what a woman says. I gave her space.”

“You don’t look worried, son. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Mama, I’m not finna perform grief or worry for nobody. I told you what happened. Nikki was pissed. I cheated. She found out. We ended our situationship. You want me to ride around every highway in the country looking for a grown woman?”

“It would look like you care if you called the family.”

“You kno’ they don’t fuck wit’ me like that, Ma.”

“Can you blame them? You’ve been dragging that girl along for years in hopes you will marry her. What family will be okay with that?”

“I did Nikki wrong. I know that. I should’ve been honest wit’ her before things got to where it got. I kept draggin’ somethin’ out because we had history. That don’t mean I kno’ where she went.”