“I ain’t doing a damn thing. I just can’t stand a dumb mothafucka. You’re walking around with your lip all poked out ’cause you’re too immature to tell that young girl you have a thang for her. Meanwhile, the two of y’all are living up in that house together, raising a damn baby, and doing who knows what behind closed doors. If that doesn’t say bonehead, I don’t know what does.”
I watched as she cut a slice of cake and put it on a plate. Of course, Noodle’s ass was impatient and started squealing before they could even get back to the table.
“You ain’t about to rush me, little girl. You’re just as greedy as ya funky ass daddy.”
“I was never greedy.” I shot back. My family knew Symphonee wasn’t biologically mine, but none of them cared. As far as they were concerned, she was mine, and that was it.
“Shiiddd, yes the hell you were. I remember cooking some smothered neckbones and leaving my plate on the bed because I forgot a spoon for the rice and gravy. Baby, I wasn’t gone more than two minutes, and your little ass had my plate on the ground with a neckbone in each hand. Your diaper was covered in gravy, and you were tearing those neckbones up. I was so mad, I thought about pushing your little ass over.”
“That’s cold-blooded. Noodle, you hear how yo’ gran is talking about me?” I tickled her little belly, making her giggle.
“Her chunky tail is just as greedy. I learned my lesson with you, though. I make sure she has her own plate of food so she can leave my shit alone. Back to what we were talking about before. You need to be honest with that girl and tell her how you feel.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. Logic kept telling me the same thing, but for some reason, it wasn’t as easy as they were making it seem. I wasn’t afraid to tell Lyric how I felt about her. What made me hold back was what those feelings would mean for the future.
“I don’t think she’s ready. Like you said, Lyric is living life and trying to find herself. The only reason I don’t say too much about her partying the way she does is because she isn’t mine. If we decide to be together, I’m not going for none of that, so I think it’s best for me to leave things the way they are. She’s tryna kick it and be in the spotlight, and I’m tryna build a legacy, settle down, and travel the world. We just aren’t on the same page, and it would be wrong of me to try to force her to become something she isn’t ready for.”
“You aren’t wrong. That’s exactly what happened with your triflin’ ass momma. Your daddy wanted to quit the drug game, move out of the projects, and build a family. Your mother was so caught up in the popularity that came with having money. He wanted kids, but your mother was conceited and didn’t want to sacrifice her figure.”
“Then how did she end up pregnant with me?”
“Well, your dad ended up falling for someone else while your momma was running the streets. Your momma knew he was ready to move on, and she didn’t want to lose her spot. The next thing I know, she’s at my house celebrating a positive pregnancy. She made your father miserable the entire pregnancy, but he catered to her every need. Her ass was still in the clubs with a bigass belly. I cussed her triflin’ ass out a couple of times about it, but she was hardheaded.
“Your father wanted you more than anything, but where he went wrong was tryna wife someone who wasn’t ready. He thought she would change once she saw the life he was trying to build for her, but it never happened. The moment you popped out of her cooter, she was back on the hoe stroll. Her loose coochie tail was popping it on a handstand before her six weeks were up. Out there smelling likeplacentaryjuice and Pink Lotion.”
I didn’t mean to laugh, but Granny Nessa had no chill.
“You do know that’s your daughter, right?”
“And? The truth is the truth. She had yo’ daddy so stressed out, he was sitting in my kitchen looking slow just like you. The only difference is that the woman in your life has the potential to be everything you need. All you have to do is show her that she deserves it. Lyric has been beaten down by life and the people who were supposed to love and protect her. She needs someone who will be patient and show her that she’s worthy. She’s a pretty girl. Most people will look at her and assume she has it all figured out, but you know better. You see the broken parts. It’s the reason you hover over her and are so protective.
“The problem is, you have to choose. You can’t have a family behind closed doors and then claim to be single when you’re out in public. Lyric might be young, but she’s not a fool. She knows you’re too busy hunchin’ on those auto thots, and now she wants to have her own fun. If you want her, then you need to be ready to fully commit to her. If not, let her go and keep pumping on those bobblehead jezebels with the stiff booties. All I’ma say is that I’mSwitzertonaround her. If Lyric wants to bring some fine buff nigga over here to meet me, I’ma let him in.”
Granny had me fucked up, and she knew it because she started laughing.
“Fix your face, boy. If you don’t want to see her getting put through the shower curtain, you might want to step your cookies up or whatever the young folks be saying.”
“Yeah, you talkin’ crazy now. I’m about to head out of here. Are you sure you want to keep her all weekend? I don’t mind taking her home with me.”
Symphonee was licking cake from her little fingers without a care in the world. My little princess had a nigga’s heart on lock, and it only grew stronger with time.
“Oh, hush. Me and my gran-girl are gonna have a ball. We’re gonna eat this good food, watch a few recorded episodes of Golden Girls, and take as many naps as we want. I had to rearrange my date with Deacon Raymond, but that’s okay. He gon’ be dreaming about this sanctified cat by the time Tuesday rolls around.”
“Sanctified what? You know what, I don’t need to know. I’m about to get out of here. ’Cause you think I’m one of ya little friends and I’m not Gloria or Clara. Come give me kisses, Noodle mama.”
I lifted my baby girl out of Granny’s arms and smothered her face with kisses. She squealed with delight, kicking her little feet as she pushed my face away. Her deep blue eyes melted my heart, and I knew I would do everything to make sure she had the life she deserved. She and her momma deserved it all.
“Are you sure you’re okay with us going back to the Airbnb?” Kiara asked as we headed out of the club. I assured her that I was okay. Or at least I think I did, because the liquor had me feeling tipsy. I could barely stand up straight.
“She’s good. I promise, she’s in good hands.” Damacio answered for me. We had been partying since we touched down Friday evening, and I had never had so much fun in my life. My flight was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and I wasn’t even packed yet. My plan was to take a quick nap and then pack my things in the morning.
“I have your location. If you need anything, I’ll keep my ringer on so I can hear it if you call.” Summyah’s voice was laced with concern, but she had nothing to worry about. I had spent the night with Damacio after his birthday party last night, and everything went great. He had a hotel decorated for me, even though we were there to celebrate him.
I’ll admit I was a little nervous about being alone with him, but he calmed all of my fears when we saw each other in person. Damacio was funny, romantic, and confident. From the momentI stepped off the plane, he showered me with gifts and attention. We went to breakfast the next morning after we hooked up, and he was still his same sweet self. He kept thanking me for coming and expressing how much he wanted to get to know me better.
“Well, have fun. If your baby daddy calls one of us, I’ll tell him you got drunk and passed out. It must be nice to have multiple niggas ready to roll out the carpet for you,” Valor teased as she rolled her eyes.
She had been acting strange during the trip, but I assumed it was because her man had been exposed by his baby mama. The two of them had been beefing over him for months, and the baby mama finally had enough and leaked pictures and videos of him in her bed. Valor acted like she wasn’t fazed, but I saw her stalking the girl’s page from a burner account.