Page 87 of Deuce

“You must really like her.”

Mace laughed. “Pops, this nigga is low key in love with that girl. You should see the way he acts with her.”

“Shut yo’ ass up, Mace,” I said. “Ain’t nobody in love. I fuck with her, though. I won’t allow anybody else to fuck with her, either.”

My father chuckled. “Whatever you say, Deuce.”

The back door opened and out walked Kerrion and Devin. Both had the same grins on their faces that Maceo had when he saw Salima. They came over and dapped up before taking a seat. Devin sparked up a blunt before finally saying anything.

“I see you still on Salima’s ass, nigga. Got her over here with the family and shit.”

“We aren’t about to keep talking about this shit all day. Yes, I brought her home. Yes, she’s having dinner with us. Y’all niggas are gonna stay outta my business.”

Kerrion waved me off. “You brought your business here, so it’s free game.”

“Y’all wanna talk about something? Let’s talk about Maceo having pillow talk sessions with her best friend.”

Mace almost choked on the blunt Devin passed him. “Pillow talk!”

“Pillow talk, nigga. You know, where you lay up gossiping like a bitch after you get some pussy. Shar is gonna tell all your business to my girl.”

“Wait… so you’re dating the friend?” Pops asked.

“I’m not dating anybody,” Mace defended. “We’re just fucking around.”

“Pops, his thirsty ass begged me to get with Salima and put him on with her best friend. When I wouldn’t, he went to Jaeda to get her number.”

Pops laughed. “That is a lil thirsty, son.”

Mace kissed his teeth. “I didn’t beg him to do anything. And you can’t say shit about me when Jaeda handed you your girl’s whole life in a folder.”

“So what? I’m not denying that.”

Kerrion shook his head. “Y’all really out here arguing like females?”

Devin laughed and slapped his arm. “One of them must be on their period.”

I was itching to pull out my gun and pop one of their asses. Instead, I snatched the blunt from Maceo and took a long pull from it. Salima really had me out here acting out of character… well, at least where females were concerned. I’d never done the shit for any woman that wasn’t family that I was doing for her. I could admit that sex aside, I liked her.

She gave me my shit right back, and that did something to me. I came from a family of strong ass females, and it would take a strong woman to actually tie my ass down. While I liked to think I had control, Salima definitely had the upper hand in alot of shit. All she had to do was bat those pretty eyes or put those juicy ass lips on a nigga and she could have whatever she wanted.

After sitting outside for a while, the rest of the family started filing in. It was alot of us, and I didn’t want Salima to get overwhelmed, so I excused myself to go inside and check on her. When I stuck my head in the back door, she was laughing and talking with my sisters and a few of my cousins. I knew how these people could be with outsiders, but it made me feel good that they seemed to like her. I knew once she was gone, they were gonna be on my ass with questions.

Deciding I wanted to steal her away, I stepped inside. The laughter and conversation ceased as I made my presence known. When Grams kicked you out of the kitchen, you knew better thanto come back. The women were looking at me like I’d just created an infraction.

“Y’all got a problem?” I asked.

“Unless you’re coming to help, I know I told you to get out of my kitchen, Deuce,” Grams said, her hand on her hip.

“Relax, woman. I just came to check on my lady. It’s alot of y’all in here and all of you are nosy.”

They all started speaking at once, mostly to curse me out. I waved them off as I reached for Salima.

“Come take a walk with me.”

“Huh uh!” Mia said, pulling her back. “You can’t come snatch her up out of our conversation.”

“Watch me.”

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