Page 51 of Save Room for Us

“Mommy, mac and cheese?” Sophie stood in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. I had no idea she was awake.

“Okay, but are you gonna eat it?” I turned to face her, seeing she was still half asleep. If she woke up and I wasn’t right there lying with her, she would hop up always to come find me, no matter how delirious she was.

“Yes, mac and cheese.” She nodded.

Sighing, because I didn’t believe her, I scooped her up and carried her into the kitchen as she lay on my shoulder.

Halfway through making the food, she fully woke up, so I set her at the table and let her talk to me about whatever. Some of it, I understood, but most was nonsense. I figured out if I just nodded and said ‘wow’ a few times, she would be pleased.

An hour later, Sophie was fed, bathed, had brushed her teeth, and was now curled up in my mama’s king-sized bed with her as they ate ice cream.

“Go get ready. You can’t use my grand baby as an excuse.” My mother shooed me as I stood in her doorway.

“Yes, no exstuse!” Sophie pointed at me like a true disciplinarian, though she had no idea what she was talking about.

Taking heed, I went to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash before hopping into the shower. I took my time in there, scrubbing and doing the whole nine as if Asif was gonna see anything past these shorts tonight.

While I wasn’t exactly a prude, sex wasn’t something I was really interested in at the moment. Not only did I not know Asif well enough, but the past few years of it had been bad experiences, and I was thankful for my current drought.

Once out, I put on body butter then perfume before patting myself dry and going to get dressed. I ran some Camille Rose Aloe Whipped Butter Gel through my curls, along with some water, then slipped on my jewelry, topping it off with my Tom Ford Soleil Blanc perfume. It had a nice, beachy, summery scent, but I was too obsessed with it to only wear it for one season. Therefore, it was my go-to.

By the time I changed purses, Asif was ringing the doorbell. He didn’t give me a heads up this time through text.

“I’m leaving.” I peeked my head into my mama’s room.

“I know, I heard.” She winked. “Bye, baby.”

“Bye, Mommy!” Sophie beamed. I noticed she was happier since we’d been here.

“Bye, cutie.” I giggled, going to give them both a light kiss since I had on some Fenty lip oil.

While Cedric had never laid a hand on her, I made sure of it by never leaving them alone. I guess Sophie could read his energy because she was never this bubbly and bright when we were at home. She would only be this way around her cousin’s cousins.

I double checked my appearance in the mirror near the doorway before opening the door to see Asif. Per usual, he looked so handsome in blue jeans, a long-sleeved Givenchy shirt with a collar, and black Chuck Taylor shoes. His jewelry pieces were shining brightly, like always, as they laid on his neck and wrists. The chain with MFM on it caught my eyes again, reminding me to inquire as to what it stood for.

“You love that jacket,” he joked, and I was mortified. “You look beautiful, but when don’t you.” He took my hand, leading me out of the house and closing the doors for me after locking the bottom locks.

“Thank you.” I smiled as best as I could through the embarrassment as he led me to his truck.

I slid in and shut my eyes for a moment, wishing I hadn’t worn this shit. I was overthinking too much, and I guess it was because I was realizing I hadn’t dated or been courted in a long ass time. I’d been with Cedric for a while, and once we moved in together, all the romantic shit like this stopped. I didn’t know what to take seriously, what to brush off, and what to panic about.

“You aight?” he asked once in the driver’s seat, smelling and looking good as ever. His dreads were loose, and his line up was perfect, like always.

“I always wear this jacket because it covers up what I need it to,” I blurted.

“What you need it to cover?” He frowned, glancing at me as he pulled from the curb.

“Some things.” I smirked.

“I was fucking with you when I made that comment, love. We all got that one item we can’t come up out of. But you don’t need to be covering nothing.”

“You say that now until I take this off, and it’s like opening a can of biscuits.”

He coughed and began grinning widely as he chuckled. I joined him, knowing I was exaggerating just a bit.

“I seen enough to know you on some bullshit right now.” He was still snickering. “Them scrubs be a little tight, baby, so you ain’t hiding as much as you think.” He looked my way at the red light, saying, “I like what I see.”

“I could’ve had a girdle on under them scrubs.”

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