Page 86 of Save Room for Us

“I will be.”

“Tell daddy what’s wrong.”

I chuckled, hearing the humor in his tone.

“Other than being on trial, I just have mom stress, I guess you could call it. My moms’ home is a mess. I haven’t cooked in forever, so she has to do it. I wish I could go out freely like Iused to or go on social media without seeing people make a joke out of my life. I wanna see a movie—grocery shop without people assuming I did it because they see me out acting normally. Just… nothing is normal, but I will be fine.”

“What I tell you about that?”

“I can’t help it. I’m not used to having someone to lean on. I will be fine though. I just have to let all this pass.” I sighed, watching Sophie give up on the vacuum and go back to playing with her doll.

“Nah, you don’t. Some shit, I can’t control, but others, I can, and I will. I’ll be to you in a little bit.”

“Asif, no?—”

“Sit yo’ ass down, be quiet, and experience being taken care of, aight? That’s all I want you to do. Today, I want you to do what the fuck you want to and in peace,” he explained. “I’m wealthy, yes, but I can also take care of yo’ hardheaded ass in other ways. So let a nigga do shit for you when you need it or even when you don’t, aight?”

“Alright.” I nodded, realizing his foot had been put down, and there was no lifting it.

We hung up, so I spruced myself up a bit, redoing my messy bun to look more presentable, and then putting on some tinted makeup along with some Summer Fridays gloss. I decided to keep on my Skims boxer briefs with the matching top, because I would get hot soon anyway.

Asif arrived not long after I finished gussying up.

“Hi!” Sophie jumped up and down, and I spotted her little eyes checking for his hands to see if he brought her anything like last time.

Smirking down at her, he kissed me on the lips before saying, “Can I get some dap first?”

“Yes.” Sophie nodded as he knelt down to her level, putting his fist out. She mirrored him, paying close attention as he showed her how to do it.

“Aight.” He stepped back out onto the porch wearing a mischievous smirk as he pulled a cute Barbie airplane set from the porch.

“Ahhhh!” Sophie screamed.

“Asif, she’s only two.” I inspected the toy as Sophie placed it on the floor, eyes salivating.

“She is, but she smart as fuck. Them toys for two-year-olds would bore her baby Einstein ass.” He watched her while I watched him, loving that he paid enough attention to notice how advanced Sophie was. “You wanna clean up and I watch her, or vice versa?”

I was taken aback and… turned on.

“Umm, you watch her. Even the cleanest niggas aren’t clean enough.”

“Aight.”

I had to toss away my lustful thoughts as he focused back on me, smiling then kissing me once more before sitting on the floor with bossy Sophie. In the wife beater, sweats, socks, and corduroy slippers, the nigga looked like a tall glass of water in the middle of the Sahara right now.

“Okay. Well, I am gonna get some stuff done then?” It was a statement and a question.

Asif nodded at me, glancing up briefly as he focused on opening everything for Sophie to play with. I noticed he discreetly pocketed the tiny pieces.

I started cleaning the kitchen, hesitant at first, but as I listened to them play, I was able to get into it. I was able to complete cleaning my room, my mom’s, and even vacuumed Analicia’s old bedroom. Once I was done with the bathrooms, I returned to the living room.

“You wanna do anything else, love?” he quizzed.

“The grocery store, if you don’t m—the grocery store.” I cut my initial statement off when he squinted his eyes at me.

“Whatever you wanna do, just tell me. I don’t think I could tell you no for anything,” he said.

“So if I said take me to get my nails done and stay with me, you would?” I giggled, grabbing my purse after putting Sophie’s baby UGGs on.

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