Page 105 of Save Room for Us

“Asif, I didn’t call to fight with you, baby, or upset you. I miss you. It is so weird hearing you with this deep voice.”

“Yeah, well maybe had you come looking for me once you got out of holding, it wouldn’t be.” I was on my feet. “Why are you calling me, Nori?” Her name tasted bitter on my fucking tongue. I’d never used it until now, I realized. She’d been mama until I was about nine and a half, and then she was nothing.

“I told you I miss you.”

“Since when? Ain’t you been in the free world since I was nineteen? It’s been seven years since then. When the fuck you start missing me? When the fuck did you even start caring about me?”

She hesitated a bit before speaking.

“I know. I know. We have a lot to talk about. Well, I have a lot to tell you. Can we have lunch or dinner or, hell, even breakfast, so I can talk to you?”

“I’m busy, so if I do decide to, it won’t be any time soon.”

“That’s totally fine, baby. But if you can, squeeze your mother in.”

“You don’t got the privileges that come with being my mother. Someone else got that.” I said that last line to hit her where it hurt, but also because the shit was true.

“Of course. Well, this is my best number, so call or text whenever you’re ready.”

“Mhm.” I hung up then buzzed for Diamond to come back. When she did, I said, “In the future, don’t send any more calls through from people claiming to be my relatives. The only mother I got is Mrs. St. Thomas.”

“Yes, sorry. It won’t happen again.” She nodded, wearing that same weird look as before.

“Aight.” I dismissed her ass before taking a seat and pondering. What were the fucking odds?

Later that night…

I lay across the bed, perpendicular to Anastazia, as my head rested on her stomach. Sophie was now knocked out in her brand-new bedroom, so after getting some of my favorite pussy, I was relaxing.

“I got you dazed, huh?” Anastazia jested, caressing my freshly twisted hair.

“Always.” I took her hand to kiss it, then did the same to her stomach after inhaling her scent. As soon as I let her hand go, she got back to caressing my head. That shit was feeling amazing. “My moms called me today.”

“To say what?”

“Not Lisara.”

“Your biological mother? For what? How did she get your number?”

“Yes. To tell me she miss me and some other bullshit. She called the bank, which is a public phone number,” I explained.

“So she wants to see you.”

“Yeah.” I ran my hand down my face. “I hate that I’m even interested to hear what the fuck she gotta say. For as long as I can remember, she never gave a fuck about me. She never gave a fuck about nobody, but at least she loved my pops’ money and persona enough to pay him some attention. But me, I was just something that kept her tied to him.” I chuckled mirthlessly. “Back then, I didn’t get it, but as I got older, I saw shit for what it was. I was a chess piece to be sure she never lost my father.”

“Her loss, honestly. She lost a good man and a great son.” Anastazia sat up to look down into my face as my head migrated to her lap. She was so fucking beautiful, the kind that made muthafuckas believe life was sweet. Her curly hair hung, framing her face, as she tucked her full lips in briefly before speaking. “But if you want to listen to her, do it. Go see her and hear what she has to say. Ask her what you want, and make sure she tells you.”

Nodding, I replied, “Yeah, I’m just gon’ put my pops and Lisara up on game. I don’t want them blindsided by her ass popping up.”

“Good thinking.” She smiled down at me before lying back down.

Sitting up, I said, “Ready for round two?”

Giggling as I climbed between her legs, pulling the comforter on top of us, she said, “I have to be up early tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“Church, remember?” She simpered, staring up at me.

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