Page 6 of The Deed to a Gangsta's Heart

Luci

One Week Later

I hadn’t toldCallie about me coming back home. Instead, I opted to wait until I was back settled in my parents’ home to FaceTime her. When she accepted and saw me swinging on the back porch, she squealed, and we both fell into a fit of giggles.

“You’re here!”

“I am! I got in last night and couldn’t wait to sleep and wake back up so I could surprise you.”

“OMG. We have to go somewhere tonight and celebrate. You don’t already have plans, do you?”

“Well, I’m having dinner with my parents, and of course you’re invited. Ma is saying it’ll be just us, but you know she’s going to try and invite the whole town.” We shared a brief laugh. “We can do something this afternoon if you want.”

“Okay, that’ll work. I’ll come pick you up after I put on some clothes.”

“Okay, cool.”

After hanging up, I checked my notifications and saw that I had an onboarding new hire email. Surprisingly, I was able to get a marketing executive position at Speedi Shipping. It paid more than what I was making back in Memphis, and I would have a three day weekend. Once I looked over the checklist they’d sent me in preparation for my first day Monday, I headed into the kitchen, where my mom was prepping dinner for tonight.

I peeped over her shoulder to see what she was chopping, and she gave me a kiss. “I’m so happy you’re home.”

“Me too. I missed you.”

“I missed you too. Now I know you want to find your own place soon but there’s no rush. You can stay here until you’re married… maybe even after.”

I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her to give her a hug. “Why are you cutting so many potatoes if it’s just going to be me, you, and Daddy?”

“Oh. Your aunt called so she’s coming over with her girls. And she told your grandparents, so they’ll be over too. Then your uncle Tony found out and it’s turning into a little thing.”

All I could do was laugh because I knew that would be the case. What was supposed to be a small family dinner would be a party with my entire family and the neighborhood in our backyard before the night was over.

I washed my hands so I could help her prep, though she insisted she had it under control. Truth was, I missed talking to her while we worked around each other in the kitchen. She was never the kind of woman whose kitchen was off limits to others. Her kitchenwas the place I learned about womanhood and relationships from her and the other women in my family. The moment I was legal and could have a glass of wine with them, it became a vibe.

About an hour passed before Callie pulled up. She came in for a little while to chat with Ma before we headed out.

“You look so cute,” I complimented. She was taking full advantage of the warm June weather in a mini skirt and cowgirl boots.

“Thanks, Lu. You do too.” She smacked my ass and I laughed. I was flat in the chest, but my ass made up for it, and I loved dressing to accentuate that. The maxi dress I had on showed my shape perfectly.

“Thank you. I need to get back in the gym. Ma’s cooking is going to put more weight on me than I want.”

“I already know. My ma has cooked every day that I’ve been here and made me come get me and Rem a plate. The lady cooked turkey and dressing on a random Wednesday and bread pudding yesterday for dessert.”

“See no. We gotta get back to our meal prepping.”

Even though we laughed as we got in her Jeep, I was serious. Because of our work and her school schedule, we took turns meal prepping weekly. We kept it low carb and low calorie and ate whatever we wanted on the weekend and for holidays. While I was slim, toned, and tall, Callie was petite, thick, and curvy.

“I kept telling myself I’d go to the market and start back up for me and Rem, but Ma has been making it so easy to eat soul food and pasta every day. She knows I love me some pasta. Maybe now that you’re here I’ll do better.”

“We can for sure. We don’t have to meal prep every day like we used to but at least three days a week. Maybe we can make a thing out of it and meal prep together on Sundays.I’m trying to get my body like Teyana Taylor, and I amnotabout to let my mama ruin that.”

She sniggled before saying, “I’d love that. Rem’s kitchen is huge so we can do it there.”

“How’s that working out? Is it weird staying with him?”

Her grin was wide as she pulled out of the driveway. “It’s nice. I don’t think I’ve really accepted that I live with him yet. It’s felt like I’m just visiting. It’ll be too weird to think that I’m staying with him.”

“Why?” I dragged, adjusting myself to get a better view of her.

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