Page 34 of Another Constant

He folded his hands across his chest. “I do, trust me, from experience. You got that look in your eyes. It’s cool, we're gonna talk. Dinner though. Bring her to the house, we’ll order out and eat some pizza and shit.”

“She doesn’t eat out much. She cooks everything.” I smiled at the thought. I was lowkey looking forward to seeing what she cooked tonight. This was the type of thing I wasn’t trying to get used to. When she brought me sliders today, I was in awe, then the fact that she was right about White Castle not having anything on her. Those sliders were delicious, so good I had to visually appreciate them while I ate.

“Oh, so she cooks for you.”

I didn’t respond. My eyes were on Aja. She was too busy playing on her iPad to pay me any attention.

“Yeah she does. I saw her walk in here with that bowl earlier. Just like I saw how you looked at her.”

“And?” I finally looked at his know-it-all ass.

“Don’t fuck it up.”

“We just kicking it right now, so ain’t nothing to fuck up.” I lied to him and myself in one moment.

“Yeah right, but I bet you see her entertaining somebody else, yo?—”

“Lemme stop you right there. Harlem ain’t entertaining shit but the dogs she breeds. Fuck outta here.” I balled my fist at the thought. I wasn’t used to being possessive about anybody, but Harlem was different.

“Yeah, just kicking it my ass. You talked to yo’ brother?” He said the brother part low, just in case lil mama was listening.

I shook my head. “Nope, but I did just hear from Rennix. Says he’s in town.”

“Nine?”

“No, the other one.”

“Oh damn. How long has he been out here?”

“Hell if I know. Told him to get up with me, just not tonight.”

He nodded. “Sounds about right. Lemme get up outta here. Blaze is home alone. Come give your uncle a hug, lil girl.”

While Sora and Aja said their goodbyes, I moved around shutting everything down and making sure to put the tools I used today back into their rightful spaces.

When I finished, we exited the part of the shop where I worked into the main area. Ayden and Big Jay were in their usual spaces. Jay on a stool by the door and Ayden at the counter.

“You headed out, boss?” Ayden asked, face now engrossed in his phone.

“Yeah. Don’t close up too late.”

“Bet. Yeen gotta worry ’bout that. My baby mama has been on dirt, talking about how I don't spend enough time with my son. She dropped him off at my mom’s house,” Big Jay responded, shaking his head.

I laughed and so did Sora as we exited.

“Don’t fall in love too fast while you over there,” he cracked.

“Fu—”

“Uncle, you said you were gonna stop cursing so much.” Aja’s little voice interrupted me about to tell my brother fuck him.

“I said I was gonna try, lil mama.”

“Can you please try harder then?”

I laughed and threw my hands up in surrender. “You got it, now get in the car. We’re dropping by the crib to grab some clothes, then we’re going to Harlem’s house. Are you good with that?”

I opened her door for her to get in, then stepped back. I then watched my brother hop into his car and peel out of the lot. Sora was a fucking speed demon and he knew it.

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