Page 9 of Made to Love Ya

“Tell Tahj that he’s had all the fresh air he needs, and if he doesn’t get his behind in here and wash up so that we can sit down for dinner, he won’t be breathing at all much longer,” Mama stated.

She walked off to the kitchen with a huff. Izael lifted his eyebrows and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Sheesh. Remind me not to get on her bad side.”

“As if you ever could,” I replied with a smirk as I left the living room.

“Talia…” Izael called me by my first name.

“Yeah?”

“Tahj will be all right. Don’t stress. But you’re too good for that nigga Ricky.”

“I know,” I replied and watched as Izael headed out the front door.

I shook my head again at his fine ass and continued down the hallway to the dining room. After Zae got my brother from outside, they came to the dining room and we started to eat.

“This food is delicious, Ma.” Izael complimented my mother after he had dug into the veggie lasagna she had made.

“Thanks, baby. I know that you love pasta.”

“What about me?” my daddy asked, pretending to pout.

Mama smiled at him and swatted him playfully on the shoulder with her hand.

“Walt, quit that. You know you’ll eat everything I cook and love it.”

“And will, because I love you.”

He leaned over and kissed her lips, and she smiled. I saw my father reach underneath the table and take my mother’s hand in his. I always wanted a love like theirs. Although they’d had their share of arguments through the years, they always showed one another love and affection, and they weren’t afraid to express their feelings in front of us.

“Cut that out.” Tahj groaned.

“You got a problem with how I show my woman I love her, boy?” Daddy asked.

“I think it’s sweet. I want a man to love me that way someday,” I replied.

“That’s not happening as long as you keep messing with these knuckleheads out in these streets,” Tahj remarked.

“Boy, hush.” I fumed. I was over him complaining about me as if I actually had done something wrong.

“What happened now?” Mama asked.

Tahj gave my parents the run down.

“Is that gonna be a problem for you, baby girl?” Daddy asked.

“I doubt it.”

“This nigga is sitting outside of her house waiting for her to come home,” Tahj shared.

“Language,” Mama remarked.

“Why are you ear hustling, Tahj?”

“You had him on FaceTime. Can’t help but hear it. I can walk in my mama and daddy’s living room whenever I please.”

“Seriously? Are you two six and twelve again?” Mama asked.

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