Page 67 of Giving Him Something He Can Feel

When I finally willed myself from my bed, I went to the kitchen to start the coffee maker. Then I heard a loud banging at my door, which immediately put me on guard. I glanced at the wall clock that read eight-fifty-seven, before tightening my robe around my body and approaching the door.

I glanced through the peephole seeing that it was none other than Eva. I wanted to leave her at the door and walk off like I didn’t hear her, but I had neighbors and the last thing I wanted to do was disturb them.

Rolling my eyes to the ceiling I sighed before I stepped back to open the door. Of course I didn’t want her in my house, but what else could I do? Hopefully this was a quick visit because I low key wanted to make this man breakfast and then climb back into my damn bed and I didn’t feel like being bothered.

When I eyed the duffle bag in her hands, I just knew my hope meant nothing. She was about to try to push a few boundaries and piss me off.

“About time you opened the door. I was beginning to thinkyou wasn’t home.” She walked in past me and tossed her bag on the floor looking around like she had never been to my place. “It’s nice in here.”

“Thank you, what are you doing here?” I refused to beat around the bush nor bite my tongue. It was too damn early, and she was fucking unannounced.

“Well, since that nigga you messing with done ran Linny out of town and you won’t give me a few dollars to pay my rent I don’t have anywhere to live.”

I tilted my head to the side looking at her, completely fucking speechless because this was what had come out of her mouth. “Excu?—”

“Look it’s just for a little bit. ‘Til I get back on my feet.”

“No. You can’t stay here. And for the life of me I don’t know what gave you the idea that you could just show up here and it would go like that.”

“And where am I supposed to go?” she asked like that was my problem. “What you probably got that nigga laid up here with you. Me, your mother can’t get a few days?”

“No, and you should use that word very lightly, because the last thing you have been is a mother.”

She looked at me for what felt like forever before she shook her head. “I gave you life, and here you are being ungrateful. How dare you sit your ass up here and think you’re better than m?—”

“Leave Eva. I can’t keep doing this with you. For once I’m happy and I refuse to let you mess that up for me. I refuse to let you bring all of this hateful shit into my life.”

“You good in here, Peach?” Trek’s voice broke the intense eye contact between me and my mother.

Immediately she looked at him. “And who the fuck are you supposed to be?” Eva whipped her head in his direction so fast that I’m sure she almost broke her neck.

“The nigga whose willing to do whatever to protect her from motherfuckers like you and yo’ son.” He knew all about Eva and Lenny’s tactics. It was one of those nightswhen we stayed up talking and I felt comfortable enough to voice my frustrations with that part of my family.

“And what the fuck is that supposed to mean? What is he talking about, Virtue?” Her fury was now pointed in my direction.

“Look, I wasn’t taught to disrespect my elders, so I’ma say this as nice as I can. Get up outta here, and leave her al?—”

“That’s my fucking daughter. You don’t tell me shit about mine! You letting this nigga dictate your moves and tell you what to d?—”

“He’s not telling me what to do. He’s telling you what to do where I’m concerned, and I think you heard him.” I walked over toward the door to open it. When I had it open I just stopped there, holding it, and waiting for her to step through it.

She looked taken aback, before she nodded her head and stood. “When this nigga leaves you for whatever other bitch he’s fucking don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She had her bag on her shoulder stepping out of the door seconds later.

Once she was on the other side of the threshold, I closed the door without a second thought. When I turned around Cartrek was looking at me, expression filled with concern.

“I’m good, thank you,” I assured him as I walked toward his shirtless frame.

“Yeen gotta thank me for protecting you. I’ma do that shit regardless. Your peace is my priority.”

I smiled. “Is that so?” Compared to Cartrek, I was a damn midget. So, when I wrapped my arms around his body my head was against his chest, nowhere near his face.

“Very much.” He picked me up carrying both of our bodies to the sofa. He took a seat seconds later, hands on both sides of my thighs.

“How are you?” I questioned, staring intently at him as he peered into my eyes.

“I’m good. Better yet, great.” His lips were against my neck seconds later.

My hand found his chin, tilting it up for him to look at me. “You’d tell me if you weren’t, right?”

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