Page 52 of It's Love I'm After

“Fine, you big meanie.”

My pussy thumps wildly when Germayne’s low chuckle vibrates through the line, sending tingles all over my body.

“Aye, Cha-Cha?”

“Hm.”

“I love you. Now go home.” With that, Germayne disconnected the line, and I stared at Mom’s house, seeing her front blinds swaying.

“You better be lucky, Vernise O’Neal.” Pulling my seat belt over my chest, I snap it before starting my car and backing out of her driveway.

“I’m glad we could get together. It's been too long since we hung out. Where are my babies?” Isis asks, looking between Riele and me.

A slow smile upturns my lips at knowing where Caleb is spending his Saturday, but I wait for Riele to answer before I drop my bomb on my best friends.

“With his daddy, where his spoiled ass should be. Mama needs a few drinks to make up for lost time.” Riele rolls her eyes.

“Don’t do my nephew, heffa. I’m sure it’s you that has EJ spoiled anyway.” Isis rolls her eyes at Riele before shifting her attention to me. “Now, where is Caleb today? Your ass is sitting over here grinning like a fool, so this must be good,” Isis probes.

“With my man, doing some manly bonding or whatever Germayne said before they left,” I say, smiling.

“Oh shit!” Riele shouts, putting her hand up for a high-five that I ignore.

“Well, you better come through stepdaddy. Dedrick’s raggedy ass could neva. When do we get to hang with our new brother-in-law? I need to feel him out.” Isis’s Cheshire grin while rubbing her hands together has Riele and me laughing.

“The night and day difference between Dedrick and Germayne is astounding. Where Dedrick treated Caleb like an obstacle course he couldn’t win, Germayne has been strategically forming a relationship with Caleb. Ironically, Caleb met Germayne at the barber shop and instantly started talking to him even without knowing his mother had been busting it open for that real nigga.” I swoon when an image of Germayne pops into my mind.

“Listen, a real nigga will have you sliding down a pole on one hand wearing a leotard. I love this for you, bestie.” Riele interjects.

“I wanted to keep Caleb away from Germayne, so he didn’t keep seeing random men in my life, but?—”

“Girl, hush. You aren’t your mother, no matter how much she tries to throw her baggage off on you.” Isis cuts me off before sipping her drink.

I wish I could say Isis didn’t know what she was talking about, but the truth is, she isn’t off base. While I was growing up, I had seen so many random men in Mom’s life that we both had PTSD when the men walked out on her. In retrospect, no man other than Dedrick and now Germayne has been in Caleb’s presence. Whatever men I allowed to sniff between my legs, even in my home, had to be long gone before Caleb awoke the next morning. Becoming Vernise was something I never wanted for Caleb or myself, despite my reckless behavior in creating him.

“Speaking of not being my mother, let me tell y’all what she told Caleb.” I take a minute or so to catch Riele and Isis up on the nonsense Mom had the audacity to tell my son, with her hypocritical ass.

“So, is she on ice at Eternal Horizons, or does the City of Ribax still have her?” Riele asks nonchalantly, breaking a piece of bread and sticking it in her mouth.

“Okay. Better yet, tell me whether loving me through everything includes beating your mom’s ass on your behalf. I’ve been itching to straighten her lopsided wig with a few two-piece combinations,” Isis adds, holding her newly formed fists up, causing Riele to start choking on her bread.

“Are you okay, Miss?” our waiter rushes over asking with concern in his blue eyes.

“She’s dramatic. Thank you so much, sweet cheeks.” Isis interjects in a syrupy tone that incites my giggles.

Riele nods while grabbing her glass of water, taking large gulps to clear the bread from her throat.

“Your food will be out shortly. Let me know if you need anything,” the waiter tells Isis while caressing her shoulder gently before walking away.

“His ass better leave me alone before I have him singing Black negro spirituals at his family reunion. He ain’t ready for Gertrude and Prudence to disown him after taking this pussy on a merry-go-ride,” Isis declares, staring at the waiter’s retreating back.

“Oh no, bestie. We ain’t about that li—” I attempt to say before Isis cuts me off.

“Tuh. Big dick doesn’t come with any criteria, but—nah, let me quit right here. I’ll be sliding down big black dicks until the good Lord calls me home. You're right, girl. I ain’t about that life at all.” Isis remarks, returning her gaze to Riele and me.

“I’m glad you came by. I’ve been missing you,” Nana says when I enter her kitchen.

Her small TV is playing what appears to beHouse of Paynes, and several pots and pans are on the stove. Edna O’Neal is my rock and has never failed to be the person to stand in the gap for me against my most prominent opponent to date, . . . her daughter and my mother. After leaving Isis and Riele, I had more time to kill since Germayne said he and Caleb wouldn’t be back until this evening, so here I am, visiting. Having Germayne in my life, I didn’t think I would get bored with having free time, but I’ve come to enjoy being with a man who never looks for opportunities of separation.

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