Page 15 of Luca Cubed
Ping.
Ping.
My phone’s screen lit up as notifications came flying in. I wasn’t familiar with the number they’d come from, so I bypassed them to get to my call log. My mom was the first number on the list. I tapped the screen and dialed her up.
“It’s your mommy, Em,” my mother said to Emorey, who I assumed was near.
After a bit of ruffling and heavy breathing, her little voice boomed through the phone.
“Mommy?” Emorey answered the phone.
“Hi, baby. What are you doing?” I could feel my smile as it pushed my cheeks further into the sky. As tired and unwell as I was, my girls always brought a smile to my face.
“Nothing,” she responded. “Where are you?”
“Mommy is taking care of something really important and will be back in time to pick you up from school, OK?”
“OK.”
“Are you being good for your grams?”
“Yes,” she answered, nodding her head.
“What about Essence? Where is she?”
“Her in there. Her still sleeping.”
“Mom!” I started.
“I was on my way to get her up when you called. She’s already dressed. She wanted to lie down until I got Emorey together and it was time to go.”
“Well, it’s about time for you guys to leave out.”
“Ummm hmmmm. I got this. I don’t need a manager or a monitor,” my mother sassed.
“Alright, now, your mouth getting a little too sassy. How old do you think you are, honey? I will take out my belt,” jokingly, I warned.
“Goodbye, Ever. I’ll beat your ass before you can beat mine.”
“And she’s using profanity. Wow.”
My mother ended the call, not up for my crap so early in the morning. I wasn’t sure how I’d gotten the energy to even give her all that I did. Because, as soon as I ended the call, I was slumped in my seat with my head in my hand again.
Oh yeah,I thought, remembering the notifications that were sitting in my message thread. I unlocked my phone again and opened the new, unread messages from the number that was unfamiliar to me.
Hope you got home safely. -C
Good morning. Can I interest you in a conversation over breakfast? -C
“He texted,” I spoke my mind, though I hadn’t meant to.
“Who? The guy from last night?” Lyric wanted to know.
“Yeah. Cedric, I think his name was.”
“That’s it.” She nodded. “I like him. He’s not overbearing and he’s not in Channing. Honey, that’s good money, seems likegood dick, and some distance. It’s just what you need right now. Nothing serious.”
“Right. Nothing serious. I’m not even looking to have sex right now. I just want to give my little coochie a break. She gets me caught up. I can’t trust her.”
