Page 20 of Suleem and Yahzi
“You want me up under you or you want me to pay the bills?”
“Both.” I brushed my teeth with one hand and raked my fingers through my hair with the other. I had keratin on my natural curls, which allowed me to keep them straight, but there was no way it was going to survive the wrath of Suleem.
“Aight then, I gotta be here to handle business but I got you later.”
“You didn’t have to leave me your Jeep. I’m probably going to hang out around here today. I missed breakfast but I’m going to spend the afternoon with Aunt Mae.”
“I had to stop her from waking you up. She hit my line at seven this morning ’cause you didn’t answer your phone.”
“Did you tell her I didn’t answer because you had it?”
“Hell nah. I gave her the number to the new one but I see you just turned that shit on.”
I grinned. “It’s been on.”
I spit and used my hand to gather water to rinse then ran my tooth brush under the water before grabbing the mouthwash.
“Nah it wasn’t, ’cause I called.”
“What time are you going to be back?” I swished while he answered then spit in the sink.
“Not sure, what’s up?”
“Nothing.”
After one day I was already feeling needy. I wanted to be up under him.
“Ay, the fuck wrong with y’all? Turn that shit down. This ain’t a damn club,” he yelled before I had his attention again.
“Let me go parent these childish ass muthafuckers and it’s okay to tell me you miss me, Yah. Enjoy your day, baby, and I’mma take care of you later.”
After I ended the call, I stripped the bedding and replaced it, showered, and damn near skipped around the room getting dressed. When I made it to Aunt Mae’s apartment, she was in the hallway telling one of the kids she tutored goodbye.
“I called you.” She narrowed her eyes after she sent him on his way and I nodded.
“I know, sorry. We were up late and…” She waved me off.
“Mhm. I know exactly what you were doing. Come on in this kitchen so I can warm you a plate.” My cheeks heated but I followed her to the kitchen where I washed my hands then sat at the small dinette while she moved around getting what she needed. By the time she was done, I had a plate piled with hash browns, scrambled eggs, and the thickest peppered bacon I had ever seen in my life. She sat across from me, waiting until I blessed my food and took the first bite.
“God I missed this,” I mumbled.
“I bet you did.” She smiled proudly. “How you been doing? You okay?”
I nodded and swallowed. “I am.”
“I’m glad you’re back. You know he hasn’t been right since you left.”
I lifted the bacon and ripped into the end. “I’m sure he was fine.”
She arched her brow and smiled smugly. “Were you fine?”
I dropped my eyes to hide my smile and she laughed. “Both of y’all are stubborn as hell.”
“Was he angry with me?”
“Yes.” She looked me right in my eyes. Aunt Mae had Suleem since he was a baby. She raised him as her own. Loved him as if he grew in her womb. So anyone who hurt him hurt her.
“Were you?”
