Page 35 of Juke
“Boy, if you don’t sit yo’ little wild ass down somewhere.” Sophi pulled him back before he could do whatever dumb stunt he had planned.
He groaned and shuffled off, muttering something about how nobody lets him have fun.
I looked back at her. “You sure you straight?”
She nodded slowly, then looked away for a second before meeting my eyes again. “I’m alright. Tired, but alright. I’ve been helping Nic with Benny and tryna keep my mind from wandering too far,” she confessed.
I leaned back in my seat, watching her closely. “I’m on the way to my mama’s right now, but soon as I leave there, I’m coming to get you.”
“Rashad—”
“Nah. I already told you I got you. I meant that shit.”
Her lips parted like she was about to argue, but then she just nodded. “Okay.”
There was a pause between us, not uncomfortable, just heavy with everything that didn’t need to be said.
“Be ready when I call,” I added.
“I will be.”
I stared at her for another beat. “Sophi?”
“Yeah?”
“I know this ain’t how you planned none of this, but… you got me now, so don’t trip about what’s next. Let me handle it. Aight?”
She nodded slow like she heard every word I said and was holding on to them. I needed her to because I meant every one of ’em.
“I’ll see you in a bit,” I said before I ended the call.
I dropped the phone in my lap, ran a hand down my face, then started my truck. I had one stop to make. Then I was going back for her.
***
When I pulled up to my mama’s house, I stayed in the car for a minute just to collect my thoughts. I didn’t even know what I wanted to say, but I knew I needed to hear my mama’s voice. She was always my voice of reason.
When I finally got out, I walked up the steps and knocked twice out of habit even though I didn’t need to.
“It’s open!” she called.
Inside smelled like… home… always did. Mama was in the kitchen with her hair wrapped and one of those house dresses she called a moo moo.
“Well, damn.” She smiled. “Look who came to check on his mama.”
“Don’t act like that.” I kissed her cheek.
“You eat?”
“I could.”
She pointed towards the table. “Sit down. I got some chicken left.”
I sat while she moved around the kitchen, fixing a plate like it was second nature.
Jacob peeked around the corner from the living room. “Aye, champ. How you been?”
“I’ve been cooling. Keeping my face clean.” He nodded because he knew exactly what I meant.
