Page 36 of Juke
Mama set the plate in front of me and sat across the table with a glass of sweet tea. For a second we just sat there in silence while I ate before I spoke up.
“You ever feel like you want somebody… but you ain’t got the right tools to handle ’em?”
Mama’s eyebrow raised just a little. “That a real question or you just tryna get poetic on me?”
“Nah, Ma. It’s a real question.” I chuckled.
She leaned back, arms crossed. “Who is she?”
“Her name’s Sophi.” I started. “She’s real quiet, but it’s something about her I just can’t shake. She’s been through some stuff, but I’on mind looking past all that.”
“So what’s stopping you? You obviously care for this girl.” she finally asked.
“I’on wanna mishandle her. She deserves peace, and I’ain exactly a peaceful nigga.”
“Mhm.” She sipped her tea. “Let me ask you this. Do you want her because you think she’s soft, or do you see her softness and want to protect it?”
“I wanna protect it,” I answered without hesitation.
“Then you’re already halfway there.”
“Halfway don’t mean shit if I still get it wrong.”
She reached across the table and tapped her fingers against mine.
“You don’t have to fix her, Rashad. You just need to be solid enough so that when she finally decides to lean on you, you’ll be able to handle it. Don’t push her to open up. Don’t make her feel like loving you has to come with survival skills.”
This is why I talk to my mama. She always knows what to say.
“You have a good heart, Rashad,” she added. “You always have. You’re just rough around the edges.”
I gave a small nod, letting her words settle deep.
“Now make sure you bring her to Sunday dinner.” She smiled.
“You just wanna be nosy.” I smirked.
She stood, taking my empty plate. “Boy, I’m your mama. That’s my job.”
I stayed and kicked it with my mama and Jacob for a bit before I headed to Buck’s to pick up Sophi. I low-key missed her lil’ ass today. I left my mama’s house with her words still settling in the back of my mind. Shit she said always stuck longer than I liked to admit, but it helped. By the time I pulled up to Buck and Nic’s house, I already had my mind made up on how I was gone handle things. I pulled in behind Buck’s truck and trekked to the door and rang the bell. I knew somebody, probably Buck, was looking at the camera and saw it was me. Moments later, my suspicion was confirmed when he opened the door.
“The fuck you posted up on my doorstep like the Avon lady for?”
I walked past his ass before I spoke. “You know why I’m here.” As soon as I was deeper into the house, I spotted Sophi curled up on the end of the couch like she was when I talked to her earlier. She looked up, and the moment her eyes hit mine, a soft smile graced her face.
“Hey,” she said.
“Wassup, shorty,” I murmured back, as I walked over. I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “You good?”
She nodded. “You?”
“I’m better now,” I countered causing her to blush.
Before we could say anything else, Buck walked past us and narrowed his eyes.
“Cut all that shit out in my damn living room. I sit on that damn couch with my family.”
Sophi flipped him off without even turning around. “Nobody asked you, Lincoln.”
