Page 249 of Invisible Bars
“As he shouldn’t!” Mama Rose agreed firmly, folding her arms. “Mmm. God don’t like ugly—and he only tolerates pretty if it’s kind. Giselle done ran out ofboth.”
“Well, I can tell you who’s done with her ass…me,” Imanio joined in.
Mama Rose tsked and shook her head. “I tried to warn that child of mine years ago. Told her, ‘Giselle, you can’t parent pride and expect love to live in the house too.’ But she ain’t want a son, she wanted a damn show pony.”
Imanio nodded. “Yeah, well… that pony’s left the stable.”
That made all of us laugh.
“Well, baby,” Mama Rose sighed, placing her hand gently on my arm. “You always got a seat atmyhouse. Come have dinner with us one Sunday. We’ll show you what arealfamily dinner look like—good food, good laughs,no drama.”
Then she winced and rubbed her hip. “Lord, I gotta get home. My gout acting up—I knew I shouldn’t have had that third deviled egg, but they was calling me!”
Everyone burst out laughing again.
“I told you to slow down!” Renee said, through her laughs.
“Renee, you ain’t tell me nothing! Now come on!”
We all exchanged hugs and goodbyes.
“Those two… are a mess,” I said, as we watched Mama Rose limp away.
“And a force to be reckoned with, too,” Imanio added. “But I love them.” He turned, his eyes softening as he looked me over. “I’m also proud ofyou. You handled everything tonight like a damn queen.”
“I f-feel like I just ran emotional sprints,” I complained.
Imanio slid his arm around my waist, his palm resting low—right where my body always responded first.
“You did… and you won,” he replied.
I blushed then quickly remembered something. “O-oh, crap! I didn’t get my weed.”
Imanio leaned in with a smirk, his grip just tight enough to tease.
“That’s alright… I’ll just let you get high off me again.”
He kissed my neck, low and slow. “Side effects may include moaning, trembling, and forgetting all about the damn weed.”
I rolled my eyes laughing—then my neck rolled to the right, followed by two fast blinks..
“Crush me like a peach cobbler panic attack!” Then I smirked, recovering. “Oh, so you the plug now?”
He chuckled against my skin, lips still brushing my neck.
“Nah, baby… I’m the whole damn dispensary. All-natural, fast-acting, and highly addictive.”
I laughed, swatting at his chest. “Y-you’re crazy.”
“And you’re still here,” he teased, turning me to face him. “Which means you like stupid. Especially when it comes with good dick and better aftercare.”
I tried to act unbothered, but my smirkandoutburst gave me away.
My chin snapped upward like I’d just caught the Holy Ghost, and I hissed through my teeth.
“Speak in tongues or ride one—Jesus, choose for me! Ugh! Come on. Let’s get outta here. There’s apple pie and ice cream waiting back at the h-house for us.”
Then he gave me a knowing look, lips curling up into something dark and mannishly. “Andyouowe me dessert, pretty lady.”
