Page 35 of Heart of a Savage
“Nothing... absolutelynothing.”
Harvey put me in a headlock, and I punched him in his stomach as Mike and Moses hollered out, egging us on.
“Hey, now! Y’all cut that out,” my mama said, coming inside the sitting room. “I thought I heard my boys in here.” She smiled, going around the room kissing our foreheads.
“Hey, Ma. Where’s Piper?” I asked.
“At a friend’s house, studying... meaning at that arcade doing what young girls do.”
“What you mean? If she’s supposed to be at her friends’ house studying, why is she at an arcade instead?” Mike asked.
“Because she thinks she’s slick and acts like we don’t have eyes all over this city! Everywhere she goes, we know about it,” Papi interjected.
“That’s right,” Mama said, rubbing on Papi’s back. “I hope y’all are hungry. I made smothered turkey legs, rice, green beans, and buttermilk biscuits.”
“As good as that sounds, Mama Ash, we have to save our appetite for dinner with my fiancée tonight.”
“Fiancée?Really? When did this happen?” Moms asked, turning to Harvey, just as surprised as we were when he told us.
“I just proposed three months ago.”
“Oh, wow! I’m happy for you, baby! You better bring her by to meet us. Your mom didn’t even tell me!”
“I told her that I would be the one to tell my people. I’m shocked she was able to keep it quiet.”
We all chuckled before Ashlyn asked for more details. “I love that for you. When’s the wedding, Harvey?”
“July thirteenth. We’re actually on our way to pick out our tuxedos.”
“Oh, you aren’t playing, are you?”
“It’s time out for games, Mama. I’m ready to settle down and start my family.” Harvey cheesed like a goofy, and I chuckled because this nigga hadn’t stopped smiling since I laid eyes on him at Club Lucid.
“Well, you make sure my invitation is in my mail soon.”
“We’ll be sending the save-the-dates tomorrow.”
“Alright… I’m happy for you, baby.” She kissed his cheek and hugged him tight. “Well, I guess it’s just me and you, old man. Come on and eat.”
My pops stood and followed her into the kitchen. I could hear her giggling and telling him to stop, and my face twisted. I knew my parents were still affectionate toward one another, but I cringed when having to see and hear it.
“Man, come on. They about to start being on bullshit,” I said, standing.
“Yeah, we gotta move. I don’t want to be late for our reservation,” Harv said, clapping his hands together.
“I can’t wait to meet shorty. She got you moving hella sucka-ish,” Moses pointed out, laughing.
Harvey sighed before cheesing again. “Change is good, Mo. I hope the same for you one day.”
“Don’t put that evil on me. I’ma be a dog for the rest of my life.” He barked to emphasize his words..
I shook my head as we all filed out of the house.
Me:
Tick tick, Coco.
Snake Bitch:
