Page 45 of Heart of a Savage
I nodded. “A’ight, but I ain’t fucking with them drinks.”
“Why?”
“Nigga, I’m straight. The drinks on your birthday had me doing stupid shit. I’m cool on all that.”
“Fine, no drinks. But just come chill wit’ ya boy before I leave. You can at least have a beer or two… unless that’s going to have you on a two-pump minimum too.”
“Aye, fuck you, for real!”
He laughed as he saluted me and left my office.
“MJ!” I called from my bedroom while I slid my feet inside my black Jordan Fours. I stood from the bed, snatching the blankets and sheets from it. “M?—”
“I’m right here, Pop,” he replied, appearing in my doorway with his Nintendo Switch.
“Did you brush your teeth?”
“Yeah.”
I walked up to him. “Let me see.” He cheesed, showing me his smile, looking like his moms in that moment.
“Good. Is your auntie here yet?”
“Yeah, she’s downstairs. We’re about to go in the theatre to watchScreamSix.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yup!”
“Since when do you like scary movies?”
“You late, Pop. I’ve been watching scary movies with Auntie Piper since her first time watching me.”
“I guess I am tardy to the party, huh?” I chuckled. “Anyway, don’t stay up too late, man. And no more junk food tonight.”
“Aww, Dad! We need snacks for the movie.”
“You should have saved the snacks you ate earlier for later, then, kid. Come on,” I told him, turning him at the shoulders and guiding him out.
We headed downstairs, where Piper was putting together a charcuterie board of different meats, cheeses, and fruits. I smiled, knowing she was already hip to my rule of MJ not consuming too much of that garbage that he loved so much.Knowing my little sister was health-conscious made it easier for me to trust that she wouldn’t let him overindulge in the junk food while I was gone.
She looked up from the board as we entered the kitchen, looking just like my moms. “Look at your old self trying to dress hip!” she teased.
“Girl, I ain’t hardly old. You got me bent, little one.”
“Saying things like ‘You got me bent’ proves I’m right.”
I laughed, grabbing a water from the fridge. “Check it. You’re sixteen or whatever, so I consider you responsible. I don’t want to have to look at those cameras tonight because I trust you to make good decisions. Don’t ans?—”
“Answer the door for anybody, and no boy company. I know, Messiah. Gabby is the only one coming over, so that’s the only time I’m going to answer the door. Don’t let MJ stay up too late, and he can’t have any more junk food. I got this.”
“As long as you know. I love y’all,” I said, going around the table kissing her and my junior.
“Are you going on a date?” she asked with a smirk.
“No. I don’t date.”
“You should. Maybe you’ll be a little… looser.”
