Page 58 of Regancy & Savior
It wasn’t on purpose, but I cracked up laughing before I looked over at him with wide eyes. I didn’t know why, but I couldn’t believe he had just said that. “Taurus, are you serious?”
“Look, baby, ain’t nobody judging her, but you know how that shit goes. The only thing open at this time of night is legsand lips. Shit, when we get back north, I know yours will be.” He winked and then sat back with his hands rested behind his head.
I didn’t have a response for him, because I should’ve already been used to his mannish ass. Instead, I hit him in his shoulder. Then I stood to my feet just as my mother emerged from the bedroom she occupied since she’d been there. I guess he was right because she had changed her entire outfit from what she was wearing during dinner.
“What are you kids getting into tonight?” She looked from me to Taurus.
“Well, hopefully, the bed. What are your plans?” I looked at her sternly.What Taurus said and the way she was now all dolled up had me thinking.
“Considering the fact that I am your mother and grown, I don’t think I should be receiving that look from you. Isn’t that right, Taurus?” She looked at him and then me.
This nigga had a big grin on his face as he answered her. “That’s right, mama. She’s grown, Lane.”
“I didn’t ask Taurus. I asked you.” I cut my eyes in his direction before focusing back on my mother.
She was leaned over in the mirror, applying another coat of her favorite MAC lipstick to her lips. “If you must know, I’m having drinks with an old friend. It’s completely platonic.”
I shook my head. “Sure. Then why is that much lipstick necessary?”
“I can’t go with my lips bare, can I?” She smiled at me. My mama knew when it came to me, she had no business to herself or secrets.
I decided to not push her right now, but we’d have a long conversation very soon. “Have fun and be safe.” Then I turned and looked at Taurus. “Are you ready to go?”
I didn’t have to ask him twice, because before I finished the question, he was standing to his feet.
After we said our goodbyes to my mother, we were out of the door and in the elevator. He draped his arm around my shoulder, and I rested against him.
“You do know yo’ mama is grown, right?” he asked after a few moments of silence.
“I know. I just—” I started.
“Don’t be so hard on her, Lane. Let Stella have her fu?—”
“I just knew you couldn’t be serious for shit.” I tried to get out of his space, but he tightened his other arm around my waist. He was laughing at his own stupid ass joke.
“And besides, your mama ain’t finna go do half the shit you about to do to me. You’re on baby-making time. Mama is just trying to test some water.” He shrugged.
“Taurus.” I rolled my eyes to the ceiling.
“You’re gonna learn to stop rolling ya fucking eyes, counselor. When those motherfuckers get stuck, ain’t nobody gonna wanna look at yo’ pretty, bad-eye ass.”
I turned around and looked up at him with amusement embedded in my face. “Bad eye?”
“Hell yeah, because it’s only one eye usually fucked up in the pair. Then you got the confused eye, and that mother?—”
I didn’t even want to hear any more of his flawed ass explanation. “Taurus, you have serious problems,” I mused as the elevator finally opened on the main floor. He grabbed my hand, and we stepped off, walking in the direction of the parking garage.
“Nah. I don’t. I just research and look up the shit that yo’ ass won’t. That way, I can educate you on lil’ shit like eyes that are cocked like a thirty-eight.”
Again, I was giggling while shaking my head because he didn’t say the things that normal people said. Taurus said the things that would have you side-eyeing him because of his extensive knowledge on certain subjects. Not only that, but hisdelivery was what was flawed. He just said something without an ounce of couth when he said it. When we reached his car, he was sure to open my door for me to get in. He stood there until I was in before closing the door and going to his side. He was more unhinged than anyone I’d ever encountered, and I was a whole damn criminal lawyer.
REGANCY
I stared at the blank TV in front of me and then down at the man asleep in bed next to me. I was stuck there listening to my father go on and on about how he didn’t like hearing that I was in the hospital from my mother.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I jus?—”
“Don’t worry me, Regancy. Do better, please and I know you’re busy and all with the bar.Lavori troppo.(You work too much.)”My father was bilingual due to the fact that he was a black Italian who was brought to America from Italy when he was fourteen. His Italian was much better than his English, but one could never tell unless he spoke it.
