Page 18 of Forbidden Fruit

“I know. It doesn’t seem real. Well, at least before you have it, I’ll be working at Entergy.”

I smiled softly at him as he walked with me toward the automatic door. When we got close, he pulled me in his arms and kissed me tenderly on the lips. “I love you, Chitrita.”

“I love you too, Gray. Talk to you tomorrow.”

I walked out of the store without him. When I got to the car, the driver backed out of the parking spot. As we drove away, I saw Jedrek walking out the door watching us leave. This shit was so emotional. I wrapped the bag around the test and stuffed it in my purse.

Ten

JEDREK

Icouldn’t wait. I went to Sprint and had my number changed as soon as I left Vashti. Convinced that she was done with me, I’d stopped calling after my mama got fired a week ago. I thought she was ignoring me and trying to move on with her life. My mama was pissed that she’d gotten fired. She blamed me for a little while, then she finally admitted that she knew they didn’t like her or her cooking. I would have never told her the things they’d said. She’d started working at Residence Inn in housekeeping, and she seemed to like it. I didn’t know why. There was no way I could clean up after people’s nasty asses. No way in hell. It was bad enough I had to clean their cars.

When Vashti called my job, it felt like the world stopped. I missed her. She was fun to be around, not to mention how wet that pussy got for me. When lil mama told me she loved me back, that shit made my whole day. The few weeks that I couldn’t talk to her, I realized a few things. One, I was miserable without her. Two, I needed her. Three, I loved her. And four, I didn’t want anyone else. I was a good-looking guy, so I got propositioned quite often, but her proposition was the last one I’d accepted. Now, we were having a baby. Mama was gon’ wanna beat the shit out of me.

After picking the song I wanted to listen to on the way home, I sent Vashti a text.I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. This is my new number. I love you, Mommy.

Can I call you?

Of course.

Seconds later, my phone was ringing. “Hello?”

“I needed to hear your voice, Drek. I love you too.”

“I think you might love my voice and not me.”

“I love your voice and that shit hanging between your legs too. When you gon’ tighten me up?”

“Shit don’t start. I been jacking off to memories. If I get a room tomorrow, can you spend the day with me?”

“Yes. When we come back here to talk to them, I’ll ride wit’ chu. I’on think this gon’ be good.”

“Let’s not worry about that right now. You want a boy or girl?”

“I’on know. I haven’t really thought about it. You?”

“Me either. So long as he or she is healthy, that’s all that matters.”

“You right. Drek, I’m so glad you were at work today when I called. I’d been calling for like two weeks tryna talk to you.”

“Damn, me too. I wish I had my own place, I’d move you in with me.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I love you, girl.”

“I love you too, Drek. I’m ’bout to go take a shower, then I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll call you to come get me from St. Elizabeth. Okay?”

“Okay. Goodnight Queen.”

“Goodnight.”

* * *

I wokeup the next morning on a high. After taking a shower and getting dressed, I called and reserved a room at the Eleganté. I decided to wait until Vashti told her parents before I told my mama. My mama would be easy to tell compared to her parents, namely her father. I couldn’t let her face him alone. I walked out to the hallway to see Mama in the kitchen. I had to take her to work today. “Good morning, Ma. You ready?”

“Yeah, Drek.”

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