Page 85 of Just Listen
I knew that a time was had, when I hadn’t checked my phone in hours. I knew that my baby was safe at my home with Ms. Shelia, so I had only checked the cameras earlier that evening. So, imagine my surprise when my Uber pulled up to my home, and I noticed Malice’s car parked out front.
“Nigga just doing what he wanna do, huh?” I mumbled, before opening the back door, and placing a foot on the ground. “Thank you,” I told the black female driver, before completely exiting the vehicle.
Moments later, she pulled off.
Naturally, as soon as I stepped onto the driveway, the automated lights popped on, illuminating the entire area. As I was strolling past his beamer, I saw that he wasn’t sitting inside, confirming that he was already in my damn house.
“Now, I know I told that nigga to kick rocks,” I grumbled, while huffing out, as I climbed the steps that led up to the porch. “Nigga, must don’t know what time it is. I got this liquor in my system too. Might just jump on his ass for playing with a real bitch’s feelings.”
“We ‘bout to throw them ‘bows. ‘Bout to swang them thangs,” I sang off key, loudly, while typing in the code to the door.
After the door popped open, and I stepped into the house, I immediately paused. “Oh, that nigga ismanipulative.” I dramatically dipped for emphasis. “He knows how much my fat ass loves to eat.”
Closing the door behind me, I couldn’t stop sniffing the air. I could already tell that Malice had cooked something with gravy, and the fucking aromas were amazing.
“The hell he got going on in here?” I wondered, as I ascended the stairs.
Once I reached the second floor, I realized that only the lights in the kitchen were still on, where there were several floral arrangements on the island. Glancing to my left, I saw that Malice was sound asleep on the sectional, with Khari on his bare chest. So, I quietly tipped into the kitchen to check the pots on the stove. My mouth helplessly watered, as I saw that he’d made smothered chicken and gravy, rice, broccoli and cheese, and crème brulee corn.
Inquisitively, I checked the microwave, and found a plate already made with everything on it. Naturally, I assumed that it was mine, and immediately warmed it up. Low key, I was hungry as fuck, and didn’t even bother sitting down once my food was heated. Instead, I grabbed a plastic spoon, and instantly dug in, while standing in my booty shorts and tall, thigh-high boots.
“Umm,” I found myself moaning, after dipping a spoonful of rice, gravy, and broccoli into my mouth.
“That shit bussing, huh?”
I paused, as I watched Malice sit up, and lay a sleeping Khari beside him.
Deciding that I wouldn’t respond, I took another bite of food.
“You must’ve had a ball,” he assumed, as he eased off the couch, and stood up. I peeped that he was wearing his basketball shorts, appearing to have been in for a minute. “It’s damn near four in the morning,” he mentioned, while approaching the kitchen.
I looked him up and down with disdain. Ole fine, sexy, tall, cut, dread headed ass nigga. He didn’t have no business still looking that good, after just waking out of his sleep.
“What are you doing here?” I quizzed, deciding to cut the bullshit.
He frowned and tilted his head. “Aint this where I been sleeping at for the last couple of months?”
“Right. But I told you to go handle your situation.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “It’s handled.”
I frowned. “And what does that mean?”
“It means that I pulled up to the crib, told her that I was no longer interested in a relationship. Then I got some movers last-minute and they moved all my belongings to a storage facility. My cars and toys too.”
I arched a brow. “You got all that done in one day?”
He shrugged. “Aye, money talks. I told them niggas to call-in for extra help. I had about ten men on the job, and they got it done.”
“And Paisley? She was cool with all that?”
He sighed, while approaching the island, and copping a seat. “Nah. She was pissed, but she knows how far to take it with me.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
“And I guess that’s why I can’t relate. I’ll always take it too far.”
