Page 29 of Certified to Handle You
He looked up at me, his eyes flickin’ around like he was thinkin’ about sayin’ somethin’, but he knew better. He knew he wasn’t built to stand in front of me, especially after I slid his ass over that counter.
I stepped back just enough to give him space to get up, but I stayed right here, watchin’ him.
“Get up,” I said. “And get the fuck out.”
“I ain’t leavin’ without my shit,” he muttered, tryna gather himself, but his pride was already gone. He ain’t have it no more.
“You gon’ leave with what I tell you to leave with, nigga,” I replied, lookin’ at him straight. “And right now, that’s just you and that ass whoopin’ you just got.”
Auntie Rue was standin’ off to the side, breathin’ heavily with one hand braced against the counter while she waved the other toward the door.
“Melo, just get the hell out,” she said, her voice tired.
He looked between us for a second, then finally turned and walked out without sayin’ another word.
I watched him go, makin’ sure he actually left before I turned my attention back to her.
“You a’ight?” I asked, already movin’ toward her.
“I’m fine,” she said, even though I could hear the strain in it.
I shook my head. “Nah, you need to start keepin’ somethin’ on you. Next time that nigga put his hands on you, you need to let one off in his ass.”
She looked at me like I was crazy, but she smiled anyway. “Lawd.”
I let out a laugh, then looked around at the mess and started helpin’ her pick everything back up.
We spent the next hour cleanin’ the place up, gettin’ the trays back right, and throwin’ out what couldn’t be saved. By the time we was done, it almost looked like nothin’ happened.
“Ain’t no way I just worked a whole shift in here,” I said, wipin’ my hands off. “You owe me some free cookies for this.”
She laughed, that real laugh that came from deep. “Boy, you always tryna get somethin’.”
She walked over and handed me a box of cookies that was still warm, then leaned up and kissed my cheek. “Thank you, baby.”
I nodded. “I’ll be back in a few days, and I better not see that nigga in here.”
“You won’t,” she replied.
I stepped out after that, got back in my whip, and reached for my phone, already thinkin’ about headin’ to Reni.
Soon as I saw the time, I knew I fucked up. It was past eight.
I rubbed my hand over my face, already knowin’ she been sittin’ there waitin’, and I ain’t said nothin’ since that last text.
“Damn,” I muttered, startin’ the car and pullin’ off.
I made it to her crib quicker than I should’ve, but I wasn’t thinkin’ about that. When I got to her door, I used the spare key. I noticed the top lock wasn’t locked, and I was grateful. I stepped inside and found her exactly where I knew she was gon’ be.
She was sittin’ on the couch with a glass of wine in her hand, already in her night clothes, and the look she gave me when I walked in told me I was late in more ways than one.
“I left my phone in the car,” I said, walkin’ in and settin’ the cookies down. “I got caught up helpin’ Auntie Rue and lost track of time.”
She ain’t say shit.
“Why you ain’t dressed?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
“I’m not goin’ nowhere with you,” she replied, her voice calm, but that shit felt colder than her yellin’ ever did.
