Chapter 19

“I’ma fuck you up,” I told my brother as I walked into the backyard.

He laughed as I approached them and punched him in the chest.

“Why would you bring that pool table up again?”

My father laughed. “I mean, I can see why you would do it. She’s a beautiful girl.”

“You knew her daddy.”

His brows furrowed. “I did?”

“Iman Navarro.”

His eyes widened. “That’s Iman’s daughter? Damn. Now that I think about it, she does look just like him. It’s a small ass world. Iman was like family.”

“Grams made that clear.”

“You must really like her.”

Mace laughed. “Pops, this nigga is low key in love with that girl. You should see the way he acts with her.”

“Shut yo’ ass up, Mace,” I said. “Ain’t nobody in love. I fuck with her, though. I won’t allow anybody else to fuck with her, either.”

My father chuckled. “Whatever you say, Deuce.”

The back door opened and out walked Kerrion and Devin. Both had the same grins on their faces that Maceo had when he saw Salima. They came over and dapped up before taking a seat. Devin sparked up a blunt before finally saying anything.

“I see you still on Salima’s ass, nigga. Got her over here with the family and shit.”

“We aren’t about to keep talking about this shit all day. Yes, I brought her home. Yes, she’s having dinner with us. Y’all niggas are gonna stay outta my business.”

Kerrion waved me off. “You brought your business here, so it’s free game.”

“Y’all wanna talk about something? Let’s talk about Maceo having pillow talk sessions with her best friend.”

Mace almost choked on the blunt Devin passed him. “Pillow talk!”

“Pillow talk, nigga. You know, where you lay up gossiping like a bitch after you get some pussy. Shar is gonna tell all your business to my girl.”

“Wait… so you’re dating the friend?” Pops asked.

“I’m not dating anybody,” Mace defended. “We’re just fucking around.”

“Pops, his thirsty ass begged me to get with Salima and put him on with her best friend. When I wouldn’t, he went to Jaeda to get her number.”

Pops laughed. “That is a lil thirsty, son.”

Mace kissed his teeth. “I didn’t beg him to do anything. And you can’t say shit about me when Jaeda handed you your girl’s whole life in a folder.”

“So what? I’m not denying that.”

Kerrion shook his head. “Y’all really out here arguing like females?”

Devin laughed and slapped his arm. “One of them must be on their period.”

I was itching to pull out my gun and pop one of their asses. Instead, I snatched the blunt from Maceo and took a long pull from it. Salima really had me out here acting out of character… well, at least where females were concerned. I’d never done the shit for any woman that wasn’t family that I was doing for her. I could admit that sex aside, I liked her.

She gave me my shit right back, and that did something to me. I came from a family of strong ass females, and it would take a strong woman to actually tie my ass down. While I liked to think I had control, Salima definitely had the upper hand in alot of shit. All she had to do was bat those pretty eyes or put those juicy ass lips on a nigga and she could have whatever she wanted.

After sitting outside for a while, the rest of the family started filing in. It was alot of us, and I didn’t want Salima to get overwhelmed, so I excused myself to go inside and check on her. When I stuck my head in the back door, she was laughing and talking with my sisters and a few of my cousins. I knew how these people could be with outsiders, but it made me feel good that they seemed to like her. I knew once she was gone, they were gonna be on my ass with questions.

Deciding I wanted to steal her away, I stepped inside. The laughter and conversation ceased as I made my presence known. When Grams kicked you out of the kitchen, you knew better than to come back. The women were looking at me like I’d just created an infraction.

“Y’all got a problem?” I asked.

“Unless you’re coming to help, I know I told you to get out of my kitchen, Deuce,” Grams said, her hand on her hip.

“Relax, woman. I just came to check on my lady. It’s alot of y’all in here and all of you are nosy.”

They all started speaking at once, mostly to curse me out. I waved them off as I reached for Salima.

“Come take a walk with me.”

“Huh uh!” Mia said, pulling her back. “You can’t come snatch her up out of our conversation.”

“Watch me.”

Salima giggled as she slipped her hand in mine and followed behind me.

“I’ll be back!” she called over her shoulder.

“Maybe!” I added.

We headed out the front door with the sounds of the women yelling at our backs. I lead her into the garden maze my grandmother insisted my grandfather have crafted for her. When Salima realized what it was, she pulled back.

“You are not about to get me lost in this shit.”

“Woman, I know my way in, out, and around this muthafucka. We used to play in here all the time as kids. I won’t lie, me and Maceo go lost for a couple of hours once, and my Pops had to come get us. We’ve been good since then.”

She laughed. “Did you cry?”

“Hell no. We thugged it out. Come on. I won’t take you too far in. I just want some alone time with you without all those eyes on us.”

She reluctantly followed me. We walked a little ways in before I copped a seat on the bench that sat in front of a fountain and pulled her down onto my lap.

“My people treating you good?” I asked.

“They’ve been very nice and welcoming. Most of them can’t believe you brought me home.”

“I’m never gonna live it down.”

“Awww Deucy!” She pinched my cheeks as I mean mugged her about that fucking name. “Am I your first real girlfriend?”

“What have I told you about that shit? And I thought you said you weren’t my woman, even though you are.”

She laughed. “You can’t just tell me I’m your woman, Stanley. That’s not how this works. You need to ask me.”

While she was smiling, her tone gave seriousness. I decided to give in and finally ask her.

“Salima Marie Navarro… are you gonna be my ol’ lady or what?”

She laughed out loud. “You can do better than that, Deuce.”

“Salima.”

“Stanley.”

I bit my lip as I sighed. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

She smiled as she cupped my face. “Yes.”

Pulling my face to hers, she kissed me softly and deeply. That shit took me back to last night when I was deep in her guts that final round. As a man that liked to fuck, that slow shit was never for me. Yet somehow, I fucked around and looked into her eyes last night. It was like she had me hypnotized. I couldn’t think straight. My strokes slowed to point where I realized I was making love to her.

It made me appreciate how wet her pussy was. How tight she gripped my dick. When she kissed me while I slow stroked her, I swear I almost handed over the deed to my house. I cared for her in ways that were foreign to me.

“You know these bitches at work are really gonna talk shit now,” Salima said, pulling away.

“What if you didn’t have to work?”

“What do you mean, what if I didn’t have to work? I have bills to pay that ain’t paying themselves.”

“You mentioned wanting to go back to school earlier.”

“I do. But I have to get my money right first.”

“Salima. You know who I am right?”

“And?”

“I got you, baby.”

“Stanley, no. I don’t need you to take care of me.”

“Why are you so damn stubborn? It’s not me taking care of you. It’s me trying to put you in a position to do what you want with your life. You think I’m expecting something from you in return?”

“I didn’t say that… Where I’m from, nobody does something for nothing, though.”

“That’s the way it is. However, with me, if I fuck with you, I got you, no questions asked.” I cupped her face and stared into her eyes. “I fuck with you heavy. I don’t need anything in return from you, but you. If you’re gonna be my woman, you have to get used to me doing shit. I’m not one of them lame ass niggas from your hood. I’m a thoroughbred and I stand on my shit.”

Her eyes searched mine as though she were contemplating what I was saying.

“Just… give me some time to think about that,” she said softly. “I appreciate you wanting to help.”

She pecked my lips. “Can we head back? The food was almost done when we left and I’m getting hungry.”

I nodded as I tapped her thigh to stand. Hand in hand, we headed out of the maze and back into the house. I could see she was the type of woman I was just gonna have to take charge and do shit for whether she liked it or not.

As we were walking in the front door, my people were coming in through the back. It was time to say grace so we could eat.

We joined hands as my grandfather a made his way into the kitchen. Old age and running the streets for so long had caught up to him. He moved slower these days. Taking a space next to my grandmother, he kissed her cheek and grabbed her hand as we bowed our heads to pray. When we were done, everybody started lining up to fix their plates.

I pulled Jaeda off to the side.

“Nigga, I’m hungry.”

“I just need to talk to you for a second.”

“Deuce.”

“Would you just listen? Damn.”

She folded her arms and looked at me over the glasses sitting on her nose. Just to fuck with her, I pushed them up with my finger, mushing her in the process. She balled up her fist and punched me hard in the chest.

“You play too damn much.”

“Stop wearing those shits on your nose like that, looking like a somebody’s grandma.”

She tried to walk off, but I grabbed her arm.

“I’m playing, I’m playing. Real shit, I need to holla at you.”

“What do you want?”

“I need you to get me some information.”

“What?”

“I need to know the balance of Salima’s mama’s medical bills and how much they owe on their mortgage. She wants to go back to school and that shit it a burden on both of them.”

Her face softened. “Awww, Deuce. That’s so sweet of you. You really like her, don’t you?”

“Yeah, nosy. I do. Can you get that for me? Just use my account and pay that shit off.”

“I got you.”

She smiled hard at me, and it made me frown.

“Why are you smiling so damn hard?”

“Because… you found someone. And she accepts you just the way you are. You having to sneak to help her tells me she doesn’t want your money. I don’t know… it gives me hope.”

“You still on that internet dating shit?”

She hung her head. “Don’t worry. I haven’t had any luck.”

“You don’t need luck, Jae. You’re a beautiful girl and smart as fuck. Any nigga would be lucky to call you his. You need a nigga that’s gonna treat you like a queen and still fuck up the world about you. That online dating ain’t gonna cut it. If anything, it’s gonna get you caught up.”

“I’m careful, Deuce.”

“Yeah, a’ight. Stop that shit. I’m not asking you to... I’m telling you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine, Deuce. Can I go eat now since you think you’re my damn daddy?”

“Go on.”

She stomped off to get in line. I shook my head. As the oldest, my job was never done.