PROTECT

Chapter 14

"I'm not embarrassed by you Ty' Elle"

"Gimme a kiss right now then"

"I gotta go" i kiss her cheek and go into CVS.

"How was work?" Ty'Elle asks over the phone.

"I don't wanna do it ever again. My back hurt, my feet hurt, my legs hurt, my neck hurt, everything hurt".

"That bad?"

"No, it wasn't bad. I'm just tired"

"You want something to eat?"

"Ma gonna cook"

"What she gonna cook?"

"Come through! Or whatever yall say" Ma yells from the couch.

"Ma she sleepy. She got stuff to do"

"I'm not busy. Ask her what time to come over?"

"Come now if you want" Ma calls from the bathroom door this time.

"She said maybe tomorr-"

"I'm on my way soon" Ty said then hang up.

"Ma!" I yell.

"What? She's a good girl"

"I know but you didn't have to invite her over. Maybe i want my own space"

"Oh Autumn shut up. And get out. Im tryna pee"

I leave the bathroom but enter back in.

"You didn't even ask about my first day" i say getting comfortable against the wall.

"How was work?"

"Good"

"Good. Now go to the store for me"

"Mommm"

"What Autumn? I get from work and go to the store and cook all the time. You'll be alright"

"Just text me the list" I agree.

She nods "Now get out and let me shit in peace"

I left out of the bathroom and headed up to my room and got ready to leave out.

"Hey sexy" I hear above my AirPods making me stop in my tracks.

"Hi weirdo" i turn to Ty leaning out of the window. The quickly hops out, kisses my cheek and grabs a few bags.

"Why you didn't let me know you was going to the store?"

"Cause im grown"

Ty smacks her teeth and walks towards the house.

"Charlie!" I call out to him while tapping the car and opening the door.

"Wassup Au?"

"You taking too long to get out. Come on, im tired of holding these bags" i joke.

Charlie looking astonished unbuckles his seatbelt and hops out of the car.

"Meet my mom. Ma this is Charlie. Charlie, mom". I introduce while dropping the bags off in this kitchen.

Ma engulfs Charlie into a huge 'hi baby, nice to meet you' hug, rocking him 6'2 and husky and all.

I leave them to it and join Ty on the couch.

"How was work?"  She asks gripping my thigh. 

"It was cool. How was your day?"

"I got news.."

"Well what is it?!"

"I'll tell you later" she kisses my cheek and gets up and heads to my mom and i head upstairs to change out of my outside clothes.

"What's on your mind Ty'Elle?" Mom asked bringing attention to the very quiet, strange girl i was falling in like with.

"I'm just thinking.. maybe i should marry your daughter so i can keep eating like this" she compliments ma and hops up to help her clear the table.

Something's off. Is something wrong.

After cleaning off the table, we sit in the living room and talk.

"You taking my daughter with you tonight or shall I suffer?"

"Ma!"

She shrugs and turns to Ty who's fiddling with her fingers.

"I'll take her off your hands tonight yeah?"

"Thank you baby" mom lets out exaggerating.

I roll my neck at her and look to Ty'elle.

"Ty" i say then nod for her to follow me to my room.

"Wassup?"

I shut the door behind us and join her at the bottom of my bed.

"What's wrong? And don't say nothing because it's something"

"Nothing"

"Ty'elle!?"

"Aumani"

"Seriously"

"Nothings wrong. I'll tell you later ok" She kisses my forehead and gets up.

"Can you at least tell me what it's about?"

"Get your stuff so we can go yeah?" She says softly wanting to leave the conversation alone.

She walks out of the room and I grab my stuff needed for the night and head downstairs to her.

"I love you mom. Call me if you need something"

"I love you too. Yall get there safely please"

We take our turns hugging ma and head for the door.

"Come lock this door behind me"

I kiss ma once more before leaving out and waiting on the door lock to click.