ARMONI POV:
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
One moment I was seated next to Aaliyah, putting ketchup on her hot dog for her and the next I was being pushed to the ground by Jerome. He kissed my lips before kissing Aaliyah's forehead. "Stay here and don't move." He ordered, I nodded my head in response before he left. What the hell is going on? I was so scared, I've never been in a situation like this before. I didn't know if my family was okay or not, all I could hear was the commotion around me.
I could hear people running and screaming around us and it was the most frightening thing. I could tell that Aaliyah was scared as well. My body was positioned on top of Aaliyah's to protect her and I could feel her body shaking.
"It'll be okay, just pray." I whispered to her as I began praying myself. It seemed like forever that we were down there on the ground. Just as my legs began to give out, Jerome pulled Aaliyah and I, up from the ground. He had an unreadable expression on his face as I looked at him in concern. "What's wrong? What happened? Is everybody okay?" I asked, looking to him for answers.
"Go straight home and wait for me. Don't open the door for nobody!" He demanded as he pulled me into a hug and kissed my lips before doing the same to Aaliyah. "Make sure you're careful and if it seems like anybody is following you, do not go home. Try your best to lose them and stay on public roads." He said making my heart start to race. He was scaring the hell out of me right now. "Just be careful, I'll be home as soon as I can." He told me before kissing me again.
"Daddy what's going on?" Aaliyah asked him. Hell I was wondering the same.
"Just listen to Armoni, do what she says and don't give her any trouble. I'll be home soon. Y'all just gotta get outta here." He told her before pulling her into a quick hug. I was so scared that I was at a loss for words, all I could do was nod my head. The way Jerome was talking was scaring me more and more. "Please keep her safe." He mumbled to me, making me nod my head.
"But what about you?" I asked, finally finding my words.
"Just go, I'll be home later." He sighed.
"Jerome we can't leave without you. What if something happens to y-"
"It won't." He said cutting me off.
"But Jer-"
"GO!" He yelled, making me jump. I sighed before grabbing Aaliyah's hand and quickly walking away. I took one last look at him as we walked away and he was gone. I was literally feeling like I was in a bad ass horror movie. We were damn near running trying to get out of there. The bass in his voice put the fear of God in my heart. By the time we reached my car, I was damn near out of breath. I unlocked the car and started it with the button.
"Put your seatbelt on." I told her as soon as we got in the car. I simultaneously put on my seatbelt and threw the car into gear before backing out of the parking spot. Once I was out of the parking lot, I immediately called my mom to see if everyone was alright. I called her three times and she didn't pick up not once. I started to panic because my mother always picks up the phone. I began to worry as I began thinking that the worst happened.
I called my dad and he picked up on the second ring making me sigh in relief. Thank God!
"Mookie where are you? Are you okay?" He asked me.
"I'm fine Daddy. Are y'all okay? I tried calling Mama but she didn't answer." I said as I pulled onto the interstate. I made sure to stay observant of my surroundings just like Jerome told me to. I'm known to speed while driving and this time was no different.
"We're all fine, your mother left her phone at the field." He explained to me, taking a huge weight off of my shoulders. I tuned my father out as I noticed a black van weaving in and out of traffic behind me. My heart began to race again. I switched lanes a few times and they followed my every move, confirming my suspicions of them following me.
"Daddy, let me call you back." I said before ending the call. This black van was riding my ass and I had traffic on either side of me. My ass didn't know what to do. "Li, you got your seatbelt on?" I asked her, looking at her through the rearview. She nodded her head and I sent up a quick prayer. "Hold on." I glanced at the black van once more and noticed the passenger had rolled their window down.
I literally almost peed on myself when I saw the barrel of a gun sticking out of the window and pointed at my car. I was trying not to panic so I wouldn't scare Aaliyah even more but when I heard gunshots I couldn't help but to let out a scream. Hell I was scared. I've never been through anything like this before and I didn't know what to do.
I slammed down on my brakes, causing the black van to hit me from behind. Aaliyah started screaming at the impact of the van hitting my car. I sped up and weaved through traffic until I was able to exit off of the interstate. I sighed in relief when I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed I'd lost them. The black van was still on the freeway and I was now on the access road. "Thank you Jesus." I sighed loudly as I relaxed into my seat a little. Despite Jerome telling me not to go on the back roads and alleys, I did it anyway. The van could've easily taken a later exit and found me traveling on one of the main roads. "You okay, Li?" I asked her.
I looked at her through the rear view mirror and she busted into tears. "I'm scared! I want my Daddy." She cried.
"I do too but he'll be with us soon baby. Don't cry, everything is fine." I tried to reassure her. She sniffled before nodding her head. I reached into my glove compartment and got some napkins for her to wipe her face. She mumbled a thank you before putting her head down. To help us both relax and to lighten the mood a little, I put on some Beyonce.
I look and stare so deep in your eyes,
I touch on you more and more every time,
When you leave I'm begging you not to go,
Call your name two or three times in a row,
Such a funny thing for me to try to explain,
How I'm feeling and my pride is the one to blame.
'Cuz I know I don't understand,
Just how your love can do what no one else can.
Got me looking so crazy right now, your love's
Got me looking so crazy right now (in love)
Got me looking so crazy right now, your touch
Got me looking so crazy right now (your touch)
Got me hoping you'll page me right now, your kiss
Got me hoping you'll save me right now
Looking so crazy in love's,
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love.
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no
When I talk to my friends so quietly,
Who he think he is? Look at what you did to me,
Tennis shoes, don't even need to buy a new dress,
If you ain't there ain't nobody else to impress,
The way that you know what I thought I knew,
It's the beat my heart skips when I'm with you,
But I still don't understand,
Just how your love can do what no one else can.
Got me looking so crazy right now, your love's
Got me looking so crazy right now (oh crazy)
Got me looking so crazy right now, your touch (you're in love)
Got me looking so crazy right now (love!)
Got me hoping you'll page me right now, your kiss (hey!)
Got me hoping you'll save me right now
Looking so crazy in love's, (hey)
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love.
I'm Looking so crazy in love's,
Got me looking, got me looking so crazy in love.
As we continued to ride, Aaliyah loosened up a little and she began singing along and bobbing her head. I was glad that I could take her mind off of what just happened for a little while. Although I was still a little shaken up, she didn't need to know that. Once we made it home, I parked in the parking garage and Aaliyah and I ran up to the apartment.
"Is my Daddy okay?" She asked quietly.
"Yes baby, he's fine. He'll be home later." I told her, trying to reassure the both of us. I was seriously worried about Jerome. I felt helpless as she began to cry again. After talking to her some more and cheering her up a little, I made her some noodles and she took her nightly bath. She was tired from the events of the day, so she went straight to bed after that. While she was sleeping, I moved both couches, the sitting chair, coffee table, and lamp in front of the living room door. I was taking no chances, in case somebody tried to bust in here.
After securing the apartment, I went and found Jerome's gun. He had one that was registered that he kept in a shoebox, in his closet and another one that wasn't registered, in his safe. If the people in the black van had managed to somehow follow us home, they would have to go through hell and high water to get into this apartment. If they managed to get in, I was not hesitating at all to shoot the hell out of them. I was scared too death and I was not playing games with these people.
I was seated in a chair across from the front door with Jerome's gun in one hand and my phone in the other. My mind began to wonder; I knew that my family was okay and I was grateful for that, but what about Jerome and Mike. I don't know how I would feel if something happened to either one of them. I sat there for hours; I guess I'd fallen asleep because I woke up to banging on the front door, I glanced at the clock and it was two in the morning. At the sound of the loud beating on the door again, I jumped up in a panic and ran to the door. I climbed over the furniture to look through the peephole and thank God it was just Jerome.
I ran and put Jerome's gun back where I found it. I sighed in relief as I pushed all of the furniture out of the way and opened the door for him. He pulled me into a tight hug and I couldn't help but to get emotional. Although I was happy that he was okay, I was mad as hell. I pulled away from him and glared up at him.
"You okay?" He asked, touching my face.
"I can't do this shit anymore Jerome." I told him, making him raise his eyebrow at me in confusion. Jerome and I had only been a couple for like five minutes and all this shit was happening already. I took a deep breath to calm myself down before explaining what I meant. "First you killed that man and then you went missing and left me to take care of your daughter, then you're putting me and your daughter in danger. A black van followed us home and they shot at us Jerome. With a fucking gun! I can't put up with this bullshit, I'm not cut out for this lifestyle. I'm sorry but I can't do this." I rambled.
"Hold on, what you mean y'all got shot at?" He asked, raising his voice.
"I was on the freeway headed home and I noticed a black van following us. Next thing I know, they're rolling down the window and then I hear gunshots." I told him.
"Damn man." He sighed before sitting down. "Did you see who it was?"
"No, but I saw their license plate." I informed him, I gave him the license plate that I'd memorized and he immediately called somebody. I listened to their conversation with an annoyed facial expression. When he finally got off of the phone, I glared at him again.
"Like I was saying, I'm done with this. You're a great guy and all but I'm not going to put myself in danger because you wanna run the streets. I'll still pay my rent for the next two months but I'm moving out as soon as possible, I can-"
"You're not going anywhere." He said cutting me off.
"Jerome, I can't do this." I sighed, with an annoyed expression on my face.
"You're not going anywhere." He repeated.
"I-"
"You're not going anywhere. I can't lose you and I'll do anything to keep you." He said pulling me into him and cupping my face in his hands. I was silent as I looked away from him and he sighed before wrapping his arms around me. "Armoni, please."
"You need to stop this bullshit. Putting yourself and your daughter in danger, you need to stop. If that means that you stop running the damn streets all the damn time and get an actual fucking job, then so be it." I told him, making him sigh. He tucked his bottom lip into his mouth and looked away from me. He was silent for a while before he finally sighed.
"Okay." He agreed, I looked away from him, not believing him one bit.
"I don't believe you." I replied simply.
"I'm serious Noonie, if that's what it takes for you to stay, I'll stop." He told me.
"You promise, Jerome? This isn't a game." I sighed.
"I promise I'll stop. You got my word, but I need time Armoni." He told me.
"Time for what? For you to get killed? For something to happen to your daughter?" I asked, raising my voice as I shook my head.
"No man." He sighed. "I can't just leave. I have to handle my business and stack my money up so you, my daughter, and I can be straight financially. This isn't a job that I can turn in a two weeks notice and be done with it. It's a process baby girl." He explained to me, making me huff.
"How much time?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.
"Three months tops." He replied. I rolled my eyes and looked away from him. "Please? I promise to handle my business and get my shit together and be done with all that illegal shit. I just need some time. Please?" He begged. I stared at him with a blank expression on my face for a while before rolling my eyes at him.
"Fine." I mumbled. He smirked before biting his bottom lip and then kissing me. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me into his arms. "I hate that I give into you so easily." I admitted with a sigh. I laid my head on his shoulder as he carried me to his room. Jerome checked in on Aaliyah while I got ready for my shower. I was getting my body wash together as he came back into the room. "Are you hungry?" I asked him as I tied my robe around my body.
"I'll fix something, go take your shower babe." He told me before kissing my forehead and tapping my butt, making me blush. I went into the bathroom and started my nightly routine. First I brushed my teeth and applied a face mask before hopping into the shower. While in the shower, I got clean before shaving. Once I was finished in the shower, I dried off and applied lotion to my skin before getting dressed in my pajamas. I was dressed in a pair of simple cotton shorts, panties, and a tank top.
"Jerome, what the hell!" I yelled as I stepped out of the bathroom and rushing into the kitchen when I saw a cloud of smoke coming from the kitchen. I was surprised that the smoke alarm hadn't gone off yet. I stood in the doorway as I watched him beat the fire with a dish towel. This nigga. "Move." I sighed as I pushed him out of the way. "What were you doing?" I asked him once I'd put the fire out and cleaned up his mess.
"I was trying to make a grilled cheese." He mumbled. I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing and he smacked his lips when he noticed that I was trying not to laugh at him. "Shut up, it's not funny."
"I'm sorry baby, just let me do the cooking from now on, okay?" I said as I hugged him from behind.
"Okay." He agreed.
"I'll make you something to eat, go lay down." I told him. After he left the kitchen, I made him two grilled cheese sandwiches and fixed him a bowl of chicken flavored Ramen noodles. I got him a bag of chips and a bottle of water as well. I was tired and didn't feel like cooking a real meal, so this would just have to do for now.
"Thank you baby." He smiled as I gave him his food. He puckered his lips and I blushed before kissing him.
"You're welcome, goodnight." I told him as I got ready to leave the room, to go sleep with Aaliyah in Jerome's room.
"Where are you going? Come get your ass in this bed." He told me, making me blush. I turned out the light and did what he told me before I got under the covers and laid down. I tried to go to sleep but Jerome was killing me; every five seconds he was slurping on his noodles, crunching on his chips, or smacking on his sandwich. I was about ready to throw him out of this damn bed.
"Jerome!" I snapped, sitting up in the bed.
"Huh?" He asked with noodles hanging out of his mouth.
"Can you shut up?" I asked him.
"I'm not even talking." He replied, smacking his lips.
"You're smacking and you sound like a damn cow." I told him.
"Well excuse me, my bad." He scoffed.
"Thank you." I sighed as I laid back down and pulled the covers up to my chin before rolling over and curling up. I was finally able to fall asleep, only to be woken up by Jerome rubbing on my butt like a creep. "Jerome, what are you doing?" I whined.
"I'm trying to go to sleep, hush." He mumbled sleepily as he continued rubbing my butt with his eyes closed. I moved away from him and he smacked his lips before opening one eye and looking at me. "Come here man, stop playing." He said pulling me on top of him and forcing me to lay on top of him. I sighed dramatically before making myself comfortable. "Just go to sleep." Him rubbing my butt was actually soothing and it allowed me to relax, I was actually asleep within seconds.
One Week Later:
"Good luck baby, we'll see you in a minute." Jerome said kissing me before Aaliyah gave me a hug. I had a track meet today and the whole family was coming out to see me run, my Granny even flew out from South Carolina to be here. It would be her first time meeting Jerome and I was nervous as to what they would think of each other. My Granny was a really big part of my life and I really wanted her approval on my relationship with Jerome.
"Thanks." I said picking up my gym bag.
"I'll walk you out." Jerome told me before taking my gym bag and purse from me. "Stay here baby, I'll be right back." Jerome told Aaliyah. Normally we wouldn't leave her by herself but since Mike was in the next room, she'd be fine. If anything happened in the short time that Jerome would be gone, Mike was right there.
"I'll see you later, Li." I told her as I kissed her cheek. She went over to the couch and sat down with her Hello Kitty stuffed doll. I followed Jerome out of the apartment and out to the parking garage where my car was parked.
"You nervous?" He asked me as he laced our fingers together, with his free hand.
"A little." I shrugged, I always got a little nervous before each track meet, it was normal.
"You'll do fine, just don't fall and bust your ass." He joked, making me smirk.
"I'll try not to." I chuckled as we approached my car. I unlocked the doors with my keyring and Jerome put my bags in the back seat. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He smirked before pulling me into him. He tightly wrapped his arms around my waist before kissing me. I can never get enough of his lips; he's the best kisser, especially since he's the only guy I've ever kissed.
"Jerome stop." I giggled as I pulled away from him when he tried to slip his hand up my shirt.
"Alright, alright. I'll chill." He chuckled before kissing me again. "See you in a minute, drive safe." He told me.
"Yes sir." I smirked. I got in my car and put my seatbelt on before pulling off.
Nine, four, eight, one
B day
Mission one: I'm-a put this on
When he see me in this dress, I'm-a get me some, hey
Mission two: gotta make that call
Tell 'em get the bottles poppin' when they play my song, hey
Mission three: got my three best friends
Like we do it all the time, we gon' do it again, hey
Mission four: got the vintage Rolls
Drop a couple hundreds, tell 'em leave it at the door
I ain't worried, doing me tonight
A little sweat ain't never hurt nobody
While y'all standin' on the wall
I'm the one tonight gettin' bodied
Gettin' bodied (gettin' bodied)
Gettin' bodied (gettin' bodied)
Gettin' bodied (I'm the only one tonight gettin' bodied)
Gettin' bodied
If you want my body (gettin' bodied)
Won't you get me bodied? (gettin' bodied)
If you want my body (I'm the only one tonight gettin' bodied)
Won't you get me bodied?
Can you get me bodied?
I wanna be myself tonight
Can you get me bodied?
I wanna be myself tonight
Don't you see my body?
I wanna let it out tonight
Wanna party, wanna dance, wanna be myself tonight
Mission five: skip to the front of the line
Let me fix my hair 'fore I go inside
Mission six: gotta check these chicks
'Cause you know they gon' block when I take these flicks
Mission seven: gotta make my rounds
Givin' eyes to the guys; now I think I found him
Mission eight: while we're conversating, we can skip small talk
Let's get right to the chase
I ain't worried, doing me tonight
A little sweat ain't never hurt nobody
While y'all standin' on the wall
I'm the one tonight gettin' bodied
Gettin' bodied (gettin' bodied)
Gettin' bodied (gettin' bodied)
Gettin' bodied (I'm the only one tonight gettin' bodied)
Gettin' bodied
If you want my body (gettin' bodied)
Won't you get me bodied? (gettin' bodied)
If you want my body (I'm the only one tonight gettin' bodied)
Won't you get me bodied?
You see my body?
I gotta know; I'd like to know if you can get me bodied
I'm kinda tight; I'm feelin' right; I'd like to see somebody
I wanna let it out tonight
Wanna dance, wanna party, wanna be myself tonight
Can you get me bodied?
I wanna be myself tonight
Can you get me bodied?
I wanna be myself tonight
Don't you see my body?
I wanna let it out tonight
Wanna party, wanna dance, wanna be myself tonight
Baby, all I want
Is to let it go
Ain't no worries, no
We can dance all night
Get me bodied
That means come closer to me
While we grind to the beat
And your body is touchin' me
All I need
Is to let it be
Ain't no worries, no
Boy, dance with me
Feel my body
Don't stop; just come closer to me
While we grind to the beat
And your body is touchin' my body
Gettin' bodied
Ain't no shame 'cause I gotta get mine
I swing my hair and kick off my shoes
Come here, boy, and let me work on you
I ain't worried, doing me tonight
A little sweat ain't never hurt nobody
While y'all standin' on the wall
I'm the one tonight gettin' bodied
Gettin' bodied (gettin' bodied)
Gettin' bodied (gettin' bodied)
Gettin' bodied (I'm the only one tonight gettin' bodied)
Gettin' bodied
If you want my body (gettin' bodied)
Won't you get me bodied? (gettin' bodied)
If you want my body (I'm the only one tonight gettin' bodied)
Won't you get me bodied
I couldn't help but to think of Aaliyah as I sang at the top of my lungs. Both of us are die hard Beyonce fans and every time we're in the car together, we have to play at least one Beyonce song. It's like a ritual. I know I looked like a crazy person with my mouth wide open and my shoulders moving as I sang and danced, my way to the training facility.
"Mookie." Andrea sang as I entered the locker room.
"Hey." I smiled before hugging her.
"My love." Tamika sang as she picked me up and spun me around, making me laugh.
"Y'all play too much." I said shaking my head as I put down my bags by my locker. "Where is everybody else?" I asked. I knew that Tatiyana was running late as usual but Brandy and Andrea usually came to practices and meets together, so I was surprised not to see her.
"Brandy had to run back home because her dumb ass left her gym back." Andrea informed me, making me laugh. That definitely sounded like Brandy, her forgetful ass.
"Tatiyana is running late as usual." I added, making them nod in agreement. Yana can never get anywhere on time, that girl is always late.
"Everybody else is just late I guess." Tamika shrugged.
"Nah, y'all just early as hell all the damn time." Lauren joked as her, Tiara, and Shelby walked into the locker room together.
"Bitch we were on time. Y'all are just late as hell." Tamika laughed.
"Right." I smirked before nodding my head.
"Whatever, I love my haters." Tamika said flipping her hair.
"Bitch!" Andrea laughed.
"Hate on you for what?" I asked, as Andrea and I looked at each other and busted out laughing.
"The Queen has arrived." Taiyana sang as she jogged into the locker room, out of breath.
"Girl gon', I'm the Queen of this castle." Shelby said pushing her out of the way and doing her Queen wave, making us laugh.
"Yeah, the Queen of Thots." I mumbled, making her mug me.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Tiara laughed.
"Square up." Shelby told me, I laughed before squaring up with her. Everybody watched as we began to slap box.
"Y'all niggas play too much." Brandy laughed as she came into the locker room with her bag over her shoulder.
"Here's the real Queen of Thots." Shelby said as she began clapping. Brandy gave her the middle finger before sitting down.
Before every meet, as a team we always stretched, warmed up, and prayed together. I think that's what makes our team so close, we're all linked together and we have a bond. We all joke around and play with each other but that's just how our relationship is. We don't always agree with each other and sometimes we fight like cats and dogs, but we all love each other like sisters.
We all got dressed out before heading out to the field so we could stretch and run a few laps, before our team meeting and prayer with the coaches.
***
"You ran so well Mookie." My Mama told me, making me smile. I hugged her before stepping into the house. After the track meet, I went home and showered before getting dressed and coming over to my parents house. My Daddy, Emanuel, and Jeremy barbecued and everybody came over. The whole block was packed so it looked like I was the last one to arrive.
"Thank you Mama." I grinned. "Where's Daddy and Granny?"
"You are such a Daddy's girl." She scoffed, making me laugh. "Your Daddy is out back on the grill and your Granny is in the kitchen. I tried to help her but she doesn't want anybody in the kitchen with her but you." She smirked, making me smile.
"Okay, thanks Mama." I said kissing her cheek. I went off in search of my Granny but every five seconds I was stopped by one of my family members, trying to talk. I finally made it to the kitchen and found my Granny at the stove stirring something in a pot.
"My Mookie." She said without turning around, making me grin. I came up behind her and hugged her tightly. She turned around and pulled me into a tight hug before kissing my forehead. My Granny and I were both short, but she was a little taller than me.
"I missed you so much." I told her as I squeezed her a little.
"You did?" She scoffed. "I couldn't tell, you don't call me anymore."
"I know, I know. I'm sorry Granny, I've just been so busy with going to school full time, running track, and working." I told her.
"Nu uh, that's no excuse! You were still calling me at least twice a week until you moved in with that little boy. Now I hardly heard from you." She fussed, making me blush. She was right.
"You're right, I'm sorry." I pouted.
"Mhmmm." She hummed as she eyed me. "You like this boy?"
"Yes ma'am." I admitted. "We're kinda together, he's my boyfriend."
"Is he, now?" She asked, stepping back to look at me. I nodded my head and remained silent as her eyes studied me. "Well, you look happy."
"I am." I told her honestly, with a big smile.
"Good." She smirked, before nodding her head. "Wash your hands and help me finish up this food."
"Yes ma'am." I smiled, together we finished the food and once it was done, we started transporting it to the dining room. I stood back and looked at all the food, it all looked so good and I was beyond ready to eat. All that running earlier made me work up a huge appetite. We'd prepared; potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread. Granny still had a peach cobbler and a red velvet cake in the oven baking and a banana pudding was in the refrigerator.
While we waited for the guys to bring in the meats, we cleaned up around the kitchen and set the table for everyone. I made a pitcher of sweet tea for the adults and a pitcher of grape kool-aid for the kids. I was so excited to eat.
"Thank you Jesus." I mumbled as my Daddy, Manny, and Jeremy brought in pans of food from the grill outside. The smell from the food was literally making my mouth water. Any type of meat that you could put on a grill, they grilled tonight. They had brisket, links, ribs, burgers, chicken, steaks, pork chops, and shrimp skewers.
We called everybody into the dining room so that we could say the blessing and eat. There were way too many people for us all to fit at the dining room table so we cleared off the kitchen table, the island, the bar and got out a card table for the kids to eat on.
As soon as my Daddy said the blessing, I was the first person to make a plate.
"Dang Mookie, greedy butt." Tatiyana laughed as I damn near pushed her out of the way to get to the links. After I made my plate, I sat down and began eating. People were trying to talk to me and congratulate me on the meet but I wasn't trying to hear it. I was focused on my food, if it's one thing I don't play about, it's my food.
"Well dang, you didn't make me a plate?" Jerome asked me, I simply looked up at him and continued eating my food. "Guess not." He mumbled. He made Aaliyah and himself a plate before coming to sit beside me at the table.
"Slow down Mook, it's not going anywhere baby." Manny told me, making me roll my eyes at him.
"Mookie can outeat me any day of the week. I don't see how she does it." Leland said shaking his head.
"Okay." Imani agreed. "Greedy ass."
"I'm still trying to figure out where it all goes?" Andrea laughed.
"To that big ass head of her's." Manny laughed.
"Andrea, I know you're not talking, acting like you don't be eating up every damn thing in sight." Mike said blasting her.
"Y'all better stop all that cussing in my house." Mama warned, I smirked at them as I continued eating my food.
"Ooooh. Y'all got in trouble." Brandy sang.
"I'm still stuck on how much this girl can eat."
"Okay! How can somebody so little, eat so much?" Leilani joked as she shook her head.
"Y'all better leave my baby alone." Granny fussed.
"Thank you Granny." I said with a mouthful of food.
"Right, y'all better leave my Mookie alone. Just cause she can eat doesn't mean she's greedy. She just has a healthy appetite. As long as my baby isn't three hundred pounds, she can eat as much as she wants." Ms. Jocelyn, said defending me as well. I grinned at her before smirking again and sticking my tongue out at everybody at the table.
"Eat all you want, baby girl." Jerome whispered in my ear before kissing my cheek, making me grin. I did my little happy dance as I continued to eat my food. If my man says that I can eat as much as I want, then I sure as hell am going to eat. Well, I was going to eat regardless of what he said but I was happy to have his approval of my eating habits.
After dinner, I was as full as a tick. Since I helped Granny fix the food earlier; Imani, Leilani, and my Mama cleaned up the kitchen. Granny made sure she put me a big serving of banana pudding into a container for me to take home. I was in love with her banana pudding, it made me feel warm inside. Since Granny is a Whitney Houston lover, so every time we get together, she always wants to watch all of her movies. Tonight she wanted to watch The Preacher's Wife and The Bodyguard, she said she wanted to save Waiting to Exhale for tomorrow's Sunday dinner.
I was laid out on the couch waiting for my mom and my sister to hurry cleaning up. I wanted to watch these movies so I could hurry up and get in the bed. My head was in Granny's lap and my feet were in Jerome's. Granny was rubbing my scalp, so I was trying my hardest to fight my sleep.
I didn't even make it ten minutes into the movie before I was knocked out. When I woke up, Jerome was putting me into the bed at our apartment. "Did you get my banana pudding?" I mumbled to him as he took my shoes off.
"Yes baby, greedy ass." He chuckled as he got into the bed with me.
"Li already in bed?" I asked.
"She wanted to stay the night with your parents and Zyonn but I'm going to get her in the morning." He informed me, I nodded my head before rolling over and curling up to go to sleep. "Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?" He asked tapping my shoulder, making me laugh a little. I rolled over to face him and pecked his lips, I told him goodnight and I groaned as I felt him pull me on top of him again. "Don't act like you don't enjoy getting your booty rubbed." He said making me laugh.
"Goodnight Jerome." I chuckled as I snuggled into his chest.
"Night baby girl." He mumbled before kissing my forehead. It wasn't long before I felt him smack my rub and then rub away the sting, once he started rubbing my butt and back, I began to relax and fell asleep again, almost instantly.