“I’ll take those,” I said, grabbing the bags so he could secure her.
We walked further into the room, and I set the food on the table. When Truce walked by me, the scent of him made my nipples pebble.
Why was he in my room? Why did he have to come in here smelling like great dick and a lifetime of love?
He had to go. Expeditiously.
“You—”
“I came to bring you food, play with my niece, eat, maybe play a hand of tunk, and talk, then go back to my quarters. Control yourself, and I’ll do the same.”
He smirked at me as he began tossing Scottie in the air. Her giggles always melted my resolve as I smiled and decided to just be quiet. I wasn’t worried about containing myself because I wasn’t the type to be promiscuous. There was no doubt that his presence did things to me, but I wouldn’t act on them first. Instead of staring at him and Scottie rolling around on the bed, I busied myself with unloading the food. She was crawling all over him and trying to bite him, while his hearty laugh filled the space.
When I opened the takeout boxes, I saw the smothered lamb chops, mac ‘n’ cheese, dressing, and greens, and the smell damn near made me have an orgasm. As much as I said I wasn’t hungry, the smell alone made my stomach growl. After I prayed over my food and took the first bite, Scottlyn and Truce got the fuck ignored as I sat at the table, on a date with the dinner.
Truce chuckled. “Look at Mommy, Chunks. She swore she wasn’t hungry, but over there eating like she ain’t ate in years.”
“Shut up!” I covered my mouth while trying not to laugh.
He walked over to the table and sat down, opening the other box that only had dressing and mac ‘n’ cheese in it.
“I already fed her,” I told him when he started feeding Scottlyn.
“She don’t want that nasty-ass baby food. That little fake chicken and rice ain’t do nothing for her.”
“She doesn’t need to overeat. Look at her chunky self… I can barely carry her around now.”
“I saw you climb the pole, so I know you got upper body strength.”
I playfully rolled my eyes. “Whatever!”
“Besides, this is baby weight. Once she starts walking, the pounds are going to shed. Don’t come for my niece, lil’ mama.”
“So you say. The girl loves food.” Just as I said the words, Scottie dug her hand into the dressing and stuffed it in her mouth. “See!”
Truce guffawed as I took her from him to go clean her up. “Don’t be mad at her when you were three seconds from eating with your hands too.”
“If you’re going to talk trash, you can go back to your room!” I yelled from the bathroom. I cleaned her up quickly, then returned to the room to see Truce eating from the third box full of food like mine.
“There’s some banana pudding and sweet potato pie in the bag if you want dessert.”
I nodded. “I’ll eat it later. Where did you order this from?”
“A place called Harold’s—the best soul food place in all of Muskegon.”
“It’s really good. Have you guys lived here all of your lives?” I asked, placing Scottie on the floor to play with her toys.
“Yep. Grew up here.”
“Oh… so, you’re home. I have to find my way back home, if it’s the last thing that I do. I don’t know what I’m going to do to make money to get there, though.”
“I can get you home. That’s not a problem.”
I looked over at him. “You will?”
“Yeah. I’m not in the business of holding you hostage. Although I’ll miss my Chunks, I also know you miss your family.”
“I really do. I don’t want to take Scottlyn away from her father or your family, but I know if I stay here, he’ll come for me.”
