Trying To Maintain

F O R T Y - F O U R

Drevon

"Chill," I say lightly laughing. "You been being good for your mommy?" I ask Toots as she giggles over our FaceTime call.

"Uh course, Drevon. I always good for mommy."

"You better be, because you know I'll get them legs." I tell her with a playfulness in my voice, but we both know I mean it. I don't play about her respecting adults. Especially the ones caring for her.

"I know. Where daddy?" She asks.

"He at work mamas," I tell her, possibly lying. He liable to be anywhere in this punk ass city. Shit is still a little weird around here. When he around, he's around—turning off his phone and being up under me. But when he not, he gone for a minute and ignoring my existence. This shit been going on the past two and a half months.

I don't know if he still fucking around with his hoe ass friend or not, but I know he ain't been fucking or sucking me. Besides the head for my birthday, a nigga got desert dick. When he's here it's like we good. He just wants to be cuddled up under me. He'll surprise me when I'm getting off to some takeout and we'll cuddle up and catch up a bit on my off days. I guess this is one of the weekends he's not going to be home though.

I just hope he good out there. He still looking sick too, I don't like that shit at all. I think the nigga is on something to keep him on go if I'm being honest. He explained that he's trying to save up more money which is why he is hustling more and barely around. He said he wants to eventually leave the game for good, so he's trying to save enough to do so.

"Why him always at work?" Toots asks me pouting and effectively breaking me away from my thoughts.

"Because we have to pay for stuff all the time, baby. You too young to understand right now, but you will one day."

"I wan' be rich when I grow up so I can take care of you and mommy and daddy." She smiles at me.

"That's very sweet of you, baby. Hopefully, when you grow up we'll be halfway rich ourselves so you can enjoy your own riches." My eyes shoot up from the phone when the bedroom door opens and closes softly.

"I wan' enjoy them with y'all." I put my focus back on the phone.

"That's fine, mamas. You listening to Gramps and Honey?" I ask. At least Geneva is letting my baby still go over my dad's house. But that could be for reliable and free babysitting.

Add the fact that my dad damn near turned his house into a Target store for Christmas for Toots and Tink. I sent a few gifts and some money there for her. Me and Geneva got into it real bad around that time. She wouldn't let either of us even see her in person for the holidays.

"Uh course! That's how I get what I want, by being good," she cheeses at me. Then she looks like she suddenly remembers something and sits up with the phone. "Drevon, I told Gramps I bit my tongue but him laughed in my face though." She pouts. "It hurt my feelings."

It took everything in me not to laugh at her too. Pops ain't shit for that. My baby is missing two teeth in the front of her mouth at the top. "I think he was just confused, Toots."

"How though?!" She exclaims, eyes widening and mouth pouted more. "I was hurt, and him laughed at me."

"Because, Toots. You a snaggle-puss. It ain't no teeth in the front." I end up laughing. I get slapped on my arm for laughing at my baby.

"But it still hurt though!"

"Did your tongue bleed, mama?"

"No," she pouts with a frown on her face.