THE NEXT DAY
"Malik!" my mama called me to the kitchen. She handed me the house phone.
"Hey," I felt a shiver go down my back, a weight lifted off my shoulder hearing Tasha's voice. I almost started crying.
"Tash, you good?"
"I'm breathing'." I felt my stomach turn. "I need you to keep Madison for a few days. She can't see me like this," I hear her voice shake a bit.
"Why don't you leave that nigga?" I blurted. It was clear he wasn't adding anything to her life, and I knew she wanted to be with me, or she wouldn't have slept with me.
"I love him, Malik!"
"You love him enough that you fucked me?" I said a bit hurt.
"That was a mistake..." I clenched my jaw. My heart started to feel heavy.
"Youn mean et?" I said in disbelief. I don't know why, but when I got outta jail, I thought we would get back together. Work through the issues we had, and raise Madison together.
"I do," she spoke sternly. "And I won't leave him for you. You too unreliable,"
I stayed quiet for a moment, trying to process the pain that was happening to me. This was a different type of pain.
The person who you're in love with telling you that you basically ain't worth shit.
"Aight," was the only thing my voice allowed me to say, despite the agonizing thoughts that ran through my head.
I love you, Tasha. I wanted to tell her. I wanted to let her know that I'll be good. Imma work to get us out of this place. To make a better life for us. But all that shit stayed in my head.
"You right. If possible, bring her sum more clothes," I spoke
"Wait, Lee—,"
"Nah, Tash, you said how you feel. I'm good," I cut her off. I didn't need to have my feelings hurt any more than they were.
She sighed through the phone. "...okay. Okay. Imma bring some clothes in a few,"
"Okay," I hung up the phone, going to the living room and sitting on the couch. I ran my hands across my face, trying to prevent the tears from escaping.
I can't be cryin' ova no bitch.
But, she's not just no bitch, and I love her. I wish I could go back to the way things were when we were kids.
"Leek," she called out. We were sitting on the edge of her bed passing a blunt back and forth. "Do you love me?"
"Huh?" I said in confusion. I feel like the answer was obvious, "Yes, duh, I love yo ass,"
"So, when we gon' get married?" I rolled my eyes at her high talk.
"Tasha, we only eighteen," I laughed. "You high as fuck, huh?"
"Yeah," she laughed, and I did the same pulling her on my lap as we started to kiss.
"Daddy?" Madison called out to me, breaking me from living in a distant memory. I was back to reality. The reality where me and Tasha ain't together.
I looked up at her, putting a smile on my face. I didn't need her little ass worrying 'bout me.
"Yeah, baby? C'mere," I reached my arms out to her. I could see her hesitate a bit, which hurt the fuck outta me, but she still came over, holding her plush toy tight in her grip as she sat on my lap. "Whatchu want, Ladybug?"
