My Star

Chapter 5

June 9, 2022

When I opened my eyes, I saw his sexy self still lying there. "Baby," I said, because after yesterday, he was definitely my baby.

"Hmmm," he replied, as if he already knew his name.

"I'm going to jump in the shower and I'll see you at 9."

He opened his eyes and said, "8:30."

The smile that graced my lips brought a smile to his. I said, "Okay," then got prepared for my day. Once I was fully dressed, I went downstairs, and as always, my mom was in the kitchen.

"Good morning, love. Why are you up so early?" she asked as she kissed my cheek.

"Oh, no reason, just going to help my boyfriend at the youth center on Potter Avenue," I said nonchalantly.

"Boyfriend? Girl, since when? Tino finally came to his senses?" she asked with a smile on her face.

I know people might find it weird, but my mom was like my closest friend; we always talked like girlfriends.

I shook my head no and got my mom caught up on everything that was going on.

"Wow, I would have never expected him to talk to you like that. But Starlene, I am so proud of you, baby. As women, we sometimes put up with stuff for so long that we forget we have feelings too. We take and take. Do you think you two would be able to be friends again?" she asked.

"One day, maybe, but not right now. To be honest, I want to explore this feeling, so I don't have time to worry about what wasn't ever in the cards for me," I told her, stealing a piece of bacon.

"Stop taking my bacon, girl," my mom said.

"Mom, it's our first official date. I can't go to him empty-handed. If I learned anything from you, it's that I have to feed my man," I said.

She rolled her eyes, adding more bacon to the skillet as I made a bacon, egg, and cheese croissant, then wrapped it in parchment paper. As I looked outside, I saw him pulling up, so I hurried to the door and rushed outside to jump in the car. I already had my crossbody bag hanging over my shoulder.

He actually watched me get in, then had the nerve to tell me to get out, which I did, confused. He then grabbed my hand, led me back up the stairs to the front door, and whispered in my ear, "Take me to whichever one of your parents is up right now."

I led him into the kitchen. "Mom, this is Terrance. Terrance, this is my mom, Gloria," I made the introduction. Chance held out his hand, and my mom shook it.

"Nice to meet you," he said, looking her in the eyes. "Is it alright if I take Starlene to volunteer down at the youth center?"

My mom smiled, gave me a look of approval, then said, "Yes."

Chance looked at me and the sandwich that I was holding for him. "Star, we have time. Enjoy your breakfast," he told me.

"This is actually for you," I handed it to him.

He smiled so big, like I was offering him the world. "Mrs. Gibson, do you mind if I have a seat and eat here?" he asked shyly.

"Nah, baby, I don't mind." My mom said.

I grabbed him a plate, added some tater tots, then placed the sandwich on it. I went to the refrigerator, grabbed him some orange juice, then cut a few strawberries and dropped a couple of fresh blueberries into the bowl with the strawberries and handed it to him.

Chance stopped mid-chew and said, "Are you going to make me eat alone?" I reached over, took one of his tater tots, and he fed me a strawberry.

Man, I could get used to him. He found joy in something as normal as sharing a meal together that it left me feeling amazing. He savored every bite. His smile and the way he closed his eyes made me want to push my mom out of the kitchen so I could cook for him.