"Mommy, I'm worried about Big Mama." Zuri said as Karis tucked her in.
Karis sighed. "I know, baby. I am too. We just have to keep her lifted in prayer, okay?"
Zuri nodded. "Okay."
"Get some rest tonight, pumpkin. I love you."
"I love you too, mommy."
Karis kissed Zuri's forehead before she turned off her light and exited the room. She walked into her bedroom and picked up her phone to call Taylor who answered almost immediately.
"Hey, baby." Taylor said through the phone.
"Hey, I was just calling to make sure you and Jasmine made it back home okay." Karis said.
"Yeah, we're good. Are you okay?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Karis lied.
"Don't lie to me, Karis." Taylor told her. "I'll come over there right now."
"I'm okay, Taylor. I'm just feeling a little sad about Big Mama, and my baby is worried about her. Losing her is gonna tear us all apart." Karis explained.
Taylor sighed. "I know. Jazzy was talking about it when I went to drop her off." He said. "Do you need me to come over?"
"No, I'll be okay. I don't want you out this late." Karis told him.
"Okay, I'll call you in the morning before work. I love you. Sleep well."
Karis smiled. "I love you too. Good night."
-
"This shit is stupid." Killian said to himself as he deleted his account on the dating app.
"What's stupid?" Micah asked while he handed his older brother a beer. Killian was currently at Micah's house watching football.
Killian sighed. "I was on a dating app."
Micah tried to hold in his laugh, but couldn't contain himself. "Nigga, a dating app? There are only two reasons why folks are on a dating app—boredom and desperation."
"I just need to find my somebody." Killian said as he opened his beer. "I'm getting older and I'm ready to settle down."
"I feel like you need to take some time to yourself, dawg." Micah told him.
"I feel like I need Karis." Killian replied.
Micah chuckled. "We ain't going through this again."
"We're not." Killian said with a sigh. "You know it's hard seeing her with that nigga, but imma hold my peace."
Micah sucked his teeth. "You should've said something from the beginning."
"Bruh, I tried! She ended up with Zuriah and after he passed I tried to give her time." Killian told him.
"Three—damn near four years, huh?" Micah said, smirking.
"Fuck you." Killian retorted.
Micah smirked as his phone buzzed on the couch beside him. He picked it up and saw that it was a message request on his messenger.
Chance White: hey son.
"What the fuck, man?" Micah sighed.
"What's wrong?" Killian asked as he drunk his beer.
"Chance keeps trying to get in contact with me. I don't want any dealings with this nigga." Micah said as he went to block him. "I changed my last name to King for a reason."
