Love Within

"Mane, stop with that attitude."

"Stop telling me what to do. You ain't my daddy."

"Wanna bet?"

The words hung in the air for a second, heavy and sharp.

I scoffed and leaned back a little, folding my arms like I wasn't even slightly bothered.

"You really think you run things around here, huh?"

He stepped closer, slow and confident, eyes locked on mine like he was daring me to move. The room suddenly felt smaller.

"I don't think," he said quietly. "I know."

I rolled my eyes, but my jaw tightened. "Man, you always got something to say."

"Only when you keep acting like you don't know how to listen."

"Maybe I just don't listen to you."

That made the corner of his mouth twitch like he almost smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He leaned in just enough that I could hear him breathe.

"Keep talking like that," he muttered, "and you might find out exactly who you listening to."

For a second neither of us moved.

Then I snorted and pushed past him. "Oh please."

But even as I walked off, I could feel his eyes on my back.