Page 13 of Nobody But You

“So, what else is going on here? Have you made any friends?” Tayla asked.

“No, not really. I have a few acquaintances, but I mostly stay to myself,” I said as she sighed.

“JoJo, you and your brother have to learn how to trust people.” I waved her off.

“You know no one can replace you, Tay. That’s why you and Brice should move out here with me.”

“I would be down. I need a change of scenery. It’s not like my mother will miss me,” she said, whispering out the last part and then quickly pasting on a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Anyways...” she trailed off and started talking about any and everything while I drifted in and out of the conversation. I couldn’t believe my mind was so caught up in Stephon's enigma that I’d forgotten Brice was there. I almost let his name slip from my lips. I hadn’t planned on ever speaking about him because I knew I’d probably never see him again. That was probably for the best.

CHAPTER 7

Stephon

“Yerr,” I said, answering the phone call I’d just received; it was Brice.

“Where are you? I’m trying to slide through. The gym or your office.”

“Neither. I’m headed into my mother’s house right now,” I paused before answering.

“Let me know when you’re heading back to the office. I’ll meet you there.”

“Gone,” I said before hanging up. Why in the fuck was Brice here, and why hadn’t he told me he was coming to the east coast? Last I checked, and I checked in every day, shit was running smoothly. So this pop-up was pissing me off. This led my mind back to the question of what in the hell he and his sister were up to. If it had anything to do with me, I’d handle it accordingly. I didn’t care if Devin had hand-picked his ass or not.

As I always did, I rang the bell a couple of times before using my key to open the door. I wanted to let her know I was there before barging in.

“Ma, where you at, old woman?” I yelled out into the oversized house as I walked further in. I had definitely gone overboard; my mother alone did not need all this damn house.

“Stephon Angel Rockwell, if you call me old one more time, I’m going to whoop your big ass,” she said as she appeared in the doorway that led from the kitchen.

“Ma, you’re cussing and using my whole government name. What’s gotten into you, old woman?” I laughed. Just as I’d finished my taunting, she took off her house shoe and threw it at me from where she stood in the doorway. I couldn’t help but laugh loudly at her because she’d missed, and I wasn’t a small target. I wasn’t as lean as when I played football. I’d easily packed on another ten pounds since.

“Come on, Ma, I know your aim gotta be better than that,” I teased as the other shoe flew across the room, hitting my shoulder. She finally finished her walk across the room, stopping to embrace me, where I leaned down for her to kiss my cheek. I picked her up when I stood upright because I knew she hated it. She was small in comparison to me, but was of average height.

“Put me down, Lil’ Boy,” she laughed as she popped me on my head. I finally sat her down, and she gestured for me to follow her into the kitchen. As I walked through the house, I saw she had rearranged the furniture again. She had decorated it with this quaint, cozy vibe that made you feel at home. Plants adorned theroom, and bright light filtered onto her plush furniture, which was filled with different colored pillows. It wasn’t one of those museum houses you were afraid to sit in. I didn’t know how she moved it all, but I didn’t like it. I was always a phone call away, and she knew that. I sat at the breakfast table while she made a cup of coffee. I gazed at her youthful appearance. She wore jeans and a T-shirt and had her wavy hair in a low ponytail.

“Ma, what did I tell you about moving all this heavy shit…stuff around without calling me? If you want to redecorate, I can call Demitri’s wife, Melanie, to do that for you.”

“Steph, I don’t need an interior designer. Now, to what do I owe the visit? Is everything ok?” She asked and looked in concern. She’d completely ignored me.

“Ma?” I questioned sternly.

“Stephon, you do not run me, Lil’ Boy. Besides, I need something to do since you retired me. I get bored and tired of always looking at the same arrangement, so I change it,” she returned as she finally sat beside me at the table.

“Tsk. You and this Lil’ Boy that you refuse to stop calling me. I am thirty-nine, and all man, everywhere! Why would you think something is wrong? You know I can’t go too many days without seeing you.”

“You’ll always be un Nene to me. You’re right; you're thirty-nine and didn’t bring me any grandkids to watch. I also don’t see a daughter-in-law by your side. You’re always working and never have any time for yourself,” she said as she waved her hands around the empty room. I took a deep sigh. I’d been hearing this for the lastfour years. I blamed Devin’s ass because before he settled down, I didn’t have to hear shit like this.

“Stephon, don’t you think it’s time? I don’t want to be all old and decrepit trying to chase after your babies,” she sighed this time. I didn’t want to talk about this because I had no prospects. My needs were met, and that’s all I was concerned about. At least, it was until a deadly beauty started to cross my mind more and more recently. She was every bit my equal. I couldn’t help but see myself with her. I hadn’t seen her since that day and probably wouldn’t again. From what I gathered, she’d been here two years, but we’d never crossed paths. As quickly as I let that thought enter, I let it leave. It didn’t matter how she’d made me feel just by looking at me. I couldn’t trust that feeling or her. So, I quickly shifted the conversation.

“The same could be said about you, Ma. Why haven’t you moved on from Dad? It’s been twenty-four years. This is a big ass house, Ma. I don’t like the fact that you live in it alone. Like you said, we’re getting older. I want you to have someone like you want me to,” I said with conviction. We both sat in a stare-off. It was so quiet that I could hear the refrigerator running. We were cut from the same stubborn cloth, so there was no telling how long we’d bore into each other. However, I decided to break eye contact first.

“Hmph,” I heard her grunt out.

“Ma, what are you doing next Saturday? My team is securing the Mayor’s Ball. I’d like you to be my plus one.”

“I’m not going because you’ll be working, and I’ll be alone.”

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