Page 9 of Mine

“You’re right,” I mumbled, pulling my phone out to text Houston and tell him I didn’t want to meet his family until we were committed to each other, but the text he’d sent me made me change my mind.

Bae: I can’t WAIT to see you. My favorite girl is finally meeting my second favorite girl. See you soon.

Releasing a long sigh, I massaged my temple and shook my head. Tonight would either go really really well or horribly wrong.

A Short While Later

I’m ready to go.

Lil sis: Then leave. TF?

He ain’t ready for me to go.

Lil sis: IDC. I will pull up and drag you out of that house AND bring Mama so she can beat that lady up. GO HOME.

A bark of laughter escaped me as I read my sister’s text. I messed around and told her I was having a horrible time at the barbecue because Houston’s mama was a bitch. She didn’t speak and had been ignoring me the whole time. When she did look at me, it was to mug me or talk shit about me. I thought she was okay with me coming since Houston had invited me, but she was treating me like I’d stolen her baby daddy. As excited as Houston was for us to meet, I was over it. I’d rather be at home watching TV instead of being somewhere I felt unwanted.

Houston was standing outside talking to his uncle and cousin at the grill, so I called him and told him I was about to go. He told me he’d meet me at my car, but it was really useless. There was nothing he could say to make me stay.

By the time I made it outside to my car, Houston was jogging around the house through the back gate.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, closing my door as I opened it. “We just fired up the grill.”

“Yeah, I’m just not really comfortable here.” A nervous laugh escaped me as I squeezed the back of my neck. I wasn’t nervous about what she would do to me; I was nervous about what I’d do to her. “I’ve been here for like an hour and a half and your mother hasn’t said one word to me, but she’s been talking shit about me to her sisters every chance she gets.”

Houston sucked his teeth and crossed his arms over his chest. “Come on, Pres. It ain’t even like that.”

“Then what’s it like, Houston? Because you made it seem like she wanted me here but clearly she doesn’t.”

He exhaled a shaky breath and gripped my shoulders. “I might’ve told her about the issues we’ve been having latelyand she’s super protective of me. Plus she don’t really like any woman I date because she feels like they are going to come between us. But I told her I really like you and see a future with you, so she has to get along with you regardless.”

My head shook as I chuckled and pushed his hands away from my arms.

“I’m not going anywhere I’m simply tolerated, bae. If she doesn’t like me, for whatever reason, I just won’t come around.”

Houston shoved his hands in the pockets of his sweats. “I was hoping she’d act right but I was wrong. That’s my bad. I wouldn’t intentionally put you in a situation for you to be uncomfortable. But that’s my mama, bae. Y’all gon’ have to get along.”

“Actually, we don’t. We’re not married, Houston. If she doesn’t like me, I just won’t come around. It’s not that big of a deal.”

Except it was, because I refused to be one of those women who had a horrible relationship with their mother-in-law. If her attitude didn’t change, Houston and I couldn’t get married. And if we wouldn’t get married, there was no point in us being in a relationship. And if a relationship wasn’t in our future, it was time for me to cut him off.

“So you leaving?” He pressed me against my car and kept his body against mine. “At least stay up for me. I was looking forward to spending some time with you.”

“Houston,” I called, gripping his arms as he kissed my neck. “I—”

“Houston!” his mother yelled. “Let that girl go so she can leave. I need your help with something.”

Clenching his jaw, he stood upright and didn’t bother to look back at her as he stared at me.

“I’ll be on my way to you in like three hours, aight? Don’t go to sleep.”

“Whatever, Houston.”

He gave me a quick kiss before heading back toward the house, and a part of me hoped he didn’t come over. I started my car then texted my sister to let her know I was leaving so she wouldn’t be worried about me. I prayed she didn’t call wanting more details because at this point, I just wanted to be left alone.

Andy asked me to meet him for lunch and I agreed. Honestly, it was nice going out with a man that took the initiative. I didn’t have to make the plan or decide where we were going to go. He’d taken care of everything, including the bill, and that felt… nice. Houston had planned dates for us three times over the course of ten and a half months—for my birthday, for Valentine’s Day, and after the TikTok situation. Other than that, when we went out, it was either random because we were together and were hungry and bored or because I planned the date.

We were done eating, but it seemed neither of us was in a rush to leave. I asked Andy to tell me about his girl, and I swooned hearing a Black man talk about his woman so fiercely. So lovingly.

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