Page 33 of Chrome

“Stop calling her out her name and she’s thirty-seven to be exact. What the hell does age got to do with anything, Ma? Get to yo’ point,” I snapped.

My mother reared back a lil’ and gave me a look of surprise. I didn’t mean to disrespect her or give her attitude. A nigga was just fucked up in the head at the moment. This aggression wasn’t even meant for her.

“She must be a hell of a bitch if she got you talking to me crazy. All I wanted to know was who she was. Now that I know, leave her alone,” she ordered.

“What? Ma, gone ‘head. I ain’t in the mood for this.”

“She’s way too old for you and I don’t like that you’re involved with a womanthatseasoned. I noticed she brought a girl with her to the graduation party. That’s her daughter, right?” If my mama didn’t do shit else, she picked up on every singlething. I should’ve known this conversation was coming sooner than later.

“Again, get to the point.”

“That ain’t nothing but drama. You’re a few years older than her child. How do you think that conversation flows in their household? It’s sick that she’s even entertaining you. You’re twenty-five. Explain to me what she wants with you? What the hell can you give her that she doesn’t already have? I know women that prey on young men and before you know it, yo’ ass gon’ be stuck left on stupid with dry pockets and a broken heart. You’re nothing more than something to do for her. Let it go son and get somebody that fits you.”

“You have no idea how well that woman fits me,” I chuckled, referring to how her body clung to mine whenever I had her in my lap. Fade fit me perfectly in more ways than one if I was being real. That was all me even with me being pissed the fuck off with her dumbass.

“What is it? What has you so gung hoe ‘bout this one?” she asked with dipped brows.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s the way she already got her shit together and don’t need me for nothing other than love and good dick. Maybe, it’s the way she look at a nigga like I’m her knight and shining fuckin’ armor or something. Hell, maybe it’s the way she listens even when she tries not to. You ain’t gon’ make me stop fuckin’ with her so what we doing here?”

Going toe-to-toe with Neon was a first. I never defended a woman the way I was Fade. Whenever my mama told me about a female, I listened. This time though, I was fighting for that one. I already confessed my love to her, so it wasn’t no turning back.

She stood there reading my body language because there were things I wanted to say that I couldn’t. She was my mother at the end of the day and disrespecting her was something I couldn’t ever be comfortable with. I watched her moodshift from a protective mother to a concerned one. Even her demeanor softened up.

“You love that woman, don’t you?”

“It’s on a nigga sleeve, Ma. I don’t know what else you want me to say.”

“Then there really ain’t no stopping you. Well does she at least have a fuckin’ job?” she inquired.

“A job? Nah, but she do got her own shit. K Blades downtown is all her. She owns a crib in Dean Creek and she’s yet to ask me for four fuckin’ quarters. She ain’t shit like these hoes ‘round here.”

She stood there not saying shit. My mama thought every chick I dealt with was after my bread or some kind of clout. Fade didn’t need me, simple as that. When all this shit settled, she was still gon’ be the one I wanted under me. That wasn’t changing.

“I’m woman enough to apologize. I judged her simply because she is different. I’ve never seen you be so protective or defensive behind a woman and she is getting both right now. I won’t fake like I’m okay with this shit because I’m not. However, I love my son and will love whoever you love. I do want to talk to her for myself though.”

“Nah, you just went in on her for no reason. I ain’t even ‘bout to play with that.”

“I’m serious, Chrome. Arrange it before I take matters into my own hands. Now, go ahead and entertain the hood. They’re waiting on you.”

“You want me to go party after you just came in here and ruined my mood?”

“I did and I’m sorry. I was curious and needed that settled. I won’t pry again… I promise. Zinc put up a lot of bread for your birthday, don’t make him feel like it’s a waste.” She walked over to me and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.

She was a mother at the end of the day. I knew she stepped to me the way she did because she was looking out for me. However, I had me. I didn’t let niggas play with me in no shape or form, so what the hell made her think I’d let a bitch. Me and Fade wasn’t on good terms right now, but she was mine.

Shaking my head, I walked out the front door and the entire hood was present waiting on the kid. “Happy birthday!” they yelled in unison as soon as they laid eyes on me. It felt good being appreciated. A smile touched my lips as I stepped off the porch. It was time to put shit on pause and turn up. That birthday drink was needed bad as fuck right now.

I made my way through the thick crowd to the DJ booth. The mic was already sitting and waiting for me. I grabbed it up and the DJ cut the music. I didn’t have much to say. My mama really put some weight on my shoulders before stepping out here. I wasn’t in the mood for too much of anything for real.

“I ‘preciate y’all for coming out and showing love. A nigga twenty-five and that’s a hell of a milestone knowing it’s folk that don’t make it pass twenty-one or even eighteen. Shout out to the crew, BMG, for coming together and setting this up. Shit, drink, eat, and turn the fuck up.”

The hood erupted with more,Happy birthday’sbeing thrown my way. I smiled as I made my way to the tables that housed the liquor. All a nigga needed was to get fucked up, so I didn’t have to deal with my personal shit. I needed a night where all that shit wasn’t controlling me.

As I grabbed a bottle of Don off the table and went to kick it with the crew, the DJ turned the music back on and the hood partied. BMG was collecting gifts as the folk arrived which I didn’t need. I had more than enough.

“How you feeling, nigga? You ready to take some shots,” Litty said approaching me with a bottle in tow. Lead was right beside him with a bottle in the opposite one of Litty.

“Let’s run it nigga.” I grabbed the shot glass from Goldie before she could pour up and filled it with mine.

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