Page 12 of He Thugged Me First

We had been walking for a while when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw that it was my brother.

“Gimme a minute.” I excused myself and stepped to the said.

“Yeah, Mazz.” I answered before glancing over at Justice. He was tapping away on his cellphone while I stood a few feet away from.

“You think you and that nigga make sweet poetry and music? Just wait until I knock his ass off and his mom asks Maya Angelou to write the obituary.”

“Why are you calling me from Mazz’s phone? And just to let you know, she is dead, dumb ass.”

“You ’ont think I know that? You walked around the crib crying for about two weeks. Any fucking ways, take yo’ ass home, or I swear his moms will be crying by midday lottery time.”

I looked at the phone and shook my head. I hated his stupid ass so much that it made my skin crawl. Unfortunately, I believed him and played right into his hand after I hung up on him. He was about to have me block my brother’s number too, because now that was how he got in contact with me.

“Is everything cool?” Justice asked when I walked back over to him and he intertwined his hand into mine.

“No. Mel isn’t feeling too good. I may have to take her to the hospital,” I lied.

“Damn, your brother can’t take her?” he asked.

I snatched my hand and looked at him. “Excuse me?”

“I’m just saying you’re out with me right now. What do you need to do it for when he can handle it himself?”

Just that fast the cute vibe I had with him was gone. I knew I had lied and Mel wasn’t sick at all, but I still got annoyed because what if that was a real situation and my sibling actually needed me? That was his initial reaction, and that wouldn’t fly with me. Mazz and Mel would forever come before anything and anyone. Any man who dated me needed to know that.

The momentI left him standing at that corner, I rushed home. I was irritated and frustrated beyond measure, but all that I dealt with was my fault. My thoughts were halted by the sound of the late Pop Smoke’s song, “Something Special”, blasting on the other side of the door. I rolled my eyes at the realization that only one nigga blasted this song and low key had an obsession with it. The moment I opened my door, I couldn’t help but shake my head. Kasair was standing over my stove shirtless in a pair of sweats. He glanced toward me before a mug covered his handsome face.

“Alexa, pause,” he commanded my Alexa like she belonged to him. Of course, she paused, and he looked at me. “Home so soon? You must not have wanted that nigga to meet ya idol.” Kasair shrugged his shoulders as he pulled the French fries from the hot grease.

“Why are you here? Better question, how the hell did you know where I was?”

“It’s my fucking job to. I mean, it’s part time, but I should know all the time. Imagine my surprise when I was chilling at Mazz’s and lil’ ma said Mec was out with her boyfriend.” He looked irritated at the mention. He looked like the sentence annoyed him to get out.

“Picking a six-year-old is even low for you!” My voice elevated, and I pointed at him.

“Man, shut your ass up and go wash that nigga’s scent off you. I know he ain’t fed you.” He shook his head.

“He didn’t get a chance to. You called my phone being homicidal.”

“So. Nigga should’ve at least tried to get you a whopper or something.” He shrugged his broad shoulders.

I hated that he looked good to me right now. Most of all, I hated that his presence had me giddy right now. I hated that even though I gave the façade that I didn’t want to see him, I actually did.

“Why are you standing there looking crazy? I know you smell like that nigga, so go wash it off.”

Instead of arguing with him, I went and took a shower. Once I actually got myself together and the aroma of the food in my kitchen had tortured me enough, I hopped up and went into my kitchen. The sight before my eyes had my mouth watering. Somehow, some way, this man had to be punishing me. On my island there was a deep-dish pizza that I knew he had ordered, a tray of hot wings, homemade French fries, and a salad. I don’t know what the hell he was up to, but it was working.

“What is all this?” I asked, overlooking the spread then looking at him.

“We chilling tonight, and you’re cheating on that stupid ass diet that you committed to.” He was referring to my new diet that was low key going great, though I craved a big juicy bacon burger from time to time. I swear I didn’t know how Love or Quari did it. Neither of them ate red meat and made it look so freaking easy. Me, on the other hand, I struggled! I loved bacon and steak, so it was truly a failure to launch.

“You tryna give me the shits?” I glared at him.

He laughed. “Nah. Fuck that clean eating shit, baby. We black and we like fat back.” He hit his chest with a laugh. He was still salty that he’d tried to eat healthy but it didn’t work. He gave in on day one and ordered himself some loaded fries from Raymond’s.

I laughed. “Nah, nigga. Keep the fat backs.”

“Fuck outta here. You know you love when Mama Dolly puts them in her greens.”

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