Page 36 of Reserved for Him
Junicia
Franklin’sdry wig momma and bald-headed ex had me messed up. Franklin did, too, since he didn’t open his mouth. I didn’t hesitate to leave her house because I would have gotten disrespectful if I stayed. We’d just established our relationship, and already we had a problem—a big one at that. Franklin didn’t talk about his parents often, but I knew if he had to choose between them and me, it would be them.
I was lucky it was a rideshare nearby because I would have hated to wait for one. That would have given Franklin an opportunity to try and talk me out of leaving, and I didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. I for sure didn’t want to talk to his mom.
I was grateful the car pulled off as soon as Franklin opened the front door. In my opinion, he took too long anyway. If he cared enough, he would have come right after me. I didn’t know if he told his mom about herself or not, and I wasn’t sticking around to find out.
As soon as the car got a few feet from the house, I called Lauren.
“What happened? Quan called Franklin. I couldn’t hear what he said, but it sounded like he was upset.”
“As he should be. His raggedy-ass momma pretended it was an emergency, but it wasn’t. Instead, she had his bobblehead ex over there. The bitch sat there looking like a stick was up her ass.”
Lauren cackled. “How she look?” I guess she whispered because Quan was still at her house.
“Like a cute bobblehead.” I giggled, even though I was pissed. “She had a short haircut, which made her head look bigger, but her face was cute. I didn’t like how the bitch sat there smirking like she had one up on me.”
I wanted to knock the smirk off her face, and the wig off his momma’s head, but my parents taught me to have manners. Franklin’s mom was my elder, so I couldn’t dog walk her like I wanted to. If she kept playing with me, I’d get my momma on her, and she wouldn’t want that.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve met his mom, right?”
“No. Remember I said she was at the restaurant and was dismissive to me then? That lady didn’t even try to get to know me. It’s obvious her son doesn’t want anything to do with that girl, so I don’t know why she pulled that bullshit.”
“What did Franklin say?”
I sucked my teeth and rolled my eyes. I should have told the driver to drop me off at Lauren’s house since it was closer, but I went home instead.
Franklin pulled into my driveway just as I got out of the car. I wasn’t sure how he made it there so fast since I left before him.
I thanked the driver and got out of the car. I tried to walk right past Franklin.
“Junicia. Can we talk about what happened?”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Franklin. It’s clear your mother has an issue with me and wants you and your ex to get back together. I won’t stand in the way of that.”
I tried to walk away, but he grabbed my wrist.
“Junie, I’m not that other nigga. If we have a problem, we are going to talk about it. There will be no arguing or walking away. Now, let’s go in the house and talk this out like two adults. Your nose is getting red and shit, and I don’t want you getting sick.”
I looked at the back of his head as he walked away. Who the hell did he think he was telling me what to do?
“I guess he told you.”
I had forgotten I was on the phone with Lauren.
“Girl, he didn’t tell me anything. He’s standing on my porch watching me,” I whispered.
“I bet he is. You better find out what he has to say. And remember, cousin, he isn’t loser Leo.”
I sucked my teeth and looked up at Franklin again. The impatience on his face had me moving my feet faster.
“I’ll call you later.”
“Okay,” she sang, then hung up.
I put my phone in my pocket and took out my keys so I could open the door. It was cold outside, but if I was being real, I was curious to hear what Franklin had to say.
He did get to my house rather fast, so maybe he didn’t agree with his mother’s stunt. Or maybe he was trying to break things off quickly so he could get back over there. My mind came up with multiple scenarios.
