Page 11 of Autumn & Woods
“He wasfine-fine. Real calm energy. A slight accent. Tatted. Smelled like good weed and bad intentions.”
She fanned herself dramatically. “Ooooh. See? That’s the dangerous kind. So what, you just let him crack in the stall like y’all been locked in for years?” she cackled.
“Something like that.”
She shook her head, grinning. “You nasty. I love it. Holiday hoochie vibes activated,” she crowed.
I rolled my eyes but smiled. “It wasn’t even like that.”
“Mmhm. You ain’t gotta explain shit to me, friend. Just send up a prayer that he pops back up. If not, I’m still hookin’ you up with my cousin,” Taj threatened playfully.
With both pans of mac slid into the oven and the counters wiped down, Taj poured more juice for the kids before vanishing to get ready. I took advantage of the lull to slip into the bathroom for a lingering shower.
I showered after the kids and took my time. Steam filled the bathroom while slow jams played on my phone. I let my body remember Woods’ hands—the way he filled me like he hada point to prove, then left me aching with a hard kiss, asking nothing.
I stepped out, lotioned up, and pulled on a short-sleeved hunter green dress that hugged my body and snatched my waist. It dipped low in the front, making the girls look luscious.
I took my flexi rods down and fingered through the curls before reapplying fluffy lash clusters. I slipped on gold jewelry and applied lip liner, nude lipstick, and gloss. I chose to rock a pair of wedges and a brown LV clutch. I don’t know all of what the day would bring with Taj’s loud family, but I’d be damned if I wasn’t walking into it pretty as fuck.
“N o wy o uk n o wdamn well you was supposed to be here two hours ago, Quamaine. I done texted you, called you,andleft a voicemail.” Aunt Sherry’s lips curled as she snapped her seatbelt, glaring my way before I could even reach for the gearshift.
“You see me here now though,” I said, calm, adjusting the heat. “Ain't I driving you to Big Mama’s right now? Or that a figment of your imagination?”
She waved me off as if I was the problem. “Mmm. You one of them slick mouth nephews. You lucky you handsome, ‘cause your time management ain’t worth a damn. You know my aggy ol’ kids all tied up and can’t take me over there! I needed you.”
I laughed, pulling out slowly. “Blame your sister. She got me runnin’ around half the damn city.”
“Runnin’ around high, I bet. Your eyes real low. You think we don’t know what you be doin' out there on the West Coast!” I just smirked. Aunt Sherry shifted in her seat, chin up like she was making an announcement. “You pick up the ice?”
“Everything on the list,” I nodded. “Even got her them fancy ass candles she didn’t ask for ‘til the last minute.”
“She gon’ be happy,” she smiled, nodding. “So, find somethin’ else to fuss about anyway.”
“That’s tradition.”
“Mmm. You ain’t never lied.”
The drive to Big Mama’s was smooth. Entering my old neighborhood, I saw folks carrying foil-covered pans and folding tables out on porches. Thanksgiving was loud in Tavern city—loud like my thoughts. Why did Autumn keep popping up?
And, like Aunt Sherry was reading my mind, she dug in her purse for a handful of cashews, tossed a few in her mouth, then asked, “You ever think about settlin' down, nephew?”
I blinked. “Damn. Where the hell that come from?”
She gazed out the window. “I was just sittin’ here thinkin’. You a good looking man, got your own money and your own lane. No women, no babies.”
“…That’s a bad thing?”
“Yeah,” she said. “You in your mid to late thirties. Time’s a tickin’.”
I chuckled. “Maybe I just ain’t found the right energy yet.”
“Well, you better find it before you too old to stroke somethin’ without pullin’ a muscle.”
I damn near swerved. “Auntie! Goddamn!”
“Don’t ‘Auntie’ me. The game don’t wait on nobody.”
I shook my head, laughing. “I hear you.”
