Page 12 of When Love Becomes A Need
I laughed under my breath.
The only person who my dad didn’t let Autumn’s spoiled behind overcome is my mom. She and Autumn used to butt heads all the time because Autumn didn’t like to be told no. Every time they did, my dad was there backing her up.
If there was one thing my dad didn’t play about, it was Loraine Marshall. The love I saw my dad shower my mom with over the years showed me how a man was supposed to treat a woman. The love my mom gave back gave me hope that I could find that too, and I thought I did until I saw shit wasn’t always as it seemed. The two of them werewhat most people would call a power couple. Every move my dad made, he made sure to include my mom and vice versa.
Without my mom, I don’t think my dad would be as successful as he was. She was more so the operations part of his construction company. They were a team, a perfect duo, the modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. They were what I once wanted.
“So, I got an interesting phone call today,” my mom spoke up, looking directly at me.
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
She lifted her glass and brought it to her mouth, nodding her head.
“It was Kylie.” The blood running through me grew cold. My mouth instantly twisted upside down. A disdainful taste formed in my mouth.
“Why did she call you?” The dryness in my question was present.
Once you were out of my life, you were out of my family’s too. I didn’t believe in those relationships where the couples broke up and your family and ex stayed in contact with each other. Once we were over, that was it. Both of us needed to move on and stay out of each other’s lives.
“I don’t know. I didn’t give her a chance to tell me. As soon as I found out it was her, I told her not to call me again.” My mom lowered her glass, smirking.
Loraine Marshall didn’t play when it came to her baby boy. When shit went south between Kylie and me, my mom was ready to hunt her down. It was actually comical because my mom usually was laid back and calm until you messed with one of her kids; then she became a lion protecting her cubs.
Autumn smacked her lips. “You should have let me fight her when I had the chance.”
I shook my head. “She wasn’t even worth it. She was nothing but a lesson learned.”
I thought back to the pain that Kylie had brought me. For two years she had me fooled, thinking she was a good girl. She had me ready to plant my seeds in her and give her my last name. The day her true self surfaced was the day all the love I had for her instantly turned into hate.If I was a man that put my hands on females, I would have tried to kill her.
I was big on loyalty and trust. If you gave it to me, I returned it. Any problems you had with me, I wanted you to address them so we could move on from it. I was never the one to entertain beef and shit. If we had an issue, we handled that shit. If it came to blows, then so be it, but I never went back and forth with anyone.
Kylie knew that. She knew she could have talked to me if she had any doubts or nerves about getting married. I may come off as nonchalant but not to the people I love. She could have gotten anything from me, and she knew that.
“What I tell you about trying to always put your hands on people?” My dad glared at my sister with a frown on his face.
Looking at me, my dad, and my sister was like looking at triplets. Even though my sister was a good mix of our parents, my dad’s features were stronger. I, however, looked like my dad spit me out. I had been told it my whole life.
“I know, Daddy, but look how she did my brother.” Autumn batted her lashes then smiled. “You raised us to protect each other, right?”
My mom snickered and shook her head. “Your child.”
My dad joined in with her. “I did, but that doesn’t mean you need to be putting your hands on people.”
Autumn mumbled something under her breath before taking a bite of her food.
“Anyway, I hope you blocked her number.”
My mom nodded. “Of course. I’ll never associate with anyone who hurt my baby boy.”
I frowned. My mom knew I hated when she called me that. I was a grown ass man.
“Speaking of women, Ahmad!” I groaned. I already didn’t like the direction of this conversation.
“Autumn, whatever is about to come out your mouth, save it.”
“But Ahmad, I found someone for you. She’s my new neighbor. I only met her once, but she was cute, and I think the two of you would look good together.”
“Not interested, Autumn.”
