"Is she nice?" Brielle asked from the passenger seat, "I don't do that fake shit, and if she come for me I'm letting you know now I'm coming right back."

Hakeem looked at her from the corner of his eye, "I'll fight you over my mama lil bruh."

"And if I lose then I'ma just beat her ass."

"Keep that same energy 'cause I'm finna tell her what you said."

Josiah stuck his head between the seats, "Yeah mama cool. She nosy as fuck now, but she cool."

Brielle knew what that was like any way, since she'd never met a parent who wasn't nosy.

It would've been nice to know that Hakeem intended on taking her over there, but it didn't really matter since she wasn't nervous in the slightest bit. It's not like they were together, so even if she was one of those mothers who had a weird obsession with their son she wouldn't feel threatened by Brielle.

Hopefully at least.

Small talk was made until they stopped in front of a house that was clearly remodeled, setting it apart from the other houses on the street.

"Why you didn't move your mama out the hood?" Brielle asked when she stepped out, "You not scared somebody'll try to rob her or something?"

As soon the words left her mouth she realized they sounded stupid. She knew, just like everyone else did, that Hakeem's mama could leave the door wide open and still no one would go in there.

"My mama a hoodrat. She ain't wanna leave the spot."

They walked up the stairs, still talking, "I'll be damned. When I leave, I'm never coming back. Y'all can have this shit."

"What's wrong with the hood?"

"Never said it was anything wrong with it. I just don't wanna live here for the rest of my life."

Hakeem couldn't relate at all. This was where he grew up, made countless memories. He had no desire to go any further than the 20 minute drive he'd moved away.

"Different strokes for different folks." He responded simply, sticking his key in the door and pushing it open for Brielle to walk ahead of him.

The house smelled like turkey necks, and Brielle was immediately excited that Hakeem had decided to eat here tonight. She usually made them dinner, something Hakeem was all too happy to let her do since her food was right up there with his mama's, but his mama requested that he come over tonight, and bring his 'friend' Grace had told her about.

Not knowing where to go, Brielle stopped and let Hakeem lead her to the kitchen.

"Mama it smell so good in here I might just move in." Josiah voiced loudly from behind them, "Ian met a woman yet that cook like you."

"Nigga is you flirting with my mama?"

Josiah snorted, "Hell nah. I'll be done snatched that ugly ass wig off and put her in the hospital."

"Keep playing with me bitch. I'ma get to talking 'bout Barbra ole big back ass. Got the nerve to wear them lil bitty heels to Church. Should've stayed her ass at home."

"They're called kitten heels." Brielle interrupted.

"Her big ass ain't no kitten. She a damn cow."

Much like Josiah had done her earlier in the day, Brielle laughed at Hakeem's words, unable to hear the rest of their bantering over her laughter.

By the time she stopped laughing, Monica was standing in the hallway, her hand pressed against the wall, "Hakeem what have I told you about talking about Barbra?"

"I'm sorry mama but she had the nerve to sit in the front too. Tryna catch the pastor attention."

More laughter erupted, and Monica watched the girl who looked young, but also like she'd seen more than what was necessary at her age.

Walking closer she studied her for another brief moment before introducing herself, "I'm Monica, but you can call me mama, Mo, whatever you want."

Brielle nodded, "I'm Brielle, but you can call me Bri."

"Mama can we eat?!" Grace yelled from the kitchen, "Y'all out there talking and I'm hungry."

They continued into the dining room where Hakeem and Josiah sat down. Brielle didn't know what to do so she awkwardly stood there.

Grace noticed, and rolled her eyes, "Girl she only makes their plates. Like they're handicapped or some."

"The woman is supposed to serve the man." Josiah pointed out, "That's why you gon' be single forever."

"Mama "serve" y'all and she still single. Kyra "serves" you and you still was out here cheating. So what that tell you? You can't keep a nigga that don't wanna be kept."

Hakeem looked at his sister, "Why you talking like that? Don't worry 'bout keeping no nigga no way."

More focused on eating, Brielle followed Monica into the kitchen, "Did you need some help?"

"No baby, I got it."

At first, the only reason Monica invited them to dinner was because she wanted to ask why Brielle was staying with Hakeem, and Grace wouldn't tell her. After seeing her though, the look of innocence that someone her age should have, gone, she wanted to help her, and she hadn't known her for more than five minutes.

She was happy that she'd raised Hakeem in a way so that he would take her in, but she didn't think it was that appropriate for a 17-year-old girl to be living with a 20 year old man.

In Monica's eyes, Brielle was still a baby.

The way she wanted to phrase the question she had continued to run through her mind as they ate their food, Monica watching Brielle slather the turkey necks and rice in hot sauce.

"Dang sis you not gonna even be able to taste anything besides hot sauce." Grace laughed.

"That's fine. I love turkey necks but my mama can't cook them, and my grandma died before she could teach me."

Monica saw her opening, "I can teach you if you want."

"You don't have to." Brielle responded, thinking she only offered because she said her grandma was dead.

"No it's fine." She assured her, "When did you wanna learn."

Brielle paused to think of a good way to say she was free all day because she didn't go to school, then decided to just say it outright, "Any time really. I don't go to school right now."

Hakeem and Josiah were having an entirely different conversation, talking about which snow cone place had the best hot dogs.

"How about tomorrow then? You could spend the night."

Their conversation came to a halt as Hakeem looked towards his mama, "Spend the night?"

He already knew what his mama was trying to do just by that question, "What she gotta spend the night for to cook some turkey necks? They cook overnight or some?"

"No, but if she wants to spend the night, she can."

Brielle still hadn't caught on to what Monica was really saying, "I can just get Hakeem to drop me off in the morning?"

"Yeah. I'll bring her when I come get Grace."

"Or." Monica countered, "Brielle can-"

"Orrrrr, we can finish dinner and mom you can, politely, stay out of their business." Grace interrupted.

Monica looked at her daughter, "Who you talking to?"

"She can't be talking to you mama." Josiah shook his head, "Want me to go get a belt?"

Unlike the other times when Hakeem would intervene on his mama's behalf, he didn't say anything.

Of which Monica took notice.

• • •

Brielle buried her face in the pillow, snuggling deeper under the covers to escape the cold air.

She was close to falling asleep when she remembered the piece of pound cake she'd brought back from Monica's house.

Now that she thought about it, she wouldn't be able to go to sleep until she ate it. She slid out of bed with a sigh, poking her head out to see if anyone else was up.

Satisfied that they were both sleep since she didn't see any lights, Brielle tiptoed down the hall and into the kitchen, going to the counter where she'd left her cake.

Imagine her disappointment when it was gone.

Looking around the room, she opened the refrigerator, looked through cabinets, under the sink, searching for her cake.

Footsteps sounded and she looked to see Hakeem enter the kitchen, holding the plastic plate that she'd put the cake on.

"I just know you fucking lying." She stated angrily.

"What's wrong?"

"Nigga you ate my cake!"

Hakeem looked at the empty plate in his hands, "Damn my bad."

"You saw me get the piece of cake. You literally watched me wrap it in foil."

That was true, he just hadn't intended on her being in the kitchen when he came in here, and he was going to say Josiah was the one who ate it.

As he prepared to tell her that, he took note of what she was wearing, his face scrunching up in confusion, "Where your clothes?"

Brielle rubbed the material from the tank top she was wearing in her hands, "Am I naked? I thought I had on clothes."

The way Hakeem saw it, she might as well had been. She clearly wasn't wearing a bra under the tank top, and she slept in briefs, gray ones that fit like...briefs.

Hakeem was partially upset because Josiah could've been the one to enter the kitchen and seen her.

But he was more so upset at himself for staring at her, for noticing the fact that she wasn't wearing a bra and paying attention to how the briefs fit.

The room had grown awkwardly quiet, and Hakeem shook his head before turning to leave, "Put some clothes on bro."

He didn't even notice he forgot to throw the plate away.

• • •

bloop. keemy said he wasn't expecting sis to be dat cute  😂😂😂😂😂

also, don't come for me ab the age difference. the legal age of consent is 16 in some states AND remember this book is based on true events, with some exaggeration.

y'all i started another book, & it has the potential to be my favorite book i've written, even more than bbd. yes i know i just started the other book, but mind your business 🙄 i know how to multitask.

on my page, "Grasping Reality"

thanks for reading 💕