Steel shook his head. “No, you not.”
“Why?”
“Call your brother. He can’t tell you much on the phone, but he can back up what I’m saying.”
For the first time, I saw a little concern cloud her expression. “Nah, I believe you. I don’t want to disturb him if he’s busy. Mama broke a nail so she’s at the salon.”
Steel quickly got the details from her and sent somebody to pick up their mother. If I thought his sister was something to deal with, his mother was next level. She strolled into Mekhi’s house in her black designer dress and her Louboutin heels, took one look at me, and rolled her eyes. And he had the nerve to callmestuck-up.
“Steel, Jarell, what is all this bullshit, and where is my son?” she demanded.
“He had a meeting,” Steel said. “Jarell and I are going to go outside with Guy. I’ma check in every few minutes but call if you need us.”
I narrowed my eyes at him as he passed, letting him know I realized he was leaving me in the lion’s den by myself. He shrugged and offered me a half smile. They had barely walked out the door when the mom turned on me.
“Now, tell me who you are again?” she asked, a fake grin on her pretty face.
“My name is Farrah. I’m a friend of Mekhi’s.”
I repeated exactly what I had told her before.
“Hmm. A friend who spends the night?”
I wanted to tell her that was none of her business, but I was trying not to be rude to the witch.
“For now,” I said. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch your name…”
“I didn’t throw it,” she said, a venomous smile curving her lips.
I almost bit my tongue in half.
“Careful, Mama. Steel says this one is different,” Mekhayla said, smiling.
“Isn’t that what they all think?” she asked, then turned back to me. “I’m Gillian.”
I sprang from the couch, ready to get away from her before I couldn’t be held responsible for my actions. “Okay. It was nice to meet you both, but I’m going to head back upstairs.”
“Oh, no. You’re acting as mistress of the house. You must have time to take care of Mekhi’s family,” his mother taunted, her fake smile spreading.
Fine. This how she wanna be?I pasted on my own fake smile.
“Of course. Excuse my manners. Would y’all like some coffee?”
Gillian strolled her high-class ass over to the couch and gave me the most condescending look ever.
“Oh, honey, I was just joking. You don’t have to play hostess. I know there’s no way my baby would even look at you twice, let alone have you up in his home like you belong here,” Gillian said as she began to laugh.
I bit into my bottom lip and sent up a quick prayer.
“I am not about to go back and forth with you about what your son does and does not see in me, period. Either you want some coffee or not. Either way, I’m here, and you’re just going to have to deal with that. If you don’t like it, then I suggest you take that up with Mehki and not me.”
“See, ma, I told you that this one was different. Just let her be and talk to your son,” Mekhayla said as she tried to defuse the situation.
“We’ll see about that now, won’t we? For your information, Faith, I can get my own damn coffee.”
One, two, three, four, five… I had to count down to calm my nerves because I was this close to telling Ms. High-and-Mighty Gillian to go fuck off and take her son with her. But my parents taught me to respect my elders, and I was going to do just that.
“My name is Farrah, not Faith. But you have a good day,” I said as I went to my room.
