She groaned. “I have to get Brooke ready for school.”
When she moved to get out of bed, Moolah stopped her. “Let her take the day off. I have a day planned for my girls.”
A slow smile filled her face. “Your girls, huh?”
“Figure it’s time me and lil mama get to know each other better.” He shrugged.
“And that couldn’t wait until the weekend?” Her brow hiked up playfully.
Moolah shook his head. “Nah.”
His baby knew well enough that he wasn’t about to take no for an answer, but he saw her mind working, trying to decide if this was really a good idea. She looked at him skeptically. “I was going to look for jobs today, since someone fucked up my last opportunity.”
Moolah chuckled. It was a weak argument. They both knew it. He pulled a card out of his pocket and dropped it on the bed beside her. “You ain’t gotta work no more.”
She gawked at him. “Uh, yeah, I do.”
Moolah shrugged. “Whatever, Sky. Work or don’t work. Do what you want, but that card ensures you ain’t gotta work a day in your life ever again if you don’t want to. My point is, you ain’t gotta work today, and you ain’t gotta look for work today. Take some time off. When the last time you been able to truly sit back and just chill?”
Iskyiah bit her lip as she looked down at the comforter. Finally, her eyes met his again, and she said, “Never?”
The way she worded it like a question caused him to kiss the palm of her hand and then the back of it. “Aight. So, get up andwake lil mama up. I’ll wait for y’all downstairs. Y’all got thirty minutes to get ready.”
He kissed her nose before he stood up.
“What you got up your sleeve, boy?” she asked, her eyes shining brightly.
“Get ready, Sky. Oh, I left your outfits for the day in the bags,” he said as he pointed to some bags on a love seat in the corner of the room. Moolah exited the room.
He walked through his house and busied himself with confirming all the details of the day and swapping his shirt. He ended up at the front window, gazing out of it. By the time the women of the house entered the living room, their ride pulled up.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said as he appraised their attire.
Brooke was dolled up in a purple princess dress with some sparkly shoes that were mismatched. Iskyiah had on a purple T-shirt that saidMommy of the Princesswith some curve-hugging jeans. His purple shirt matched hers, but it saidDaddy of the Princess.
Iskyiah read his shirt and smirked. “Really, Lah?”
“Really, but lil mama ain’t the princess my shirt’s speaking of.” He kissed her cheek and then her lips, careful not to do too much in front of Brooke. She giggled, and he kissed her a few more times before he looked at Brooke. “How you this morning?”
“Good. Mommy said I don’t have to go to school.” She beamed at him.
“Yeah, I got a whole day planned for us. You ready?”
She jumped up and down excitedly. “Yeah!”
Moolah grabbed Iskyiah’s hand and opened the front door. “After you, m’lady.”
He bowed to Brooke, and she giggled before she stepped outside. Her squeal let him know she spotted their ride for the day.
Iskyiah eyed him suspiciously before she looked outside. “Oh my God. Lah, really?”
He grinned as he locked up the door and faced the horse-drawn carriage. It was fit for a princess, complete with a driver dressed like a damn butler.
Moolah kissed Iskyiah’s head lovingly before he led them to the carriage.
“Good morning. I’m looking for a Princess Brooke,” the chauffer said.
Brooke raised her hand excitedly. “That’s me!”
