I kept my head down and reached down to scoop him into my arms. "Hey, buddy." I hugged him tight, burying my face in his neck still trying to hide my face.
My Pops was smiling right up until I had to lift my head. The smile slid off his face. He stared at me, concern and anger blending on his face. Questions swirling in his eyes. I avoided his gaze.
Melo pulled back slightly and gasped, his little mouth dropping open. "Daddy who hit your face!" He stared into my eyes as I watched tears spring into his.
I quickly blinked my own away at seeing my son become so emotional. "Daddy's okay, buddy." I kissed his forehead. "I promise."
"Betty," Pops called out, eyes still locked on me as he approached.
"I'm coming!" Mama's chipper voice replied.
Pops approached, he reached out and took Melo from my arms. "Go and get your stuff, Melo. Let Pop-Pop talk to your dad."
Melo nodded sadly his eyes still searching mine as Pops set him on his feet. As soon as he was out of sight, he reached outand grabbed my hat off my head, that dark bruise covering my temple and blooming downwards making him inhale sharply.
"What happened?" he asked low, voice restrained with anger.
"I just had an altercation, that's all." I shrugged casually.
My mama rounded the corner all smiles. "I'm here—" she stopped in her tracks when she saw me. "Good Lord—" she exhaled, hand pressing towards her chest. She rushed over grabbing my face and turning it. "What happened?"
"It's fine, Ma." I pulled my face from her hand. "I just got into a fight."
"With who?" her voice rose slightly.
I didn't respond.
Her eyes narrowed. "It's because of Gianna, isn't it?"
I exhaled a heavy breath shaking my head. "He won't leave her alone. I had too."
"So you fought him?!" she asked sharply.
"Betty—" Pops placed his hand on her arm. "Calm down," he said evenly.
She let out a shaky breath and nodded.
He turned back to me. "Tell us what happened, son. And don't you lie to us," he warned that stern voice of his letting me know that he wasn’t accepting any half-truths.
I dragged my hand down my face before finally nodding once. "Yeah," I admitted quietly. "It's because of Gianna."
Mama closed her eyes briefly.
Pops stayed still. Calm. But that vein ticking in his jaw told me he was angry as hell.
"He's been stalking her," I explained. "Following us. Breaking into her apartment. He stole her underwear out the dresser."
Mama's eyes widened in horror while Pops cursed low under his breath.
I continued, "Then he started escalating. Showing up places. Leaving flowers on her car at the police station. She's scared, Pops."
"And the police?" he asked.
"They're involved but they ain't got enough to hold him on, apparently." I shrugged.
"So you decided to handle it yourself?" Mama snapped.
I looked away. "I just wanted to tell him to stay away from her. That’s it."
