Nina was beginning to understand that loving Jio wasn’t going to be easy like the men she read about in her Romance novels. Loving Jio would be more like an emotional rollercoaster that came with many turns and hills, but she was determined to stay buckled in. Nina wasn’t giving up on him or their relationship.
The phone buzzed again.“Oh my god,” Nina muttered. “Answer it.”
Jio snatched the phone up with irritation.
“What?”
Nina shook her head.
No hello.
No good morning.
Just hostility.
His mother’s voice came through loud enough for Nina to hear pieces of it.
“You finally answer your damn phone? I been calling you since—”
“What you want, Ma?”
“Don’t‘what you want’me. You talk to me so crazy like your Father!” she fussed.
“Not true. What’s up? I’m busy.”
“You not too busy to chase behind that girl.”
Jio’s eyes cut toward Nina.
Nina lifted her eyebrows.
That girl? Interesting…she thought.
Jio turned and lowered his voice. “Relax.”
“Everybody saying you been losing your mind behind her.”
Nina pretended to go back to reading her book but he knew her nosey ass was listening.
Jio rubbed a hand across his mouth. “Ma, what’s up?” His tone told her to change the subject and fast.
“Oh, she must be there?”
Jio didn’t confirm nor deny her accusation, but it was in her best interest to get to talking and fast. He and his baby didn’t get many shared days together and he was taking full advantage of having her all to himself with minimal distractions.
“Anyway,” his mother said sharply, “Your cousin is here.”
“What cousin?”
“Cairo.”
Jio paused.
The irritation didn’t leave his face, but something in him shifted.
“From North Carolina?”
“Yes, from North Carolina,” she dragged her words out like he was working her last nerve when it was the other way around.
