Page 18 of What I Needed

“Yeah. I wish it were sooner, but I guess I’ll be patient.”

“Ma said you found a nanny. Is she cool? Does Riverlynn like her?”

He answered with his eyes on me. “She seems cool so far, and baby girl loves her.”

“Good. Here comes Ma. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

“Love you too, Ry.”

“Hey, Son. I’m assuming the woman you hired didn’t run off with my granddaughter.”

“Ma, she can hear you.”

“Well, give her the phone. She’s who I want to talk to anyway.”

“Fine, but can you chill? I don’t want her to quit after talking to you.”

“Boy, give her the phone,” she demanded.

He gave me the phone, and I put on my best smile before holding it in front of my face.

“He’s right. You’re very pretty, but can you take care of my grandbaby?”

“Umm, thank you. Hi. My name is Erissa, and you are?”

“I don’t need to know your name, depending on how you answer my question. Can you take care of my grandbaby?”

“I wouldn’t have taken him up on his offer if I couldn’t, ma’am.”

“Okay. I hear you trying to be a little slick at the mouth, but if something happens to Riverlynn, you’ll have to answer to me.”

“I assure you, Riverlynn is safe with me. I’d never let anything happen to her.”

“Good. Something in your eyes tells me I can trust you. I’m Janis Westmore. It’s very nice to meet you, and thank you for coming to the rescue. The boy was close to having a panic attack when I told him I couldn’t drop everything and fly out there.”

“It sounds like he was in a bit of a bind,” I said.

“He was, and honestly, it serves him right. Maybe this will teach him to stop treating women like they're disposable. I promise you, this is not how he was raised. His father may not have been in his life, but my father was a great example for him. Pawpaw probably turned over in his grave about this.”

“Ma, please,” he pleaded as he leaned on the counter opposite mine.

“You know I’m telling the truth. Erissa, I’d suggest you keep your relationship with him professional. Don’t let him charm you out of your panties⁠—”

“Ma! Can you chill?” he shouted as he snatched the phone from my hand.

“I’m just giving her fair warning because she seems like a nice girl that doesn’t need you playing with her heart,” Ms. Janis said.

“I gotta go, Ma. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you.”

“I love you too, Son.”

“My bad. Don’t pay my mother any mind. As you can see, she’s⁠—”

“A wise woman. You can bring Rivvy to me when you’re ready to leave.”

I left him in the kitchen and headed upstairs. Ms. Janis’s warning to steer clear of River and his dick was needed. I hadn’t really allowed my mind to go in that direction, but now, I’d be sure to push all sexual thoughts of him to the curb.

He was a professional basketball player who had access to women who had a lot more going for them than I did. If he didn’t settle down with any of them, the likelihood of him choosing to settle down with me was slim to none.