Page 24 of A Minute Past Midnight

Gam patted her hand. “You don't have to miss me, sweetie. You can always come to visit me wherever I am. I'll always be here for you whenever you need me.”

Juliana smiled at her, nodded, then planted a kiss on her cheek. My heart warmed seeing how affectionate she was with my favorite girl. All this time I'd been coming to see my gam, I’d never run into her. It was clear they'd built a bond, which further confirmed that Juliana would be around for a while.

“You two obviously know each other already. We’ll save that tea for a later date, though.” Gam giggled as Juliana smiled, eyes coming back to me before she looked away.

“You want to help me walk her down?” I asked. I wasn't ready to leave her just yet, but I knew I’d be back for her. Juliana nodded again as we helped Gam up, locked up, then helped her down the two flights of stairs.

“You mind helping her to my truck? It's parked right out front. I need to take care of something right quick.”

“Sami—”

“It's cool, Gam. I'll only be a minute.”

“Come on, Mrs. G. I got you.” Juliana walked her out of the building, and I made a beeline down the hall to the landlord’s office. I knocked on the door, and Drew opened it. Stepping inside, my eyes found the bitch-ass slumlord sitting in a chair in front of his desk with fear pouring from his pores.

I didn't have to guess why. Drew had his .50 caliber resting at his side. Without saying a word, I walked over to him and punched him dead in his shit. Blood splattered from his mouth, but I didn't stop.

I had to step to him two times already about the conditions of this raggedy motherfucka, and now my grandmother hurt herself because the fucking elevators didn’t work.

“Stooop! Please, man! I'm sorry!”

“Shut yo’ pussy ass up! I had to warn you too many times about this fucking garbage can, and now my grandma could have broken her fucking arm because of you!”

“I-I’m trying! The electrician is coming out on Friday! I’m sorry!”

“Fuck your sorry, bitch nigga!” I yanked him out of the chair, tossed his ass to the floor, and stomped his stupid ass out.

It took Drew to pull me back from killing his stupid ass.

“A’ight, my G. Don't make this shit a murder scene.”

“Fuck him,” I spat. “You got ten days for me to see some improvement around this bitch. These tenants pay you too much fucking money for you to have this motherfucka looking like it does.” I didn't give a fuck if I was moving my gam out of here. These people deserved better than this shit.

“Ten days,” I repeated, giving him one last swift kick to his stomach. “Let's go,” I told Drew as we walked out of his office. I wanted to kill that nigga, but I knew my gam would murder me if I did that shit around her. We stepped out of the building, and my eyes found the roundness of Juliana’s ass.

Damn I missed that ass.

She talked to Gam until her eyes found mine, and I stepped over to them.

“Thank you, beautiful.”

“No problem.”

I could tell something was off with her. She looked nervous, and I wasn't sure if I liked it.

“Let me get my grandma taken care of, then I’ma come back. Don't go nowhere, a’ight?” I watched her swallow and look away. “You ain't got no nigga in there do you?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Coo’. I’ma see you.” I kissed her forehead and climbed in the driver’s seat of my truck. I watched her until she made it inside, then pulled away from the curb.

“I hope you got rid of that lying hussy before you think about pursuing my girl,” Gam said as I smiled.

“The divorce is almost final, Gam. She moved out last month.”

“Good. Juliana’s a sweetheart. I don't want you playing with her heart.”

“Never that. She may just be your new granddaughter-in-law.”