Page 64 of When I Thug You Like That

His attempt to be lowkey about finding out my relationship status was slick, but I was on to him.

“I don’t have a man, nosey.”

“Good for you.”

“What?” I laughed.

“I’m just sayin’ that’s a good thing.”

“Mmhmm. And even if I did, there wouldn’t be no keeping me cooped up in the house. I’m actually a homebody by choice. I usually see my neighbors in passing. I just met your cousin last week, actually.”

“Oh, aight.”

“Your family seems really close.”

“We are. Shit, too close sometimes.”

I laughed. “I see that. Seemed like everyone knew who I was. I wonder why that is. You been talking bad about me?”

He put his hands up. “Only good things, I swear. You would’ve known if it was bad. My people don’t do the fake shit. Especially the females in my family.”

“I like them already ‘cause neither do I.”

We made it to the pizza shop, and he reached for the door first, pulling it open.

“Oh, that’s where Jamison gets it from.”

“Where he get what from?”

“His manners. He’s such the little gentleman. He likes to hold the door when we go outside to play and when we come back in.”

“That’s my boy,” he said proudly.

The smell of fresh dough, garlic, and cheese made my stomach remember that I hadn’t eaten anything since the tomato and mozzarella sandwich I had earlier.

“Hey, Jai,” the owner’s nephew, John, greeted from behind the counter. “What can I get for you?”

“Hey, John. Can I get a medium cheese pie?”

“Oh, you wasn’t bullshittin’,” Jay commented from beside me. “A whole pie is wild.”

John chuckled, ringing up my order. “Will that be all?”

“You can ring up whatever Mr. Judgmental here orders, and I’m gonna grab a water and a ginger ale.”

“No the hell he can’t,” Jay shot back, offended.

I turned my head slightly to him. “What’s wrong?”

“You not about to pay for your food and definitely not my food, Ma.”

“It’s pizza, Jay. Not steak and lobster with garlic noodles.”

“That shit sound good as fuck.”

I laughed lightly. “Anyway, I got it.”

“Nah. You had it when this was a solo trip. I’m here now.”