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Jericka’s face scrunched up, and she stuck her tongue out. I wanted to do the same thing. Root Beer floats were disgusting to me. Jungle frowned playfully at her. “Girl, what’s wrong wit’chu?”
“That’s nasty!”
“Naw. This how I get dine. Y’all gon’ have to hop on my vibe.”
She frowned slightly, and I knew it was because of how he said down. Jungle was the hood of Houston if I had ever seen it. He said he went to school with Slim Thug, but he was a couple of years ahead of him. I noticed he talked that way too. “Jericka, that’s how he says down… dine,” I said as I rolled my eyes.
She giggled and stared at him. She seemed to be fascinated with him. I set her bowl of ice cream in front of her as Manman followed me to the counter. She was staring at me with tears in her eyes. “Motherhood looks good on you, baby. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Manman.”
I kissed her cheek then went back to fixing Jungle’s float. When I brought it to him, Jericka stared at it. “Thank you, C-Mar. You wanna taste it, lil mama?”
She shook her head quickly, causing her curly puffs to move. Jungle laughed loudly at her turned up lip and said, “Okay. I gotta deal for you. If you like it, you gotta give me the biggest hug you’ve ever given anybody. If you don’t like it, I’ll take you and Chelsea… I mean your mom, on a vacation to anywhere y’all wanna go.”
Shit, for that kind of deal, even if I liked it, I would say that I didn’t. Jericka’s eyebrows lifted in excitement as Jungle said, “Deal?”
“Deal!”
He dipped out a bit on his spoon and held it to her mouth. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth. When she pulled it off the spoon and swallowed it, her eyes opened, and she looked somewhat sad. When she stood in her chair and threw her arms around Jungle, we all laughed. “Aww! How sweet!” I said.
“I told you that you would like it! It’s good, huh?” Jungle asked. After she nodded her head, he said, “But just because you were so honest, I’m gon’ take y’all on vacation anyway.”
I started jumping and screaming as she laughed and joined in with me. I grabbed her hands, and we swung each other around, happy as shit. I’d never been on a vacation, so my celebration was authentic as hell. Once we stopped celebrating, I went to Jungle and hugged him tightly from behind. This family was going to make it. Seeing his cheeks redden in front of everyone only made me love him more. I wanted to believe they’d all gotten a glimpse of the Jungle I’d always known.
* * *
“While Manman is helpingJericka get situated, call that nigga and see what he wants.”
I nodded nervously. I hoped like hell Van wasn’t on any bullshit. While I knew he was as good as dead anyway, whatever he had to say could make that time come a lot quicker. Jungle sat next to me as I placed the call. Van answered on almost the first ring. “Hey, Chelsea. I’m somewhat surprised you called.”
“What do you want, Van?”
“I just wanted to apologize for all the bullshit and making you uncomfortable. I just wish we had that day back when you came over. The way we slow danced and I pulled your clothes off your beautiful body has been in my mental since that day. I apologize for reporting your man. I was just nervous for you. He’s dangerous.”
I glanced at Jungle and could see how it was taking a lot for him to remain silent. “I don’t need you looking out for me. I can look out for myself. I love Jungle… I always have. Knowing that he feels the same way about me feels like a dream,” I said as I stared into his angry eyes.
Van took a deep breath and exhaled right into the phone receiver. “I guess. I just… wish I could see you again. That I could feel my dick sliding between your walls, baby.”
I quickly ended the call when Jungle stood from his seat. My entire face was hot, and I was nervous as hell. “Block his number,” Jungle said in a deep voice.
He made a phone call and said, “Go get him whenever you’re ready. He ain’t had nothing but bullshit to say… a’ight. See y’all Sunday.”
He ended the call as he stared at me. I could feel the moisture accumulating under my breasts. I was so damn nervous, and I didn’t have a clue why. When Jungle sat next to me, I stared at my hands. However, when he reached out to me and I flinched, his lips parted. “C-Mar, you scared of me?”
“No. I’m just a little on edge for some reason. I’m sorry.”
I’d seen Jungle angry before, but not toward me. While I honestly didn’t think he was angry at me, the words that fell from Van’s lips had me jumpy. He grabbed me by the chin and turned my face to his. I stared at him from his low haircut to his thick eyebrows, dark eyes, and thick lips. “I love you, baby. You don’t have a reason to be on edge.”
“I didn’t like him speaking that way to me… not even the day he spoke about. I only wanted you.”
“That shit my fault for fucking around with Kennedy.”
I nodded, then asked, “So, he’s getting killed?”
“Mm hmm. The Patterson name ain’t to be fucked with. It’s bad enough Seneca getting away with his life after what he pulled in that courtroom the other day. All Van had to do was mind the business that paid him at that fucking grocery store. Once you informed him that we were together, that should have been the end of it.”
I swallowed hard. Van fucked with the wrong one this time. Jungle tilted my head back and stared into my eyes. “Give me them soft ass lips, baby.”
