Doing the Math: A Small-Town Romance by Sanders Shae

Author:Sanders, Shae
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pink Sands
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

“Was all that necessary?”

Pop stared at me with daggers in his eyes. “She ain’t have no business bein’ in my damn kitchen.”

“Then why did you—“

“She caught me off guard! My mind was on business and she snuck it in there.”

“Well either way, you ain’t have to be so hard on her.”

Pop scrubbed a hand down his face. “She needs to mind her job. Not my dinner.”

I shook my head as I picked up the broken pieces and put them inside a plastic grocery bag.

“And don’t think I don’t notice what’s been goin’ on.”

“Oh yeah?” I tied the bag off and placed it by the back door before turning to face him. “And what’s that?”

“Quit playin’ stupid. You been paradin’ that young lady all over town.”

“And?”

“And it’s disgraceful! I got Ms. Brenda in my ear. Ms. Ida askin’ me all kinda questions. Ms. Sabrina came cryin’ a few days ago after the jazz festival. And Ms. Jackie? She been tellin' the whole damn town that some city girl got her hooks in you.”

Shit. Ms. Sabrina was Monique's mama. The last thing I needed was that woman up in the mix.

“We’re just hangin’ out, Pop. That’s it.”

“Don’t forget you’re wearin’ my name out here. I know you don’t care, but I don’t take that lightly.”

“All due respect, Pop, but maybe you should mind the farm instead of my love life.”

His eyes narrowed.

I went too far.

He took a few steps toward me. I uncrossed my arms just in case he tried to steal on me. He’d done it before when I was smelling myself.

“Love life?”

I held his gaze, trying my hardest not to blink first.

“What you know about love? All your generation knows about is bed-hoppin’. Don’t say a goddamn thing to me about love. Love is what I had with your mama. All you got is that thing in your pants that makes you act a plum fool.”

I already knew I wasn’t winning this one. Whenever he brought my mama into it, the battle was already lost.

“I’m not acting a fool. I’m enjoying her company.”

“Yeah, I bet you are.”

“It ain’t even like that.”

Yet.

Pop snorted. “I know you.”

“We ain’t on me right now.” I took a deep breath. “Listen. I know why you reacted like you did. But Dia ain’t got nothin’ to do with Mama.”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“So we’re never gonna talk about it?”

Pop crossed his arms and rested his weight against the counter.

But he didn’t move.

“I saw your face when she asked us to go clean up.”

He shrugged.

“You got…it’s like you got triggered.”

“Triggered? What the fuck is a triggered?”

“It means it made you feel something you ain’t wanna feel.”

“Why does your generation have to make up words? Why can’t you say you what you just said? You coulda said that the first time and avoided all this confusion.”

I waited a few moments, taking a deep breath to calm myself.

“Let’s stay focused.”

He rolled his eyes.

“She reminds you of her.”

“No she don’t.”

“Pop! When are you gonna deal with it?”

“I ain’t gotta deal with shit.

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