Glass Heart

13

Kareem got in his truck and made sure the AC was turned all the way up before making his way to his house. When he walked inside, he went right into his bedroom, expecting Sage to be gone. But she was sitting at the edge of the bed with her small bag of clothes beside her.

"Wassup mama" he mumbled, plopping on the bed and pulling off his shoes.

"Hey, how was work?"

"Tiring. I ain't expect you to be here"

"Yea well I didn't want to just leave while you're not here. So I waited" she crawled over to him and started to massage his shoulders.

"Damn that feel good"

Sage laughed and continued. Kareem felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and he answered it, putting it on speaker "Wassup momma"

"Hey baby, how was w- why you moaning? Kareem Lewis, I know you're not having s*x while talking to me"

He laughed a little "No, I'm not. And work was good. How your mystery man doin?"

"He's good, how's Sage? When will I meet her? All that time you spent obsessing over her, I-"

"Hey just chill, she's right here. You can talk to her" He passed the phone to Sage and she slapped him in his head, giving him a look but taking the phone.

"Hi Ms. Lewis, how are you?" She said, attempting to pull off Kareem shirt. He slipped it off and she continued the massage.

"I'm good sweetie, listen I was wondering if you'd come over for dinner tonight with my son"

"Um, Ms. Lewis. Kareem and I just talked about how things were moving too fast between us considering it’s only been a month since we've known each other. Me meeting you, that'd be a huge step"

"I completely understand baby" Joyce said "But it'd just be one time. After tonight, you and Kareem can take things as slow as y'all want"

Sage bit her bottom lip and lightly sighed "What times dinner"

"8, see you then"

The phone hung up and Sage laughed a little. “You’re not as slick as you think you are"

"Ion know what you talkin about" Kareem smiled. "But since you comin, get dressed now" He laid back and looked up at her facial expression "I know you upset with me, but we not really goin so she can meet you. She got a new man and s**t and she want me to meet him. Ion feel comfortable goin alone so I was gon ask you but remembered what you said about moving too fast"

"So you talked to your mom and she said she'll talk to me about it. Interesting" she laughed "She knew I couldn't say no"

"That she did" he sat up and stood up, making his way to the shower. "You betta be dressed when I get out"

"Or?" She smiled a little at him, her eyes traveling down his tight chest and abs then back up at him. She bit her lip.

"Girl, you gon get yourself in some trouble fuckin with me"

"What if its trouble I want?"

He licked his lips, and shook his head before walking into the bathroom to shower. He tried to shake the dirty thoughts out his head but the more he tried, the more thoughts came.

Across town, Jamie sat down across from Rosetta and Kennedy. He took the hat off his head and ran his hand over his waves.

Kennedy smiled "Jamie, you're home. How you been?"

"Been home for almost 1 month and few weeks. I'm good though, wassup with y'all?

"Well because you didn't help me with that woman Kennedy was cheating with, I killed her myself. But there's something we need your help with" his mom started.

"You know how we both feel about Sage" Kennedy said.

"Actually, I don't"

"Well I don't like her and feel like we all could be a family if she was gone." He said “After what she did to us, she deserves to be dead"

"What she do?"

"One night, when we all stayed together, she seduced me into having s*x with her. But I turned her down and she's the reason you think I beat her. When I never touched her"

"Yea?" Jamie chuckled "Tell me more"

"Baby, I know it’s probably hard to believe but it’s true. Anyway, the reason we want her dead is also because when your father left us, he left Sage a bank account full of money."

"Why'd he do that if he left because she was born?”

"Because he felt like if she couldn't have his love, she could have some money. She doesn't know about the account because I made it so she can't get the money until 25. And with her birthday coming up, I feel she shouldn't get it"

Jamie licked his lips as so many thoughts started to run through his mind. He smiled "What's the plan?"

Sage shook hands with Joyce and her boyfriend Martin while Kareem mugged him and walked passed him and inside.

"What you cook momma?" He asked, going right to the kitchen. He lifted the top to the pot.

"Wash your hands before you fix your plate" Martin said. Kareem slowly turned around and looked at him like he was crazy.

"You don't think I know that s**t? Listen you-"

"Hey, baby. Why don't you help me set the table" Sage said as Joyce passed her the plates "Come on" she smiled at him a little and he followed her into the dining room.

"Martin, please don't say anything to my son. He's not really used to me being with any man so I'm sure this is hard on him" she stated "I'll talk to him though"

"I understand"

Sage set the plates around the table and Kareem followed behind her, putting down the cups and spoons. "Ion like him" he groaned loudly.

"Give him a chance before you judge" Sage told him.

"He had a chance when I walked inside. And I came to the conclusion that ion like his ass" he said again, sitting down in one of the chairs "Why she feel the need to get a man? I mean, she been almost 9 years without one. She can't go with one another 9 or some s**t?"

"Everyone needs somebody Keemy. Just because she has you and you two are close doesn't mean you fulfill all her needs. Physically and emotionally. And don't you think 9 years is a little too long to be without a significant other? "

"No" he mumbled. Sage laughed a little and sat on his leg "You look light but you heavy ass f**k"

She slapped his chest and he laughed "Seriously Keemy, give him a chance. He seems like a nice guy. Don't be like Jamie and judge him before you know him. Like he's doing to you"

“I guess you right.” he stared at her and smiled before kissing her "Y'all kinda look alike" he mumbled.

"Me and your mom?”

"No dumbass, you and Martin" he joked, earning him another slap on the chest "But forreal. Y'all do"

"I've never seen that man before. Maybe it’s just a coincidence"

Kareem shrugged "Yea. But um, about this taking it slower thing. I thought about what you said and I agree. It took me 4 months until I finally talked to you and ion want to f**k up what we got or what we gon have. So I'll take my time with you and treat you right, show you things you ain't never see before. Emotionally and physically, without s*x. “He said sincerely, staring into her eyes "You gon end up in love with me before you know it"

"See, you had to mess up the moment boy" Joyce said with her hands on her hips. Sage hopped up from his lap and Kareem shook his head, standing up too "Come help me with this food y'all two" she smiled at Sage.

She walked passed Joyce, embarrassed. When Kareem walked passed his mom, she smiled at him too "Doing good baby"

"Come on momma, damn" he laughed.