Chapter Twenty-Two: Don’t Forget Who You Belong To
611 Words
Lyric
Zay stood in the doorway, hoodie back on, hood half over his head.
“I’ma head out,” he said, voice calm but unreadable. “Let you breathe for a lil’.”
I nodded, heart still moving in slow motion from earlier.
“Okay.”
He didn’t just leave though. He waited.
Like he wanted me to do what I did.
Walk him out.
Outside, the air was cooler, that late Sunday breeze brushing across my skin as we made our way to his car.
He unlocked it, then turned around and looked at me.
“You good?” he asked, searching my face.
“Yeah,” I said, playing with the hem of my shirt. “Just… a lot today.”
“Your mama wild,” he smirked.
I snorted. “She really is.”
Zay leaned against his car and looked at me for a second too long.
“You don’t gotta be nervous about none of this,” he said. “I ain’t here to hurt you.”
“I know.”
“Just gotta be sure,” he said, opening the door. “’Cause once I’m in, I’m in, ma.”
I didn’t say anything.
Didn’t need to.
He leaned in, kissed my cheek — then dipped. Just like that.
Back inside, Janiyah was on the couch with her feet up and my bonnet on like she lived here.
“So... y’all f*cking or not?”
I threw a pillow at her. “We are not.”
She grinned. “Yet.”
I sat next to her and she immediately pulled out her phone.
“You saw what I posted earlier?” she said, showing me the story. It was a blurry sneak shot of Zay in my kitchen with the caption:
“Her man is fine and y’all mad. Stay mad. 🖤🔥”
I rolled my eyes. “Why would you post that?”
“Because I like chaos.”
Later that night, Smoke came to get her. Horn beeped twice, and she damn near skipped out the door.
“Text meeee,” she yelled behind her. “If Zay comes back, send pics!”
I laughed and locked the door.
It wasn’t long before my mom came back.
She walked in with a big purse and the smell of cards, wine, and old-school R&B.
“Lyric.”
“Yes?”
“Come here.”
I stepped into the kitchen, bracing myself.
She looked me up and down. Not angry. Just tired.
“You acting real grown lately,” she said, arms folded. “Having boys in my house. Feeding ‘em. Laying up with ‘em like you payin’ bills.”
I didn’t say anything.
She sighed. “I ain’t gon’ lecture you.”
I blinked. “You’re not?”
She shook her head. “Because honestly… your man is fine, girl.”
I gasped. “Mama!”
“I’m just saying. He got that quiet danger about him,” she said, waving her hand. “Don’t lose yourself though.”
Later that night, I was feeling cute and posted a little selfie. Nothing crazy.
Just my new hoodie, a bit of gloss, and the caption:
“Soft on the outside, don’t test the inside 💅🏽🖤”
Fifteen minutes later, Zay texted me.
“You tryna get attention or you just forgot who you belong to?”
I stared at the screen.
Was he serious?
Before I could reply, he sent another message:
“Don’t post for the internet. Post for me.”
I stared at it for a while. Half annoyed. Half… melting.
I didn’t reply.
But I didn’t delete the post either.
- Writer
