“Malik, shut up. Arianna is grown and if she wants to date him, it’s her business,” Mom
replied.
“Even if she becomes a single mom?” Malik insisted.
Mom shrugged her shoulders. “Arianna will never be alone.”
“Daddy, what do you think?” I asked.
“Baby girl, I think you need to give it some time. I’m not saying he’s a problem, but
you’re always caught in some mess with him,” Dad told me. I agreed with a nod and slid down
lower in bed with the thin blanket around me.
“Can you turn the light off on your way out?” I asked, ready for bed.
“We’ll be back in the morning,” Dad and my brothers said as Mom got comfortable on
the couch, and we both dozed off for the night.
