Page 17

CHAPTER 17

MCCOY

“Let me get your keys.” Earth had his hand out, waiting before I could respond. “Legit, baby, come on.”

“Where are you going?” I asked as I dug into my purse. I was trying my hardest not to spaz out. He’d asked me to trust him and let him lead, and I was trying to do just that.

“We are going to see my mama,” he answered as I dropped the keys into his hand. I reared back, surprised, but didn’t say anything. “You thought I was playing last night?”

“About?”

Earth stepped into my space and pulled me by the bottom of my shirt to him so I could close the little space we had between us. “You belong to me, Coy. What’s mine is yours, and that includes my family. Me being locked up here for weeks and not talking to my mama is probably killing her. That’s gotta be fixed ASAP.”

“I’m sorry,” I replied, shaking my head. “I didn’t think this all the way through.”

“It’s cool.” He dropped a kiss on my lips. “Mama might be a little standoffish, but she will understand why you did what you did once we tell her.”

“You sure?” I questioned him, not believing his family would be so understanding. Yes, his brother and friends seemed to be yesterday, but his mother and father would be a different story. Even though he was grown, it was their job to protect him.

“It’ll be cool.” He laughed and kissed me again. I wanted to climb up his body to keep this feeling, but I didn’t. He pulled back, wiped the corner of his mouth, and smiled. “Bring your fine ass on so you can see I’m a man of my word.”

Earth drove my truck to his parents’ house, less than ten minutes from mine. The house was precisely the type of home I pictured for his parents. wrought-iron fence with a long driveway that led to a beautiful three-story house. Earth parked in front of the back garage he said his parents had built a few years ago so they didn't block their driveway when he and his siblings came over.

A tall man with skin the color of melted chocolate, dark eyes, a long nose, full lips, a goatee, and a mean expression on his face came out the back door, a big gun in his hand. Earth chuckled, then shut the truck off. The windows were blacked out so we could see, but no one could see in. “That’s my pop,” Earth said, leaning back in his seat and shaking his head. “Young Carlson looks mean, but nigga is a teddy bear to every woman in the family.”

“You sure?” I questioned him, not believing what he was saying.

“Yep, watch this shit.” Earth kissed me again, then got out of the truck. I watched as his daddy stared at his son for a few seconds, then dropped his head and visibly took a deep breath. Earth walked over to his father and hugged him. His shoulders shook as he cried and patted his son’s back. He spoke into Earth's ear, and he nodded before stepping back. Young looked over his shoulder, and Earth nodded before running his hand over his face, then turning to face me. He walked back over to the car and opened the door. “Get out, Coy.”

After I got out, Earth closed the door, took my hand, and walked me over to his daddy. Up close, I saw the resemblance between father and son, but something told me Earth looked like his mother.

“You’re the woman who stole my son?” Young asked, and I nodded. “Was it for a good reason?”

“Yes, sir,” I answered with a nod.

Young nodded his head, not needing any more information. “Alright, well, come on. His mama is in the house sleep, so y'all might as well get this over with. She’s probably gonna cuss a lot, so be prepared.”

“She been feeling alright?” Earth asked, and his daddy nodded. “You sure?”

“She good,” he answered with a laugh. “She sat up all night on the phone with your sister. You know how Breeze is. She throws herself into work when she’s stressed, and your mama ain’t want her up alone, so they sat on FaceTime all night.”

“I’m sorry, Pop.” Earth sighed.

“No reason to be sorry,” he replied. We walked into the living room, and I realized I was right. Earth may have had some of his father’s features, but he was his mama’s twin.

Earth didn’t let my hand go as he kneeled next to his mama and rested his forehead against the side of her face. “Mama, open your eyes,” he said softly. The gentleness in his voice made tears fill my eyes. There was no doubt in my mind this was an action Earth did a lot with her. His mama stirred for a second, and Earth chuckled. “Come on now, old woman, open your eyes.”

“Earth, move.” She groaned and tried to push him away.

“Mama, Pop in your kitchen trying to cook.” Earth chuckled, then stood up.

His mama's eyes popped open, and she looked around. “Young, if your black ass is in my kitch—” She stopped talking and jumped up from the couch. “Earth!” She threw her arms around Earth and let out a small cry. “Thank you, God!”

“You missed a nigga, huh?” Earth laughed as he hugged his mama. “I was gone a week.”

“Earth, I thought you were dead!” she fussed as she pulled back from him. Her small hands went to his face, and she stared at him. “Do you know what that was like? Why the fuck would you do that?”

“I can explain,” he replied with a smirk. She let his face go and hit him in the arm. Earth let my hand go and rubbed the spot she hit. “Damn, I forgot how hard you hit!”

“I should beat your ass for scaring me like that!” she fussed as she hit him again. “I’ve been worried sick, and you’re standing here, talking about I hit hard?” She threw her hands in the air and shook her head. “Young, give me your damn belt!” She turned to her husband and put her hand out. Her husband laughed and started to take his belt off.

“Damn, it's like that, Pop?” Earth questioned him.

“That’s my wife, Earth. You’d do the same shit,” his daddy replied as he handed his wife the belt.

“Now explain to me why I shouldn’t beat your ass!” his mama said, turning to face him with the belt in her hand.

“Because—” Earth started to say, then stopped talking when he felt my hand on his back.

“Because what?” his mama questioned. She pushed past him and stared at me with a surprised look. For a brief second, I wondered what she saw when she looked at me. Earth had told me not to wear any makeup to allow my skin to breathe, but I knew my lip was swollen and my cheek was bruised. “Baby girl, what happened to you?” She dropped the belt, pushed Earth entirely out of the way, and cupped my face in her hands.

“Mama, this is McCoy Toliver,” Earth said, but she waved him off. “Coy, this is my mama.”

“Earth, what happened to this baby?”

“I ain’t do it,” Earth replied.

“I know you aren’t stupid,” she said, waving him off. “Come on, Coy, let’s go talk.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, nodding. My eyes went to Earth, and he nodded before his mama pulled me out of the living room.