Page 12 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Jacob peeked around the corner from the living room. “Aye, champ. How you been?”

“I’ve been cooling. Keeping my face clean.” He nodded because he knew exactly what I meant.

Mama set the plate in front of me and sat across the table with a glass of sweet tea. For a second we just sat there in silence while I ate before I spoke up.

“You ever feel like you want somebody… but you ain’t got the right tools to handle ’em?”

Mama’s eyebrow raised just a little. “That a real question or you just tryna get poetic on me?”

“Nah, Ma. It’s a real question.” I chuckled.

She leaned back, arms crossed. “Who is she?”

“Her name’s Sophi.” I started. “She’s real quiet, but it’s something about her I just can’t shake. She’s been through some stuff, but I’on mind looking past all that.”

“So what’s stopping you? You obviously care for this girl.” she finally asked.

“I’on wanna mishandle her. She deserves peace, and I’ain exactly a peaceful nigga.”

“Mhm.” She sipped her tea. “Let me ask you this. Do you want her because you think she’s soft, or do you see her softness and want to protect it?”

“I wanna protect it,” I answered without hesitation.

“Then you’re already halfway there.”

“Halfway don’t mean shit if I still get it wrong.”

She reached across the table and tapped her fingers against mine.

“You don’t have to fix her, Rashad. You just need to be solid enough so that when she finally decides to lean on you, you’ll be able to handle it. Don’t push her to open up. Don’t make her feel like loving you has to come with survival skills.”

This is why I talk to my mama. She always knows what to say.

“You have a good heart, Rashad,” she added. “You always have. You’re just rough around the edges.”

I gave a small nod, letting her words settle deep.

“Now make sure you bring her to Sunday dinner.” She smiled.

“You just wanna be nosy.” I smirked.

She stood, taking my empty plate. “Boy, I’m your mama. That’s my job.”

I stayed and kicked it with my mama and Jacob for a bit before I headed to Buck’s to pick up Sophi.

I low-key missed her lil’ ass today. I left my mama’s house with her words still settling in the back of my mind.

Shit she said always stuck longer than I liked to admit, but it helped.

By the time I pulled up to Buck and Nic’s house, I already had my mind made up on how I was gone handle things.

I pulled in behind Buck’s truck and trekked to the door and rang the bell.

I knew somebody, probably Buck, was looking at the camera and saw it was me.

Moments later, my suspicion was confirmed when he opened the door.

“The fuck you posted up on my doorstep like the Avon lady for?”

I walked past his ass before I spoke. “You know why I’m here.” As soon as I was deeper into the house, I spotted Sophi curled up on the end of the couch like she was when I talked to her earlier. She looked up, and the moment her eyes hit mine, a soft smile graced her face.

“Hey,” she said.

“Wassup, shorty,” I murmured back, as I walked over. I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “You good?”

She nodded. “You?”

“I’m better now,” I countered causing her to blush.

Before we could say anything else, Buck walked past us and narrowed his eyes.

“Cut all that shit out in my damn living room. I sit on that damn couch with my family.”

Sophi flipped him off without even turning around. “Nobody asked you, Lincoln.”

“You’on have to ask me. This my shit,” he responded like he was offended.

“And you still don’t run shit,” she shot back.

“Tell him again.” Nic came downstairs with Liberty and Benny following her. “Lincoln, get out their damn business,” she fussed.

“Goldie, don’t play with me. Everything that goes on in my gah damn house is my business. Act like you know.” He gave her a look that let me know we weren’t gone be here much longer.

“I’m the boss!” Benny yelled. “Move, peasant!”

I caught him as he ran past and tossed him in the air once before setting him back on his feet. “Where you get this energy from, little man?”

“Cereal and cookies!” he yelled, taking off again.

“Accurate,” Nic said from the kitchen.

Liberty came over with her phone in her hand grinning. “Juke, can you say hey to my friends real quick? They didn’t believe I knew you.”

I leaned back on the couch and laughed.

She held the phone up to my face, and I saw three other girls on the screen. “Say something cool.”

I looked into the screen and smirked. “Why y’all giving my lil’ homie a hard time. Ease up off her and I’ll let y’all come through the gym.” All you could hear were screams coming through the phone, so loud Liberty winced and turned the volume down.

“Hot asses,” Buck muttered as he walked back up. “Y’all need to go do some homework or some shit.”

“It’s not even a school night,” Liberty stated.

“Don’t matter. Go do some ABCs or something and not worry ’bout this ugly ass nigga.”

Benny came back over trying to stab me in the leg with his sword. Sophi reached out and caught him one-handed.

“Try it again,” she fussed.

He giggled and ran off.

“You’re good with him,” I stated.

“He’s bad as hell, but that’s my lil’ boo.”

We talked for a little while longer until we heard the front door opened, and Kilo walked in with his usual calm demeanor.

“Nigga, did you just walk yo’ big bald-headed ass in my house? The fuck you got on the taxes?” Buck snarled.

“Shut up talking to me, Lincoln. You knew I was coming.” Kilo waved him off before dapping me up and hugging Sophi. “You good?” He looked at her like he was trying to figure out if she was lying or not.

“I’m fine,” she assured her.

He kissed her forehead and looked at me. “And you making sure of that?” he questioned.

“That nigga better be,” Buck interjected, but I waved him off.

“Where Liberty at?”

“Right here, Daddy!” She jumped up and headed in his direction with Benny on her heels.

“I right here!” Benny shrieked. “Where Teddy?”

“He’s home with his mama. You been chillin?” he asked, and Benny nodded his head vehemently in response.

“Lying ass,” Buck voiced. “Lil’ nigga bad as fuck.”

“And you had the audacity to do it again,” Nic said as she rolled her eyes.

“You’on be saying that shit when I be fu―”

“Lincoln!” Nic cut him off because he was definitely about to run out.

“Save all that yelling for later. Matter fact… y’all get the fuck out. Everybody leave with the muthafucka they came with so I can fuck on my wife in peace.” This nigga didn’t care what came out his mouth at all.

“I think that’s our cue. You ready?” I leaned in and asked Sophi. My lips were so close to her ear that I felt the goosebumps form on her skin.

“See, nigga. Get the fuck out with all that.” Buck looked at me and frowned.

“Gladly, muthafucka.” I slapped hands with him and Kilo before giving Benny dap and hugging Liberty.

I told Kilo about bringing her and her friends to the gym, and he said he would get with me to set something up.

After saying our goodbyes, and Buck talking more shit, we were loaded in my truck and headed back to my place.

I was tired as fuck, but I couldn’t wait to get home and lay up with Sophi.

***

We’ve been here for about an hour, and after we both showered, we ended up on the couch, where Sophi’s head was leaned back against the cushion. She looked relaxed…and safe. That was all I wanted.

“How’s your mama?” she asked, breaking the silence.

“She’s good. I told her about you.”

Her brows lifted a little. “You did?”

“Yeah, but not like that,” I clarified. “I just told her you were a friend that I cared about.” When I said that, her eyes bore into mine. I looked down at my hand on her leg. “She told me to bring you to my granny’s Sunday for dinner.”

That caught her off guard. “Wait… for real?”

“Yeah.” I looked back at her. “You up for that?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

I nodded, not wanting to force the moment.

We sat there a while longer, talking about nothing, yet everything at the same time.

She admitted she was bored sitting at home since Stacks replaced her at the club.

She had money, and each of them gave her money weekly.

The condo she lived was in Buck’s old building, and it was paid for.

I told her she could come do some shit with me at the gym to occupy her time.

I’on know what that would be just yet, but I’d figure it out.

Somewhere in the conversation, I reached for her hand, and she laced her fingers with mine like it was second nature.

I leaned in, brushing my lips against her cheek first, then her neck.

Soft and slow enjoying the feel of her skin against mine.

She turned her face to mine and locked her eyes with mine.

When I kissed her, it wasn’t rushed, but deep enough to reach her soul.

She slid closer, and I pulled her into my lap, holding her like I needed her…

I did. My hands were on her waist while her arms wrapped around my shoulders.

We kissed like nothing else mattered… it didn’t.

When we finally pulled apart, and her forehead rested against mine.

“You okay?” I asked, my voice low.

She nodded. “I’m good.”

She curled into my chest after that, and I held her there, listening to her breathe ’til it matched mine. I didn’t say much else, but in my head I knew if it ever came down to her or the world… the world would lose…every-fuckin-time.