“It better be,” he teases, “wit’ ya, apple head. Or you know there’s gonna be repercussions like a muhfucka, right?”

I laugh. “Yeah, yeah, okay. I see someone’s been reading the dictionary this morning. What, that’s your new word for the day—repercussions?””

“Oh, you got jokes? You think there won’t be?”

I decide to appease him. ’Cause bottom line, I know there will be. “Baby, I know it’s gonna be whatever you say.”

“And don’t forget it, either. So what you’d do last night?”

“Oh, nothing much; I laid around with a wet pussy waiting for you to call; that’s all.”

“Damn, baby. Sorry ’bout that. I got caught up talkin’ to Stax last night. Did he hit you up?”

“Yeah, he did.”

“Cool. So he’s ridin’ down with you on Sunday?”

Without thinking, I suck my teeth. “Yeah,” I say, flatly.

“Why you say it like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you ain’t really beat.”

“I’m not. I mean. Stax is cool and all, but I don’t feel like being in a car with him for two hours. That’s a bit much. I don’t know why he can’t rent a car, or get a ride down there on Saturday with one of your boys. Hell, he should wait until his car gets fixed.”

“Yo, hol’ up. You actin’ like you got some kinda beef wit’ the nigga.”

“I don’t have beef with him.”

“Then why you trippin’?”

“I’m not tripping.”

“Then chill. You talkin’ like it’s some regular-type shit. Scoop my fam up, and be done with it, aiight?” He sighs, pausing. “Damn. It ain’t that serious.”

“I know it’s not. I already told you, I’m picking him up. I was only telling you how I felt about it. Sunday is our only time together, and I don’t wanna sit there and share it with him, or anyone else?”

He laughs. “Awwww, let me find out, my baby, wants me all to herself. You want big daddy all to yourself, baby?”