Page 179 of When a Soul Cries
I pressed my lips together, already knowing this shit was about to be good.
Rome sighed. “Hey, Ma.”
“Don’t ‘hey, Ma’ me.” Sugga leaned closer to the camera, squinting like getting closer to the screen would somehow explain what she was seeing. “I just talked to your ass last night! You was trying to make sure Sol and that baby were safe. Now Khalil sending me pictures and you over there playing daddy, trying to make me a damn grandma?”
I folded forward laughing.
Rome’s jaw tightened. “Mama, I’m holding the baby.”
“That’s how it starts.”
“That’s what I’m saying!” I cut in. “And she won’t even leave him. Sol tried to get her and everything.”
Rome’s head snapped toward me. “Would you stop reporting shit like you work for the fucking news?”
Sugga wasn’t listening to either one of us anymore.
Her attention had dropped to the baby.
Halo had lifted her head at all the noise and was staring curiously at the phone. The irritation disappeared from Sugga’s face almost instantly. Her eyes softened as she took in Halo’s little curls, round cheeks, and the way she was tucked comfortably against Rome.
“Shit,” Sugga muttered.
Rome’s eyebrows pulled together.
I knew that look.
He knew his mama too.
“Mama…”
Sugga was already moving. The camera shook as she stood up, and suddenly I was looking at half her face and part of the ceiling.
“I’m on my way over there.”
Rome sat straighter. “Why?”
“Because I want to see that baby.”
“Mama—”
“And before you start, I’m not coming over there getting in your business or that girl’s business.” Sugga moved through her house while she talked, apparently looking for her purse. “I’m coming to see that baby, make sure everything is really okay…”
She paused and looked directly into the camera.
“…and to be nosy, of course.”
I barked out a laugh.
Rome rubbed a hand slowly down his face. “At least you’re honest.”
“Always.”
“Mama, Sol’s had a rough couple days.”
Sugga’s expression softened again. “I know, baby. I’m not coming over there bothering her. I’ll behave.”
I snorted.
