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“Girl, don’t you see grown folks talking?”
“When the hell yall become friends?” I asked, confused. Neither one of them seemed aware of how strange this shit looked. Last I checked, he took everything she had. She was pissed, and Juanita didn’t forgive nobody over money. Now she was watching TV and cackling with the nigga who did it. Had I walked into the Twilight Zone around this bitch?
“I brought Lovii to meet her grandmother,” Anton finally responded.
“I’m glad he did. Give me my grandbaby.” Juanita stood up and grabbed her from me. “Grandma gone get you some stuff too. I ain’t know what size you wore, so your daddy gone have to tell me.” I looked at Anton, and this nigga looked pleased with himself.
“So, he brought you Lovii, and now everything good?”
“We came to an understanding.” I looked at her and then at him. He was nodding in agreement.
“Juanita, can I talk to you alone for a minute?” Anton laughed before standing.
“I’m gone let yall girls talk. I’mma get up out of here.” I wanted to tell his ass he never should’ve come, but I remained quiet.
“You ain’t gotta leave. Bubbles ain’t running shit over here,” Juanita’s traitorous ass said.
“Naw, I’m good. I’ll see you later, Stink.” He winked at me and smiled. My stomach tightened. What the hell did he mean? Was he planning on showing up to my house again?
“Leave my grandbaby. You can come get her tomorrow.”
“She got food in her bag. Don’t feed her none of that bullshit you eating on that plate.” Anton leaned down and kissed Juanita on the cheek.
“Boy, I done kept children alive longer than you been grown.”
“Yeah, but you ain’t raised this one.” Anton rubbed Lovii’s head and walked out. I watched him leave. He didn’t hug me or even try to pull me aside. I’m not gone lie, after we spent the night together, that shit stung.
“Why you over there looking stupid?” Now Juanita had conversation for me.
“What’s going on with you and Anton?”
“Let me ask you this. Did you sleep with Peanut last night?” I looked at her like she was crazy.
“Girl, what?”
“You heard me. Now, answer the question.”
“I’m not telling you what I did in my bedroom. That’s my business.”
“Exactly. Who I entertain in here is mine.”
“That is not the same thing. I don’t even know why I asked.”
“Because you nosy. Now, what you want? You think I don’t know you stalling?”
“I need some advice about Peanut and Anton. I don’t know what to do. I love Anton, and I love Peanut. Just not in the same way. Peanut been there, and after everything, it would be fucked up to leave him. I’m just not in love with him anymore. With Anton, I don’t know what I’m doing. I told him I was going home to Peanut, and he let me without a fight. I saw him at the club with a bitch, so I spazzed on him. We left, had sex, and then he popped up at my house and now he’s over here. I have no idea what we’re doing or if he’s got something up his sleeve.”
“He came to see me. Don’t drag my house into shit yall got going on.”
“I know, Juanita. I’m not saying that. I can’t leave Peanut, but I don’t wanna lose Anton. I’m just asking you what you think I should do.”
“See, that’s what happens when you keep trying to pay a bill that’s not yours anymore.” I looked at her confused. “Listen. Just because you been paying on something for years don’t mean you gotta keep paying on it after you find out it ain’t worth what they charging.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I’m asking you how to choose between two men.”
“And I’m talking about knowing when you done paid enough. If you want to keep paying, that’s your business. Just don’t be sitting around complaining about being broke when you’re the one steady handing over the money.” Maybe I hadn’t gotten enough sleep because I couldn’t put together what she was trying to tell me.
“So, you think I should leave Peanut?”
