Passion of the Streets Read online

  “I’m straight.”

  “I made you some steak and mashed potatoes. It’s some carrots in the Crock-Pot too.”

  Anybody that knew Jamil personally knew how much he loved steak and potatoes. So for her to not only ask was he hungry but to have made his favorite meal, she was up to something.

  Jamil walked farther into the living room and took a seat on the sofa. “What you need, Ma?”

  She looked back at him with a smile. “Nothing. Just eat, baby. Your father is out of town for the weekend. He says he’s going to the casino with your uncle George. So it’s just the two of us this weekend.”

  And there it is.

  For as long as he could remember, whenever his father wasn’t around, his mother was on her best behavior. Treating him like a mother was supposed to treat her child. Too bad for her that was over for him. He had long ago grown out of her sympathy treatment. When he was younger he would soak it up and even pray to God to keep his father away, but he was grown now. He wanted no part of what Zanetta had to offer because as soon as Owen returned home, she was back to being his drug addict sidekick.

  “You had company the other day?” She disrupted his thoughts.

  “Yeah. For a minute.”

  “A woman?” Zanetta turned around with a bright smile on her face and took a seat on the edge of the sofa. “Who is she?”

  As badly as Jamil wanted to stay angry with her and ignore her efforts at being a normal mother, the kid in him desired this: a normal conversation with his mother about the girl he liked. Her thoughts and advice on Gia would be a nice try at a normal relationship, so he obliged.

  Jamil nodded and tried to hide the smile that spread across his face when he thought about Gia’s sexy chocolate ass.

  “She’s got you smiling that hard? She must really be something.” Zanetta’s face was bright as she waited for Jamil to spill the beans.

  “She’s different, Ma. Nothing like the girls from around here. She’s a runner, just graduated from college and is about to play softball in the upcoming Olympics. Smart, beautiful, classy . . . she’s just really nice.” He looked from his hands up to his mother’s face.

  For a moment Zanetta almost looked like a normal mother, the way she smiled and listened intently to him speak about Gia. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he even saw a few tears in her eyes.

  “That’s wonderful, baby. What’s her name?”

  “Gianna. I call her Gee, though.”

  “What does she think of you? Does she smile like this when speaking of you?”

  Jamil’s cheeks were sure to be red as he pictured Gia actually sitting down telling her parents about him. He shrugged. “Probably. She smiles a lot when I’m around her. I’m sure she likes me a lot too.” He pushed some of his hair out of his face as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “She told me she loved me last night.”

  Zanetta yelped and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, Jamil. That’s so sweet, baby. You think she was serious?”

  This time, along with his shoulder shrug came a small laugh. “Maybe, maybe not. I was giving her some of this D. That might have had a lot to do with it.”

  Zanetta leaned over and slapped Jamil’s shoulder. “Jamil. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  The two of them shared a quick laugh as he sat back in his seat again. “For real, Ma. You know how when you’re about to get in trouble or you’re really nervous about something and your stomach starts feeling all crazy?”

  Zanetta wiped her eyes and nodded.

  “That’s how I feel when she’s around or when I talk to her on the phone.”

  “Jamil, that’s so sweet, baby. I am so happy for you.” She paused for a minute and looked away before looking back at him. “Do you think I could meet her? I mean, I’ve never seen you talk about a woman. Not that we talk much.” She sounded a tad bit sad. “But I would love to meet her.”

  All signs of emotion left Jamil’s face as he stared at his mother. He looked at her long and hard, trying to see if she was serious. He just knew she couldn’t be. Why on earth would she think he was going to bring Gia to their house for her to embarrass him? Apparently she picked up on his skepticism, because she touched his arm before he could respond.

  “Today’s a good day. I’ve only been cleaning. Nothing else. I cooked and that was it. I promise.”

  Though she didn’t want to say it, he could tell she was trying to let him know that she hadn’t done any drugs yet.

  “I don’t know, Ma.”

  “Please, Jamil. Just for a little while. When you’re ready for her to leave, then she can leave. Let’s just enjoy our time.”

  Jamil wanted so badly to believe that Zanetta wasn’t going to flip and show out in front of Gia, but he just didn’t. His gut was telling him that it was a bad idea and to leave Gia out of it, but his heart loved his mother and wanted to make her happy. Even if it was only for the weekend.

  “Let me call her and see what her plans are for today, and I’ll let you know.”

  Zanetta smiled and clapped her hands. “Let me finish cleaning and I’ll bake you guys some dessert. Do you know what her favorite dessert is?”

  Jamil shook his head at his mother’s excitement. “I’ll ask her.”

  “Well, hurry up so I can go to the store and get it.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  Jamil didn’t trust her outside alone. She could run into any one of the corner boys and ruin the whole day. Nor did he trust leaving her alone while he went to the store for her. There was no telling what she and Owen had stashed away in the house for a rainy day. He wouldn’t tell her that, though.

  She was having a good day, and he would allow it to sustain. He’d just let her think he wanted to spend time with her. No matter what she’d done to him in life, she was still his mother. Even though he tried to fight it as hard as he could, he loved her.

  “That’s even better. Call her.” Zanetta touched his shoulder as she passed him and left the living room.

  Jamil sat still for a minute just staring at his phone trying to decide if he really wanted to do this. He was still thinking when Zanetta walked past him again with a sheet of paper and a pencil.

  “I need to make a quick grocery list,” she yelled over her shoulder as she entered the kitchen. “Call her, Jamil. Check with her about dessert.”

  After a deep breath, Jamil scrolled through his phone until he saw the letters GIA and pressed Send. It rang a few times before she answered groggily.

  “I know you ain’t still asleep, Gee?”

  She giggled a little. “You wore me out last night, Milli. I’m tired. I don’t normally get a workout like that.”

  He stretched his legs out in front of him and rubbed his hand across his stomach. “That’s good to know. How about you come over and let me give you a massage?”

  “To your house?”

  “Yeah. I can come scoop you when I leave the store with my mama.”

  “What time?”

  “In about another hour.” He paused before saying what was next. “She wants you to come over for dinner.” He held his breath waiting for Gia to respond.

  He heard some moving around before her voice cleared up a little. It had even gone up an octave. “Who? Your mama?”

  He chuckled at the alarm in her voice. “Yeah. She cooked my favorite food and told me to invite you over.”

  “Well, in that case, yeah, you can come get me. I’d love to meet her.”

  “For real?” Jamil asked in disbelief.

  “Yeah. I’m good with mamas. She’s going to love me.”

  Jamil and Gia both chuckled a little at that.

  “Cool. Well, get dressed and I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

  “If you want, I can have Oni bring me over there.”

  He checked his watch and looked down at what he was wearing. He would like to shower and change, so he agreed with that. He told her to give him about an hour and a half. Once they fin
alized plans and were about to hang up, Jamil remembered what his mother had said.

  “Oh, Gee, hold on. She asked what your favorite dessert is. She’s going to make it, I guess.”

  “Key lime cake with cream cheese icing and pecans on top.” The smile in her voice didn’t go unnoticed.

  “Bet. See you in a few.”

  “I can’t wait, Milli.”

  “Me either, Gee.”

  The two of them ended their call and he walked into the kitchen. Zanetta was looking in the cabinet with all of her seasonings. When she heard Jamil enter she turned to face him.

  “What’d she say?”

  “Key lime cake with cream cheese icing and pecans on top,” Jamil told her with a smile on his face that matched hers.

  “Did you tell her that was your favorite too?”

  He shook his head.

  “Aww, Jamil.” Zanetta walked over and touched his cheek. “You like her, and I just love it. Let me get my shoes and I’ll be ready.” She left the kitchen.

  Jamil leaned against the counter, digging in his pockets to make sure he had money. When he was ready, he went to the door to wait on his mother. He wasn’t sure why God chose this day of all days to make it a good one, but he was thankful. Hopefully it would continue.

  Chapter Eight

  “Talking about got a nigga head gone? My muthafucking Gee keeps ya boy head in the clouds. She’s so fucking amazing that it’s hard for a hood nigga like myself to even believe she’s real. You ever wanted something so bad, then you finally get it? That’s how I feel every time I’m around Gee. At this very moment, if it’s one thing that I could have for the rest of my life, it would be Gianna’s li’l sexy ass.”

  —Milli

  “You are? That is amazing, sweetheart.” Zanetta sat at the head of the table rubbing the top of Gia’s hand.

  She and Gia had been talking about Gia’s life with track for the past few minutes, and they both looked to be enjoying it. Jamil, on the other hand, stood quietly at the door of the kitchen watching the two of them interact so lovingly.

  Like she’d said, Gia really was good with mothers. Zanetta hadn’t stopped talking since Gia arrived. From the moment Gia entered their house, Zanetta had kidnapped her and held her hostage. Every ounce of conversation that had taken place with Gia was with Zanetta.

  Had she not jumped in his arms as soon as he opened the door, Jamil would have wondered if she’d even noticed that he was there.

  “Yes, ma’am. Just for now, though,” Gia said. “As soon as the time comes, I’m going to race against her and beat her, then I’ll be number one in the nation.” Gia gushed, “I can’t wait. I’ve been training nonstop for that race and the Olympics so I’ll be ready when it all finally does happen.”

  “That is so wonderful, Gianna. Make sure when that race happens that I’m there. I want front-row seats. Right next to your parents. I most definitely want to be at the Olympics cheering you on!” Zanetta touched the side of Gia’s face. “You hear me?”

  Gia nodded with a large smile on her face, the tiny nose ring catching Jamil’s eye every time her head moved.

  “I sure will. Hopefully your son will bring you with him.” Gia looked over at Jamil with a sly smirk.

  Jamil held a straight face as both of the women looked at him for his response.

  “He’ll bring me. Either that or I’ll beat his ass.”

  Zanetta and Gia laughed like that was the funniest thing she’d said all night. Jamil didn’t really see the humor in it, but he smiled anyway. Anytime Zanetta referenced him and beating in the same sentence, it brought back bad memories. Because he was actually enjoying his evening, he decided to disregard that comment and grab more cake from the kitchen.

  When he came back, Gia’s eyes were on the spot he had been standing in. When she saw him with the plate of cake, she smiled and held her plate up toward him.

  “Can you give me another piece, please?” Gia asked him.

  Jamil hadn’t eaten any of his piece yet, so he exchanged plates with her and took her empty one. Zanetta smiled at his thoughtfulness and blew him a kiss as he walked back into the kitchen.

  “So, Gia, tell me, baby, how long are you going to be here before Olympic training starts?” Zanetta resumed taking over the conversation with Gia.

  That question had Jamil pausing as he stood in the middle of the kitchen floor. He too wanted to know the answer to that. He had been meaning to ask her, but it slipped his mind every time they were together.

  “I’m leaving at the end of the summer, so a little less than two months then I have to go,” Gia answered.

  Less than two months? Jamil thought to himself.

  Jamil’s heart sank. That wasn’t enough time to do much of anything. Just when they got to know each other it would be time for her to go. He tried to feel indifferent about it because he had known since meeting her that she wasn’t there to stay. He just hadn’t known it would be that soon.

  “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart,” Zanetta said to Gia. “That is amazing.”

  “Thank you,” Gia said just as Jamil walked back into the dining room empty-handed.

  “I thought you were getting more cake.” Gia looked at him.

  He shook his head and walked into the living room, taking a seat on the sofa. “Changed my mind.”

  His tone sounded a little more bummed out than he’d thought it would. He hadn’t meant for her to hear how her words had affected him, so he tried to change the subject quickly.

  “Ma, you need me to help you clean the kitchen?”

  “No, baby, I got it,” Zanetta replied. “You spend time with Gia. I can handle it.”

  He nodded and flipped the TV on. A few moments later Gia took up the space next to him. Since his legs were already propped up on the coffee table, she kicked her sandals off and threw her legs over his. She then wrapped both of her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder.

  “What’s wrong, Milli?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You’re lying. Tell me.”

  “It ain’t nothing.”

  “Don’t lie.”

  “I said it ain’t nothing,” he snapped.

  Gia sat up and looked at him so that she could see his face. “Who you talking to?” Her eyebrows were raised as she looked at him, waiting for him to tell her who he had been getting snappy with.

  “Gee, sit your ass back. You ain’t hard.”

  “Never said I was, but I still need to know who you think you’re talking to.”

  Jamil looked at her mouth as she spoke and how her lips moved so seductively over her teeth, her big round eyes staring back at him, slightly slanted in each corner. The light smell of whatever lotion or perfume she was wearing wafted up his nose with every breath he took. Her overall presence was too much for him to ignore, and her being only inches away from his mouth didn’t make it any better.

  With one swift motion, Jamil grabbed the back of her head and pulled her to his mouth. His lips claimed hers as his. Urgently and full of aggression, Jamil assaulted her lips with a hunger so strong he was sure she could feel it through his tongue.

  They were still kissing when he felt her hands on his stomach pushing him away. “Stop it. Your mama is in there.”

  He shrugged. “She doesn’t care.”

  “That’s disrespectful, Milli.”

  He stared at her lips as she spoke. “If you say so.” He looked back toward the TV. “You want to go in my room?”

  Gia looked around for a minute before nodding.

  Jamil stood first and pulled her behind him. She followed him down the hallway and into his room. He closed and locked the door before grabbing her and pushing her against the wall. Without giving her time to do anything more than hold on to his shirt, Jamil pressed his body flat against hers.

  His mouth was on hers again immediately, pulling and tugging at the softness of her lips. With rough, hungry hands, he grabbed at the back of her thighs, pulling the bottom
half of her body to his. The feel of her in his hands made him feel animalistic, almost like he was losing control.

  “Wrap your legs around me.” He spoke into her mouth as he lifted her into his hands.

  Like she’d been told, Gia wrapped both of her long legs around his waist as he held her up by her butt. Her arms circled his neck and pulled at his hair. The way her fingertips massaged his scalp had his dick growing stronger and stronger in his pants.

  “Milli,” she moaned into his ear as he kissed and sucked on her neck. “I love you.”

  “Shit, Gee,” he grunted as he paused his movement and just held her. “I love you too, baby.” He kissed her mouth sloppily before taking her bottom lip between his teeth and sucking on it. “I love you too.”

  Gia sighed inwardly, relaxing in his arms. Jamil still didn’t know if the love they shared was real or if it was just something nice to say in the midst of heated moments, but he felt it. He wanted to believe it was true even if it wasn’t. So versus allowing his mind to get the best of him, he walked over to his bed and sat down with Gia on his lap.

  She was grinding all over his hard dick as she kissed him. He was more than positive that she didn’t know what she was doing to him with each move she made. Her body shifted so gracefully with every roll of her hips. The way she held on to his neck and moved so passionately against him revealed her desire for his love.

  “Lift up for a minute, Gee.”

  Gia lifted only enough for him to pull down the black gym shorts he was wearing. As soon as he did, his dick sprang to action, standing tall between the two of them. He looked at her as she looked at it. He waited to see whether she was going to do something or if he was going to have to make the first move.

  After a few more seconds passed and she was still staring at it, Jamil grabbed her hand and placed it on his dick. He moved her hand up and down slowly, his hand atop hers. Her soft fingers curved around his shaft. Her fingers grazing over the head sent pleasure-filled currents through his body.

  His head fell back and his eyes closed as he enjoyed the feel of her rubbing on him. He moved his hand once he felt she was comfortable enough to do it herself. He leaned back on his elbows to watch her. Seated on his lap with his dick in her hand, Gia looked like a fucking dream.