I looked down at Ms. Barnes. This mess was already spiraling out of control. When Kellon got here, I would tell him I was going home. This was too much. Ms. Barnes pulled back from me, swatting my arm softly.

“Not y’all making me a grandma already like I’m old,” she joked, but I couldn’t laugh. This was not funny. Ms. Barnes stared at me before taking me in her arms once more. I guess she could sense my hesitation.

“Don’t worry, baby. We’re going to take this one step at a time,” she said with a reassuring smile. “You’re part of the family now, and I’m here for you.”

Chapter 10

The elevator doors to my crib opened, and I stepped into my dimly lit apartment. The long day of press interviews had drained me. Shit, I almost wished I would have lost. It was too damn much, but after the parade Friday, things would die down. Seeing Phileigh fueled me as I quietly walked toward my mom. She was sound asleep on the couch with a blanket pulled up to her chin.

It was only 8:00 p.m., but maybe she was tired from all the press too. The last two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl had been hectic. I adjusted her comfortably on the couch before moving toward my bedroom. I couldn’t wait to see Phileigh lying in my bed, hopefully wearing something that exposed her juicy ass thighs. Thoughts of how sweet her pussy tasted on my lips replayed over and over again in my head.

“Phileigh?” I called out, pushing open the door. She was probably already fast asleep. “Phileigh, you sleep?”

Confusion swept over me as my bedroom came into view. It was empty. There was no sign of Phileigh, just a perfectly made bed.

“Phileigh, where you at?” I called again, my voice rising slightly.

When her sweet voice didn’t call back to me, I took off toward the living room. Where was she? A knot formed in my stomach as I approached my mother on the couch.

“Aye, Ma. Wake up,” I said, gently shaking her shoulder. She’d been here with Phileigh all day. Maybe she knew where she was hiding.

“What? What’s wrong?” Her eyes popped open, and she slowly rubbed her hand across her face, clearing the slob that had trickled down her cheek.

“Ma, where is Phileigh?” I questioned. Panic was evident in my tone.

I could see when she registered what I was saying because she jumped up. Her eyebrows bunched together in confusion.

“What are you talking about, Kellon?”

“Where is Phileigh?” I repeated.

“I don’t know, boy. We were watching a movie together, and then I must’ve dozed off.”

I ran a hand across my head, looking around the living room. There weren’t any signs of her. Her purse and shoes were gone.