His body moved again in the same way then he closed his eyes. When he opened them, what I saw made that velvet shroud wrap closer, my pug snuggled in and licked my face.
Before I could struggle with this too, Nick started talking. “I like Vance. I like that, since he came into your life, you got girlfriends throwin’ you parties and folks showin’ up at your house to watch football. I like lookin’ out the front window seein’ guys I don’t know, but I know I can trust, knockin’ on your door. I like knowin’ you aren’t alone over there with just Boo and Stevie Wonder for company. No, I don’t think you’re movin’ too fast. What happened to your family hadn’t happened, I’d have married Reba within months of knowin’ her. When you know it’s right, you just know. I got a feelin’ Vance knows it’s right. I’m glad that you figured it out. I’d be honored to walk you down the aisle, if we were walkin’ towards Vance, even if you told me it was happening tomorrow.”
I couldn’t help it, one night off the job and I was already losing hold on my head crackin’ mamma jamma. Therefore at his words I burst into tears.
I felt as his arms came around me, I shoved my face in his neck and I heard Auntie Reba’s voice in my ear.
Home.
My tears turned to sobs and now I was emotionally struggling with the fact that I was a big sissy.
A knock came at the door.
“Yeah?” Nick called.
I heard it open and I lifted my what I was sure was red, wet and scary face away from Nick and saw Vance standing there watching us.
Shit.
“I’ll come back,” Vance murmured.
“Think you best take over here,” Nick answered, gently moving me towards Vance.
“I’m okay,” I wiped my tears with my fingers but made one of those silly, girlie, sobby hiccoughs.
Vance came forward and his arms went around me. At the feel of them, I started crying again, and harder, so I shoved my face in his neck.
“What happened?” Vance asked Nick.
“I don’t know. Do you ever know? She’s a girl,” Nick answered.
My body went solid and I pulled my head out of Vance’s neck. “I’m not a girl!” I shouted at Nick. “I’m a head crackin’ mamma jamma!”
“Sure you are,” Nick soothed but I could swear he sounded a little bit like he was laughing.
I narrowed teary eyes at him. “I am!”
Vance totally ignored me but kept his arms around me. “We’re goin’ to Lincoln’s for dinner. You’re welcome,” Vance told Nick.
“Nah, game on tonight,” Nick answered.
“Another time,” Vance said.
“Sure, sounds good, haven’t been there in awhile.”
“Not much has changed.”
“Best part about it.”
“Hello!” I shouted, pulling out of Vance’s arms and pointing to myself with both hands. “Having total emotional breakdown! Anyone? Anyone?”
Nick started out-and-out laughing. Vance just grinned at me.
“You done?” Vance asked me.
I rolled my eyes.
Whatever.