Troy: Baby, you there?
Clarissa: Of course. Just enjoying the view. Now, go kick some ass.
Troy: Enjoy your trip.
Clarissa: Taking off. (Kiss face emoji)
“Hey, bud,” I greet Dante as my mother’s face pops up on the screen behind him.
“Hey, baby, well, if you aren’t the toast of the town. They were talking about you on Sports Center last night!”
“I saw. I just signed with my agent. Hey, have you heard from Clarissa? Is she back from Arizona?”
“When was Clarissa in Arizona?”
“She’s not in Arizona,” Dante says, popping a strawberry in his mouth.
“She’s back?”
“She didn’t go to Arizona,” Dante supplies. “Auntie Parker lied to you.”
“What?”
“I heard them talking ‘cause Mommy didn’t want to text you.”
Mom’s brows lift higher and higher with each word. “What’s this about?”
“I found Troy’s medicine, and Mommy got really, really mad, and cried forever.”
Mind racing, I scrub my jaw, emotions running rampant while facing off with my mother.
“What medicine, son?”
“Mom, give me a second. Dante, are you sure you heard that?”
“Uh huh.”
“What else did she say?”
Dante speaks around a mouthful, evident worry on his face. “Are you going to be mad at her?”
“No. Just tell me.”
“She said you wouldn’t know how hard she’s working to make you guilty. Auntie Parker doesn’t like her work friend.”
“What work friend?”
“The man.”
“Okay,” Mom says, interrupting my interrogation. “Dante, go into Nonny’s closet and grab the new puzzle.”
“Okay, Nonny. Bye, Troy, Love you!”
“You too, bud.”
With Dante occupied, Mom walks out onto her porch, shutting the door behind her.
“Troy, what in the hell is going on?”