lii🐱🩷

there'd been a few sweet potatoes left over, enough flour for a crust, and you'd gotten the idea for a pie before you'd even finished breakfast.

so you made one.

something for yourself.

something simply because you felt like it.

by late morning, it sat cooling near the window, its golden-brown center still carrying the faint warmth of the oven.

you'd just finished wiping flour from the table when granny appeared beside it.

"that the pie you been foolin' with all mornin'?"

you looked over.

"yes, ma'am."

granny leaned toward it.

"hm."

you already knew that sound.

you folded the dishcloth in your hands.

"what?"

"nothin'."

"granny."

"i ain't said nothin'."

you gave her a look.

granny ignored it, studying the pie instead.

then...

"you oughta take that over to sister louise."

you blinked.

"...my pie?"

"what other pie you see sittin' there?"

your lips parted.

granny continued before you could answer.

"heard josephine had that baby a couple days ago. poor thing probably ain't had a proper minute to herself since."

you looked toward the pie.

the pie you'd gotten up early to make.

the one you'd had every intention of cutting into later.

"granny, i just made that!"

"i know you made it!"

"then why you givin' it away?"

granny turned toward you.

"ain't nobody givin' away nothin'! i'm sayin' it'd be a nice thing to do."

"with my pie?"

"lord, girl."

granny shook her head, rolling her eyes.

"you can make another one."

you stared at her.

of course you could.

apparently, that wasn't the point.

granny had a habit of deciding what should happen with things before remembering they weren't hers to decide over.

you looked at the pie again.

then sighed.

josephine had just had a baby.

and if anybody deserved something sweet brought to their doorstep, it was probably a woman who'd spent the last two days tending to a newborn.

besides...

sister louise didn't exactly live next door.

which meant you'd have to walk.

alone.

outside.

away from the house.

away from granny.

...

suddenly the pie wasn't looking like such a terrible sacrifice.

"fine."

granny's brows lifted.

"fine?"

"i said i'll take it."

"well, don't sound so excited."

you fought the urge to roll your eyes.

"you want me to take the pie or perform a hymn about it?"

granny's head snapped toward you.

"watch that mouth!"

you pressed your lips together, but the smile threatening at the corners refused to disappear completely.

"yes, ma'am."

"mm-hm."

granny pointed toward the table.

"wrap it up good."

you reached for the clean cloth.

"and don't be all day."

there it was.

you looked up.

"i'm walkin', granny."

"and?"

"and sister louise might want company."

granny gave you a look.

you returned it.

neither of you said anything.

finally, granny waved a hand.

"just don't come draggin' yourself through that door after dark."

your mouth curved.

"wasn't plannin' on it."

that...

you could work with.

by the time you stepped outside with the basket hanging from your arm, the afternoon stretched warm and bright ahead of you.

the door closed behind you.

you stood there for a moment.

no broom in your hand.

no rag.

no pot simmering somewhere that needed watching.

just a basket...

and a road.

you started walking.

you'd complained about losing your pie, but the farther you got from the house, the less you cared about it.

maybe granny had done you a favor without meaning to.

you weren't about to tell her that.

the thought alone had you smiling to yourself when a familiar voice called from farther down the road.

"what you smilin' at?"

you looked up.

sammie approached from the opposite direction, guitar slung over his shoulder.

"nothin'."

"must be a good nothin'."

"where you headed?"

he glanced behind himself as if he'd forgotten.

"around."

you laughed.

"around?"

"yeah."

"that's a place now?"

"today it is."

he fell into step beside you before nodding toward the basket.

"what you got?"

"a sweet potato pie."

"for who?"

"sister louise. josephine had her baby."

sammie nodded.

"heard about that."

his eyes drifted toward the basket again.

"you takin' the whole thing?"

you sighed.

"don't remind me."

he laughed.

"what?"

"i got up early this mornin' and made it because we had some sweet potatoes left. figured i'd have something sweet around the house for once."

"and now you carryin' it down the road."

"granny heard about josephine and decided it'd be nice to give her the pie."

sammie glanced at you.

"granny decided?"

you caught the emphasis.

"it's a nice thing to do."

"ain't say it wasn't."

"and josephine just had a baby."

"ain't say that neither."

you looked at him.

that little smile was already sitting on his face.

"then what are you sayin'?"

"nothin'."

"mhm."

the two of you walked another few steps.

"granny just thought it'd be nice," you added. "she made the pie, so..."

sammie's head snapped towards you.

you stopped.

so did he.

"...uhh?"

he stared at you.

"don't you mean, you made that pie?"

your fingers shifted around the basket handle.

"i..."

you glanced down.

"well, yeah."

sammie's brows lifted.

"ain't no 'well, yeah.' you just told me you got up this mornin' and made it."

you gave a small laugh.

"i know."

"then granny ain't made nothin'!"

you looked back toward the road.

"...guess you're right."

"i know i'm right."

you cut your eyes at him.

"don't get carried away."

sammie grinned.

"there she go."

"there who go?"

"you."

you shook your head and started walking again.

"come on."

"where we goin'?"

you looked back at him.

"i'm going to sister louise's."

"and i'm walkin' with you."

"didn't you just say you were goin' 'around'?"

"changed my mind."

you laughed.

"you ain't got nothin' better to do?"

sammie adjusted the guitar strap across his shoulder.

"probably."

"and?"

"don't feel like doin' it."

you couldn't argue with that.

if anything...

you understood it better than most.

so you kept walking.

and sammie walked beside you.

♡♡♡

sister louise's house came into view sometime later, tucked beneath the shade of two old peach trees with every front window pushed open to catch what little breeze the afternoon offered.

you could hear voices before you even reached the porch.

someone laughed from somewhere inside.

another voice answered.

then...

a baby's cry cut through them both.

your steps slowed.

sammie glanced at you.

"what?"

"nothin'."

"you stopped."

"i ain't stopped."

you started up the steps.

sammie chuckled behind you.

"looked like stoppin' to me."

you ignored him and knocked.

it barely took a few seconds before footsteps approached from inside.

the door swung open.

"well, look at you!"

sister louise stood there smiling, a dish towel thrown over one shoulder.

"afternoon, sister louise."

"afternoon, baby."

her eyes shifted toward sammie.

"and sammie too?"

sammie tipped his head.

"yes, ma'am."

"what y'all doin' all the way over here?"

you lifted the basket.

"granny wanted me to bring this over."

"she heard josephine finally had the baby."

sister louise's face immediately brightened.

"she sure did."

she stepped aside.

"had that baby 'bout four days ago now."

another little cry sounded from somewhere inside.

sister louise looked over her shoulder.

"and she's been makin' sure everybody in this house know she here ever since."

you laughed.

"come on in. ain't no sense standin' out there."

you stepped inside with sammie behind you.

the house felt different.

lived in.

voices moved easily between rooms.

a pot simmered somewhere toward the back of the house, and a stack of folded cloths sat on the end of the table beside a half-finished glass of water.

nothing looked perfectly arranged.

nothing needed to.

people were living here.

you liked that.

sister louise reached for the basket.

"now, what you done brought me?"

"it's a sweet potato pie."

her eyebrows rose.

"that so?"

you nodded, handing it over.

"thought y'all might like something sweet."

"well, ain't you thoughtful."

the compliment caught you slightly off guard.

you smiled.

"thank you."

sister louise lifted the cloth just enough to peek beneath it.

"lord, that look good!"

sammie leaned over.

"don't it?"

you turned.

"why are you lookin'?"

"just makin' sure it survived the trip."

"you ain't carried it one step."

"exactly. somebody had to supervise."

sister louise laughed.

"boy, leave that girl's pie alone."

"thank you."

you gave sammie a pointed look.

he raised his hands.

"ain't touched it."

"yet."

"see? now you accusin' me of things i ain't even done."

"i know you."

"that's hurtful."

sister louise shook her head, still smiling as she carried the basket toward the kitchen.

"y'all two sound like an old married couple."

your head snapped around.

"we do not!"

sammie nearly choked.

"sister louise!"

her laughter floated back from the kitchen.

"i'm just sayin'!"

you looked at sammie.

he looked at you.

then both of you grimaced.

"no."

"hell no!"

you stared at him.

"you ain't have to say it like that!"

"you said it first!"

"i said no! "

"same thing."

you shoved his arm.

"you acted like the thought made you sick. "

sammie laughed.

" aint got nothin' to do with that."

" then what?"

sammie opened his mouth, then that familiar little grin started creeping across his face.

"...besides."

you narrowed your eyes.

"besides what?"

he adjusted the guitar strap over his shoulder, far too pleased with himself.

"don't reckon smoke would take too kindly to me runnin' off with his girl."

...

your face fell.

"his what?"

sammie laughed.

"you heard me."

heat rushed straight into your cheeks.

"i ain't nobody's girl."

"i ain't the one you gotta convince."

"sammie!"

he was already backing away, laughing.

"what? i'm just sayin'!"

"well, stop sayin'!"

"alright, alright."

he held up both hands.

"don't shoot the messenger."

you froze.

sammie's grin faltered.

then his eyes widened.

"...poor choice of words."

"sammie!"

he broke into another laugh as you swatted at his arm.

"i'm sorry! damn!"

"you get on my nerves."

"you'll be alright."

you rolled your eyes, but the heat in your face hadn't gone anywhere.

his girl.

ridiculous.

you weren't smoke's girl.

smoke had never said you were his girl.

yet...

your stomach had done that stupid little flip anyway.

you frowned.

damn sammie.

another cry sounded from the back room.

this time...

you looked toward it.

sister louise returned just in time to catch you.

"that's mae."

"mae?"

"mm-hm."

her smile softened.

"that's what josephine named her."

"that's pretty."

"come see her."

you hesitated for only a second before following.

not because you needed permission.

you just...

weren't sure what you were walking into.

you'd seen babies before, of course.

at church.

in women's arms around town.

from a distance.

but you'd never spent much time around one.

granny had always found some reason to steer you elsewhere.

don't bother that woman.

leave that baby be.

you got other things to be worryin' about.

eventually...

you'd stopped asking.

sister louise led you toward the bedroom.

josephine was sitting propped against the headboard when you entered, pillows gathered behind her and a blanket draped over her legs.

she looked tired.

not the polished sort of tired people admitted to when they wanted somebody to tell them they still looked pretty.

actually tired.

her hair was loosely pulled back, and there was a softness to her face that made you think she'd probably been drifting in and out of sleep all afternoon.

the tiny bundle against her chest squirmed.

josephine looked up.

"hey."

you smiled.

"hey."

"mama said you brought pie."

from behind you, sammie spoke.

"see? everybody worried about the pie."

you turned.

"why are you even back here?"

"i got invited in the house too."

josephine laughed.

sister louise pointed toward the doorway.

"you can sit yourself right out there if you start aggravatin' folks."

sammie leaned against the frame.

"i ain't said nothin'."

"that's the problem. you always about to."

you bit back a laugh.

then mae made another tiny sound.

your attention went straight back to her.

josephine noticed.

"you wanna see her?"

you stepped closer.

"yeah."

josephine shifted the blanket away from mae's face.

and...

lord.

she was tiny.

smaller up close than she'd seemed bundled against her mother.

little cheeks.

a wrinkled nose.

one tiny fist tucked against her chest.

you stared.

"she's so little."

josephine smiled tiredly.

"don't let her fool you."

sister louise laughed.

"tell her."

"little girl got lungs."

as if she'd understood she was being discussed, mae's face scrunched.

you immediately leaned back.

"oh..."

josephine laughed.

"she ain't gon' explode."

"i don't know what babies do."

"mostly eat, sleep, poop, cry, and make everybody else tired."

sister louise put a hand against her chest.

"and bring joy."

josephine looked at her mother.

"at three this mornin', she was bringin' noise."

you laughed.

sister louise sucked her teeth.

"don't listen to her."

"i'm the one been awake."

"and who was awake with you?"

josephine's mouth closed.

sister louise nodded.

"exactly."

you smiled as you watched them.

there was affection beneath every complaint.

easy.

familiar.

neither one seemed afraid of saying the wrong thing.

then josephine looked down at mae.

"you wanna hold her?"

your smile vanished.

"...hold her?"

sammie snorted behind you.

you looked back.

"don't."

"i ain't said nothin'."

"your face did."

he immediately wiped the grin from it.

you turned back toward josephine.

"i've never held one this small before."

"that's alright."

josephine didn't push the baby toward you.

didn't laugh.

she simply adjusted mae against her chest.

"you don't have to."

you looked down at her.

one tiny hand had worked its way free of the blanket.

her fingers opened.

closed.

opened again.

you hesitated.

"...can i?"

josephine smiled.

"course."

sister louise pulled the chair closer.

"sit down first."

you sat.

josephine leaned forward carefully.

"put your arm here."

you followed her instructions.

"and support her head."

"like this?"

"mm-hm."

then suddenly...

there was a whole little person in your arms.

your entire body went rigid.

"lord."

sammie laughed.

"why you sittin' like that?"

"shut up."

"you look scared."

"i am scared."

josephine laughed.

"relax. you got her."

easy for her to say.

mae shifted.

you stopped breathing.

"she moved."

"babies tend to do that."

you looked at sammie.

"i will put you outside myself."

he grinned.

"there she go."

you ignored him.

slowly...

you looked back down.

mae had settled again.

her tiny face rested near the crook of your arm, lips moving slightly in her sleep.

something in you softened.

"hey..."

you hadn't meant to say it aloud.

your voice had simply slipped out.

quiet.

almost instinctive.

one of mae's hands brushed against your finger.

you let her catch it.

her fist closed.

your lips parted.

such a tiny thing.

and somehow...

she held on like she'd known you forever.

you smiled.

"...hi, mae."

sister louise watched from beside the bed, pride written all over her face.

"look at that."

you glanced up.

"what?"

"nothin'."

but she was still smiling.

you looked back down at mae.

and for once...

you didn't ask.

♡♡♡

mae's little fist stayed curled around your finger.

you couldn't stop looking at it.

something so tiny shouldn't have been able to hold on that tight.

"see?" josephine murmured.

you glanced up.

"see what?"

"you was scared for nothin'."

"i'm still scared."

josephine laughed.

"could've fooled me. look at you."

you looked back down at mae.

she'd settled completely now, warm and impossibly small against your chest.

"she's just..."

you smiled.

"little."

"that's what you said when you walked in."

"well, she still is."

josephine shook her head.

"you're a natural."

your eyes lifted.

"i wouldn't say all that."

"i would."

sister louise leaned against the side of the dresser, looking altogether too pleased with what she was seeing.

"mm-hm."

you caught the sound immediately.

your eyes narrowed.

"what?"

"i ain't said nothin'."

"that's what granny says right before she says somethin'."

josephine snorted.

sister louise put a hand against her chest.

"now don't be comparin' me to claudia."

you laughed.

"then what was the 'mm-hm' for?"

sister louise's eyes dropped toward mae.

then back to you.

"just sayin'..."

there it was.

"...you look like you might be ready for one of your own one day."

your eyes widened.

"what?!"

josephine burst out laughing.

even sammie made a noise from the doorway.

you looked between all three of them.

"how did we get there?"

"ain't nobody sayin' tomorrow," sister louise laughed. "i said one day!"

"i held her for five minutes!"

"and look how comfortable she is."

you looked down at mae as though she'd personally betrayed you.

"don't bring her into this."

josephine laughed harder.

"poor baby ain't even been here a week and already caught in it."

"exactly."

you looked at sister louise.

"leave us alone."

"alright, alright."

sister louise waved you off, smile still stretched across her face.

"i'm done."

sammie cleared his throat behind you.

"smoke might have somethin' to say 'bout all that."

your head whipped around.

"sammie."

his lips disappeared between his teeth.

sister louise's brows lifted.

josephine looked between the two of you.

"smoke?"

"nobody."

you answered so quickly it only made sammie's shoulders start shaking.

"mhm," sister louise hummed.

you pointed at her.

"don't."

"i ain't said nothin'."

"you was about to."

"wasn't."

"yes, you were."

josephine smiled.

"who's smoke?"

"can i give you your baby back?"

the room erupted.

"oh, now she gotta go!" sister louise laughed.

you shook your head, cheeks burning as josephine reached for mae.

"all of y'all get on my nerves."

sammie grinned.

"i ain't even do nothin'."

you looked at him.

"you started it."

"how?"

"don't worry about it."

sister louise refused to let either of you leave without something cold to drink.

you ended up back near the kitchen table with a glass sweating between your hands while sammie leaned against the wall, halfway through his before you'd taken three sips.

"boy, slow down," sister louise said. "ain't nobody takin' it from ya."

sammie lowered the glass.

"it's hot."

"and it'll still be hot when you choke."

you laughed into your drink.

sammie looked at you.

"you been laughin' at me all day."

"you keep givin' me reasons."

"see?"

he looked toward sister louise.

"this what i been dealin' with."

"you invited yourself."

"i offered to walk with you."

"same thing."

sister louise shook her head.

"there y'all go again."

you and sammie both looked at her.

"don't."

she raised her hands, laughing.

sister louise shook her head, still smiling as she gathered the empty glasses from the table.

"i swear, y'all..."

you laughed.

"what?"

"nothin'."

she carried the glasses toward the kitchen before glancing back.

" just funny how you two been bickerin' all afternoon. "

"that's him!'

sammie looked offended.

"me?"

"yes, you."

"you been right there arguin' back."

you opened your mouth

then closed it

sister louise laughed

"mm-hm."

you narrowed your eyes

"what?"

"nothin' baby"

she turned toward the kitchen, then paused.

"just dont know what that young man you got waitin' on ya would think about all this."

you nearly choked.

sammie burst out laughing.

"that's a good one, miss louise!"

"sammie!"

"what?"

"you did this!"

"i ain't said nothin'."

sister louise looked between the two of you, clearly enjoying herself.

"well, i aint say nobody's name."

"there ain't nobody to name."

"mhm."

"there isn't!"

"alright, baby."

that little smile she did meant she ain't believe a word you said.

you hurried to finish the last of your drink before setting the glass down.

"thank you, sister louise. but i gotta go now."

"you ain't gotta run off."

"i do."

sister louise came back into the room, gathering the last of the dishes.

"alright, baby."

she nodded toward the basket sitting empty on the counter.

"tell claudia i said thank you for thinkin' of us."

"i will."

"and come back and visit sometime."

you smiled.

"i will."

sister louise looked toward the kitchen.

"maybe next time you can bring another one of them pies."

you laughed.

"we'll see."

"don't be stingy."

"i'm not."

"mhm."

you shook your head.

"i hope y'all enjoy it!"

the pie you made...

you didn't say it.

you didn't have to.

somehow...

you knew it.

the sun was still high when you and sammie stepped back onto the road.

your basket felt strange without the weight of the pie inside it.

lighter.

you swung it gently at your side as you walked.

"well."

sammie adjusted the guitar against his back.

"what?"

"you survived."

you looked over.

"what was i supposed to be survivin'?"

"the baby."

you rolled your eyes.

"i wasn't scared of mae."

"could've fooled me."

you stopped.

"you know what?"

sammie laughed and kept walking.

"come on."

"don't run now."

"ain't nobody runnin'."

you caught up with him.

for a little while, the two of you walked without saying much.

the road stretched ahead.

home waited somewhere beyond it.

you knew that.

sammie knew it too.

then he glanced sideways at you.

"you gotta head straight back?"

you immediately looked at him.

"...why?"

"let's go down by the creek."

you raised a brow.

"the creek?"

"yeah."

he reached up and tapped the neck of his guitar.

"got some songs i've been workin' on."

"and?"

"and..."

he grinned.

"i want you to hear 'em."

you looked ahead.

granny's words came creeping back.

don't be all day.

you should've kept walking.

probably.

then sammie added,

"even wrote one for my future woman."

your head turned.

"...your future woman?"

that grin became downright smug.

"mhm."

"what future woman?"

"mine."

"who?"

"ain't found her yet."

you stared at him.

"then who'd you write the song about?"

"the woman i'm gon' find."

you laughed.

"that don't make no sense."

"make perfect sense."

"how you writin' songs for somebody you don't even know?"

sammie shrugged.

"gotta be ready when she show up."

you shook your head.

"you are somethin' else."

"you wanna hear it or not?"

you eyed the guitar.

then him.

"this the song you gon' use to trick some poor girl into likin' you?"

sammie put a hand against his chest.

"trick?"

"you heard me."

"i ain't gotta trick nobody."

"mhm."

"see, that's why i need you to hear it."

"why?"

"'cause if you like it, i know it's good."

you smiled despite yourself.

"and if i don't?"

"then i'm playin' it anyway."

you laughed.

"then why do you need my opinion?"

"moral support."

"lord..."

sammie started backing toward the turnoff leading down toward the creek.

"come on."

you looked down the road toward home.

then toward him.

home meant granny.

the kitchen.

whatever chore had managed to appear since you'd left.

the creek meant...

nothing.

no responsibility.

no expectations.

just an afternoon you hadn't planned.

you tightened your fingers around the empty basket.

then turned toward sammie.

"one song."

his face lit up.

"two."

"one."

"three."

you stared at him.

"you don't know how to negotiate."

"four?"

you laughed.

"come on before i change my mind."

sammie grinned and turned toward the creek.

"yes, ma'am."

"don't call me that."

"whatever you say."

you followed him anyway.

and for once...

you didn't look back.

♡♡♡

you sat under the big oak tree.

back against its broad trunk.

your basket resting on the grass beside you.

you'd stopped worrying about the time.

that alone felt dangerous.

granny had sent you to sister louise's with a pie, not to spend half the afternoon sitting beside a creek listening to sammie play the blues.

but for once...

you couldn't bring yourself to care.

sammie's fingers moved easily over the strings, coaxing another melody from the guitar resting across his lap.

it wasn't anything like the hymns sung every sunday.

there was something freer about it.

something that didn't ask permission before making itself heard.

you smiled.

"i like that one."

sammie glanced up.

"better than the last?"

"i didn't say all that."

he laughed.

"see, that's why i shouldn't ask you."

"you asked for my opinion."

"i asked if you liked it."

"and i told you."

"mm-hm."

you nudged the side of his shoe with your foot.

"play it again."

sammie's grin widened.

"knew you liked it."

before you could argue, his fingers returned to the strings.

you leaned back against the oak.

this time...

you let yourself disappear into it.

the breeze against your skin.

the grass beneath your feet.

the creek rolling lazily over stone.

sammie's guitar filling everything in between.

nobody calling your name from another room.

nobody reminding you of something that needed washing, sweeping, cooking, or folding.

nobody telling you what a young lady ought to be doing.

for these few stolen moments...

nothing was expected of you.

you could simply be.

so when the distant rumble of an engine drifted through the trees...

neither of you noticed.

the creek road wasn't much of a road at all.

dirt.

gravel.

old tire tracks carved between the trees.

but it kept them off the main stretch leading back toward town.

that was all smoke cared about.

stack kept one hand on the wheel, guiding the sedan around another rut while smoke counted the folded bills in his lap.

once.

then again.

"he short?"

"twenty."

stack sucked his teeth.

"again?"

smoke folded the money.

"take it out the next one."

"that's if his ass got a next one."

stack looked over.

smoke gave him a look.

"what?"

"you know what."

stack grinned.

"man, fuck you."

a low chuckle left smoke.

stack reached toward the dash, picked up the cigarette he'd finished rolling and held it across the seat.

smoke took it without a word.

stack struck the match and held it over.

smoke leaned toward the flame, took a slow pull, then settled back against the seat.

the exchange came easy.

familiar.

stack turned his attention back toward the road.

then...

something beyond the trees caught his eye.

his foot eased off the gas.

"...hold on."

smoke looked over.

"what?"

stack leaned slightly toward the windshield.

"ain't that preacher boy?"

smoke followed his gaze.

sammie came into view first.

guitar across his lap.

then his eyes moved beside him.

and stopped.

you.

sitting beneath the oak.

barefoot.

relaxed.

smiling.

laughing at something sammie had said.

smoke's expression changed.

subtle enough that most would've missed it.

stack wasn't most people.

"well..."

smoke didn't answer.

another lazy note rolled from sammie's guitar.

you said something.

sammie laughed.

then you did too.

smoke's eyes narrowed.

his jaw hardened.

stack looked between the two of you...

then at his brother.

"preacher boy got himself comfortable."

smoke took another drag.

his eyes never left the creek.

stack's grin widened.

"ain't we post to be handling business?"

smoke's gaze remained fixed ahead.

"this is my business."

stack's eyebrows rose.

"...oh."

he kept driving.

just a few more yards.

smoke's voice came low.

"pull over."

stack looked at him.

then toward the creek.

a grin slowly spread across his face.

"you serious?"

smoke didn't look away.

"pull over."

stack deliberately kept the car rolling another few yards.

"ain't we got somewhere to be?"

smoke finally turned toward him.

"stack."

the warning in his voice wiped the teasing right out of the air.

for half a second.

then stack's grin returned.

"alright."

he eased the sedan toward the shoulder.

"this oughta be good."

the car came to a stop.

smoke opened the passenger door.

you adjusted the oven door before reaching for another skillet.

salt pork crackled as it hit the hot cast iron.

just as you reached for the coffee pot to take off the burner, a knock sounded at the door.

granny wiped her hands on her apron rising from her chair.

"i'll get it."

you continued cooking.

a moment later...

"well, look who the lord done sent!" granny shouts out

you paused trying to get a listen.

"mornin', miss claudia."

that voice...

"sammie?" you ask yourself.

you quickly peeked around the doorway.

sammie is standing on the porch with a woven basket tucked beneath one arm and his guitar resting across his shoulder.

"come on in, baby!"

granny stepped aside.

"what you standin' out there for?"

sammie laughed softly.

"mama sent me over with a few things for the church ladies."

he handed over the basket.

"said these was for you and miss eleanor."

"mmm."

granny nodded approvingly grabbing it.

" tell your mama i said thank you."

"i sure will."

you stepped into the doorway.

"...sammie."

he looked over.

"there she is!"

you smiled.

"i wasn't expectin' to see you again so soon."

"neither was i."

he chuckled.

granny interrupts clapping her hands once.

"well, don't just stand there jawin'! come in sammie!"

granny grabs sammie by the shoulder, bringing him to the dining table

"and you ain't leavin' my house without eatin'!"

"oh, no ma'am."

sammie waved both hands

" i'm alright. i ate alrea-"

"i said...you ain't leavin' hungry."

there wasn't much arguing after that.

you smirked to yourself shaking your head at granny's antics.

some things just never change.

granny turned toward the kitchen.

"y/n!"

"yes'm?"

"warm them biscuits back up!"

"fry him a couple more eggs."

"cut up that salt pork."

"and put that coffee back on!"

"yes ma'am,"

you tied you apron on a little tighter before returning to the stove.

behind you, granny had already settled sammie at the table.

"so.."

"how ya mama doin'?"

"she's doin' alright."

" and passa?"

"he good too."

"you still keepin' yourself busy?"

sammie laughed.

"everday."

you quietly carried over the coffee pot.

before sammie could reach for it, granny took the handle first.

pouring it for him.

"there now. that's how you pose to start your mornin'"

she finishes, pouring her a cup

"y/n! hurry up with them plates na! this man gotta eat!"

"it's alright miss claudia. ain't inna rush."

sammie says attempting to get granny to stop badgering you.

"boy hush! gal should've been had that food done!"

sammie shakes his head subtlety not to trigger granny furthermore.

you huff quielty clenching your teeth returning to the stove.

♡♡♡

breakfast was ready.

you carried each plate to the table.

eggs.

biscuits.

salt pork.

fresh coffee.

granny beamed proudly.

"there!"

"now that'll stick to your ribs."

sammie gave a smile and nod towards you in appreciation and then looked towards granny.

"thank you, miss claudia."

"awe..hush! call me granny!"

you quietly took the empty skillet back toward the sink.

before you could even reached it—

"y/n."

you turned.

"yes'm?"

"bring me that jelly off the counter."

you nodded.

"yes, ma'am."

a few minutes later—

"y/n!"

"Mm?"

"fetch another napkin."

"yes, ma'am."

then

"y/n!"

"bring me that butter."

"yes, ma'am."

sammie noticed.

every time you finished one thing...

another followed.

never complained.

never sighed.

never rolled your eyes.

you simply...

did it.

" uhh...miss clau—granny? ain't y/n gonna sit n eat too?"

" awe, don't worry bout that baby! y/n got all day ta eat! you's my guest."

...

by the time breakfast ended, you was already gathering empty plates.

"i'll get those." sammie tries grabbing the used dishes.

" aht aht, she got em!"

granny intervenes with a raised hand

sammie looks towards you for confirmation.

"i got 'em." you say stacking the dishes before carrying them back into the kitchen.

water ran into the sink.

coffee cups and silverware clinked softly against the basin.

the conversation in the dining room continued while you quietly washed dishes alone.

sammie found himself glancing toward the kitchen more than once.

you hadn't sat down since he'd arrived.

not once.

a little while later...

granny finally waved him toward the front door.

"you tell your mama thank you again."

"i will."

"and don't be no stranger."

"yes'm."

you followed him onto the porch.

the late morning sun had climbed higher now, warming the old wooden steps beneath y'all feet.

for a moment...

neither of you spoke.

"i'm glad we finally got a chance to catch up."

you smiled softly.

"me too."

"it still feels strange."

"what?"

"seein' you after all these years."

you laughed quietly.

"i know."

a breeze stirred through the pine trees.

sammie adjusted the strap of his guitar.looking back to check if granny wasn't close by

"you doin' alright?"

you blinked.

"...yeah."

"you sure?"

you smiled reassuringly.

"i'm alright, sammie."

he studied you for another second.

he wasn't entirely convinced.

but he also knew better than to push.

instead...

he smiled.

"when you finally get yourself a free day..."

you looked at him curiously.

"...yeah?"

"go enjoy it."

you tilted your head.

"what do you mean?"

"i mean..."

he shrugged.

"go somewhere."

"walk through town."

"sit by the creek."

"do somethin' just because you want to."

a thoughtful smile crossed your face.

"i'll keep that in mind."

"you should!"

sammie chuckled.

"life got more to offer than the same four walls."

you looked back toward the house.

then back at sammie.

"...i hope so."

before either of them could say another word—

"sammie!"

granny's voice rang through the screen door.

"you come back now, ya hear?"

"and tell your mama i said thank you!"

"yes'm!"

he tipped his cap.

"i better get on."

you nodded to him

"tell your mama I said hello." granny adds on again

"i will."

"and passa too!

" you take care na! God bless!"

"i sure will granny. God bless you too."

"see you 'round y/n."

"see you sammie."

you respond softly with a wave as he started down the porch steps.

you watched him disappear down the dusty road until he was nothing more than a figure against the nississippi morning.

only then did you quietly step back inside.

the smile on your face lingered...

right until another memory slipped into your thoughts.

smoke.

"you gon' see me again."

heat crept into your cheeks.

you shook your head.

"...Lord."

the late morning, mississippi sun beat down on the dirt road as sammie made his way back toward town, his guitar resting comfortably across his shoulder.

he hadn't made it but another mile before the familiar rumble of an engine rolled up behind him.

a sleek black sedan eased alongside the dusty shoulder.

the passenger window slid down.

stack leaned halfway out with that same crooked grin plastered across his face.

"well, if it ain't preacher boy!"

sammie laughed.

"mornin'."

stack looked him over.

"boy, what you doin' all the way out here?"

"headed back toward town."

"walkin'?"

sammie shrugged.

"unless the good Lord done blessed me with wings."

stack barked out a laugh.

"boy, get your smart ass in this car!"

sammie chuckled before opening the back door and climbing inside, laying his guitar carefully across the seat beside him.

the familiar scent of leather, tobacco and lingering summer heat filled the car.

smoke sat in the passenger seat, hat tipped low over his brow.

he glanced back just long enough to nod.

"preacher."

"smoke."

that was all that needed to be said.

the greeting was comfortable.

familiar.

family.

the sedan rolled back onto the road.

for a minute...

nobody said much.

only the steady hum of the engine and gravel beneath the tires filled the silence.

finally, stack spoke.

"so..."

"where you comin' from?"

"miss claudia's."

stack frowned.

"...miss claudia?"

sammie nodded.

"mama had me droppin' some things off from church."

then it clicked.

stack slowly looked toward smoke...

then... back at sammie.

a grin stretched across his face.

"hold on..."

"you mean miss church dress?"

sammie chuckled.

"yeah."

smoke didn't move.

didn't say a word.

stack slapped the steering wheel.

"i'll be damned!"

"how long you stay over there?"

"longer than i meant to."

"granny wasn't hearin' me leavin'."

" y/n fixed breakfast."

"eggs."

"biscuits.

"salt pork."

"fresh coffee."

sammie leaned back against the seat with a satisfied grin.

"man..."

"best breakfast I done had in a good while."

"me and my siblings usually split whatever mama can throw together before everybody scatters for the day."

stack's eyes widened dramatically.

"shit..."

"you tellin' me miss church dress out there feedin' folks like that?"

sammie laughed.

"i'm just tellin' you what happened."

stack shook his head dramatically tapping on his brother's shoulder.

"smoke..."

"we might needa swing back 'round there."

smoke cut his eyes toward his brother.

one brow lifted.

stack only grinned wider.

"what?"

"i'm just sayin'"

"you done?"

stack and sammie chuckles.

"not even close."

the laughter settled.

sammie's smile slowly faded.

"but..."

"truth be told..."

"i felt bad for her."

the joking eased.

stack glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

"why you say that?"

sammie looked out the passenger window for a long moment before answering.

"she never stopped movin'."

"the whole time i was there..."

"she fixed breakfast."

"poured the coffee."

"served the food."

"cleared the table."

"washed dishes."

he shook his head.

"and every time she'd finish one thing,miss claudia'd call her again."

"'y/n!'"

"'go put this away.'"

"'y/n!'"

"'bring me that.'"

"'y/n!'"

"'come do this.'"

sammie sighed, shaking his head.

"i tried speakin' up or helpin' but, that granny would shut it down. y/n would tell me she got it. aint wanna make somethin' worse for her."

"i was there close to an hour."

"i don't think she sat down once."

silence settled over the sedan.

the joking...

gone.

smoke stared ahead through the windshield.

his expression remained unreadable.

then...

almost absentmindedly,

"she seem alright?"

sammie nodded.

"yeah..."

"little tired, maybe."

"said she was fine."

smoke gave one small nod.

"...Mm."

another quiet bout settled over the car.

a few more miles passed beneath the tires.

then smoke asks

"... y/n fixed all that food?"

sammie looked toward the passenger seat.

"yeah."

"every bit of it."

"granny mostly sat there askin' me about church n stuff while y/n kept everything movin'."

stack slowly turned his head toward smoke.

the grin returned.

"that's three questions."

smoke didn't bother looking over.

"you countin' now?"

"damn right."

stack laughed.

"five minutes ago, your ass ain't had nothin' to say."

"now you over here conductin' interviews."

sammie laughed quietly to himself.

smoke rolled his jaw.

...

stack wasn't finished.

not by a long shot.

he looked back toward sammie.

"well..."

"how'd she look?"

smoke immediately cut his eyes toward his brother.

stack pointed across the seat.

"see?!"

"i asked it for you."

sammie laughed, shaking his head.

"thought he wasn't interested."

stack pointed toward smoke.

"don't let him fool you."

"his nosy ass just forgot to ask."

smoke clicked his teeth not even looking over at his brother and cousin

" y'all finished?"

"nah..."

stack says leaning his chair back in the driver’s seat.

"you ain't let sammie answer yet."

"gone head."

"answer the question..."

"then i'll hush."

sammie laughed.

"she looked like herself."

"sweet."

"soft-spoken."

"a little wore out...but, she still smiled."

smoke lookes back out the windshield.

that answer seemed to settle something inside him.

he didn't say another word.

stack watches him for another second before a slow grin spreads across his face.

"hard-headed ass just be tellin' on himself."

smoke finally turns to his brother with a long stare

"you done entertainin' yourself?"

"almost." stack replies going to another subject with sammie.

smoke clicks his teeth once.

then, without another word, he reaches inside his suit pocket and pulls out a cig.

he coolly slips it between his lips,

stricking the match against the dash.

the flame flared briefly before the tip of the cigarette glowed a steady orange.

smoke takes one slow drag...and exhales.

then, he looks back out the windshield.

the smoke drifts lazily through the open window.

stack chuckled at what sammie said.

"mm-hmm."

"thought so!"

their laughter gradually faded around smoke.

the sedan rolled beneath another stretch of towering pines.

outside...

mississippi drifted by in long stretches of cotton fields and weathered fence posts.

inside...

smoke quietly slipped his unoccupied hand into his suit pocket.

his fingers brushed against a familiar coin.

the spare coin he'd gotten back the day he'd paid for your groceries.

he turned it over once between his fingers.

then tucked it away again.

outside the window...

the delta rolled on.

inside the car...

smoke's thoughts stayed somewhere else entirely.

on you.

"look at you."

stack's voice carried over the rumble of the truck.

stack waits.

he leans his elbow against the open driver's side window and cut a grin toward his brother.

"the big, bad smoke."

smoke didn't answer. still caught in his mind of thoughts.

stack chuckles.

"...smoke?"

"yeah?"

finally catching his brother's attention, stack continues talking about the work they just finished.

" like i was sayin, think Harris gon' try that shit again next week?"

smoke still staring outside the passenger window

"hm."

stack sucks his teeth.

"i asked if harris gon' try us again."

smoke blinks.

"what?"

stack studies him for a second.

"...you aint heard a damn word I just said. "

smoke shrugs.

"i heard you."

"nah."

stack chuckles.

" you heard noise."

smoke rolls his eyes

"drive!"

a beat passes.

then stack smirks

"boy, you still back at that store?

smoke broke his gaze from the dirt road disappearing behind them.

staring at nothing directly

the same road your white dress had vanished down hours ago.

he finally looks over at his brother.

" the fuck you talking about?"

" i'm talking 'bout the fact we done drove damn near halfway home and your mind still standing next to that soft girl."

"You talk too much."

smoke looks away again.

"i usually do."

"stack grins.

" but today?"

he taps the steering wheel.

" you usually tell me to shut the hell up by now."

smoke doesn't answer.

"awe shit! done went sweet on that church girl."

smoke shook his head at his brother.

"drive the damn truck."

"nah."

stack shook his head.

"this too funny."

smoke sucked his teeth.

"you always this damn annoying?"

"only when I'm right."

red dust rolled behind them.

the truck bounced over a rut in the road.

the twins had spent most of the afternoon handling business across the county.

a collection.

a quick drop.

a few conversations with folks who suddenly remembered their manners whenever smoke and stack showed up.

nothing unusual.

nothing that should've had smoke distracted.

yet, somehow, all afternoon, his thoughts kept drifting back to you.

back to the store.

back to the way you'd looked up at him.

flushed.

nervous.

trying to be brave anyway.

there had been a quiet fire underneath all that lace.

something stubborn.

something real.

smoke was a man of action.

most days were simple.

handle business.

collect what was owed.

keep folks honest.

keep stack outta trouble.

keep moving.

thinking too hard got men killed.

neither did hesitation.

sweetness didn't survive long in the world he came from.

getting tangled up with a sheltered, soft girl like you was a liability.

dangerous for him.

twice as dangerous for you.

"you ain't heard a damn word I said all day."

stack flicked the last of his cigarette out the window.

"yeah."

stack scoffs pointing at him.

"you got one conversation with a pretty girl and forgot how to act."

smoke finally cut his eyes toward him.

"the fuck you talking about?"

"the fuck you think I'm talking about?"

stack laughed.

"you sitting over there daydreaming."

"shut yo ass up!"

stack just glances at his brother a few seconds.

grin fading a little

"you ain't acting like yourself."

smoke says nothing for a minute

" fuck that's suppose to mean stack?

" it mean..."

stack shrugged.

"...you usually don't let nobody get in ya head. "

smoke scoffed.

" ain't nobody in my head."

"no?"

stack glanced at him.

" cause I done asked you the same damn question twice."

smoke looked back out the window.

silence took place.

stack kept driving.

"you missed half the conversation."

" you ain't said two words since we left that store"

crickets...

smoke's jaw tightened.

"you through?"

"nah."

stack let's the word hang.

" i think you don't like not bein' in control."

smoke's eyes finally cut toward him.

"...what?"

stack met his brother's stare.

" i think she got under your skin."

a slow dark smile crept in on stack’s face and says quieter

" i think that scares you."

smoke kisses his teeth.

laughing once.

no humor in it.

"ain't this coming from the same fool that lost his damn mind over that white-passin' bitch?"

the grin quickly vanished from Stack's face.

the truck suddenly felt smaller.

hotter.

smoke saw the muscle jump in his brother's jaw.

"watch yo words smoke."

smoke leaned back in his seat.

unbothered.

"why?"

"leave it alone."

"nah."

smoke shook his head sitting up in his seat turning towards his brother.

"you wanna sit up here talking shit about me, but everybody supposed to forget mary?"

"you dont know what happened!"

"you chased that woman halfway across state lines!"

"that ain't what we talkin' bout smoke!"

stack says gripping harder onto the steering wheel.

"you almost got yo ass killed!"

smoke continues on.

smoke laughed once.

"the fuck you know about me and mary?!"

humorless.

smoke watched the muscle jump in his brother's jaw.

stack's grip on the steering wheel tightened harder until his knuckles paled.

SCREEECH.

the truck jerked violently beneath them as stack slammed his foot unto the brake.

"damn stack!"

smoke grabbed the door frame as loose gravel sprayed beneath the tires as the truck spins

dust exploded around them.

"the fuck wrong with you?!"

stack violently yanks the truck into park whipping around towards his brother.

smoke leans in staring his brother down jabbing his finger his way.

eyes blazing.

" fuck wrong with YOU?!"

"you don't know a damn thing about me and mary!"

smoke scoffs

that one landed.

" like hell I don't stack! I was there with you when all the shit went down!"

for a second neither one of them said a word.

just breathing.

heavy.

angry.

stack shoves the truck door open.

"you know what?"

he laughs once.

short.

but stops himself and stares at his brother for a second

he climbs out .

the doors slams rattling the glass.

smoke watches through the windshield as his brother storms down the dirt road, kicking loose gravel, with every step.

the truck fell quiet.

nothing but the engine idling

cicadas.

the last light leading through the trees.

smoke rubbed a hand over his face.

"he always needed a minute..."

he grabs the cigarette off the ledge , lighting it up.

he takes a big drag and slowly exhales the smoke.

his fingers drifted into his pocket.

coins.

cold against his palm as he rolled one between his fingers.

that repetitive motion pulls him back to the last time his hand lingered on something delicate.

not the coin.

your waist.

he could still recall the warmth of your waist.

the phantom weight of you beneath his palm.

the way you gathered a fistful of his suit without realizing it.

gazing in his eyes telling him

"i feel safe with you."

smoke shut his eyes.

exhaling.

smoke has spent most of his adult life being the person people are afraid of

but not you...

you saw something in him that nobody else ever had.

"damn fool."

he shakes his head.

smoke glances towards the empty driver’s side.

smoke slides over the bench seat and settles behind the wheel.

"hell...that fool liable to get us both killed the way he been driving."

the engine rumbles back to life.

he lets it idle.

doesn't take long.

the passenger door jerks open.

stack climbs in without a glance towards smoke, dusting dirt from his pants before slamming the door shut.

silence fills the space.

smoke took one slow drag from the cigarette between his fingers.

smoke throws a sharp look towards stack

stack reaches over without asking and snatches it from smoke's hand.

"nigga.."

stack takes a long pull and looks over at his brother.

exhaling through his nose

"...you owe me a beer."

smoke snorts

" for what?"

"for pissin' me off"

a corner of smoke's mouth twitch.

" i wasn't the one drivin' like a fool."

stack hands the cigarette back.

" you still a asshole."

" takes one "

another beat of silence.

"...drive."

smoke shifts the truck into gear.

the tires crunch over the dirt as they ease back onto the road.

neither one apologized.

neither one needed to.

they'd been brothers for too long for that.

smoke kept one hand on the wheel while the other drifted to his pocket.

the coins still there.

an image of you flashes across his mind.

he didn't know where you lived.

which dirt road led to your grandmother's house.

didn't know how far into the woods she kept you tucked away from the rest of the world.

but mississippi wasn't a large place.

not for a man who knew these back roads .

not for a man patient enough to ask the right questions.

not for a man who knew which doors to knock on... and which ones to kick in.

and nor for a man who determined to find what he was looking for.

somewhere beyond there sat a white house.

smoke's eyes drifted toward the narrow trail disappearing beneath the pines.

somewhere beyond there sat you.

a slow smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"i'm gon' see you again."

this time, the promise just wasn't for you.

his eyes stay on yours.

low.

steady.

"why you still here with me?”

silence stretches for a second.

your fingers slowly curl into the front of his shirt.

small.

barely there.

but enough.

smoke’s eyes flick down.

just for a second.

to your hand.

then back up to your face.

you lean in slightly.

close enough now to feel the heat if him even through the thick afternoon air.

the fabric of his suit top sticking slightly beneath your fingers.

he smelled like outside heat, cedar, and faint tobacco.

and for the first time since meeting him, you don’t look nervous.

just honest.

“…folks keep sayin’ you dangerous.”

his jaw shifts slightly.

your fingers tighten a little against his shirt.

“but you ain’t never made me feel unsafe.”

that lands.

hard.

smoke goes quiet after that.

real quiet.

like he wasn’t expectin’ you to say no shit like that.

his grip tightens slightly at your waist.

not rough.

just instinct.

his eyes search your face for a second longer.

slow.

careful.

like he trying to figure out what to do with them words.

you start pulling back slowly.

your fingers slipping from the front of his shirt.

but before you can fully step away

his hand tightens again.

holding you there another second.

smoke leans down slightly.

close enough to feel warm against your skin.

“yeah...”

low.

almost rough around the edges now.

his thumb presses once against your waist.

“i’m gon’ see you again.”

not a question.

not asking.

telling.

he already made his mind up.

your chest tightens all over again.

you look at him for a second longer than you should.

trying not to smile too much.

trying not to let him see how bad your heart beating right now.

then softly

“..bye, smoke.”

and this time, he lets you go.

you walk off before you can lose your nerve.

sunlight warm against your skin.

basket shifting lightly against your arm.

and you can still feel him watching you.

even halfway down the street.

smoke finally exhales through his nose.

slow.

still staring in the direction you disappeared.

then he turns.

walking back over toward stack and sammie.

stack already grinning before smoke even reaches them.

“damn.”

a laugh leaves him.

“you ain’t run your woman off already, did you?”

smoke shoots him a look.

shut yo ass up.”

stack’s grin only spreads wider.

sammie huffs a quiet laugh beside him.

eyes flicking once toward the street you disappeared down.

then back to smoke.

“how y’all even run into each other?”

smoke shrugs slightly.

trying to sound casual.

“seen her around.”

sammie gives him a look like he knows that answer is some bullshit.

because “seen her around” don’t explain none of what they just witnessed.

a small pause.

then

“that’s miss claudia granddaughter.”

smoke glances over slightly.

sammie adjusts the guitar strap over his shoulder.

“our folks know each other.”

“used to see her at church all the time growin’ up.”

stack hums.

“that explain the church dresses.”

sammie rolls his eyes immediately.

“man shut up.”

stack laughs.

“i’m just sayin’."

then sammie gets quieter.

looking back down the road again.

“ain’t seen her much these past few years though.”

that catches smoke’s attention.

“why?”

sammie shrugs lightly.

“her granny started keepin’ her home more.”

“say she always got somethin’ for her to do.”

a pause.

“folks ask about her sometimes.”

“miss claudia always got an excuse ready.”

smoke quiet after that.

thinking.

stack notices immediately.

“oh, yeah?”

he points between smoke and the road you disappeared down.

“he gone BAD.”

smoke cuts his eyes at him.

stack laughs harder.

“man…”

stack shakes his head.

“all this over miss church dress?”

smoke looks at him immediately.

calm.

flat.

“…leave her out your mouth.”

stack stares for half a second

then barks out laughing.

“OHHH! boy got real sweet on her!”

♡♡♡

the sun hangs lower now.

warm against your skin while you walk back down the road.

your basket shifts lightly against your arm.

but your mind?

still back there.

still hearing his voice low near your ear.

“i’m gon’ see you again.”

your stomach flips all over again.

and no matter how much you try not to—

a small smile keeps threatening to pull at your mouth.

you duck your head slightly.

trying to get yourself together before you make it home.

because you already know,granny notice everything.

the closer you get to the house

the tighter your chest starts feeling.

soft floaty warmth slowly mixes with nerves.

the house comes into view through the trees.

and your steps slow slightly.

because right there on the porch,

your granny is already sitting outside.

rocking chair moving slow.

arms folded tight across her chest.

watching the road.

watching you.

the smile disappears from your face almost immediately.

you step up onto the porch.

wood creaking under your feet.

your granny’s eyes drag over you slowly.

taking in the basket,

your face,

the time...

everything.

“you took long enough.”

low.

not loud,

which honestly makes it worse.

you shift slightly.

“…store was busy.”

the rocking chair creaks slow.

back and forth.

your granny watches you carefully for a second.

then

“folk was already talkin’ by the time you got back home.”

your stomach tightens immediately,

but you try not to show it.

“talkin’ about what?”

she hums softly,

like she already knows more than she saying.

“said they seen you in the store talkin’ to some boy.”

your chest tightens.

because your mind immediately flashes to smoke,

but you remember daniel was talking you too.

your fingers tighten slightly around the basket handle.

“…i ran into miss hattie.”

your granny stays quiet.

watching.

waiting.

you glance away briefly.

“she introduced me to her grandson.”

“he was talkin’ to me for a minute.”

a pause.

then quieter you say,

“…so maybe that’s who they talkin’ about.”

the porch goes quiet after that.

just the slow creak of the rocking chair.

granny’s eyes stay on you.

careful.

measuring.

because she can tell you ain’t exactly lyin’.

but she can also tell…

that ain’t the full story either.

“…mm.”

not convinced.

not unconvinced either,

which somehow feel worse.

the porch goes quiet for a second.

just the creak of the chair.

suddenly

“pass me my tater chips.”

you blink.

“what?”

your granny motions toward the basket near your leg.

“my chips.”

“and set my candy on the kitchen table when you go in there.”

like y’all wasn’t just in the middle of a whole interrogation.

you crouch slightly, moving things around inside the basket.

glass bottles clink softly.

paper rustles.

finally finding the chips near the bottom,

you hand them over.

your granny takes them easy

already opening the bag.

then

“wash them berries off too.”

you blink slightly.

“what berries?”

your granny points towards the counter through the screen door.

“miss ruby dropped ‘em off while you was gone.”

and just like that,

you're carrying the basket inside the house.

heart still beating strange from smoke.

head still spinning from your granny.

and somehow,

both of them are sitting heavy on your mind at the exact same time.

you rinse the berries quietly beneath the sink.

cold water running over your fingers.

granny somewhere behind you crunching tater chips like the conversation never even happened.

but your mind?

still stuck back outside the store.

still hearing smoke’s voice saying,

“i’m gon’ see you again.”

your chest tightens all over again.

and this time?

“you still on that table?”

her voice carries from the dining area.

you don’t look up right away.

“i already wiped it.”

“then wipe it again.”

your jaw shifts slightly.

you glance toward the doorway.

“it’s clean.”

she steps into view, watching you.

“so it won’t hurt you to go over it one more time.”

you stare at her a second.

“i been on this table.”

“and you gon’ stay on it till i say you done.”

your fingers tighten around the rag.

“it ain’t even dirty no more.”

“so you tellin’ me you can’t wipe it again?”

you exhale through your nose.

“…that’s not what i said.”

“then what you sayin’?”

you look at her.

then away.

“alright.”

you turn back.

wipe it again. slower.

more deliberate.

“when you done, sweep.”

“i already swept this morning granny.”

“and it’s afternoon now.”

“and it still look the same.”

“then you won’t mind goin’ over it again.”

you pause.

“granny…”

she raises her brows waiting.

“…okay.”

you turn around rolling your eyes.

hoping she aint catch it.

you grab the broom.

sweep again. same spots.same nothing.

she still watching.

“don’t half do it.”

that almost makes you laugh.

tired of granny’s antics.

“i’m not.”

“look like it.”

you stop, turning halfway.

“what you want me to do, sweep the same dirt that ain’t there?”

she looks at you

“you got a lil mouth on you today.”

your lips press.

“i’m just sayin'”

“you been doin’ a lot of that lately.”

"i ain’t been doin’ nothin’.”

“don’t start.”

she steps closer, waving her finger.

“ever since that mess, you been movin’ different.”

your grip tightens.

"i ain't been movin' no type of way! i told him to leave me alone”

“and he didn’t.”

"that ain’t got nothin’ to do with me.”

silence stretches.

“them boys…”

“you stay away from ‘em.”

your fingers tap lightly.

“i wasn’t lookin’ for nobody.”

“but somehow they keep findin’ you.”

you don’t answer.

“i can’t help that.”

she hums.

“finish up.”

you do.

but quieter.

♡♡♡

later, the house smells warm.

lavender lingering and something soft from the stove.

you dry your hands.

your granny shuffles in.

folds a small paper.

leaning on the counter.

“we need a few things.”

“what things?”

“sugar. coffee. eggs.”

“hair pomade. the jar kind."

“and thread, white one.”

“alright.”

she hesitates.

“and get them tada chips i like.”

“and… that candy.”

you glance up slightly.

she doesn’t look at you.

“the little wrapped ones.”

then, quieter

“get you some too.”

it’s not an apology.

but...something.

you nod.

“…okay.”

she hands the list.

“go on.”

“i won’t be long.”

“you better not.”

“and keep your head on straight.”

“i always do.”

“mm...”

you step out.

and finally, you breathe.

♡♡♡

the air outside is warm.

your basket hangs light in your hand.

you start walking.

as you make it into town,

you feel it before you see it.

eyes. watching.

you keep moving.

“well look at her…”

your steps slow slightly.

a group of women sitting off to the side.

dressed up fanning themselves,with their eyes locked on you.

“ain’t that miss claudia’s

granddaughter?”

“mmhm. the quiet one.”

“quiet… but i guess not that quiet no more.”

laughter.

“look at her… she really think she somethin’ now.”

“ain’t nothin’ special about her.”

your grip tightens on the basket.

“all she do is sit up under that granny.”

“she don’t even move like a grown woman.”

“acts like a little girl.”

that one hits.

“and THAT’S who got his attention?”

“please...”

“she just got lucky.”

“men like that don’t keep girls like her.”

“she don’t even know what to do with a man like that.”

a voice cuts in lower.

messier.

“i could show her.”

laughter breaks out.

loud and ugly.

you don’t turn but your chest tightens.

your steps pick up a little more.

not running.

as you round a corner

you hear a deep familiar voice call out.

low.

close.

"mama?"

you don't turn around right away.

you're heart rate picks up.

you hear steps coming closer.

gravel crunching under each one.

"you hear me?"

closer now.

you finally turn.

your breath catches as your eyes take him in.

smoke.

standing there like he been meant to run into you.

his eyes move over your face quick.

not rushed.

just checking.

“you good?”

you hold his gaze just for a second.

“i’m fine.”

he studies you, deciding if that’s true.

his eyes flick past you toward where you came from.

then back.

“don’t look like it.”

you shift your weight slightly.

“…i said i’m fine.”

he lets that sit.

"aight"

“where you headed?”

you lift the basket just a little.

“store.”

“just gettin’ a few things.”

his gaze drops to it.

then back to you.

“you goin’ by yourself?”

you tilt your head slightly.

“i been goin’ by myself.”

that makes something in his expression change.

not big. just enough.

he just clicks his teeth stepping past you.

like the decision made itself.

“c’mon.”

you hesitate...

then follow.

♡♡♡

“aight now…”

stack’s voice hits before you even step all the way in.

“you back already?”

he ask grinning walking closer to y'all.

"i see you ain’t waste no time brother..."

"done found you somebody to keep up with!"

stack clicks his teeth, eyes bouncing between you and smoke.

“man… it's like i leave for a minute, and you done pick up company?”

his eyes fall onto you.

“hey pretty.”

“hi, stack.”

you say shyly, slightly waving.

his gaze lingers a second longer than should

his eyes then falls to his brother's.

watching him with a playful glint.

“you babysittin’ today or she babysittin’ you?”

smoke finally looks at him.

“watch your mouth.”

stack laughs.

“i’m just sayin’”

“i know.”

smoke steps just a little closer to you.

not obvious, but it’s there.

“and you sayin’ it to the wrong one.”

stack lifts his hands still smiling.

“aight… my fault.”

then under his breath

“still look like somethin’ though…”

♡♡♡

inside, it’s cooler.

you move through the aisles.

grabbing what you need.

you feel him not far behind you.

not touching, just there.

“stay where i can see you.”

you glance back.

“i’m not goin’ nowhere.”

“still.”

your lips press slightly.

but you don’t argue.

“smoke!”

stack again.

“we gotta handle somethin’.”

a pause.

smoke looks at you. really looks.

“you good?”

you nod.

“ yea. i got it.”

he holds your gaze a second longer.

“won't take long.”

“okay." you say softly.

he leaves.

and just like that, you feel the space around you.

you move a little slower now.

checking over what still needs to be grabbed.

“baby?”

you turn to see ms. hattie, granny’s church friend.

“you out here by yourself?”

“yes ma’am.”

she looks you over.

“your granny know who you been around?”

you don’t rush to answer.

“…she know i’m out.”

she just hums then calls out someone.

“daniel!”

a young man steps forward.

clean. wearing a pressed suit.

“this my grandson.”

“ma’am.”

daniel says tipping his hat to you.

she nods proudly.

“he a church going boy. works hard.”

her eyes settle on you.

“you ought to be around somebody like that.”

you don't respond

she pats his arm lightly

"go on."

then walks off. leaving him there.

he just stares at you while a small pause settles between you.

he doesn't move right away. but finally, speaks up.

"hey.”

he says.

you nod slightly.

“daniel?”

he lets out a small breath almost relieved you said his name first.

"yeah...y/n right?"

he steps closer.

“you always this quiet?”

you glance back at the shelf.

“only when i don’t got nothin’ to say.”

that makes him chuckle.

he reaches out for your basket

taking it.

you blink in shock.

“i can carry it for ya.”

“it's alright. i can handle it.” you reach out to grab it back.

he just pulls back, continuing forward.

“i said i can—”

he cuts you off.

“and i said i got it.”

you let it go but your expression don’t soften.

he grabs a coca cola from the fridge.

glass clinks as he pops it open.

“here.”

you hesitate.

“you ain’t gotta do that.”

“it’s just a drink.”

you take it, cold in your hand.

then he steps a little closer.

“i been noticed you.”

that makes your fingers tighten slightly around the bottle.

you glance at him just briefly.

he keeps going.

“quiet… stay to yourself… don’t bother nobody.”

he pauses as you grab another thing off the self, tossing it in the basket with slight force.

“i like that.”

your shoulders shift just a little.

not comfortable but rude either.

just… aware.

“you don’t need to be around the type of men you been around.”

your eyes lift again.

he lowers his voice slightly.

“that ain’t the kind of man you need.”

another step closer. not touching. but pushing it.

“you need somebody that know how to treat you right...”

“somebody like me.”

you take a sharp breath.

“i...i'm alright”

daniel leans in closer, about to say something else but he gets cut off.

a hand wraps around your waist.

firm. pulling you back.

your breath catches before you even turn.

smoke

his chest warm behind you.

his voice comes out low, controlled.

“what you doin’?”

daniel straightens trying to hold it together.

“just helpin’”

“she ask you?”

silence.

smoke’s grip tightens slightly.

not rough, but clear.

daniel jaw tightens.

"ain't nothin' wrong with help."

smoke exhales through his nose.

slow.

“nigga, i know what help look like...”

a step closer.

you feel it, the shift in him.

“that ain’t it.”

his eyes flick down to the basket in his hands.

his jaw tightens.

" give it here"

daniel hesitates. his grip tightens around the basket.

his jaw shifts as he puffs up his chest. attempting to keep eye contact with smoke.

" or what?"

smoke tilts his head slightly.

voice dropping.

"you want me to ask you again?"

that’s enough.

daniel lets it go.

smoke takes the basket. easy.

his eyes still on daniel

“she ain't your business.”

daniel’s jaw tightens.

he looks away, shaking his head, more to himself than anything.

“aight…”

he takes steps back to leave.

stack steps in, grinning.

“boy almost got himself in some shit over groceries…”

smoke mutters

“nigga almost got himself shot over it.”

not even looking back that way, he's focused on you.

“c’mon.”

his hand slides from your waist, to the small of your back, guiding you.

♡♡♡

at the counter, you reach into your purse.

his hand presses lightly over yours.

“what i tell you?”

you look at him.

a pause.

“…i heard you.”

you lower your hand.

he pays.

“keep the change.”

his palm returns to your back, guiding you out.

♡♡♡

the door swings shut behind you.

the noise from outside fades.

for a second, it’s just the two of you.

stack ahead of y'all.

smoke’s eyes flick down to the bottle still in your hand.

for a second,then back up.

“he bought that for you?”

not pressed,just noted.

you glance down at it.

“he offered.”

a pause.

smoke hums low.

“don’t get used to that.”

you glance at him.

“i wasn’t plannin’ to.”

“good.”

♡♡♡

stack glances up the street spotting something.

his grin shifts.