Free Another Hood Love 2 by Jontu' Page A

to the house.”
    I nodded as he walked off and hopped back into his car that was still running.
     

Chapter 8
    “S o what time are you going to be here? China needs help finishing up the sides and shit,” Gio said into the phone as I walked around the kitchen in my house and grabbed the breast milk out of the refrigerator and placed them inside of the diaper bag.
    It was the Fourth of July and Gio and China were hosting a barbecue at their new home for the holiday. They had just recently given birth to their daughter Charlie and moved into their new home. I was happy for them and couldn’t wait until their wedding.
    “I am packing the diaper bag now and I should be leaving in about ten minutes. Does she need me to pick up anything on my way over?” I asked.
    “Nah, just bring your slow ass on.”
    I laughed and hung up the phone.
    I walked into the living room and saw Baby Tone sitting up in his playpen looking like he wanted to break out. He was super active and wouldn’t ever sit still. He had rolling over and rocking on his knees down pat. Even if I was holding him he tried to push off of something and stand. Jahlisa was laying on the floor coloring in her coloring book as a movie played on the television that neither one of them were paying any attention to.
    “What y’all little stinkers in here doing?” I asked as I picked up Baby Tone out of his playpen.
    “Nothing. Tee-Tee, look at my picture,” Jahlisa said as she held up the picture of Strawberry Shortcake that she was coloring. Jahlisa was now two and she was all over the place. She talked very well and was full of energy. I loved the time I got to spend with her but boy, was it challenging when I was taking care of my 4 month old and her active ass at the same time. But I wouldn’t trade the moments in for anything in the world. I blew kisses on Baby Tone’s fat cheeks as he giggled and grabbed my cheeks, trying to place sloppy kisses on my eyes and cheeks. I was glad I didn’t put any make up on today because he would have for sure messed it up. “Okay, let’s go, guys. It’s time to go to Uncle Gio’s house. J, pick up your things and put them in your backpack,” I said while grabbing their things and waiting for her so that we could leave.
    We arrived at Gio’s house about 45 minutes later. I walked into the house and it was quiet but I could hear voices coming in from the backyard. “Hey, I didn’t even hear you walk in,” China said as I walked into the kitchen. She kissed Baby Tone’s cheeks and then leaned in for a hug. Jahlisa had already run off to the backyard. That kid was nowhere near shy and it was amazing how much personality she had.
    “Hey, honey. Where’s Charlie?” I asked, looking around for the baby.
    “Girl, Lexis ass came in here supposed to been helping me in the kitchen. Her ass done kidnapped the baby and ain’t showed her face since.”
    I laughed because that sounded just like Lexis to con her way out of any domestic duties. I went and grabbed Baby Tone’s bouncer that was in the hall closet and placed him inside before pulling it into the kitchen where he could still see me as I helped prepare the sides.
    “So, Miss Jaeda, where is your boo? He’s not on your arm today?” China asked and I shook my head.
    “I almost didn’t invite him. He just been smothering the hell out of me; but he’s coming later,” I responded as I began cutting up fruit to place on the fruit platter.
    “What you mean by smothering? Ya’ll is in a relationship now right?” she asked.
    “Yeah, I guess. We’re together but still taking it slow.”
    She shook her head. “Ain’t no taking it slow. Once you’re in a relationship, the only thing you can prevent from this point is babies. Feelings and everything else come at any time. So what is smothering? Shit, you and Tone stayed up under each other.” China looked at me as she began to add mayonnaise into the bowl of potatoes for the potato salad.
    I shrugged my