Hold U Down by Keisha Ervin

place small kisses all over his face.
    â€œWhat you got to eat up in this muthafucka?” he asked, lifting her up and carrying her into the kitchen.
    â€œYou high, ain’t you?”
    â€œYou can’t tell.” He laughed.
    â€œNiggas. And I don’t mean that in a good way.” Unique laughed too. She warmed them both up a plate of pork chops, mashed potatoes, and corn that was left over in the refrigerator. Once the table was set, they sat down and ate.
    Bigg took a bite of the food and said, “You fine and you can cook. I’m really gon’ have to wife you now.” It was his first time eating Unique’s cooking.
    â€œWhatever,” she replied, not able to hide her smile. “But, Bigg, with all seriousness, doesn’t it scare you that things are moving so fast between us?”
    â€œNah, not really. Ever since I put my hand on yo’ thigh I knew you didn’t want to get rid of me.” He chuckled, taking another bite of food.
    â€œAnyway, I do. I ain’t never clicked this well with a guy.”
    â€œThat’s because the nigga wasn’t me.”
    â€œWhatever.” She rolled her eyes. “I never asked—do you have any kids?”
    â€œYeah, I got a li’l boy.”
    â€œHow old is he?”
    â€œHe’s three.”
    â€œHold up. How can you have a three-year-old son and you were locked up for seven years?”
    â€œCome on, Unique. Don’t play dumb.”
    â€œEww, you are so nasty.” She playfully hit him in the chest. “You was doing it like that in jail? Who is the chick? It better not be anybody I know.”
    â€œNah, you don’t her. Her name is Carmella.”
    â€œWhy aren’t you still together?”
    â€œShit just didn’t work out, but, ah, I gotta go take a piss. I’ll be right back.”
    â€œA’ight, li’l nasty.” She laughed.
    As Unique continued to eat, she heard the sound of Bigg’s cell phone ringing. His phone was in his jacket pocket, so she went into his pocket to retrieve it. As she searched for the phone, she ran across a bottle of prescription pills. Depakote? My mother used to take this, didn’t she ? she thought.
    â€œBaby, let’s run up to Blockbuster. I want to rent some movies,” Bigg said, reentering the kitchen. Caught off guard, Unique jumped, dropping the bottle of medicine on the floor.
    â€œWhat you doing?” he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
    â€œNothing.”
    Not believing her, Bigg walked closer. Spotting the pill bottle, he shouted, “What the fuck you going through my shit for?”
    â€œNah, nigga, don’t try to turn this around on me. The real question is why you lie to me?”
    â€œWhat you talkin’ about? I ain’t lie to you.”
    â€œYes, you did. My mother took Depakote. I know what that shit is for. Don’t tell me you’re crazy too.”
    â€œI suffer from manic depression, Unique.”
    â€œExcuse me? Say that again?”
    â€œI was gon’ tell you—”
    â€œUh-uh.” Unique cut him off. “I’m not going through this shit wit’ you, Bigg. It’s bad enough I had to deal with my momma, but now you? I did everything for her. Fed her, bathed her, and guess what? She left me. I can’t risk you leaving me too. How the fuck could you do this to me?”
    â€œDo what to you? I was gon’ tell you.”
    â€œLet me fall for you and tell me when?”
    â€œWhen the time was right.”
    â€œWhen the time was right? Nigga, the time wasn’t gon’ ever be right. I told you everything. I was totally honest with you. You knew about my mother and how fucked up my childhood was. I told you how that shit nearly killed me when my mother left us for good. I can’t afford to lose you like I lost her.”
    â€œI promise I ain’t going nowhere. I’m gon’ hold you down. I ain’t never gonna leave