M&M

Chapter twenty-one

"Mmm... something's off," I said, putting on my lashes. "You haven't smiled this whole call. Or the last few ones. Is the trip okay?"

"Yeah, it's straight. I think I'm just missing my, uh... sisters."

He looked so down.

"You sure that's it? 'Cause this don't feel like Micah. You always cheesing, making jokes... or maybe you just miss the 'Hey Micah' clique."

"Hey Micah," I teased, laughing.

He smiled for the first time. "Here we go, bruh."

"Do they be in your DMs? 'Cause I know when you posted that picture, the thirst was real."

He shared his screen and pulled up his Instagram requests. I couldn't help but laugh.

"See?" he said, sliding through them. "I don't even know half these girls."

All I saw was heart eyes and girls begging for attention.

"I don't entertain none of them," he said, tapping on one account. "Oh, that's Jada—I can follow her back."

I raised an eyebrow. "Who's Jada?"

"My sisters' friend. She goes to NCAT with them. You see Princess all under her comments," he said, chuckling.

He stopped screen sharing and I finished my makeup.

"So, do you know when your sisters coming back? I know you miss them," I said, digging through my scrubs.

"Honestly? No clue. They been acting a little weird... and they ain't been posting on Instagram. That's rare. But who knows. I miss you, though."

I froze, then smiled quietly as I kept rummaging through my scrubs.

"Maila," he said.

I hummed, lips pressed together. "Yesss?"

"You don't miss me?"

"Of course I miss you, Micah. Who else gonna eat all my snacks and buy me Chipotle?"

He laughed. "Nah, deadass, I better not come back and you got a new—"

He stopped mid-sentence, and I heard a door open.

"Wassup, Pops?" he said off-screen. "You on the phone with Princess?" his dad asked.

"Nah, this my friend. You haven't met her," Micah replied, quick.

His friend?

"Oh, well, we finna go meet up with Jasmine's family and—"

Mute.

I blinked. He never does that.

I finished getting dressed in silence, sprayed on perfume, grabbed my tote, and headed downstairs. As I was filling my Stanley—

"Aye, pretty," I heard his voice again through the phone.

"I gotta go, but imma text you later, okay?" he said.

"Okay, Micah. Be safe."

"Always. And have a good day at work."

He hung up, and I stood there holding my cup.

"Something is really off," I mumbled, screwing the lid onto my Stanley.

"You ready, baby?" my mom called, grabbing her keys as she stepped outside.

"Yeah," I said softly, following behind her.
——————

The nursing home was warm as ever when we stepped in, filled with the scent of lavender and a faint trail of somebody's lunch tray. My mom stopped by the front desk to check us in, but I already knew where to go.