His Queen

When The Lid Pops

Nervous seeing her fidget and fix her hair even though nothing is wrong with it, Tyrone asked, “What? What's wrong, I thought you liked my mom?” Cleo looked at him like he’d lost it, “Of course I liked your mom! But I’m not even cute! I am wearing this plain ass romper with no bra!”  

Checking her face, Cleo groaned, “Oh my god I don’t even have on lip gloss! Baby!! Why!?” Tyrone trying hard not to laugh because no girl had ever had this meltdown on him before.  

In his opinion, Cleo looked beautiful in her black and white striped romper. With the bow on the front, she looked like the present she was. Wearing black wedges and her hair up in a cute ponytail, she didn’t have on a drop of makeup.  

And yet Cleo shined and glistened like one. “Cleo?” Tyrone watched her look at him with a pout, “Don’t tell me I’m overreacting! You didn’t have to meet my parents, they're dead. But yours are here, and they are important to you. So, I want them to like me.”  

Tyrone loved she cared so much, and for the right reasons. But he had to dash those fears quickly, “Oh baby, and you think that’s going to be depending on if you’re wearing lip gloss?” Cleo pouted, “No, but it’d help if they weren’t looking at my naked lips.”  

Kissing her, Tyrone told her sweetly, “Your lips are so sexy, naked or with lip gloss.” Giving her a tube of lip gloss, she’d left in his car Tyrone assured her, “And my family likes you already. They just want to get to know you more. Are you comfortable with that?”  

Smiling at him checking to make sure she was okay, Cleo melted. She knew if she said no right now, he’d pull out not even angry and say okay. Maybe another day.  

But no, she wasn’t going to put this off. So, she put on her big girl panties and nodded, “Let’s do this.” Walking up the stairs holding hands, Tyrone opened the door and let himself in. “Mom? Dad? Tab?” Nothing for a second.  

Like his grandfather’s home, there was a grand staircase leading upstairs. But to the right, there was doors to the media room and to the left, to the kitchen. Hearing as her wedges clicked on the shiny floors, Cleo suddenly heard, “Ah, Master Tyrone.”  

Looking to see a kind-faced butler, he came over and hugged Tyrone. Smiling Tyrone introduced, “Cleo this is my family's butler Gregory, he’s been with us since I was a kid. And G, this is my girlfriend Cleo.”  

Shaking hands, Gregory looked at her sweetly, “Hi, it’s so lovely to meet you dear.” Cleo grinned, “Same as well sir.” Looking at Tyrone, Gregory informed him, “Your father is doing business outside on the back patio. Your mother and sister are with hairdresser getting their hair braided in her room.”  

Tyrone looked at Cleo who smiled sweetly, “I have to talk to my dad, you mind going on up with my mom and sis?” Cleo shook her head, “No, um, I’ll see you in little bit.” Kissing her forehead, he left, and Gregory led Cleo to Renee’s bedroom.  

Sitting in chairs on her balcony, Renee and Tabatha were getting their hair braided. Tabatha was getting box braids, while Renee was getting short twists. “Hey Cleo!” Tabatha greeted happily as the girl doing her hair moved to get another section of hair.  

Seeing Cleo had joined them, Renee grinned happily, “Hello darling, how are you?” Cleo smiled back just as happy, “Fine, and yourself?” Renee beamed, “Always blessed.”  

Sitting down on the small white seat, the large square balcony held three of them. And with two chairs moved outside two hairstylists were moving around Renee and Tabatha.  

“This is Shelia and Paco, our hairstylist.” Renee introduced and Shelia, a beautiful African-American woman was about Tabatha’s age. So gorgeous with her own hair done in long braids, she was also curvy. Smiling she waved at Cleo who smiled back.  

Paco was a Mexican man however, older by maybe a decade he shot her a kind smile before continuing his work.  

“So what’s been going on with you, lately?” Tabatha asked casually looking at Cleo, “Nothing much, mostly just waiting for graduation these days. I have a few summer plans I’m thinking about evolving, but nothing major. You?”  

Tabatha chuckled, “Me too, I’ve been on the fence about summer. What were you planning?” Cleo shrugged shyly, “I've never really been anywhere and I wanted to take a road trip. See something cool before I’m this wide-eyed freshman trying to find my classes. But...things changed.”  

Renee grinned, “You met my son?” Cleo nodded and admitted, “And I'm on better terms with my step-sister. I just thought I'd have to go alone, but now I have them. And I don’t know if he has plans or obligations, but it’s been on my mind. I have to ask him and see if he’s going to be able to go.”  

Suddenly another woman appeared and looked at her confused, “Oh, is she getting her hair done to?” Older, the beautiful African-American woman with her light coco brown skin smiled at her kindly. Cleo started to deny it, but Renee grinned, “Of course.” And soon Cleo was getting locs twisted into her hair.  

The questions Renee and Tabatha asked were all casual and easy. By the time Harriet, the woman doing her hair was done with her back, she’d relaxed. Looking up and seeing Tyrone smiling at her as she made them all laugh.  

“Hey.” Cleo greeted sweetly. Seeing their cute moment of banter and smiling had different reactions. Both Tabatha and Renee grinned at each other knowingly, Paco didn’t care, and Shelia looked like she was about to fight.  

And Harriet, Shelia’s mama, could clearly see that and tried to finish up Cleo’s hair. Without hurting her or screwing it up, but it was time to go now. Tyrone looked at Cleo adoringly for a second before kissing her hand, “Well I just came to check on you, me and my dad are trying to get his old car to start.”  

Smiling Cleo teased, “Fine, go get all greasy and sweaty. But don’t think you gonna kiss me after.” Tyrone grinned as he teased back, “Fine I’ll get them now.” Giving her a few quick pecks, he left smiling and Cleo blushed when Renee turned to her amused.  

“Sorry,” she muttered embarrassed. But Renee waved her off as Shelia finished up the last braid. “You’re fine darling, but I do have to say Cleo you are bringing out a side of my son I’ve NEVER seen.” Tabatha agreed as she confessed, “It’s kind of weird almost. Seeing him so into someone.”  

Shelia was now sour in the face and it wasn’t just noticeable to Harriet. But now it was apparent to Tabatha, Paco, and Cleo seeing her face.  

Tabatha wanted to just tell Shelia to get over it, but she figured that wasn’t fair. She couldn’t tell Shelia what she could and couldn’t feel. Even if it was unwarranted at this point. Watching Sheila sit down and pretend to wait for her mama and Paco to finish.  

She was typing when Renee suddenly asked, “And you are coming to the party in 2 weeks yes?” Cleo was confused now, “Party?” Renee grinned as she eagerly said, “It’s mine and Elijah’s wedding anniversary! We got married on the date we met a year later. And every year he throws a party claiming he needs everyone to know I still put up with him.”  

Grinning, Cleo gushed, “That’s so cute! So, OTP goals right there!” Renee pretended to be bashful as her daughter agreed. “Of course, I’ll come. And usually, I’d say I’d bring something, but you’re catering staff will not put me to shame.”  

This time neither Paco nor Harriet could stop themselves from laughing. Renee was too as they all suddenly heard, “Huh, so that means you’re not another trust fund brat, that’s interesting.” Everyone looked at the scowling Shelia surprised.  

Harriet tried to move faster as Cleo sighed put out, “Oh great here we go again.” Tabatha felt kind of bad seeing her deflate as her mama looked at Shelia, “Shelia what’s wrong?” Shelia rolled her eyes as she grumbled, “I guess I’m just seeing someone I truly cared about being used by these women.” Fed up with women telling her who she was and why she wanted to be with Tyrone made Cleo ready to fight.  

“And these women? You’re grouping me in with a bunch of women when you don’t know anything about me.” Cleo’s voice was strong, but her eyes, were hurt. Especially when Shelia tried to say, “You but we know the type right? Someone trying to get in good with the rich-.”  

Cleo’s hand was a death grip on her chair’s arm, “Yeah well money isn’t everything. And believe it or not, it’s not the first thing everyone sees when they meet someone. I met Tyrone, I saw his personality, I saw his good looks, and yeah, he’s family’s well off. But I also know he’s a hard worker. He is the kind of man I would want for myself with or without the Royal family wealth.”  

Not buying it for a second, Shelia sneered, “Easy for you to say now because it’s with. What happens if one day it’s without?” Cleo scoffed in disgust at the audacity of this girl, “I’m going to be a real woman and hold down my man. Because money comes and goes, and it doesn’t hold you through the hard times. And it damn sure, doesn’t fill that place in your heart.”  

Shelia wanted to keep being mean, being bitter. But Cleo made it a point to say, “I’m not some materialistic little girl in need of a paycheck. And I’d never sell my body, pride, or soul for something as simplistic as money. So, I don’t know who you think you are, but before you judge my character maybe you should get to know me.”  

Furious, Shelia shot to her feet, “Yeah right! You’re just some skank trying to get a pay out!” Getting up ready to swing now, Cleo snapped back, “Yeah but unlike you I've spent time with him! What can you honestly say you like about him that I can’t?”  

Shelia popped off a bunch of random-ass facts with only two of them being true. And one look from Tabatha showed her she’d somehow failed. Turning to face Cleo, Shelia watched her eyes narrow, “You don’t need to be hateful because it didn’t work out between the two of you. And you will not sit here and disrespect me.”  

Scoffing, Shelia sneered, “Or you’ll do what?”  

There was going to be a full-on drag out brawl at that point. But Paco finished with Tabatha’s hair now, dragged Shelia away. Shelia kept looking back at Cleo like she wanted to run at her. But Cleo would have loved for her to.  

It wasn’t until after she left, she awkwardly sat back down in tense silence. Harriet apologized on behalf of her daughter but didn’t offer up an explanation for her behavior. Both Tabatha and Renee tried to coax more conversation from Cleo but she’d clammed up now.  

Awkward, embarrassed, and downright uncomfortable at how she’d acted, Cleo wanted to cry. Because after dealing with both Alyssa, the girl from his school, and even the waitress, she’d let Shelia get to her. Maybe it was all the stress she was under, but now she’d shown her ass in front of his sister.  

What was worst? She’d done it in front of his mother.  

After Harriet finished, she quickly left to find her daughter. Cleo also made a hasty exit to find Tyrone. Mortified to the point of whale sobs, Cleo found Tyrone in the garage with his dad laughing. Hands shaking, Cleo whispered, “Um, Ty?”  

Elijah heard the soft voice and looked concerned seeing Cleo in near tears. “Son?” Tyrone looked up immediately and saw Cleo’s condition as well. “Baby?” Rushing to her, Tyrone asked, “What’s wrong?” Cleo sniffled as she whispered, “Um, I’m not feeling well. Can you take me home please?”  

Tyrone heard the lie, but he could tell she really wanted to go. And this wasn’t nerves, Cleo was upset. To the point of shaking and tears, which had Tyrone instantly ready to defend her. “Yeah, come on baby.”  

He’d find out how to slay the dragon for her, right after he got her calmed down. Tyrone pretended to have forgotten his phone and stuff and rushed back in. He left Cleo for a minute in his truck with tears in her eyes. When he rushed back in his mama met him at the foot of the stairs, “Sweetie-.”  

Throwing his hands up, Tyrone pleaded, “Please tell me this wasn’t some of your sneaky tactics?” Renee couldn’t lie and Tyrone groaned, “Why mama, just why!?” Renee winced at the anger and sheer frustration in her son’s voice.  

Honestly, she couldn’t remember a time when her son had ever been angry with her. But things had changed, and no longer was he her child.  

He was her grown man, with a woman he loved. So, of course, he wanted to fight and protect her knowing she’d caused the surprising reaction. “I didn’t know it’d make her so upset.” Tyrone watched as his sister and father joined from different parts of the house.  

“And where the hell were you?” Tyrone gritted out at his sister thinking she’d have his back a little bit more. Seeing her brother heated, Tabatha held up her hands, “In my defense, I told her NOT to do it.”  

Elijah seeing his son ready to chew bricks, he quickly asked, “And what was done?” Tabatha sighed as she explained, “Mama invited Shelia over to do our hair today to see how Cleo would react to her.”  

Confused, Tyrone asked, “Who the hell is Shelia?” Tabatha snorted as Renee breathed out, “Thank Christ you weren’t there, that would have been even worse.” Tabatha met her brother’s confused eyes, “Harriet’s daughter? The one who just did mom’s here?”  

Tyrone nodded and then suddenly remembered, “Yeah! I went on a date with her.” Elijah looked at his son quickly, “Did it go anywhere?” Tyrone shook his head quickly, “No! I mean she was a cool chick, just the vibes were off. I wasn’t interested, and at the end of the date, I told her I wasn’t feeling it. She said cool, and that was that. I didn’t even want to go, it was a favor to her mama.” 

Holding up a hand, Tabatha asked like she was in school, “So, Harriet set y’all up?” Tyrone nodded, “Yeah, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Basically, shoved her down my throat, talking about how shy she was but really liked me. We went on 1 date, we talked, we ate dinner, but I wasn’t feeling it land told her that. I didn’t think there were harsh feelings or any reason why she’d want to get into a fight with my girlfriend.”  

Shooting his mama a look, Tyrone muttered, “I’ll talk to you all later.”   

Renee wanted to say she was sorry but she wasn’t. Watching her son get in his truck with Cleo, she watched him comfort her for a moment. It warmed her heart as Cleo curled into his side as he drove them off.  

“And what did that do besides upset them?” Elijah asked knowing his wife wasn’t a malicious character and wouldn’t hurt her son. “It proved something, I needed to know. I needed to see feelings, how deep they ran and what she wanted.”  

Smiling, Renee felt it in her gut as she told her husband knowingly, “She’ll understand later, I can’t wait to have my new daughter-in-law join the family.”