Hot Girlz: Hot Boyz Sequel by Marissa Monteilh Page A

own hands. “What’s
wrong with my hands?”
    “You need to cut your nails, Mason.”
    “They’re fine.”
    “They’re long is what they are. Huh,
Mamma?”
    Mattie winked, reaching for Mercedes’s
hand.
    “Case closed.” Mercedes chuckled. “Sit
down, spend some time.”
    His phone rang, “I will. Hold up.”
    Mercedes said, “Hey. How come I didn’t
hear your phone ring when I just called you?”
    “I was on the phone and clicked over.
Dang.”
    “Dang, nothing. Always on that phone.”
    He answered the call giving Mercedes a
stare of warning. “Hey there, what’s up shining Star?”
    Mattie groaned and tried to lift her
head.
    Mason asked, “How’s my girl?” He
noticed Mattie’s reaction and put the phone on speaker.
    “Fine.” Star’s tone was bland.
    Mercedes said, “Hi, Star. We’re here
with Mamma.”
    Star’s voice beamed. “Hi, Grammy. Miss
you. Love you. You’re my pretty girl.”
    Mattie’s arms shook, and she opened
her mouth like she was preparing to be spoon fed.
    “You should see her. She’s so
excited,” Mercedes said.
    “My pretty girl,” Star said. “I’m
excited, too.”
    “How’s it going?” Mercedes asked her
daughter.
    Her tone became lower. “Good. Dad, can
you take me off speaker, please?”
    “Sure. Hey. What’s up?” he asked,
walking out of the room, holding up one finger to Mercedes as if asking for a
minute.
     
    ~~
     
    Ten minutes later, Mercedes sat in a
chair at the foot of the bed, rubbing vanilla lotion on Mattie’s feet. “I’ll
paint your toes this red color called Hot Sauce. You do look hot, my hot girl.”
    Mattie gave a green light smile.
    Mason said from behind Mercedes, “That
is a hot red, I’ll say that. Nice color.” He put his phone in his pants pocket.
    Mercedes asked right away, “What was
that about?”
    “Nothing,” he replied, only looking at
Mattie.
    “She’s doing okay?”
    “Yep.”
    “She couldn’t talk so we could all
hear?”
    Mason darted his eyes at Mercedes and
then back to Mattie, raising an eyebrow.
    “Oh. Okay. I guess you’ll tell me,”
she said.
    “It’s no biggie. She just needs money
as usual.”
    “Okay. I can put money in her Bank of America
account. How much does she need?”
    “I’ve got it.” He again gave Mercedes
a look like she should drop it. “I’m going downstairs to write.” He stood at
the side of Mattie’s bed again. “See you later, Mom.”
    Mercedes asked, “So soon?”
    Instead of replying, Mason leaned down
to kiss his mom. She frowned but puckered her lips. He gave her a loud smack on
the cheek and she smiled. “No that’s what I’m talking about.”
    “How sweet. Still don’t know why you
can’t spend more time.”
    He headed to the door then turned
around and said, “Actually, come here for a second.”
    “Okay.” Mercedes stood up. “I’ll be
right outside the door, Mamma.”
    Mattie gave a tiny nod.
    Mercedes went out into the hallway and
he stepped out too, then he closed the door.
    He said, “Listen. What’s up with you
and this Vegas trip you took last month?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “What’s up? Someone saw you with some
guy.” He looked anxious.
    “No they didn’t.”
    He spoke fast. “They did.”
    “They who?” She put her hands on her
hips.
    “I’m asking the questions. Tell me
what happened.”
    She looked back at Mattie’s door and
stepped further down the hall.
    He followed.
    “I was with Sequoia, and only Sequoia.
After the fashion show we went to this club inside of the Mirage. I think it’s
called Jet. Really, no biggie.”
    “I would think people would know
Sequoia is not a guy. What went on? With a guy.”
    “I danced once. No big deal.”
    “I’ll tell you if it’s a big deal or
not. With who in particular?”
    “This guy.”
    “This guy, huh?” He looked away and
leaned against the banister, crossing his arms. “You let me sit up the other
day and tell you I had a meeting with Ryan Germany. Was he the