Why aren’t you answering the phone? You or Ermias? Everything okay?
I’d fixed Zyro, and I scrambled eggs, bacon, and French toast.I barely got two bites of my French Toast and a forkful of eggs before my phone rang. When I saw it was my baby daddy, I muttered, “Finally,” and answered it. “Hello? Why haven’t you?—”
“Eriss.” Delion’s voice cut me off. I could already tell this conversation was going to go left. It’s the way he said my name. It dripped with pettiness.
“What?” I screeched. Zyro stopped eating. He was sitting across from me.
“I’m keeping Ermias. He’s staying here with me from now on. You have him around a nigga that ain’t his daddy, not gon fly wit’ me.”
I couldn’t breathe. My head got lightheaded, and I felt like I was about to pass out.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I shouted, pushing back from my chair. I didn’t give a fuck if the floor scuffed. “You don’t get to decide that! Put my son on the phone now!”
“I’m not playing games with you, Eriss. He’s staying with me.”
“Delion, you don’t get?—”
The call disconnected, and I started crying and trying to call him back. The phone began to go to voicemail. He blocked me. I called Ermias’ tablet, and the call no longer went through.
“Eriss…”
“Leave me alone!” I screamed. My eyes were both cloudy. It was just a blur.
I felt his presence near me in seconds. With hands dripping my face gently, he lifted my face.
“Aye, I don’t take disrespect lightly. Tell me what’s goin’ on so I can help you,” his raspy voice rang out. I was now shaking. Zyro pulled me into him, and I gripped his sides, screaming out into his chest.
“He…He’s not giving Ermias back to me because…because he saw you,” I whimpered.
“Where does he live?” Zyro asked calmly.
I shook my head, blinking fast, fighting the tears that kept spilling. I pulled back out of his arms.
“You’ll only make it worse.”
Zyro’s jaw clenched, and he snorted. “Shiiid. That nigga gon give you my homeboy back. I promise you that. Once that rain calms the fuck down, we goin’ to go get him.”
I nodded, clutching the edge of the table, my heart still racing. My thoughts were a jumbled mess of fear and anger. I had no idea if Ermias was scared of Delion right now. Delion was with the woman he’d cheated with and gotten pregnant while we were together. How the hell could she allow this?
“Hey. Hey. Breathe. I promise you, Eriss, Ima handle it. He’s not gon keep your son away from you.” His voice was soft.
“Should I call the police?” I asked, wiping my nose. I know I looked a mess, but right now I couldn’t care less about my appearance.
“Hell nah. They ain’t gon do shit but drag their feet in this weather anyway. Just know, I’m not gon sit on my hands if that nigga try to play wit’ you.”
I groaned. “I don’t need you going to jail, Zyro. Not behind me and my mess.”
Zyro tore a piece of paper towel off the holder and handed it to me. “Here. Wipe your face. Don’t let this break you,” he told me.
I took the paper towel, dabbed my eyes dry, then blew my nose. Pointing to his chest, I said, “I made a mess on you. I am so sorry.”
Zyro glanced down and then waved me off. “This ain’t shit.”
“His dad can be real manipulative. I just don’t want Ermias thinking I don’t want him, you know?” I mumbled. “He twists shit.”
Zyro nodded in understanding. “As soon as the rain slows down, we’re gone. We ain’t leavin’ without him, aight?”
The words should’ve scared me, but instead they calmed me. I believed him.
