Logic glared at John, wondering who the fuck he was talking to. They normally stayed out of each other’s way to keep the peace, but somehow, John found the nerve to comment on some shit that wasn’t his business. For as long as Pepper had been with John, he never commented on anything to do with her kids unless it interfered with her running the streets with him.
“Nigga, back the fuck up before I knock your little ass head off your shoulders.” Logic squared his shoulders. John sized the teen up but did as he was told. While they had never been ina physical fight, John heard all about his reputation. Logic’s mouth was reckless, but he could back it up.
“I’m just saying, man, look out for ya mama.”
“By taking care of the kids she laid on her back to create? Get the fuck outta here,” Logic barked as the bedroom doors behind him opened. “I already babysit every other night and feed them, help them with their homework, pay bills, and do everything else. I’m the man around this bitch.”
“Watch it.” John pointed his finger in Logic’s face. “I didn’t have to do half of the shit I've done around here. I stepped up when your father left.”
“Nah nigga, you stepped in to prey on a weak ass woman with four kids. You ain’t did shit but use my mama and all of her resources. Free housing, food, and shelter. You’re a freeloader with a gambling fetish nigga.”
John shifted on his feet, not moved by anything Logic was saying because it was the truth. When he met Pepper, the twins were two, Sage was three, and Logic was twelve. He could tell from across the room that she was drowning, and all it took was for him to buy her one drink before she told him her life story. John sensed her desperation, and he played it to his advantage. Pepper was a single mother of four, and John was a rolling stone with no real commitment. She provided him with a ready-made family, a home, and a hot meal every night. All John had to do was fuck her right and kick her a few dollars whenever he had a good night.
“LJ, this is happening. I don’t want them to go into the system, so you have to step up. I just need a break.”
“I don’t have a job, how the fuck we supposed to live?” Logic bellowed. “I have school, what the fuck are you thinking?”
“You’ll figure it out. I had to.” Pepper pushed her purse on her shoulder.
“I’ll figure it out?!” he roared. “These are your kids!”
“Who knows, rapping might take off for you someday.”
“Mommy.” Shugg rubbed her eyes, coming from the back of the house. “We leaving?”
“Yes, John and I are going on a trip,” she lied.
“I wanna go,” Sage whined, hugging Pepper’s leg. He was a mama’s boy and didn’t like it when she went on trips without him.
“It’s ok, big boy. Stay here with your brother and I’ll come back for you.”
“Pep, let’s go,” John urged, not bothering to say goodbye to the youngest children. He was the only father they knew, but in all honesty, he was ready to get rid of them. John was ready to spread his wings. The poker tables in Las Vegas were calling his name and his palms were itching. “I need to play my mid-day numbers before we hit the road. Happy birthday, Lo.”
“Fuck you!” Logic spewed. “This some bullshit.”
“Mommy,” Spice cried, hugging her leg. “I wanna go.”
“No, I wanna go.” Sage pushed his sister.
“Logic, do something,” Pepper begged with tears in her eyes. “Don’t do this.”
“Nah, tell them that you’re leaving and never coming back. Tell them that you’re fucking abandoning them to run behind a bum ass nigga,” Logic demanded.
“Mommy, we’ll be good. I promise,” Sage cried, pulling the strap of her purse. “We’ll be good.” “Mommy, can I come?”Shugg pleaded, trying to put on her shoes while making sure her mother didn’t leave.
“Let me goooo,” Pepper begged, using all her strength to push Sage into Spice, giving her just enough time to run out the door. “I’m so sorry.”
“Let’s give your brother time to cool off,” Pepper spoke, snapping Logic from the memory of her breaking his heart.
“I don’t need to cool off, but you need to leave,” he repeated.
“Then I’m coming with you,” Sage said, glancing at his brother then back at his mother. “I can stay the night with you. Do you have a hotel room? I have an allowance, I can get my own room.”
Pepper didn’t answer because she had no intention of taking Sage with her. She wanted a quick visit to clear her conscious, but nothing more.
“Take him with you,” Logic urged, folding his arms across his chest. He wasn’t as blind as he was eight years ago. His mother was just as selfish as John. Taking Sage with her was never an option and the look on her face said just that.
“I-I can’t today,” she explained, fumbling over her words.
