“Ain’t nothing going on,” Heavy replied, leaning back into the couch and draping an arm across the back. “We tried tomake it work, and it didn’t. The thing with Pri is complicated. Pierre’s pops used to be my right hand when I was in the streets. I got out to help take over the family business, but he only got deeper in the shit. I warned him time and again to be careful, but he didn’t listen. He liked to flex and be the center of attention. Pri loved him to death, though, and when he died, she kind of clung to me.”
“Naturally,” Giselle muttered, pulling her legs under her on the couch and facing him.
“Being with her always feels like a betrayal to him. When it happened the first time, I nipped that shit in the bud, but I couldn’t not be there for her and Lil P.”
“What changed?” Giselle wondered, watching his attention swing toward her.
His eyes pierced her, drinking in every feature of her face.
“If I can ask.”
“I don’t know. Let Petal tell it, I was lonely and looking for something.” His gaze shifted ahead. “I got love for Pri, but not the way she deserves, and not how she feels about me,” he confessed.
“I know that feeling.” Giselle also looked away and thought about Alonzo.
Although they got married, she was never happy or herself with him. He set certain guidelines, and she went with it. She was the good little stay at home wife, raising their children and flourishing her business.
“I could never cut Prischa or Pierre out of my life. She’s rightfully upset about it, but right now, between business and those two back there.” He pointed to the back of the house, “my priorities have shifted.”
“Yeah, kids do that,” Giselle whispered, suddenly growing sad as her eyes fell on something she just noticed.
On the table were a bunch of new framed photos, courtesy of Remi, no doubt. One caught her eye in the center. It was a throwback of her parents back in the day. Picking it up, she studied it, and tears pricked her eyes unexpectedly.
“Sometimes I wonder if they sent them to me because those two damn sure saved me.”
“You look like your pops, but those eyes are your mama’s.” Heavy grabbed the picture from her. “The same ones Harlee looks at me with.”
“You’re a natural with them. Makes me look like more of a shitty person for keeping you from them.” She fidgeted with her hands and studied them.
Heavy sat up and placed the frame back on the table where she retrieved it. Clasping his hands together, he finally turned his head. Trapping her beneath his greedy copper-green irises, he drank her in carefully.
“I’m really trying to go about all this the right way. I don’t know shit about being a parent. I just know half the job is showing up. We could argue until the end of time about our choices and bad decisions, but what good does that do anybody?” Heavy shrugged. “Not us, and damn sure not them.”
“True,” Giselle agreed.
“I’mma head out.” He slid his hands down his pants legs before standing.
“Okay. I guess I’ll see you later.” She yawned and rose from the couch so she could let him out.
When he reached the doorway, Heavy turned. Giselle’s five-foot seven stature against his six three was a bit much, but she loved how he towered over her.
“Tomorrow. Brunch or something. Bring them by the shop. I’m working on a car for a client, so things will be shut down. We can talk to them there and try to explain what’s going on.”
“Okay,” she agreed, a smile toying with her plump lips before nodding.
“Ok, G. You did not have to come in here showing out like that!” Maisie greeted her, Lou, and Gem from behind the bar.
When the three of them stepped in together, all eyes naturally drifted to them. Lou rocked a tight, strapless black dress that clung to her wide hips and big ass, while Gem chose a simple pink strapless dress with little cut out designs along the side. Giselle slid up to the counter, admiring the club in her burgundy satin sleeveless bodycon dress and gold leather Giavito Rossi heels from Saks. A pair of simple diamond earrings sparkled in her ears, one of few pieces of jewelry she kept when she left Leawood. With her hair braided in front and to one side, the rest hung in thick curls draping past her shoulders.
“Thanks.” She eased onto a bar stool. “This place is nice, Mais.”
“Thank you. I’m pretty proud of it.” Maisie nodded and took in the neon lights flashing over the dance floor as people swayed to“Hungry for It”by Fivio Foreign. “What y’all drinking?”
“I’m here for the infused drink.” Giselle placed her hands on the counter.
“G, I’m telling you, be careful with Mais and her concoctions,” Lou warned. “They are not for the weak.”
“Well, this is the first time I’ve been kid free in who knows how long, so I am prepared to get lit.”
