“Fuck you, Demi! That bitch didn’t want to know! Don’t defend your whore to me, and don’t you ever punish my son for telling the truth! I will flip your entire life upside down over him. What did you say to my child?” She asked. “I haven’t talked to him about it yet. He’s been giving me the silent treatment since last night,” Demi said. “Charlie kinda lost it. The Press was there and…”
“She did what now? She lost it? On my son?” Lauren was on ten. “And you let her?”
“Lo, I didn’t let her. It was the heat of the moment and…”
“She’s not welcome around DJ anymore,” Lauren said. “So don’t ask.”
“Say, man.” Demi was losing control of his life. He loved Charlie, but he loved his son more, and whether he wanted to admit it or not, he still loved Lauren. He was caught between a rock and a hard place because he knew Lauren’s anger was justified.
“Don’t play that card with me, Lo. You can take my money, my reputation, whatever you want, but don’t put DJ on the pass line. You know where it’s going to push us. I don’t want to handle you like that,” Demi said.
“Go ahead, Demi, go low, because that bitch hurt my son again and I’ma take it to hell on both of y’all! You choose this young-ass toddler bitch and she don’t know how to handle a child. I don’t care what he did; she better handle him with care. He’s the child…”
“She don’t have kids, Lo. She didn’t mean no harm…”
“That’s right, I forgot. You chose a child,” Lauren spat in disgust.
Demi could see this wasn’t getting anywhere. It would be nothing but yelling and fighting tonight. He needed to let Lauren cool down.
“Can I say bye to my son?” Demi asked.
“You need to say sorry to your son,” Lauren said, shaking her head. She turned and walked into the house, and Demi reluctantly followed her.
Demi knew she was pissed when she tossed down her purse and went straight to the kitchen, slamming cabinets.
He was catching smoke from every angle of his life. Charlie had been cold since the night before. DJ was giving him the silent treatment, and now Lo was on his ass. He was man enough to admit that his choices had led him here. The women would calm down, but his son…well, his son, he couldn’t live with that resentment.
He knocked on DJ’s door then pushed it open.
DJ sat in front of his TV with his gamer headphones on. Demi pulled them off and sat on the bed.
“Let’s talk,” he said.
“I ain’t got nothing to say,” DJ responded. Demi could hear his broken feelings behind his stubborn countenance.
“Why would you say that shit, man?” Demi asked. “You knew it was wrong, didn’t you?”
DJ shrugged; his back was still to his father.
“Turn around when I’m talking to you, DJ. You look a man in his eye. Remember I taught you that? And you stand on the choices you make. You made a choice when you took the mic, so tell me what it was about.”
“I hate Charlie,” DJ said. “She’s the reason why you live somewhere else. You’re never coming home because of her. All you care about is her now.”
Demi lowered his head and rubbed all over the back of his neck. Stressed. Demitrius Sky was stressed.
“Sometimes men and women who love one another grow in different directions, son. Charlie isn’t the reason your mama and me grew apart. It just happens. But what doesn’t happen is a man growing apart from his son. You’re my boy, DJ. I loveyou. Just because your mama and me aren’t married anymore doesn’t mean I love you less. I will always love you. It doesn’t matter if Charlie or anybody else come into my life.”
DJ’s eyes were welling with pain and Demi’s heart felt that shit.
“You can cry. I’d rather you cry and get that shit out and talk to me like a man than do that shit you did last night. I know you going through a lot, but that’s not how you handle it. You handle it like a gentleman, and you talk to me. You hear me? You’re not in trouble, but let that be the last time you disrespect an adult like that.”
“See, you love Charlie more than you love me. You’re taking her side.”
“Never, DJ,” Demi reassured. “But just because you mad don’t mean your balls grew, li’l nigga. You don’t buck on me. Am I clear?”
DJ nodded and stubbornly wiped his tears away.
“I’ma be around more. I’ma come visit you here until things cool down and you feel like you want to give Charlie another shot. She tries really hard to find something you two can connect over. One day, I hope that happens. It doesn’t have to be today. But when you’re ready. Okay?”
