“Okay.” Jahleel agreed without pushback and opened the door as he flung his backpack over his shoulder. “Can I tell you something and you not get mad?”
“Maybe, maybe not. What is it?”
“I’ve seen your dad before.”
Indifference caused Relic to stare at his son without so much as blinking while he processed the information. The palpitating beats in his chest exposed his true reaction.
“In a picture,” Jahleel clarified, setting his dad’s heart rate back to normal. “That day Grann Judy showed me her pictures and gave me one of you, I saw a man that looked like us and asked who he was. She told me his name, but that’s it, and said don’t ask you or my uncles about him. She threw his picture in the trash, too. Is he a bad man?”
“It depends on how you look at it.”
Relic settled on that answer because if he admitted his father was a bad man, he’d have to look in the mirror and self-reflect. He’d always despised his own reflection.
“My mom said you were a bad man, but I don’t think so.” Jahleel climbed out the truck and then peeked in with a smile Relic tried returning but failed. “You’re picking me up this weekend, right?”
“Right,” he replied, barely recognizing his own voice.
It was too low and lacked power because his son had siphoned that trait out of him with a simple statement. He couldn’t remove his gaze from Jahleel as one third of his heart shut the car door, raced to his grandma’s porch, and hugged Jasmine before they hurried in the house together. Relic drove off once they were out of sight, and his mind wandered to the unthinkable. He was certain Jahleel had mentioned Jessica’snegative view of him to fuck with his head... to ensure he kept his promise and didn’t prove his baby mother right.
After thinking on it for some time, Relic decided that he was right. Jahleel had used Jessica’s words against him, and he wasn’t sure whether to respect it or worry that his son was more like him than he assumed. Hushed dialogue feet away made him adjust his shades before pushing the nagging thoughts aside to focus on his surroundings as he reclined in the leather chair adjacent to the dressing room. His gaze went to the locked door Aura was behind, trying on clothes while her fans lingered nearby, waiting on her reemergence.
Relic realized within the first few minutes in the store; Aura had requested he meet her there, hoping they’d end up caught in public together. Fucking her label owner was a great look for the bad girl reputation she was building a brand around.
The last time they were photographed together at the salon’s grand opening was proof since it’d started a buzz that lasted for weeks and put cash in Aura’s pockets. Relic decided he’d let her believe that she was pulling a fast one on him, so he could request a favor without having to give her anything in return. His presence was her reward.
“What do you think about this one?” The door latch clicked before Aura strutted out to pose for him.
Relic gave her an unenthused chin chuck of approval, assessing the shorts that fit her like panties, and a bralettethat did little to conceal her nipples while showing off her flat stomach. Aura spun for him, and his brow rose at the way her ass ate up the material that didn’t stand a chance. His head shook since it was unfortunate, she didn’t know what to do with it in the bedroom.
“So, is it cool or what?” she quizzed, strutting over to stand in front of him. “Don’t pretend, you don’t like what you see.”
“The view is aight, but I know beyond the nice body and fat ass, you’re really a pillow princess who can’t take dick, Aura. I’m not impressed.”
She gawked before glancing around to ensure no one heard him. “Nigga, whatever!”
“Whatever is this lil’ ass outfit that’s like every other thing you put on. What are your other options? I thought we were moving toward a classier look.”
“Not for a damn club appearance. Did Savvy not tell you about the one she booked me for this weekend?”
Savvy didn’t have to tell him shit because he was the one that’d set it up. “She did,” he replied instead of letting her know as much.
“I’m not in the mood to do it, honestly, but the money they’re offering is better than usual. Why isn’t anyone else coming? I’ve never done one without P or Saucy.”
“You can’t move on your own? Because best believe P is making moves without all of you, and I’m sure Saucy is doing the same.”
“You ain’t got to tell me. I heard some big label hit her up about buying her out of her contract to sign with them. Did she tell you?”
“If she didn’t, you just did,” he replied while making a mental note to holler at Sojourney about it. “My security will be at the club as a precaution, so you won’t be alone. Maybe if you hadfriends instead of trying to be the bad bitch everyone is jealous of, that wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Money is the only friend I need. Now, what is it you want to talk about that’s so important you couldn’t wait?”
“Do you have a hair appointment set?”
“Yea, with Jennifer. I wanted to book with Tek’s aunt, but he told me that she was out of town. I heard about her crib being broken into. Is she good?”
“Cancel that appointment,” he told her, glossing over her prying. “There’s another stylist I want to check out for my salon. Book her and invite her to your appearance, too. That’ll give your friendless ass some company.”
“Are you replacing Tekken’s aunt? Is she not coming back?”
