Never would she admit out loud that she found Brazil insanely attractive and that she was slightly disappointed that they could never be. Giavanna tried to make herself feel better by reminding herself that she was human, and it was okay to have human thoughts as long as she didn’t act on them. Shit, anyone with a pulse could see that Brazil was handsome. It wasn’t like she was lusting after a man that was in an active relationship with Kera. Even before Kera passed, she wasn’t dealing with Brazil. However, Giavanna was determined to push that slight attraction to the back of her mind and forget about it. Brazil was off limits, and that’s just what it was.
With a chortle, Belvin passed the blunt he was holding to Tech. “Nigga, why you looking so stressed? You standing there like you swallowed a rock or something. You good?”
While accepting the blunt, Tech kissed his teeth. “Every time I deviate from my plans, shit ends bad. Women are supposed to be at the bottom of my list until I get my shit together. My stupid ass done went and asked a woman out on a date that has some shit going for herself. As soon as I tell her I’m fresh out the Feds, she more than likely is going to block my ass.”
That night at the game, Tech refused to attempt to step to Blossom but when he saw her the very next night and had a few drinks in his system, letting her get away wasn’t an option.They had one phone conversation and ever since, Tech had been regretting the fact that he asked her out.
Belvin stared at his friend in awe. “Never in life have I ever seen Tech with low confidence. The Tech I know could have on a fit from Walmart and step to the boss’ girl like he was dressed in designer and push up on her. What happened to that nigga? You aight, fam? Did somebody do something to you in prison?”
“Fuck outta here, idiot.” Tech once again kissed his teeth. The frown on his handsome face intensified. “This shit is different. Shorty is a grown ass divorced woman, who basically got a divorce because her husband was insecure and couldn’t stand to see his woman shining. She left that nigga and bossed the fuck up. Now, Tech with his shit together would show her how a real nigga operates. But Tech fresh outta prison that doesn’t even have a full-time job, fuck she gon’ do with me?”
Belvin shook his head. “I get what you’re saying, G. I swear I do, but I’ve never seen you without confidence or your head held high. Even after they gave you your time, you walked out of that courtroom with your head held high, chin up, chest out like they gave you twelve days instead of twelve years. Keep it a buck with shorty, and if she’s not with it, fuck her.” Belvin shrugged, passively. “Part-time job and all, I know you have a pocket full of money. You live in a dope-ass condo, and you drive a nice-ass car. That’s all she needs to be concerned with.”
“You’re right.” Tech pushed weed smoke from his lungs. “Shit is just different now. I left the streets a young man and came back a fuckin’ grandpa.” He chuckled. “I refuse to be one of these old cats out here still sagging, clubbing every weekend, acting twenty-five, and chasing young women. I’ve been single for the past almost twelve years. In-house pussy would be lovely. Home cooked meals, all that. But it has to be with the right person. I don’t want games, lies, and I don’t want babies. WhenI say I want a grown woman, I won’t even be mad if she’s already hit menopause.”
“Man, hell nah.” Belvin laughed. “That does sound good, though. Being able to bust all in that without her missing a period. Hell yeah. And there are some super bad women out here in their fifties looking forty.”
“Ummhmm.” Tech nodded and passed the blunt back to him.
“When you and shorty going out?”
“Tomorrow night. I’m taking her to Southern Smoke.”
“They got some good-ass food.” Belvin’s mouth watered at the memory. “I took my mom there for her birthday and spent a cool lil’ $300. It’s definitely five-stars, and she’s going to have to know you aren’t a scrub taking her there.”
If Belvin was shocked by Tech’s lack of confidence, he wasn’t the only one. Despite the fact that he spent too many years locked up, there were plenty of decent-looking correctional officers that used to flirt with Tech. He for sure hadn’t lost his skills as far as talking to a woman. He knew he damn sure hadn’t forgotten how to make a woman cum countless times, so he couldn’t figure out why he cared so much about what Blossom might think of him. He wasn’t necessarily ashamed of his stint in prison; it was what it was. He couldn’t get those years back. All that mattered was the fact that he was a changed man in more ways than one.
During their phone conversation, Tech had been waiting for her to ask him about his life in depth, but she didn’t get the chance. The first few minutes of the conversation was about their day. She went down the deep rabbit hole, first, telling him about her past relationship. By the time she was done, he did get to tell her that he had four kids along with their ages, and then his lunch break was over. All he could do was be honest with her and if she didn’t want to take things any further, he would accept it.
Tech was trying to convince himself to hold out a little bit longer to have sex, but he was getting antsy. Especially when he saw beautiful women every day. It also seemed like majority of the women he ran across were either gym rats, blessed, or had surgery because the thick thighs and ample asses were two things he saw multiple times a day. He didn’t discriminate. A BBW was always a good time. Shit, as long as the shit was clean, STD free, and odorless, he was about ready to say fuck it and just fall up in something.
Depending on how things went with Blossom, he would either continue to exercise patience, or he would go to the strip club and take something home just to release and take the edge off. He had no plans to be reckless and wild like he was prior to getting locked up. That way of life was behind him. It only led to headaches and trouble. The way he was ready to spoil his granddaughter was crazy, but if a woman told him he got her pregnant, he’d shit a brick. Mario was the last of his seeds. Tech had no desire to add to the bunch.
After finishing the blunt and talking with Belvin a little more, Tech left to meet up with Lethal. Even though he was busy, Tech made it a point to spend time with all of his sons weekly. Sometimes, they were all together and other times, he linked with each one individually. The next day, they were all meeting up to help Brazil to move into his five-bedroom house. Tech didn’t have any plans to stop working out since being released from prison, so he was going to spar with his son. The gym was cool, but Tech also stayed in shape by playing basketball, boxing, etc.
When he arrived at the gym, Lethal already had gloves on, and he was punching the bag in front of him. A blanket of sweat covered his forehead, and Tech could tell he’d been going at it for a while.
“Damn, you couldn’t wait?” he jested.
Chest heaving up and down, Lethal stopped assaulting the bag and took a moment to catch his breath. “I’m stressed the fuck out, Pops.”
“Take a break and talk to me.”
Lethal removed his gloves and grabbed a bottle of water. After guzzling half the bottle, he leaned against the wall and shook his head. “I think I have a baby on the way, and the chick that’s pregnant, drugged me, and stole my chain.”
Tech had no clue what was bothering Lethal, but he didn’t expect his son’s troubles to leave him speechless. As Tech stared at his son, Lethal released a small, sarcastic chuckle. “I know. It’s crazy. I got caught slipping and all that jazz. After it happened, I was so pissed about the chain that I wasn’t focused on the sex part of it. Then one day, I smelled some raw meat and gagged. Like straight almost threw up. For almost three months, I couldn’t stand the smell of seafood, raw meat, and some cologne.”
Tech released a groan and once again, Lethal shook his head.
“First, I thought I was tripping. Then, when it kept happening, I racked my brain trying to think about everyone I had sex with. I finally chalked it up to I had to be tripping because one thing I do is use condoms. Until I ran into her ass, and she had a belly.”
“Fuck, boy,” Tech murmured in a low tone.
“’Fuck’ is right. I was so mad after I saw her, I kept thinking that if it was my baby, I wasn’t having shit to do with the kid, but once I calmed down, I knew that was BS. That’s not even in my DNA.”
“I’m glad you know,” Tech asserted. “We’ll take the baby from her ass and raise it ourselves, but being a dead beat isn’t an option.”
“It’s gets even more complicated. Supposedly, she was living with her ex, and she got arrested. He bailed her out, and whenshe tried to leave him, he told her she wasn’t going anywhere until she repaid her debt. It was him that got her to rob me and out of the money she got for the chain, he only gave her $4,000.”
