As soon as I’m at the bar, I order a drink. The bartender recommends something called a Vieux Carre. When she says it has bourbon, I say fuck it and order it.
Kadean’s the one having a baby and I’m worried about it. That shit really sums up our dynamic.
“These are our seafood hushpuppies. Something to snack on with your drink,” she says when she places my drink and a small plate in front of me. “You know what you want to order?”
Since I can’t decide, I order the taste of New Orleans, an entrée with shrimp étouffée, red beans and rice, and a fried, stuffed catfish filet.
“Do you want garlic bread or cornbread?” she asks.
“Cornbread and an order of bread pudding.”
“I’ll put your food in.”
When she steps to the register, I pop a hushpuppy into my mouth, then take a sip of my drink. Both are good as fuck and just what I need.
Chapter 8
Adora
“You have a collect call from an inmate in Diamond Falls Correctional Ce?—”
I end the call before the annoying ass recording can finish. As soon as I end it, I block the number just like I’ve blocked the other two numbers. I don’t know how many numbers there are but I’ll block them all. I said what I needed to say to Rushmore’s goofy ass when I visited him and those were my last words to him. He doesn’t deserve anymore and he definitely doesn’t deserve my time or my daughters’.
“Was that him?” Kandi asks with a slight frown.
“Yes and I’m so sick of his ass,” I scoff.
“Already! Why?” she exclaims, sounding disappointed and throwing me the hell off.
“Why? You know why!”
After sitting all the way up on my sofa, she places my godbaby in her carrier. “Wait, who was that on the phone?” she questions with peaked eyebrows.
“Rushmore.”
“Oh, bitch. I thought that was Xai,” she says, then dramatically sighs. “Had me scared.” She laughs and so do I.
“No, that definitely wasn’t Xai. I didn’t smile once and he makes me smile,” I admit.
“I know. That’s why I was worried.”
Xai and I have been texting all week and I have to admit he’s likeable. He pursues me. I actually get “good morning” and “how’s your day going” texts. We even text at night after I get the girls in bed, and this Thursday, he had lunch delivered to my job after I texted him that my day was swamped. He’s different, intentional, and I like it.
“Girl, no, that was definitely Rushmore. He keeps trying to call and I keep blocking his dumb ass.”
“I can’t with him.”
“Me either. I even had to block his momma. I tried not to because she’s the only grandmother my girls have now, but…” I sigh, then shake my head. “I just can’t. She doesn’t add anything to their lives and her cursing me out about giving her son money proves it.”
“Fuck Erleen’s evil ass; they have my mother and MeeMee anyway. You know they love them,” she says, referring to her mom and grandmother. “MeeMee’s cooking us breakfast tomorrow.”
“You’re not making her cook, are you?” I ask.
“You do know that woman, right? She doesn’t need anyone to make her cook anything. You know February is a big monthat Seasonal Sweets because of her special recipes. We are just celebrating a great month.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
“Oh, you’re going. You should have checked in this morning. You deserve this staycation.”
