“Xai hurt your feelings?” Averi asks with too much concern. “Was he mean to you like Daddy?”
“He yelled at you?” Romi adds, her little lip trembling.
Rush’s antics really affected them. I hate that I waited too long to cut his stupid ass off.
“No, no. Xai’s not like your daddy. He didn’t yell and he wasn’t mean to me at all.”He just lied and broke my heart.“He and I just don’t agree on something. So he’s not coming around.”
“If he says he’s sorry, can he come back?” Averi asks innocently.
My girls have always been taught that mistakes happen all the time but the only thing that matters is how the mistakes are handled. When one of them hurts the other’s feelings, accidentally breaks something, or maybe even says something not nice, they know they have to apologize. We don’t let things fester; we acknowledge and fix it. For Averi, Xai apologizing will repair everything. However, because my heart and mental can’t handle explaining beyond their scope of understanding right now, I simplify me and Xai’s hella arduous situation and simply answer, “Yes.”
“Good. ’Cause I really like him,” Averi says, sounding relieved.
“Me too,” Romi adds with a smile.
If only my reality was that simple.
After kissing both of their cheeks, we return to our breakfast. Between the berries, syrup, and powdered sugar I allow them tooverindulge in, they are bouncing off the walls by the time we are done. I happily allow them to fill the living room with sheets, pillows, and comforters. They build an underwater castle while I wash dishes and clean up the kitchen. When I’m done, I invade their castle.
“I’m Ursula,” I yell as I slide under their fort. The sound of their laughter and screams fills my ears and warms my heart.
Chapter 21
Xai
“Would you like another Black Barrel?” the bartender asks.
“Nah, I’m straight for now,” I tell her, even though ain’t shit about me straight.
I’m fucked up actually and I’ve been this way for the past eleven days. I lost my girl because I didn’t handle business and tell her about the phone or the accident. The look on her pretty face, the hurt and pain in her voice, and the way she’d crumbled in my office fucked me all the way up. She was hurting and I’d caused that shit. I hurt my baby and I feel like shit. She’s blocked me and ain’t fucking with me, and real shit, I can’t blame her; the blame is all on me.
“Shit, bruh, you started without me,” Rick says as he sits on the stool next to me.
“Just two,” I say, then dap him up.
“It’s barely six. I thought you brought me here to grab some grub and catch up, not get drunk.”
“Shit, bruh, both,” I admit. “Man, I fucked up.”
“Damn! Sounds serious. Let me get a drink first,” he says, then motions for the bartender.
You need to chill out. Go home, get a drink, or something. I love you and you’re my boss but you’re messing up.Trista words are what fueled my text to Rick and this trip to Diablo’s Steakhouse. According to her, I’ve been mean as hell and it’s affecting business at both locations. She’s not wrong. Nothing’s the same and it won’t be until I somehow make shit right with Adora.
“Did you order food yet?” Rick asks.
“Nah. I was waiting on you.”
“Bet. Imma order when she comes over.” He glares at me as I take a sip from my second glass of bourbon. “This shit must be bad.”
“It is,” I say.
The bartender returns and Rick orders his drink and dinner. My appetite is shit so I just order a steakhouse burger and truffle fries. I also get another drink. One more sip and this one will be done.
“Is it Kadean? What’s up with his case?” he asks.
“Kadean is still in Florida and his next court date is in two weeks. His lawyer found shit in the evidence chain and thinks she might be able to get the stolen truck shit thrown out but driving with no license will stand. He was driving, so he’s gotta do time for that.”
“Damn, baby bruh,” Rick sighs. “All that shit you did to keep him out and he still does some dumb shit to go in.”
