“Muse, I’ve never met a man like you, but I understand your stance.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Bell smiled eerily, and before I could read further into her body language, all hell broke loose.
Era’s husband ran out from their beach house and stretched Desmond ass out like a doormat. I could have easily laid my little mermaid’s husband out with one hit, but my days of coming to my big brother’s defense over another man’s wife were over. His wives, Bell, Brie, and Bev, shrieked and ran over to his aid as I remained on our porch and looked on at the mess unraveling before me. Really, I was gawking at the peanut butter toned goddess that was built like a Kentucky race horse.
The two-piece white bikini that Era wore clashed against her complexion, giving the aura that she was a cookie covered in white frosting. Damn she looked appetizing, and my mouth watered for a taste. Her thighs were thick, toned and seemed to be created to trap my head in place as I drank from her fountain. That ass sat up like a beach ball, and at any given day, I’d eat it like a bowl of Jell-O. I hadn’t even courted her yet, and already I was smitten by her. I had to shake that shit though because I didn’t share my pussy with anyone.
Era’s husband snatched her away from the chaos as Desmond clung to his wives for dear life. Taking a seat on the patio’s ledge, I chuckled as his three wives struggled to hold his big ass and guide him up the patio’s stairs. Desmond ploppeddown in his chair and flashed me an angry look as blood leaked from his nose.
“Why the fuck didn’t you help me!” he yelled.
“I know you better lower your fucking tone when you’re talking to me!” I growled, and Desmond cowardly slid down in his chair. Ain’t that some shit? He was the big brother, yet he was always folding under me or looking at me for guidance. Desmond had five years on me, but you couldn’t tell unless you paid attention to his salt and pepper fade and beard.
“My bad, bro,” he replied.
“Thank you. Now, I didn’t help you because I already told you I wasn’t fighting any more of your battles, and I warned you not to go near her. You and I both saw them the day they arrived. I don’t know what it's going to take for you to learn, but you love learning shit the hard way.”
“Be that as it may, him and that bitch is going to pay!” he spat.
I looked away from him and at the ocean because Desmond was spitting his bullshit as usual. His weak ass couldn’t smash a fly, but the desperate look in his eye bothered me a bit.
A Few Weeks Later
Kehlani’s music crooned throughout my SUV while I coasted along the highway of Halla Grove Isle to pick up my son, MJ, when I should have been on my way to my gig. Summer was here and like usual, private parties, day parties, and evening parties were popping up all over the island. Everyone sought me out because I was the best travelling bartender this island had ever seen. There wasn’t a drink I couldn’t craft, and if I couldn’t, just give me two days, and it would be mastered.
Thanks to my assistant, Hill, he was going to have our setup halfway done, while I dropped MJ off at my parents’. I exhaled when I thought of my spiteful son’s mama, Starry. That bitch worked my nerves worse than someone dealing with the gout. She made my fists ball and ass ache every time I had to see her.
I would never lay a hand on a woman, but if I ever backtracked over my vow, she was the first bitch shit I’d rock. Starry’s controlling and jealous ways were the reason why I was celibate. She and I were together for six years.
Our relationship was great the first three years, but when she got pregnant in the fourth year, she changed. Starry went from being her sweet and supportive self, to this nagging, controlling, and jealous person. I never gave her a reason to doubt my love or loyalty, but no matter how I tried to fix the shit, she got worse. I thought it was postpartum depression, so I tried soothing her in every way I knew possible and even hired a therapist, but nothing helped. She neglected MJ a lot and even showed her ass at my gigs because she thought I was cheating, when I was mixing drinks.
After a while, I got fed up and took MJ to my parents’ house with me. She came by the next day with the police and said I kidnapped him. I did a few hours in jail until the issue was resolved. Since then, I vowed to take a hiatus from women and to get my head and heart in order. Now here I was racing over to her house because she was tired of being a mother.
All I said was say less because I didn’t give a fuck about what she had going, I just wanted my son. On the inside, I was fuming, while I turned onto her street and sped down the lane. Minutes later, I swerved in front of her house.
She was waiting outside on her porch, smoking a blunt as MJ sat on the stair with his luggage packed. He looked so sad and confused about what was going on, but when I climbed out of mySUV, his little dirt brown eyes lit up. I smiled back at him, trying my hardest not to reveal my anger.
“Jesus, please restrain my hands from knocking this bitch head between her porch and flower bed,” I coached in a low tone.
“Papi!” MJ sang as his little three-year-old legs carried him as fast as he could over to me.
I bent down some and scooped his little body up and held him tightly to my chest. “It’s so nice to see you. Papi has missed you so much, man.” Soothingly, I stroked his back as I glared at Starry’s evil ass. She wore a ‘whatever look’and continued to smoke her blunt without a care in the world. I turned back to my truck secured MJ in his car seat then strolled over to her.
“Muse, I don’t wanna hear your bullshit today. Just take his stuff and y’all get the fuck on.”
I walked up the three steps that landed me in front of her, and she flinched. Towering over her, I leaned down and spoke into her ear. “Bitch, I don’t know what you got going on, and I don’t give a fuck. This was your last time pulling some bullshit like this.
“You better not bring your triflin’ ass to my place, or my family’s house to check on MJ. From here on out, he’s a distant fucking memory for you. If I find out you came lookin’ for him, or you send the police at me again, I’m going to chop your ass up with my machete and feed you to the sharks. If you think I’m lying, try me, bitch!” I affirmed with venom.
I rose to my full height and stared into her frightened brown eyes. Starry nodded as a few tears rolled down her cheek. “Good. You can keep that shit you packed. I’m starting him over fresh.” I trotted down her stairs then climbed into my SUV. I was officially over Starry and her antics.
After dropping MJ off to my parents, I made it to the event with not another minute to spare. Since I was an hour late, I gave the hosts and their guests one free happy hour. Drake’sblasted loudly from the speakers as I mixed and poured drinks and vibed to the beat of the song. This song was definitely a summer bop, and from the way everyone swayed in the crowd, they thought so too. I poured a round of shots then handed the filled tray to the customer, before I turned my attention to a beautiful, brown-skinned woman that waited patiently for my attention.
“What can I get you, beautiful?”
“You,” she stated brazenly with her brow raised and lips pursed.
Her brown skin shimmered and so did the hair jewelry that was placed randomly throughout her long locs. A red, skin tight bodycon dress molded to her slim physique, and I stared approvingly at the material. Lust ran rampant throughout my body like a wildfire, but I couldn't allow my hormones to overpower me. I had to remain as controlled as possible.
Chuckling at her, I wiped down the bar. “Thank you for the compliment, but I’m not on the menu. Would you like for me to make you a drink?”
