“Damn! Straight like that?” he asked as he stepped back and looked into my face with a smirk.
“I’m just joking. The drink is fine for now,” I said, and we both laughed.
When I looked over at Taylor, she was smiling like a schoolgirl while the homeboy talked to her. This shit was too easy. Harmoni’s nigga told me to call him Black, and I definitely understood how he got that name. He had smooth chocolate skin with a perfect smile, and the nigga smelled good too. I didn’t understand how that basic, lame ass hoe ended up with the good niggas. It was nothing special about her if you asked me.
We spent hours at the bar talking, and they bought us several drinks before we exchanged numbers and called it a night. I suggested that we all go back to my spot and chill, but Black hadto decline. He said he had a busy day tomorrow, but I knew he had to get back to his bitch. I was just gonna play stupid. On the ride back to my spot, Taylor told me that his friend T was gon’ be the father of her kids. I personally didn’t find light skinned niggas attractive, but if she liked it, I loved it.
A week had passed since I met Black, and we had been on two dates. I was really feeling this nigga, but I hated that he thought I was green or something. We never talked on the phone, and he rarely texted back. I always asked him if he had something going on, and he would always lie and say he was busy with work. I was getting the vibe that he didn’t really fuck with me, but whenever we were face to face, he always showed me different. He bought roses and other small gifts, so I really didn’t know what to think. I was on a mission, so I decided to keep going with the flow.
Jakari had been blowing me up about JJ, but I was standing on business from now on. I could no longer be this nigga’s doormat. Besides, I no longer wanted him, so now I was gonna make his life hell, same as he tried to do me.
I was getting my son dressed so I could take him to see the new crocodile movie when Jakari called me for the tenth time that day, and it was only noon.
“Please stop calling my phone! You are annoying the fuck out of me. We have court in less than two weeks. We can talk then,” I said once I answered.
“I’m sorry if I said or did something wrong, but please let me see my son. I can’t wait until we go to court, and even then, they won’t make a decision the same day, Diamond. Stop this dumb shit, man.”
“What did the police tell you? I don’t have to let you see him, right? We don’t have a court order yet, and he’s been living with me all his life, so get on down the road! You made shit like this between us. Even when you hid my son and kept him a secret, I still let you get him when you wanted to. I’ve never been bitter or spiteful, but you wanna call me crazy and unfit and try to take him from me. Okay, may the best parent win,” I said.
“Be honest with yourself. Do you really not think what you did was crazy? You stalked my ex and did a lot of other weird shit. I wouldn’t be surprised if you was still stalking her now. I don’t fuck with her at all, and I still don’t want you. You can’t accept that, so you’re keeping my son away from me. I’m going to prove that you don’t even deserve visitation, you crazy whore.”
“Whatever you say, Jakari. I’m busy, though. Have an amazing day, and don’t call my phone again. I’m glad you see how it feels for someone to try to take your child away from you,” I said and hung up.
I grabbed JJ’s bag, and we headed to the movies. When I got into the car, Black called and asked what I was doing. I told him that I was headed to the movies with my baby, and he asked if he could join. I gave him the location of the theater we were going to, and he told me to wait in my car until he got there. When we arrived, I sent him a text to let him know where I was parked.
He arrived a few minutes after me. When he asked JJ if he wanted to hold his hand as we walked into the theater, my friendly ass baby was all for it. JJ dragged Black into the movies, and I could tell that he genuinely liked kids. He bought our tickets, snacks, and drinks. I appreciated how kind he was to my baby. That made me like him even more. While in the movies, Black was the perfect gentleman around my son. He continuously asked my baby if he was okay, but JJ wasn’t worried about anything but that movie.
Black wanting to get to know my son was a step in the right direction. JJ was my whole world. Sometimes it was hard for me to read Black, but today he made me feel more comfortable than ever. When the movie was over, he walked us to the car and buckled JJ in his car seat. We talked for a few minutes before he kissed me on my forehead and told me to get home safely. He said he would plan us a nice date and update me on the details. That man had made my night, and my baby seemed to like him a lot too.
When I got home, I called my sister and told her about my movie date with my son, and me and Harmoni’s man. We laughed at how easy it was to snatch him up. I knew he was still with that girl, but it was only a matter of time before she was history, and I was gonna see to that. I promised my sister that we could spend time together soon, then I texted Black until I fell asleep, anticipating the next time I would see his fine ass.
I lost my job when I went to jail behind Harmoni, so I was only doing hair to make ends meet. I’d always loved doing hair, but I never took it seriously. Taylor and I had enrolled in beauty school together, but I stopped going once I found out I was pregnant. She got her license and perfected her craft, but I was just a kitchen beautician. As long as it made dollars, it made sense to me, though.
I told Black that I needed money just to see what time he was on, and he came through with a few hundred dollars. He clearly had more, but I wasn’t really expecting too much from a nigga I never even kissed for real. I had a feeling that we would soon take things to the next level, and I was ready for whatever.
Almost a week passed, and I hadn’t seen Black, so I was surprised when he called and told me to come outside. I thought my begging had run him off. We still texted daily, but it wasn’t enough to brag about. When I walked outside to his car, he had the same look on his face that he had the last time he pulled upon me. I knew he wasn’t comfortable in my neighborhood, and if I had to be honest, I felt like he was disgusted that I lived there.
When I made it to his car. He got out and pulled me into a tight hug, then he kissed my forehead as usual. He slid some black shades on his eyes before he stepped out of the car. I found that weird because it was almost dark, but I didn’t mention it. I knew, that he was sneaking over here and didn’t want to be seen. I just didn’t let him know that I knew.
“I got you something,” Black announced as he pulled out of our embrace.
I watched as he opened the back door to his car and pulled out a huge brown shopping bag. Flashing his pearly white smile, he extended his arm for me to grab the bag. I placed it on the hood of his car and proceeded to take out the contents. The first thing I pulled out was a large denim and brown Coach purse. Next, I discovered the matching wallet and key chain. I dug to the bottom of the bag and pulled out the biggest item—a denim Coach duffel bag. Everything was so cute! I couldn’t believe he had bought me all that stuff.
“Blackkk, thank you so much. I love it all,” I said as I hugged him around his neck.
“I’m glad you like it. It looked like your style. Now you got a spend the night bag for when you come with me sometimes,” he stated with a smile.
I placed all my things back in the bag, got in his passenger seat, and smoked a blunt with him. I was really falling hard for this dude. His vibe and personality were unmatched. He was so thoughtful and selfless, too. I never had a man treat me with such kindness. He was very standoffish, and hard to read at times, but then he’d do things like the movie date, and like this.
I thought about how I ended up talking to him, and I felt bad because I knew he belonged to someone else. All I could do wasenjoy my time with him and hope that I was who he chose in the end.
Iwas now twelve weeks pregnant, and I would be able to find out the gender at my next appointment. This was the most embarrassing thing I ever had to hide in my life. I had to face my man every day and keep this huge secret from him, but I knew I couldn’t hide it much longer. Because I was attacked, my OB-GYN wanted to keep a close eye on my baby and me. I had to do a lot of lying in order to go to my appointments. I would say that I was going by the shop or meeting a friend for lunch sometimes.
Rowdy stayed by my side until I was completely healed and even unknowingly helped me through my morning sickness. I was thankful for my man, but lately, I had felt a shift. I knew my man better than anybody, and I could tell that his mind was somewhere else. I found a movie receipt in his pocket fortwo adults and a kid last week, and he denied knowing who it belonged to. But, it was in his damn pocket.
I explained to him that I had just gotten out of a messed up relationship where a kid was made behind my back and hidden from me. Rowdy promised not to do anything to hurt me. He told me that business had him stressed out, but soon, he would have it all taken care of. None of that explained the movie tickets, but I was going to believe him until he proved me wrong.
With everything that had taken place and too many unwanted people knowing where I lived, I decided to move out of my home. My man and I purchased a condo together even though I knew that wasn’t the best move. I had no idea how he would react to the news of the baby, but I could only hope for the best. Rowdy had taken care of everything when it came to the moving process. All I had to bring was myself. He bought brand new everything. Four months of dating was fast to be moving in together, but this was who I wanted to be with forever, so I just went with the flow.
