“Basil,” Alicia called out to me.
“Bye, Alicia.” I walked out of the kitchen, and a few moments later, I heard footsteps coming up behind me. I knew it was her, but I didn’t turn to acknowledge her.
“Bas—” The sound of the doorbell halted her words. She walked over to the door, and her fuck-ass ex entered moments later.
“You’re early,” she told him.
His eyes came to me, and I gave him eye contact right back.
This corny-ass nigga.
I could tell he used to be a nerd or a dumb jock in college. Alicia looked like she was into nerdy niggas who were still getting fed through an umbilical cord. He swore he was a toughguy, but if he gave me a reason, I was going to put him on his back with ease.
He looked away from me. “Yeah, I was already in the area.”
“They’re almost done eating. You can wait in the living room.”
“Still running with thismannybusiness, huh?” he asked.
I chuckled.
He looked at me. “Something funny?”
“Yeah, you.”
“Basil,” Alicia pleaded.
“It’s cool, Ms. Alicia. See you Monday.” I grabbed my items and headed toward the door.
“Where’s the iPad, Mr. Cassidy?”
Mr. Cassidy? Oh, you want to be disrespectful, huh? Got you.
I flicked my nose a few times to reel back my anger because shorty was really bugging. I was about to show her ass how fucked up she had me, trying to play me in front of this fuck nigga.
“Oh, really? Was I Mr. Cassidy when I had you gagging on my dick?”
Her eyes ballooned, and her mouth fell open in shock.
“Have a good day,Mrs. Hill.” I walked past them and out the door.
If she wanted to play games, then I was a master at them. Since she came home, her whole energy just felt awkward. I knew she wanted to talk to me, but I didn’t have the energy for her confusion. Although I didn’t know what she wanted, per se, I had a feeling it was something concerning us. As far as I was concerned, there was nous—just a boss and a manny.
I felt bad for having to use what happened between us as a weapon against her, but I also wasn’t about to let her think shecould treat me like a David Ruffin and kick me out of the fucking group like I meant nothing.
This weekend, I was going to enjoy myself. My best friend was home, the party was all set to go, and there would be women available for my choosing, . . . even when I desperately wanted the one I had already chosen.
I stood stunnedby Basil’s words and actions.
I couldn’t believe he’d just said that out loud and in front of Leo.
Something I said must have triggered him because now I was trying to figure out exactly what I said for him to disrespect me like that.
“Wow. I knew you were fucking him. You really stooped that low to pick up some street thug, passing him off as being your nanny, Alicia?”
My head whipped toward him, and I frowned. “Leo, if you’re going to be coming to pick the kids up, I’m going to need you to not speak about me or whatever the fuck I have going on inmyhome. If you can’t respect that, then I will get someone to middleman this shit,” I told him. I was irritated as hell because I didn’t like this dynamic between Basil and me now.
I tried to tell him that I was ready to let go of my past and focus on what was best for my children and me.
