“Where ma at?” Nash questioned.
“She went to help some of the other little kids with their costumes. You really not coming trick or treating with us?” Essex inquired.
“No man, what I look like trick or treating? And I’m definitely not wearing that Shaggy costume,” Nash quipped.
“All I know is I better not hear you was eating Nova’s candy,” I interjected, leaning down to unbuckle Nova’s straps. “Yo pops got you confined to this stroller, and you want to see everything,” I cooed. Nova was nine months old, and I loved holding my chunky mama. She loved spending time with me, too. Nova clapped and slobbered, squealing in my grasp. She was cheesing, showing off all her gums and the two tiny nubs growing at the bottom.
“Ummm, excuse me. Do you mind if we take a picture in your car?” A female voice called from behind. I spun around and opened my mouth to tell them hell naw, but Nash’s response came out first.
“Yeah, man, come on, I’ll take the pictures,” Nash confirmed, then looked up at me before backing away towards them. “They are my cousins. We’ll make sure not to break anything in your precious car.”
My eyes turned into slits. “Y’all don’t fuck my shit up! If you do, that’s Nash’s ass!” I yelled.
“Come on with all that cussin’ while you have my baby,” Nariyah complained, waddling her ass over to us. She was dressed as Daphne, with an orange wig to match. Her baby bump was prominent in the purple and lilac dress. They didn’t waste any time, and we were patiently awaiting the arrival of their third child.
“I’m sorry, Mama, you just don’t know your brother like that yet,” I apologized to Nova.
I heard my door close, and I glanced over at the whip. They were done taking pictures, and Nash was jogging back over to us.
“Thank you!” They bubbled, walking past us back towards the crib.
“Rashawn, my cousins are single. Give one of them a reason to move to Florida so I can have both of them here,” Nariyah urged. They looked like they were in their mid twenties and were dressed as Wilma and Betty fromThe Flintstones. Definitely beautiful women, but my heart was already taken.
“Naw, I’m straight,” I declined.
“Yeah, hesuuuuuuperstraight,” Nash added.
In a matter of seconds, I passed Nova to Essex and wrapped Nash’s tall ass up in a headlock. “Man, stop, Unc. I was just playing!” He screeched beneath my grasp, his arms squirming upwards while his sneakers scraped the ground.
“You tall, but it won’t be shit for me to break yo’ ass in half, jit,” I whispered.
“Come on, Unc. I was just playing,” he chuckled.
“Okay, Rashawn, let my baby up,” Nariyah chortled.
Nova was clapping and giggling, ready to see me whoop his ass.
“How you laughing, ma? I couldn’t breathe. And Essex, you just leaned against the car watching!” Nash panted. “Forget y’all, I see who side y’all taking. I’m going to see what Grammy cooking.”
“Yeah, beat it, Nash!” I joked.
“Nash, tell the younger kids who want to come, we are about to leave!” Nariyah called behind them.
“Come on, Goddy, you ready to go trick or treating?” I asked Nova with outstretched arms.
She squealed and blew spit bubbles while I took her from her dad’s grasp. My phone rang in my pocket, and I slowly pulled it out. Shay flashed across the screen, short for Marshay, Elise’s middle name. I bounced Nova with one arm and answered my phone with my free hand. Nova grabbed for the phone, gigglingthe entire time. I walked away from Nariyah and Essex to ensure they couldn’t hear her voice.
“Hello.”
“Rashawn,”Elise sniffled. “I… I need… need you right now.”
“What’s the matter bae? Where you at? You safe?”I quizzed, on high alert.
“I’m safe, but I can’t get my emotions together to drive home. I been trying.”
“Alright, I got your location. I’m on my way,”I assured her.
“Okay. I’ll see you when you get here,”she replied.
