“You’re right, but I also know how other people are, and a lot of them will do the most to try and remain on TV, and they have one time to come with lies, bullshit rumors, or to simply play in my lady’s face, and it’s going to be an issue.”
“I feel you on that.”
Isaac didn’t play about his wife. When it came to athletes cheating and doing the most outside their marriages, that wasn’t him. Isaac would curse a chick out for flirting with him before he flirted back. London was sweet as hell and a genuine person. I respected the way Isaac handled her. He had a good one for real.
“But back to Brion.” Isaac shifted in his seat and leaned forward like shit was about to get good. “She does have three kids.”
I simply stared. Probably gawked at him like he had two heads, but either he was joking, or maybe he had me fucked up. I didn’t discriminate against women with kids but got damn. I didn’t even have one, and she already had three?
When Isaac saw that I wasn’t going to respond, he laughed. “Three is a lot but to be fair, she does have triplets. I can’t tell you how many times she’s been pregnant, but she’s only given birth once. They’re all girls. She was with their father for seven years, and she just found out he cheated and left him.”
“Well got damn do you know her blood type too?”
“I had to get all the facts if I was going to try and put you on. I almost said fuck it when London told me she had three kids, but I mean, if she’d hadn’t given birth to multiples, she’d technically only have one. You can’t hold that against her. They all have the same father, and she was with him for seven years, so you know she’s not a bop.”
After finishing off my beer, I covered my mouth and released a small burp. “I’m not mad at triplets but seven years in a relationship, and itjustended?” I stroked my chin. That’s a red flag for sure. She’s hurt and more than likely guarded. Or she’s looking for a rebound, and I don’t like that idea either.”
“Aight, even if she is guarded that gives you time to get to know her with no expectations on either end. If she turns out to be someone you feel like you can vibe with, then you do what you gotta do to make her put her guard down.”
“Fuck is you some kinda relationship, match maker guru?” I laughed.
“I just want you with a good woman my G. You saw when she came in the kitchen. Shorty wouldn’t even look any of us in the eyes. Maybe she was self-conscious about the way she looked, but she was still bad. It’s just rare that a woman walks into a room that has several pro-athletes inside, and her eyes doesn’t light up with dollar signs.”
“You’re right about that for sure. I don’t know though,” I was still skeptical.
“Tell you what, my niece is having her birthday party at my house. London is going to invite her and tell her she can bring the girls. You show up, and if you hit it off you hit it off.”
With a sigh, I shook my head. “Something tells me if I don’t show up, you’re not going to leave this alone.”
“You know me well, brother.”
I appreciated Isaac for wanting me with a good woman even if he was being slightly pushy. He never really got to experience the world of thots because even though he and London weren’t together his entire four years in college, they met his senior year. She had already graduated and had just broken up with her rapper boyfriend because he didn’t like the fact that she had gotten a job as a publicist. He was the one doing all the dirt, and he was insecure. He didn’t want London having the free time to follow him while he went on the road, but he didn’t want her having wealthy, handsome, single clients either.
London was against dating an athlete, and there was a great chance that Isaac was going to make it to the pros. He pursued her for almost six months before she finally gave in but once she did, they became inseparable. She stopped working a year ago by choice but the first few years that they were together, London went super hard. She was making her own money, paying for her own trips, buying her own bags, and shoes and even got an investment property. Not once in two years did she ask Isaac to buy her anything. In fact, when he wanted to surprise her and buy her something nice, he had to check and make sure she hadn’t already purchased it for herself.
Isaac had lucked up with London, so maybe his discernment was on point when it came to women. Either way, I wasn’t going to count Brion all the way out, but that was one match that I wasn’t sure would work.
CHAPTER 6
BRION
My heart achedwhen I walked into my parents’ living room and saw that Sky had fallen asleep. Serenity and Star were engrossed in a television show. My babies didn’t even realize that they’d been waiting for two hours, and their bitch of a father still hadn’t shown up. Josie tossed a knowing look my way because she knew I wanted to go off. I was absolutely beginning to despise Corey. This was the second time he stood my daughters up, and he wasn’t about to keep playing in their faces. I wanted so badly to go to his shop and curse him out that there were tears in my eyes, but I refused to give him the energy.
“Pool party,” Josie mouthed.
It was always up to me to clean up Corey’s messes. The last time I’d done London’s makeup, she invited me and the girls to Isaac’s niece’s party at their home. I told her that the girls were supposed to go with their father. For that reason, I didn’t even mention the party to the girls, but it looked like once again, I would have to save the day.
“Girls, I’m not sure daddy is going to make it. He may have gotten caught up at work, but I can take you to a pool party if you want to go,” my tone was hopeful. I wouldn’t be able to take the tears and tantrums. I wanted to have my own little tantrum.
Serenity’s beads clanked as her head whipped in my direction. “Pool party? Yes, I want to go,” her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Meanwhile, Star’s bottom lip poked out. “Why does daddy always have to work? Why can’t we all just go home and wait for him to get off?” her face contorted with a frown. My child was pissed and per usual, she was pissed at the wrong one. It was my fault for not taking them home but not Corey’s fault for being a cheating, lying, irresponsible, bitch boy. Thank God for Josie because she took over for me.
“Star, remember your mommy told you that her and daddy didn’t want to live together anymore? And that’s okay. They both still love you, and you can spend time with them both even if they don’t live together. Your mommy can’t control that your daddy has to work all the time. Maybe that’s something you can talk to him about. Let him know you miss him and want him to pick you up more. Okay?” her tone was extremely loving and patient, and I wanted to hug her.
Star was still pouting, but she nodded.
“I’m going to go pack your bathing suits. You guys can swim and have cake. It’ll be super fun, I promise.”
