“Star.”
London placed one hand on her chest. “I’m in love.”
“Remember, all three were in my stomach at the same time,” I reminded London making her laugh.
“I will keep that it mind, but they almost make it look like it would be worth it. Hey Josie, boo. Since the season started, I’ve been slacking with class. How has it been?”
We followed London inside the house. “I’ve been slacking myself. I haven’t been in three weeks, but I’m going back next week. Most of the same cackling hens. You aren’t missing much.”
London led us through her den and over to the sliding glass doors. I could see children running around in the yard. There were a few in the pool, and there was also a large bouncy house in the yard along with a funnel cake stand and candy apple stand. There was a lady sitting under a tent painting the kids’ faces, and Isaac was standing in front of a large grill.
“Oh, this is nice,” I marveled. The girls were going to have the time of their lives and forget all about Corey for the rest of the day at least.
My heart fell into my ass when I saw the guy with the cornrows standing beside Isaac. They were engrossed in conversation, and he was holding a beer. There were about five men spread throughout the yard and five women. There were more kids than adults and everyone seemed to be doing their own thing. London showed me where the pool house was, so I went to help the girls change into their bathing suits. I was super comfortable with them getting in the pool because there was a lifeguard present and an instructor helping the kids that couldn’t swim. There were little life jackets and floatation devices as well.
“Fuck it must be nice to be rich. I mean, I do well for myself, but this is next level, and I like it.” Josie looked around the yard.
“Hell yeah,” I agreed. “Thank you.” Josie had fixed me a mixed drink of tequila and pineapple juice while I was in the pool house. “I pray the day comes when I can be successful enough to live how I want to live and give the girls a good life. I don’t even have to be rich. Just very very comfortable.”
“This must be the life.”
“Say you lived in this house with a super fine NFL player.” I paused to sip my drink. “He spoils you. You don’t have to work and have full access to the bank account, but he cheats. All the time. Like so many times you’ve lost count. You stay?”
Josie frowned. “Hell yes, I stay. A judge will give me the house more than likely especially if we have kids. I stay. Heleaves and continues to pay the mortgage. Sounds like a sweet plan to me.”
Laughing, I brought the cup to my lips and took another sip. “Maybe that’s where I messed up at. I had kids by a broke nigga. Well, I take that back. He’s not broke, but I’m not getting houses and millions to walk away from him.”
“You loved that raggedy ass man and even though you weren’t married, you had kids because you loved him and expected to be with him. You didn’t do anything wrong. He’s just a jerk like ninety-nine percent of men.”
My eyes darted over the yard in search of the girls. There were adults everywhere, but I still needed to be able to see all three of them at all times. I spotted them in the bouncy house, and I stood with a smile to go over and take pictures. By the time we left, I needed to be sober, so I downed my drink and prepared to go fix the last one. Which I did after taking a good thirty photos of the girls.
“Triplets, huh? That’s dope.”
I turned my head in the direction of the sexy rumble and almost poured too much tequila in my cup. The sexy guy with the cornrows was standing so close to me that I could see the tiny mole in the corner of his bottom lip. My God in heaven he was fine as fuck. For a second I lost my train of thought. He wasn’t wearing cologne but whatever kind of lotion, oil, beard cream, or whatever it was on his body or in his hair smelled amazing. I couldn’t even describe the aroma, but it was masculine with a hint of spice.
“Yeah, that’s what everyone says, and I guess it is dope. Except for the part where you have to carry all of them at once. And when they’re newborns not sleeping through the night and your boobs become a smilking station. And then they start walking at the same time, so that’s that.”
“Yeahhhh never mind,” he chuckled making me laugh.
“But they are extremely adorable.”
“That they are. My name is Hymn. And you are?”
I sipped my drink in an effort to calm my nerves. I’d heard London say his name that day in the kitchen, but he didn’t have to know that I remembered. “Hymn?”
“Yes, like a song.”
“Ohhh got it. That’s a dope name. My name is Brion”
“My mother had a thing with names. My sister is Divine, and then there’s my brother, Huncho. Yes, Huncho is on his birth certificate.”
“I bet he doesn’t run into too many people with the same name as him though.”
“Thank God.”
Hymn’s comment made me laugh, and I couldn’t believe how easy it was talking to him. He was intimidatingly handsome, but our conversation flowed with little to no effort. “You play football too?” I inquired. When he smirked, I knew the answer was yes. “I don’t watch sports,” I put my hands up in surrender.
“It’s cool. I’m not one of those guys that feels like everyone should know who I am. Yes, I play ball. Isaac and I are teammates. Would you like to come to a game?”
