“They know what’s up.” Maleek laughed.
“They don’t bother you because you know what to do too,” Rayzor responded.
“What made you get into boxing?” I asked.
“Our pops was a boxer,” Rayzor explained.
“Was?” I questioned, trying not to sound insensitive.
“Yeah.” He paused. “He died some years back.”
“Oh, I’m sorry for asking.”
“Nah. It’s cool.”
“Levi, what you want to eat, lil’ man?” Rayzor asked.
I smiled as he gave my son attention.
Rayzor’s demeanor was calming, much different than in the ring and club, or even with me.
Levi’s eyes lit up as he touched every item he saw.
“Mac and Cheese and this… and this… oh, and this…” Levi pointed.
“You gon’ get all that?” Rayzor chuckled.
“Yes,” Levi laughed.
“Boy, what is all that?” I asked, feeling ashamed.
A new waiter came over.
“How are we today?”
“Ladies first,” Rayzor stated. “We’re ready to order.”
The kids ordered damn near everything on the menu. I tried stopping both of mine, but Rayzor told them to get whatever they wanted, and they weren’t sparing him. I felt embarrassed like I wasn’t feeding them at home.
Rayzor caught my worry across the table and gave me a nod to relax. I let out a small exhale, sulking deeper into the seat, allowing myself to feel comfortable.
And for the first time in a long time, I almost did.
“And my bad about Miami. Shit, I thought that’s what you wanted,” he apologized.
“It’s fine.”
“If it was, you wouldn’t have brought it up. Next time though, I’ll sleep in it.”
“Boy, please. It won’t be a next time.”
He subtly chuckled.
“It’s always a next time, pretty teeth.” He winked.
My stomach flipped because, somewhere in the back of my mind, I believed it although I didn’t want to.
Erin was with her friend for the weekend, so it was Levi and I. At the crack of dawn, he was jumping on my bed asking for breakfast. Once I got myself together, I fixed my baby his superman pancakes with sausage links and fruit.
