“I got you, lil’ man.”
“Rayzor, you don’t need to do that.”
“It’s cool. I got you when I get done cooking, aiight?”
“Yes.” Levi took off through the yard to the other kids, telling them that Rayzor was joining them soon. They were too damn excited. All I could do was shake my head.
“You gotta stop doing that. It’s time to relax. I thought you could turn work off.”
“You think I’m working play boxing with lil’ man?” He smiled.
“You already spoil him. I don’t wanna make that a habit.”
“You know he asked a while back if I was gon’ be his daddy?”
I gasped with my hands over my mouth.
“No, he didn’t.”
“Real shit when I took him to school. It fucked me up too.”
“What did you say?”
“I mean, what could I say, E? I told him he had a daddy.”
“You’re more a father to him he’s ever been.”
“And that’s why I’m going out there to playbox with my lil’ nigga.”
“Rayzor.”
“This our lil’ family.”
I was confused by his words and how we got here.
“Don’t do that, Rayzor.”
“Don’t do what? It’s already being done. That nigga ain’t stepping up. I’m ya man, right?” He leaned in.
“Right?”
“Yes.” I smiled.
“Okay then.” He kissed my lips. “You’ve been handling shit on your own long enough. These kids deserve a father figure. Shit, I wish I had this opportunity, but you know how that goes with Maleek.”
“I don’t want you taking on that responsibility.”
“What’s hard about being a family man? If a nigga can’t give a roof, time, love and understanding to his family then shit, he don’t need a family.”
“Love?” Was all I heard. My heart thumped rapidly. My hands shook a bit. I barely was able to look him in the eyes.
“Yeah, love.” He paused. “You think I’m taking on all this and don’t love you?”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“Love don’t have a timeframe. Shit, if we being real, I might’ve loved yo’ ass in the backseat of that truck.”
“Rayzor, don’t say anything you don’t mean.”
