“It’s all work and no play with you. Damn, you don’t want kids?” Blaise shifted uncomfortably before staring out at the water.
“I have everything I need in life.” Her answer was vague, but I accepted it.
“Well, it’s complete now that I’m back. First chance I get, I’m putting a baby in yo ass.”
“I don’t remember you being this chatty when we were in school.” I smacked her hard on the ass.
“Did you just call me a bitch?” We both fell out laughing and the shit just felt right.
I shook my head remembering how she played me during that conversation. Blaise knew exactly what she was doing. Me and shorty spent the night out there on the water vibing all night and she didn’t think I needed to know about my daughter. Going to my call log, I was about to do exactly what Flan told me not to do. Before I could hit send, Twin popped up on my screen. Answering it, I put it on speaker when I heard the knock on my door.
“Yeah, Twin.”
“So, you out there taking coochie? I raised you better than that I know.” I grabbed my keys and bag from the worker before closing the door. Scrolling to my contact, I messaged him and asked him if I could get a private plane out tonight. “I know you hear me talking to you lil takey takey.”
“Ma, chill out. I got too much shit on my mind.”
“You gone have more on it when I get my hands on you. I taught you better than to put your hands on women. You done lost all your mind behind that girl and I don’t like it.” Since he could get me out of here tonight, I grabbed my shit and headed out the door.
“Say man, if you not gone try to find out what happened, I don’t have anything to say.”
“Son, they released the footage. This is not a ‘your word against hers’ kind of situation. Why would you put your hands on her like that? You know I raised you better than that.”
“Twin, we have a five year old daughter and she never told me.” The line went silent. I put my stuff in the trunk, climbed in the car and she was still quiet. “You still there?”
“Yeah, I’m watching the video again.” I drove off and headed towards the hanger while she remained quiet.
“Did you hear what I said to you?”
“Yes, son! I heard your slow ass. I was watching the video again because I’m trying to figure out why that’s all you did. I taught you better than that. You should have given her an uppercut that sent her ass to me, so I could stomp her out.”
“Ma, you can barely walk to go piss. How you gone fight? She was gone tear yo ass up.”
“I was gone roll her ass over with my chair.” We both laughed, but you could tell from the tone we were very aware that this wasn’t funny. “Did you get to see her? What does she look like?”
“She looks like Brianna with the berry mark. She was so fucking beautiful ma. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her though. All I have is that image of her opening the door. Why would she do that to me?”
“I don’t know son, but you will get to see her. We just have to do it like them white people. We’re going through the courts.” I talked to her until I got to the hanger and told her I’ll see her tomorrow and hung up. When I got on the plane, I didn’t even wait for takeoff before I closed my eyes and went to sleep. A nigga was exhausted.
****
When I pulled up at the house, I shook my head. It was a million reporters on my lawn. It was no way around it, so I pulled into the driveway. Keeping my head down, I ignored the million questions and the cameras in my face. Going in the house, I locked the door and headed straight to the bar. Noticing movement, my head whipped around in the direction it came from. Seeing Landon there, I relaxed. If one of those reporters got in my house, they were about to lose their life tonight.
“I know what they are saying on the news is not true. I don’t need you to tell me what happened, I just felt you could use a friend right now.” I nodded before downing my drink.
“You hungry?”
“You know it.” We laughed as we headed to the game room. Grabbing my phone, I placed us both an order.
24-GARRETT JOHNSON
“Are you dumb? Why would you bring him to our house?” I charged in the door going off on Blaise. Mila looked up at me and began covering her ears.
“Daddy, stop yelling. I don’t want to hear that.”
“Then go to your room. Grown ups are talking right now.” Blaise’s head whipped around hard and fast.
“I’m going to need you to bring it down quick.”
