Raven stood up and stretched. “Go ‘head and take him to the bathroom, baby.”
I stood up.
“Lazy ass. You aint doing nothing,” Red spoke up. “Why you can’t take him?”
Raven frowned. “Because parenting don’t have a gender. And when Jahrein is home, he’s a active participant.”
“Girl, please." Red waved off. “That only makes sense in your head. I keep telling you that my son goes above and beyond. And that’s why Ion be wanting to hear it when you get in them feelings, and act like he’s the worst thing to happen to you.”
“Red, don’t go there,” Raven warned, never needing my help to straighten my mama out. I didn’t speak up, because Red would cross several boundaries, especially when Ray-Ray wasn’t around, or he'd pissed her off. I was keen enough not to take my mama’s advice or let her impart her world views on me. Because they were skewed and was probably the biggest reason that she was constantly unhappy in her own situation.
According to Red, Raven had unrealistic expectations and that was the root of our problems. As a man, I showed up for my kids and provided financially in ways that Red had never experienced. So, she couldn’t identify with Raven always taking issue with the otherbitches bothering us. Nor did she get why Raven had all these boundaries and things that weren’t acceptable to her. Regardless of me being heavy in the streets, she still wanted me to be at home by a certain hour. I had to answer my phone whenever I was away from home. And I definitely had to help with the kids. And that didn’t mean being a part of the superficial part of parenting. Nah. I had to help with it all, down to homework and potty training. And Raven would clown my ass whenever I fell short.
Most people didn’t know this about us, but me and Raven didn’t just fuck and fight. We literally talked about what we wanted and planned shit accordingly. We were super aware of our parents’ flaws, and were actively trying to break generational curses. Because my sons were going to be better versions of me. Our daughters were going to have the daddy and mama that Raven never had. And that all started with the foundation.
Now, naturally, with me and Raven being so young, we were bound to fuck up. And sometimes the world and its chaos would seep into our home. But we were still trying, and I never adapted that ‘at least’ mentality that Red was wielding. She was preaching for Raven to accept anything because at least I was a good daddy. At least I was involved. At least I cared.
Raven called that the bare minimum, and I agreed. So, even when me and Raven were at odds, I didn’t allow outsiders to get in my head, and convince me that Raven was being ungrateful. Because I’d seen enough of the world to know that if I hadn’t been willing to do all those things for her, then somebody else would’ve, gladly.
Baby was special and unfortunately my own mama didn’t possess that aura, so she couldn’t relate. Nor did she understand the concept of some women having higher standards.
“Cause I don’t go to your house, trying to tell you how to run things. We’re the king and queen of this castle. So, just come through, visit, and observe. Otherwise, I got this,” Raven established.
Red lifted her hands in surrender. “Okay, it’s your world,QueenRaven. I’ma mind my business.”
Smirking, I scooped up Jahrae to take him to the bathroom, deciding that I’d let the women have that conversation.
>>>>>
“Okay, now, you’re over doing it, Jah,” Raven claimed, as we stepped into our hotel suite.
“Why you say that?” I lightly chuckled, while ensuring that the doors were locked behind us.
“Cause. You already had them decorate the house. And now this.” She glanced around the room, as it was professionally decorated in red, white, and silver.
“This is light work, girl. I keep telling you, get adjusted to the elevation. We gon do everything big, and I’ma always do the most ‘bout you.”
She turned around and gazed up at me. “So, you saying that I can have anything I want?”
“Anything.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “Then I want your undying love. No matter what we go through. I want you to love me.”
I gulped. “That was random. But you got it.”
“It really wasn’t random. I just want you to know that all these extravagant gifts are nice, but what I need from you is something that money can’t buy. I feel thebest when I don’t have to question you. When I can say and feel that you’re mine. And not for the world.”
“I am yours, and always will be,” I swore.
“But these bitches always swear otherwise,” she reminded me.
I sighed, trying not to become frustrated, knowing that I’d played a part in those hoes having something to gossip about. I had cheated…a lot. In the past. Especially when we was still living with Red and Ray-Ray. Mostly because I thought that I could.
Shit, her own daddy was my mentor, and he never tripped about me cheating on his daughter. We’d fucked hoes together. But I was young and dumb then. I think that my first wakeup call was when Raven disappeared when she was big pregnant with Jhyrah. Realizing that all while I was out hustling and fucking Melissa for the hell of it, Khalil’s bitch ass had slid in, and fucked my gal.
Talk about being sick. Even after Raven was back at home safely, I couldn’t eat or sleep for days. I was stressing and paranoid, thinking that everybody was fucking my bitch.
Every day, I wanted to smell her pussy, if she’d leave the house. If she’d talk on the phone, then I’d listen in on another phone in the house. I was checking my boys for looking at her too long. Then when niggas confirmed that Raven was seen getting out of Khalil’s car, I lost it.
