“Alright. So…name one.”
She twirled her straw, thinking. “I like to read. I like helpin’ and carin’ for people, that’s why I became a nurse. I… like simple things.”
Kenji nodded, his gaze steady. “I can respect that. Simple is underrated. People think because I’m in the league, I need the noise. But I’d rather be chilling on the porch than in the spotlight any day.”
Tasha studied him for a moment, admiring his honesty. Ever since she separated from Juelz, she’d sworn off dating. She decided she was done with feeling like she was pouring more into others than herself. But there was something different about Kenji. Something she couldn’t quite name yet, but it sat inthe center of her chest every time he looked at her like she was a person, not a burden.
An hour passed, and they were still talking, easy stuff, everyday stuff, the type of conversation that makes time move faster without either person noticing.
She was in the middle of laughing at a story about his rookie year when they were interrupted.
“Excuse me… I’m sorry to interrupt…”
Both of them looked up to see a young kid, maybe like ten or eleven, holding a phone in one hand and a napkin in the other, nervous as hell but trying to play it cool.
“Could you sign this napkin for me, please?”
Kenji smiled. “Sure, little man.”
“Thank you so much! I’m a big fan. I watch you on TV with my dad all the time.”
Tasha’s heart smiled as she rested her head on her interlocked fingers, watching the interaction. This was a different side of him she was seeing.
Kenji took the pen from the young kid, smiling. “I got you.” He placed the napkin on the table and signed it in one quick motion, then stood up. “Come on, let’s take this picture.”
The kid was all smiles as he scrolled to the phone camera. “Bet!”
They snapped a quick picture, the kid thanking him like three times before finally walking back to his parents. Kenji sat back down like it was nothing.
“Sitting on the porch, huh?” Tasha asked, throwing his words back at him. “It seems to me that you do enjoy this life.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t want to let little man down.”
Tasha smiled, rolling her eyes. “Yeah… yeah, sure.”
She took a bite of her food, and then all of a sudden she felt a shadow standing over the table, the familiar scent hitting her nose before she even saw the face.
“Say, man, what the fuck you got goin’ on, Tasha?”
Her whole body froze. The fork slipped out of her hand and clinked against the plate.
Kenji stood up fast, throwing his napkin back on the table. “Tasha? Do you know him?”
Juelz didn’t give him the floor. “Aye, want you mind yo muthafuckin’ business and get the fuck on.”
Tasha’s breath hitched. The whole restaurant went silent. Kenji’s jaw flexed, hands balled at his sides, but he didn’t say anything. He just stared at Juelz with this cold, steady look like he was deciding if this was worth catching a case over or featuring in the headlines.
Tasha's blood boiled. “Juelz, what the hell are you doin’ here?—”
“Fuck that! Why you out with this clown is the betta question?” He tucked his hands under his arm pits. “This what the fuck we doin’? Huh, Tasha? This what we on?”
Tasha stood up, her chair screeching against the floor. She stepped into his space, with her arms folded. “I thought I left you with Shyann’s triflin’ ass.” She rolled her neck. “So how come you ain’t with her?”
Juelz frowned, clapping his hands. “Tasha! Ion fuck with that bitch. I been tryna tell you that from the jump, but you not listenin’.” He grabbed at her earlobe. “I did all that for you. To protect yo ass and them muthafuckin’ license.”
Tasha swatted at his hand, removing it from her ear. Kenji stood slowly this time, palms flat against the table, steady but ready. “Yo, my man…you need to chill talking to her like that.”
Juelz reached for Kenji so fast, jacking him up by his shirt. “Shut. The. Fuck. Up. This ain’t got shit to do witchu.” He released Kenji’s shirt, pushing Kenji back a little, causing him to stumble. “Mind your muthafuckin’ business before I punch you in yo shit.”
