For two months, he was there every day. He played a part in feeding his son, changing him, bathing him. When Elana started back braiding hair, when her mom had something to do, Diric would come through and make sure his son was straight while Elana got to the money. Life was good until one day around noon, his world changed forever. He had just stepped out of the barbershop when Elana called him screaming and crying. She was so hysterical that he couldn’t even make out what she was saying. It took a neighbor getting on the phone and telling Diric that the ambulance had arrived. Elana went to get Kash out of his crib and found that he wasn’t breathing.
Diric was lost, and he was confused. How was his lil’ man just not breathing? He had been fine earlier that morning. Fora brief moment, he wondered if it was something that Elana did, but he quickly scratched that. She was a good mother, and she loved her son. She wouldn’t even let her friends and family hold Kash if they smelled like weed or cigarettes. Just like he didn’t play ‘bout Kash, she didn’t either. Diric choked back tears as he drove towards the hospital. There had to be some mistake. This wasn’t right. Ain’t no way in hell this was right.
It took the doctor explaining to them that sometimes, babies just stop breathing in their sleep. There was no real explanation, and it happened way too often. That was it? His son simply stopped breathing? His mom was there, and Elana’s mom was there, and they were comforting her. Diric walked out to his car, slammed the door, and broke down. He only got to be with his son for two fuckin’ months. If God was gon’ take him after two months, why even let them have him? The shit wasn’t fair. Diric cried until he couldn’t cry anymore. He turned his phone off, and he went straight to the liquor store.
All Elana did was cry. He couldn’t even comfort her because every time he went home, her friends and family were there. So, he stopped going home. Sometimes, he would sleep at the trap, he would get a hotel room, or he would stay with other women. Him and Elana’s relationship went to shit. Diric’s temper was out of control. A nigga bumped into him in the corner store and before he could say excuse me, Diric had beaten him to a bloody pulp. That’s how it was for months. She walked around sad, and he walked around mad at the world. Their relationship slowly withered away. That’s why Diric was confused one night when she made a move on him. They had sex, but that wasn’t the shocker. He knew she wasn’t on birth control, but she requested that he didn’t pull out. It had only been three months since Kash passed.
Diric was caught up in the moment, so he didn’t pull out, but he questioned her about it afterwards. “You went and got on birth control?” he asked with furrowed brows.
“No. But, I want another baby.”
Confused, he continued to ask questions. “What you mean you want another baby, Elana? It’s only been three months. You ready to go through a pregnancy and all that again?”
“Yes. How long do I have to wait?”
“I don’t know how long you have to wait, but I’m still grieving my son. I’m not just gon’ get you pregnant again like another baby will make this shit go away. Another baby won’t replace Kash.”
“I didn’t say another baby would replace him. I know he can’t be replaced. That doesn’t mean I don’t want another baby. I only got to be a mother for two months!”
“I’m not doing this.” Diric stood up and began getting dressed.
He couldn’t tell her how to feel, but he didn’t want another baby at the moment. He loved Kash with everything in him, and he wasn’t ready to fall in love that deep all over again. All the nights that his mother and his grandmother fussed. Worried about him and prayed for him. He finally saw how it felt to be scared for another human. He was willing to do whatever it took to protect Kash from other people, but he couldn’t protect him from fate, and that shit hurt. He didn’t have the energy to put into another pregnancy. Elana’s hormones were over the place, but he dealt with her mood swings because his son was the bigger picture. He wasn’t in the frame of mind to do that shit again. Her being pregnant again wouldn’t suddenly make his hurt go away.
Diric left the house and the next time he went back, it was to get his things. He was no longer interested in being in arelationship. All he wanted to do was smoke, drink, and get money.
Diric’s anger issues had gotten a little better over the years but not by much. He closed his eyes when he pictured how he choked Raven. He was out of pocket for that shit, but she had pissed him off. That wasn’t an excuse though. Diric let out a small sigh and picked his phone up from the cupholder. He’d see if Omnique still wanted the dick. That would distract him.
CHAPTER 23
“You sure yougot everything you need to stay overnight?” Yohana asked Kari. She was getting ready to drop him off at his grandmother’s house, so he could go see his father the next day.
“Yeah. I do.”
“You excited to see your dad?” Yohana was still trying to feel Kari out. He hadn’t said too much about Zone since he found out that his father was in prison for drugs and that he was a snitch. Yohana was thinking about putting him in therapy. He’d been staying busy with his games and playing sports with friends, but she wanted him to talk about how he felt. Every time she asked, he said he was fine.
“I guess,” he mumbled.
“I know he misses you. You ready for our beach trip next week?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Good. When you come back, we can go shopping and get some vacation things. Okay, go get your stuff, so we can go.”
Kari went to get his bag, and she checked her phone. Yohana smiled at a text message from Canyon. He was confirming that they were meeting up to get massages. Each day, Yohana’s like for Canyon deepened. He continued to be in his own lane whenit came to dating and courting her. He had even asked her to come look at houses with him. He revealed he gave Cheyenne the house and 1.5 million dollars. Yohana thought that was fair. She dropped Kari off and made her way to Massage Envy. She parked in the parking garage and as she crossed the street, she saw Canyon with his head down texting on his phone. Damn he looked good. Yohana couldn’t get enough of him and anytime she was in his presence, she wanted to have sex with him. He felt the same way. They had stimulating conversation and were getting to know each other on a deeper level, but they still had sex every chance they got.
He didn’t look up until she was right on him and when he noticed her, the brightest smile graced his face. “Damn you look good. As always.” He kissed her, and a chill ran down her spine. The things that he did to her were insane.
“Thank you.”
They checked in and then got couple’s massages. When they were done, Yohana felt so good and relaxed. Her and Kari were going on a three-day vacation to the beach, and that was three days she wouldn’t see Canyon. She wanted to go back to his hotel room or her house and fuck his brains out. Any time she was around Canyon, she got unbelievably horny. Yohana stood off to the side and waited while he paid for the service. On their way out the door, Canyon stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted Cheyenne coming in. Large Gucci frames covered her face, but she saw Canyon and his companion very clear.
“Oh,” she smiled. “This is who you left me for?”
Canyon shook his head. “Cheyenne, we’re not doing this.”
She looked from him to Yohana and though she was still smiling on the outside, on the inside, her heart was breaking. “Oh trust me when I tell you, I’m going to keep it cute. Fucking with your last mistress took six years of my life from me.” She looked over at Yohana. “I don’t know if you know my storysweetie but know this, Canyon doesn’t know how to be faithful. One woman will never be enough for him. Just don’t get too attached to him because if he can’t do shit else, he can break a bitch’s heart,” she stated. “I did six years in prison and when I came home, he wasted no time ditching me. For you it seems.”
She walked off leaving Canyon pissed and Yohana speechless. They stepped outside, and Canyon peered at her. “Don’t listen to that shit. I have been honest and told you everything about me and Cheyenne. I admitted that I cheated, and I told you I learned my lesson from that. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
