Page 6 of More to Love

It’s weird to say but that nigga was my soulmate. He got me in ways others didn’t and knew what I could and couldn’t handle. He was the only family I had left besides my grandfather, so I kept him close.

Pulling into the parking lot, I wore the biggest smile on my face when my eyes locked in on her. She was standing on the curb waiting for me. I waited patiently as the other cars moved at a fast pace. I was anxious to get my baby girl. The door opened and I was greeted with the most lovable greeting.

“Daddy! I missed you so much!” Her tiny arms were thrown around my neck and a small kiss was placed on my cheek.

“I missed you, too, Princess. How was school today?” I asked pulling off after she fastened her seatbelt.

“Great. I helped make fruit cups and pass them out. Ms. Grinds said I was her favorite student.”

“Oh yeah? I can see why. You love to help others, Princess.”

“I wasn’t going to give Cavion any because he pulled on my hair yesterday. I told him he better not let me pass out snacks ’cause he wasn’t getting any but Ms. Grinds said I had to.”

I laughed at the story she was telling. She was a handful just like her mother but had more genuineness. This baby was too grown for her own good.

Akeera wasn’t biologically mine, but you couldn’t tell me she didn’t belong to me. I’d been raising this little girl since she was ten months old. All she knew was me and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Her features trickled down from her mother, so she was a gorgeous little girl. However, she got her mannerisms and kindness from me, as well as holding a grudge.

“That’s not nice baby. You can’t mistreat folk.”

“I know Daddy, but he’s always mean to me.”

“I think he has a crush on you, Princess. Boys are always mean to the girls they like.”

I immediately checked her reflection in the mirror to see her face screwed up in a disgust expression. That made me belch a hearty laugh. She was absolutely grossed out by my words.

“That’s nasty Daddy.”

“Yes, it is baby. I’m glad you think that.”

The conversation went on for the next ten minutes with her telling me how she wanted to make treat bags for her class just because. She was always finding ways to make me come up to the schoolhouse. She wasn’t only the teacher’s favorite, but the kids enjoyed her as well. She provided pizza and other goods often.

We pulled up to our spot Sweet Milk shortly after. Our dates were some of the bests I’d been on. She gave me ongoing conversation and I cherished the time we put in together. She was also the only female in my life that wanted to spend time with me.

When it came to Aviana, she slacked tremendously in being a lover and a mother. When we first got together, she played her part and played it well. I wouldn’t dare look at another woman but now I was to the point where I was questioning if being with another woman would be easier than faking the funk with her.

The only reason I hadn’t given her the walking papers I keep wanting to draft is because of this beautiful little girl attached to my hip. She deserved stability in so many ways. This was a life I gave her that I knew her mother couldn’t uphold. I didn’t want to change that for her.

I also felt like Aviana would eventually realize what she had and mature. I loved my woman but being her doormat would never pass in my book. I let certain things slide because I was focusing on my business right now but that didn’t mean I wasn’t taking notes.

“Daddy, can we get Mommy something too? I think she’ll like one.”

Akeera loved her mother to death and tried to get her attention often. Too often for my liking and that was one thing that was beginning to make me pull away from Avi. I didn’t like the way my baby was begging. That didn’t sit right with me not one bit.

“Sure, Princess. Let’s eat ours first and then we can grab one for Mommy.”

She nodded and we riddled off our order once it was our turn in line. We took our time eating and putting in quality time. I took advantage of things like this because Avi was unpredictable, so I had no choice but to be greedy. Akeera could be snatched from me anytime her mother got ready, and I couldn’t say a word behind it.

Four years were going down the drain and I was trying my best to save it. Aviana wasn’t making it any easier for me though. She was definitely on borrowed time with me. I was a wealthy man and didn’t need a woman for anything other than their love and genuineness. As a man that gave her the world, I wasn’t getting any reciprocation in return. I knew me and the line she was walking was getting thinner and thinner.

By the time we made it home, we were running up on five in the afternoon. In my eyes, dinner was supposed to be started, if not already done. However, that was never the case in this house. Meals quit getting made damn near a year ago.

I shook my head as we walked further into the house. She wasn’t even there to greet me after a long day at work. She was running up a bag with bread she didn’t put a dime to.

“Princess, go get ready for your bath while I order us some food. Do you want anything in particular?”

“Chinese!” she shouted as she walked up the stairs.

I went to the kitchen to fetch the Chinese menu out the drawer so I could go ahead and have what we wanted together before I dialed. As I looked over the menu, I heard the front door open and close with the noise of bags bumping together. I could put everything I had in my bank account on the fact that nothing she had in tow was for me or Akeera.