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My favorite.

That woman used to have me leaving meetings early whenever she called and told me she was making salmon croquettes, rice, and biscuits. I didn’t give a damn what business I was handling… somebody else could finish it. If Lakelyn was at home cooking one of my favorite meals, I was going home to eat.

The first patty hit the skillet with a loud sizzle, and a few seconds later, she started humming softly to herself.

I missed that too.

I missed all the little shit I never thought twice about when I was alive.

Her humming while she cooked.

The way she fussed when I came into the kitchen stealing pieces of food before dinner was finished.

Her slapping my hand away from the stove and telling me to get my greedy ass out because I wasn’t helping.

I would’ve given damn near anything to hear her tell me that again.

Soon enough, though.

After what happened with Chalis earlier, I knew whatever tied me to Lakelyn was getting stronger too.

Speaking of that bitch-ass nigga... just thinking about him standing on my porch had irritation crawling through me all over again.

I’d been upstairs when I heard his voice carrying through the foyer, and I recognized it immediately. Some mothafuckas you could go an entire lifetime without hearing and still remember exactly why you couldn’t stand them.

Chalis was one of them.

By the time I made it downstairs, he was standing on my porch licking his fucking lips at Lakelyn.

I wanted to snatch his tongue clean out of his mouth.

Then he started talking about how good she looked, how her ass had gotten thicker, asking whether she had a man like he wasn’t standing on that man’s property.

I just stood there thinking, Nigga, read the room. Better yet, read the fucking deed.

Chalis had always been the kind of nigga who believed persistence could eventually turn a no into a yes. He couldn’t accept rejection, couldn’t accept being replaced, and damn sure never got over the fact that Lakelyn had chosen me.

Watching her shut his ass down had almost been entertaining, especially when he started talking about how much he had changed and how he wasn’t the same man anymore.

Congratulations, my nigga. Now change your location.

The longer he stood there, though, the less funny it became. Then he started asking questions about Kaidence, and every trace of amusement left me.

Nah.

He could embarrass himself over Lakelyn all he wanted, but he wasn’t about to stand on my porch getting curious about my son.

I moved closer.

The next time Chalis opened his mouth, I wrapped my hand around his throat. Not hard enough to do any real damage, just enough to make his words disappear somewhere between his chest and his mouth.

His eyes widened as he started coughing.

Thinking back on it, I should’ve laughed in his face and asked:

What’s wrong, my nigga? Caspian got your throat?

Lakelyn asked if he was okay, so I loosened my grip.