Page 9 of Standing In The Sun
Ahvi shut the door slowly, back pressed to it as she stared at the little cupcake still flickering on the floor.
The candle had burned down to a stub.
Kamari squealed from his chair, clapping his hands like everything was fine.
Her throat tightened and her eyes stung. But she wouldn’t cry…not in front of him, and not today.
She walked back over, blew out the candle, and picked him up with shaking arms.
“It’s okay,” she whispered into his hair. “We gon’ be alright.”
But her voice cracked, just a little.
And Kamari, like he understood more than he should, buried his face into her shoulder.
* * *
Ahvi rolled her eyes watching Dro take his time walking over to her car like she wasn’t on a time crunch. Time was money and she couldn’t waste either. The sun hit his bare yellow skin, making the tattoos on his shirtless body glisten.
Summer was in full swing in Jade City. The neighborhood was bustling with children happy to be out of school and dope boys ‘nickel and dime’ hustling for a fresh outfit to go out in.
Rolling her window down, she huffed. “Dro, come on, it’s hot as hell out here.”
Dro smiled, showing off his white teeth. “You need to get some air in this hoe,” he laughed, leaning down into the car. “What’s up, baby mama?’
“Fuck all that.” Ahvi waved him off. “You got the money so I can get him some pampers?”
As soon as he kissed his teeth, she knew he was about to be on some bullshit.
“Look…”
“I don’t wanna hear your excuses, Dro. I asked you was you gon’ be able to do it and you told me ‘yes’. So, here I am to collect.”
“You can’t collect something I ain’t got, Ahvi.”
“The fuck you out here all day and night for then? I ain’t make Kamari by myself yet I’m the only one providing for him. How that shit sound?” Ahvi was at her wits end when it came to Dro. Looking in his face, she didn’t see the boy with dreams staring back at her anymore. All she saw was a man too afraid to grow up and handle his responsibilities like the man he claimed he was.
Kamari cooed in the backseat, just having woke up from his nap. Ahvi glanced at him before looking back at her baby daddy with disgust in her eyes.
“You be hard on a nigga, man,” Dro brushed his fingers through his thick hair. He was in desperate need of a haircut.
But that’s what the block did to young men like him. He spent so much time chasing a few dollars that there was hardly ever time for self-care, at least until the weekend came. Then no matter what else was goin’ on, he’d jump fresh to hit the club with his boys.
His long legs carried him to the passenger side of her car and he picked his son up.
Ahvi jumped out of the car like it was on fire. “Don’t you dare pick my baby up, Dro!” She rounded the car following behind him.
“Why?” he laughed, pulling the back door open. “It’s hot as hell back here.”
“Yea, ‘cause you had us out here waiting for your slow ass,” she huffed. “I’m deadass, don’t touch him if you ain’t got no money for his pampers.”
He glared down at her. Ahvi was beautiful with chocolate skin that held no imperfections. Her hair was pulled back, showing off her baby face and those cute rolls around her neck. Her tight denim shorts showed off her meaty thighs that seemed to go on for miles. She was a little insecure about the small pudge in her stomach but Dro thought she was perfect.
So much so that he reached down and pinched her thighs.
“Stop!” her eyes turned to slits.
Again, Dro wasn’t trying to hear nothing she had to say. “So because I can’t give you no money, I don’t deserve to see my son? That’s what you telling me?”
