“You’re right.” He let my arm go. “I’ll be seeing you soon, baby mama.”
That irritated my soul but this was my fault. I’d given him the reaction he wanted, now, like the narcissist I knew him to be, he was gonna stick around for a minute.
Days later…
“What’s wrong, shorty? You're looking off.” Rennix asked. I was in my studio preparing the hair for my client who would be pulling up in a little while.
My energy had been off since dealing with Syke the other day and him now taking it upon himself to keep calling my phone. I just hated that I gave him the reaction he wanted. It pissed me off so bad that I couldn’t just hit him with my car and get him out of me and my son’s lives for good. It wasn’t like he ever wanted to be a father to Adonis. The few times I let him try, he attemptedto use my child to hurt me. I couldn’t and wouldn’t go out like that, because behind my baby, I’d go to war.
“Just irritated. I’ll be okay.” I tried to shake it off. “How long are you at the club tonight?”
His handsome face showed irritation. “Who pissed you off? And don’t fix your face to lie to me and say it’s nothing. You were off last night too when I called.”
I sucked my teeth. “So, my son’s father walked up on me while I was at Willows with Harlem. We exchanged words and I threw a drink on him an?—”
“Did he touch you?”
“He grabbed me, but that was it. Now he keeps calling me. No, I’m not the baby mama trying to keep the kid from him out of some petty shit, but coming in and out of my son's life is a no. Either be his father or move the fuck around, because the last thing I’ll tolerate is a so-called man getting back at me through my baby,” I explained.
“What’s his name?” Rennix asked, eyes serious as hell.
“Why? You don’t know him and it isn’t gonna sol—” I started, but he interrupted.
“Name, Caya.”
I debated within myself for a minute, but ultimately just rattled off his name. “Syke Brown.”
He nodded. “Good look, stop thinking about that shit. You’ll be good, lil thug.”
I just looked at him. Because no matter how many times I told myself to stop overthinking it and ignore Syke, he was on my mind. But the moment Rennix assured me, it was instant.
“I’m coming through tonight. You cooking?” he asked, already knowing the answer to his question before he asked. We’d talked plenty of times and I told him I cooked two times a week…
“Nope, when I finish this client, I’m gonna pick up some takeout and head in. I’m gonna be tired because she wants her shit full, meaning at least five bundles installed on the wig.”
He nodded.
“What are you nodding for ? You don’t even know what I’m talking about… or do you?”
He laughed. “Shit nah, I don’t, but I hear what you saying. You don’t wear wigs, do you?”
I shook my head. “I sweat too much and can’t take not being able to get to my scalp.”
“Exactly. I’on know shit about it except the fact that some of them stank.”
He caught me off guard. “That’s just the unkempt ones.”
“See, I don’t know. I know when I lay in your bed that shit smells like lemons and coconuts.”
“That’s beside the point and don’t be saying it like you’re always in my bed. You’ve only been in my bed twice.”
“Three tonight, and I bet that motherfucking side better smell like me or we got problems.”
“Why would we have problems? You’re just my friend.”
He laughed. “Yeah, from your lips. But I’m the only man lying in your bed or even remotely that close to you.”
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling, knowing he meant what he said with his whole chest. Funny enough, this budding friendship consisted of serious heart to heart conversations, a million reassurances, and moments with the potential to go too far, but they never did.
