“Sure, baby. If Luca made enough for me.”
“He name Daddy, TT Lyric.”
Her eyes bloomed just like mine had a few minutes ago before she walked in. It took her a second to adjust to the new piece of information she’d received but when she finally did, she agreed.
“Yes. His name is Daddy for you and Essence, but I have a different daddy. His name is Liam. You’ve met him, right?”
“Umm hmmm.”
“Luca, how about you come fix me a plate, too?” She tilted her head toward the kitchen with hiked brows and urgency in her eyes.
“Aight.”
I followed her out of the dining room and into the kitchen. There was plenty of food left. I’d cooked extra just in case she hadn’t eaten.
“Daddy?” She blew out, fanning her face. Between her and Laike, I wasn’t sure who was the most dramatic.
“Same thing I said. Blew my fucking mind right before you walked in the door.”
“Wow.”
“She asked if she could call me daddy last night, and I told her yeah.”
“She wasted no time.”
“I like that shit, too.” I chuckled. “Shit kind of has a kick to it. Don’t it?”
“It does.” Lyric nodded with a smile. “So that means I’m like officially a TT now and not just Mommy’s best friend who I call TT?”
“No longer just Mommy’s best friend who they call TT.”
“How have they been since they’ve been home?”
“Last night was a little rough but this morning they’re better.”
“Good. They weren’t harmed, were they?”
“Aside from Emorey telling me he hit Essence, nothing else has come up.”
“OK. I’m just glad they’re both OK.”
“Yeah. They’re straight. Now fix your own fucking food. I’m heading out.”
“Meany,” I heard her say as I left the kitchen and headed out of the door.
The sun was beaming, providing me with a healthy dose of light as I slid into my truck. Unlike the last few times I’d climbed in my ride, this time I wasn’t filled with gloom. A huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. My girls were home and their mother wouldn’t be too much longer getting there.
I pulled out of my driveway with that on the forefront of my mind. That was enough to keep me pushing and help me get through the day. Because, in the end, my family would be reunited, and I couldn’t wait for the day. Until then, we’d make the best of our current situation.
Ever.The thought of her brought a smile to my face. It always had. With the blunt from my ashtray at my lips, I came to the conclusion that there wasn’t anyone else in the world I’d rather call mine. There wasn’t anyone else’s arms I’d rather be wrapped in when I slept like a baby at night. It was her. She was it for me. Before lighting the blunt that was at my lips, I picked up my phone and dialed the number that I was all too familiar with.
“Yeah?” My father answered the phone. It was our signature. Those wondering why I answered the phone the way I did, I assumed had never called my father.
“Old man.”
“Boy, stop playing on my fucking phone. What is it? I’m golfing.”
“You ain’t hitting nothing. Missing every hole.”
