“Yeah, that’s horrible,” he said and laughed. “But seriously, maybe try a new approach with Brianna. You used to love the girl, Smoke, and surely all of that love isn’t gone.”
“It surely is, mothafucka,” I corrected. “Love don’t live here for Bri no more. She ain’t who she used to be.”
“True, but still, if you weren’t as aggressive with your approach with her then maybe the outcome would be different. Try taking it a little easy on her and see if that changes things. I mean, you don’t want Solo to see you dogging his mama all the time, lil bro.”
I contemplated his request. I did press the gas full throttle when it came to Bri because I was disappointed in her. My expectations and view of her were so high at one point but she really disappointed a nigga. I would have never guessed she’d turn into a money hungry ass hoe that shook her ass for the world to see on and off the internet. He was right though. I didn’t want my son to see or hear me tweaking on his mama all the time.
“Aight,” I sighed. “I’ll be a little easier on her, but soon as she pisses me off…”
“I know, bruh.” He laughed. “I know.”
We spent the rest of our time on the phone laughing and tripping. I hated for Noah to worry and be stressed, especially about shit I had going on. That was the only reason I conceded to whatever he asked me most of the time. He had more important shit to think about than me and my friendly pussy baby mama or our lying ass parents.
After we finally hung up, I rolled up and smoked another blunt while I played my game until Solo got up. His little ass came right in and took over my shit, begging me to order him more food because the oatmeal did nothing for him. I ended up getting on Munchies again and ordering us some spuds from The Deli. Solo ate like a grown ass man, so I had to fully load his shit up like mine.
Once the food arrived we ate together, I got us both bathed, then we kicked it in my living room for the day, alternating between watching movies and playing the game until he crashed for the night and I went right behind him since I had already redirected all my business shit. Every now and again I took a full day and dedicated that shit strictly to my son because I needed him to know Daddy loved him and put him over everything and everybody.
Those were always my best days too.
4
Kaori.
“Babe,” I whined. “You said no phones right now.”
He finished typing whatever on his phone before locking it and pushing it into his pocket then tossing his arm over my shoulder and pulling me into his side. “Just handling a little business while you were in the bathroom.”
Intertwining my fingers with his, I smiled and laid my head on his arm as we walked toward the bar. We’d just gotten done seeing a movie and were getting food and drinks before heading home.
Jamal pulled my chair out and waited for me to sit before sitting next to me. We lifted our menus and looked over them.
“Can I start you two with something to drink?” the bartender asked when she approached, placing a white napkin in front of me then moving toward Jamal to do the same, but she froze a little, confusing me. Both noticed me looking at them so they snapped out whatever trance they were in quickly.
“Y’all know each other?” I asked. I wasn’t going to wait for her to leave and ask him because his ass would lie in a heartbeat.
“Naw,” Jamal answered, shifting in his seat.He was lying.
“N-no,” the girl stammered. “He just looked a little familiar.”
She sounded like she was lying too. I wanted to probe further but I promised to turn my crazy down some and start trusting Jamal’s word instead of reacting instantly. I promised to think before flipping my shit on him.
My family wasn’t happy at all when I told them I was going to give him one more chance to get it right. I knew they wouldn’t be. He had done too much for even me to see past, but I loved him so I was going to try. The most challenging part was accepting the baby. I didn’t know how I was going to get over it, but I was trying. I did tell him, however, that the child couldn’t come around me. I wanted no parts of being in the child’s life. At least not right away.
“Right.” I eyed them both skeptically. “Let me do a strawberry long pour, please.”
“Salt or sugar around the rim?”
“Sugar, please.”
“And you, sir?”
“Double Henny on the rocks and bring us both water.”
Nodding, she rushed to the other side of the bar to prepare our drinks, leaving us alone again. It wasn’t until then that I noticed it was only us in the restaurant area of the theater.
“You sure you don’t know her?” I asked, eyes narrowed and fixed on his.
He sighed. “I already said I didn’t, KK.”
