Page 14

H arlem

I was at the shop minding my business when OA busted in the door like the damn police. Of course he couldn’t be that but he had the demeanor though. Had he not chosen the path he did, he could have been a cop or even somebody’s sergeant. OA was born with a natural type of authority which, when I was younger, got on my nerves. But as an adult I was somewhat grateful for it.

“When were you gonna tell me Hari’s bitch ass tried to bring somebody to your spot?”

“I wasn’t, because I handled it, O.”

“You cursing his ass out isn’t handling it, Harlem. Me going to put my feet on his ass is.”

“But what would you beating him up solve?”

“He’d learn to stop fucking around with you, that even though y’all share the same sperm donor, you’re my fucking sister and I don’t play that.”

I laughed. “Your sister, huh?”

“You laugh, but as soon as I see his ass I’m stomping his ears onto the same side of his fucking face.”

I laughed and focused on my computer. “In other news, I heard through Mama that your son’s party was cancelled. What are you doing?”

“Hell naw. She was trying to be on some spoiled shit and I wasn’t having it. How the fuck you tryna have his party and an adult hangout at the same time. That doesn’t work for me. If it’s about him, then let it be about him.”

I nodded, listening to him.

“Anyway, when we were little it was none of this. Money and big ass parties didn’t make a birthday. Things were old fashioned, cakes or cupcakes, family, pizza, and the same ass happy birthday song. Money and superficial shit doesn’t mean shit to actually giving your child birthday experiences.”

“True. You remember that year you put my cake in my face and Pops beat your ass?” I asked. I always referred to his father as my own because he treated me as his child and was truly the only father I knew. Joseph wasn’t shit to me but a poor ass excuse of a man who only showed face after I was too old to need anything from him.

“Man, do I? He beat my ass every time he thought about it.”

I laughed, thinking back to moments when things were much less difficult. Before Pops died, everything made sense. Of course OA tried to step up, but it was different. Pops had this way of silently being present. His death was felt, even though we all knew it was coming from the day he refused to fight the cancer looming in his body.

“I’m here, bitch. Now let’s go because the last thing I need is to be late for my fill-in. You know Tanya don’t play around.” Caya’s voice interrupted the moment and alerted us to her presence at the door. “Oh hey, OA, with your fine ass.” She mumbled the last part but I made out what she said clearly.

“Caya,” I said in a scolding manner. She extended her hands like she didn’t know why I was scolding her.

“What’s good, Caya baby?” he greeted, pulling her into his space before she could respond. “You finally gonna gimme a chance or keep playing it cute with my sister?”

“Nah, OA, you know I ain’t like that. You're fine and all but I damn sure ain’t finna get into it with my best friend over your ho ass.” She squirmed out of his embrace, coming over to where I was.

He chuckled. “Damn that’s cold.”

“No hard feelings but I’ll end up busting all your windows and getting into it with Ms. Edna over her son.”

Now that made me laugh because I knew my best friend like the back of my hand. She was true to her word. I had gotten plenty of calls from her letting me know she’d busted either her baby daddy’s or whatever boyfriend at the time windows.

My brother stayed for a little longer while I prepared to leave with Caya. She and I left my spot about ten minutes later headed to get our nails done. Instead of driving, we walked since the shop was less than five minutes from mine.

“So, Rennix…” she started as soon as we were seated in the chairs being passed our mimosas.

“What about him?” I felt my phone vibrate in my lap.

“He’s fine as hell and a ho. Can’t do it.” She shook her head, which had me laughing.

“How do you know that?” While waiting for her answer, I checked my message and saw I had a text from Kinga.

Kinga: When you coming home?

Couldn’t help but laugh at his mention of home.

Me: Home??

Kinga: Hell yeah.

Me: Hmm

Kinga: Don’t send me that shit. Tf?

Kinga: Home is me.

I smiled at his last message, feeling all warm and flowy inside. Hell yeah I was trying to get home ASAP.

Me: Soon af.

“Bitch, did you hear me? You’re over there grinning and shit, talking to your man while I’m tryna get my lil time in with you and tell you my woes.”

I laughed and pressed the side button on my phone to sleep it. “My bad, what’s up?”

“I said I know he’s a ho because he owns a damn strip club and the bitches be smiling in his face. I can’t fool with that man, Harlem. I’ll end up making him use that new business insurance ’cause I’m liable to burn that shit down.”

I couldn’t hold my laughter because she was dead ass serious.

“Well I guess it’s good you have some self-control.”

“Uhh… hello. I’m noting the red flags and staying the hell away from them. My therapist helped me see I was running toward those flags, because even though Charlie is and was a good father, the way he dealt with women is why I think those damn flags are okay.”

I nodded. “It’s not like I haven’t been telling you this already.”

“Yes you have but I had to come to the realization on my own. I also realize whatever man is for me will be for me and not just some red flag I’m attracted to at that moment.”

Her words made sense, so much sense, and I was extremely happy for her. Only problem was I found myself wondering if I had rushed into things with Kinga. There was seeing where this goes and already going where this was going. There I was, overthinking again, when honestly I should’ve just been going with my heart. Kinga hadn’t given me any reason not to, not a red flag in sight. In turn, I had every intention of giving him and me the chance we deserved instead of carrying around trauma from my past relationship. What was funny was I knew for a fact Kinga wasn’t going for it, even if I tried to hold back. With us, we didn’t have to talk about it, because what was understood didn’t need to be discussed.

* * *

“W hy yeen pregnant yet? I be nutting all up in the pussy.” Kinga’s handsome face contorted into confusion. “I drain the whole nut in you.”

I nearly choked on the bread our waitress had sat down at our table, glaring at him then looking around to make sure the old woman at the table beside us hadn’t heard him. “Kinga.”

“What? I’m asking a question. You know how many girls tried to trap me in the past? I never slipped up but with you I’m slipping and sliding. I don’t even wear rubbers anymore.”

I couldn’t hide the annoyance I felt by him mentioning past women. “I hadn’t realized we were trying.”

“I mean… not intentionally, but shit happens, right? And neither of us has done anything to prevent it.”

“A baby isn’t shit that should just happen. How do you know you're gonna like me long enough to be my child’s father? Shoot, how do I know I’ma li?—”

“Fuck outta here. I ain’t going nowhere and neither are you.” He gave me that look, the one that said his word was law.

“And how do you know that?” I tilted my head to the side, waiting for the answer.

“Because I’m a killer, Harlem. You ever try to leave me alone, I’ma turn your ass into a professional speed dater. Every time you think you getting close to somebody, he’d wind up missing or miraculously dead. They're gonna think your ass is a serial killer with no proof.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. He was so serious that I should have been scared but I wasn’t. I was definitely feeling the me or nobody else vibe, though nutty as hell, it was sexy.

“You're laughing but I’m dead ass serious.”

“I know, and believe it or not, that’s what makes this funny.”

“I’m glad you're laughing. Now you ’bout to tell me how you're dodging my junior or what?” He sat back in his chair, peeling the fresh orange the waitress sat at our table. I think it was meant for fresh orange juice with the mimosa flight I had ordered but of course my man wanted to peel it. To make matters worse, I couldn’t help but watch him peel it, wishing I was that orange. Palmed in his hands and close to his mouth.

“I’m not dodging your junior. It’s probably God, because I’m not on anything, and I haven’t bought a Plan B. He knows we don’t need a child. We’re figuring out our lives together right now.”

“Nah, we not. It’s figured ou—wait. What you saying is you could be carrying my baby right now but you got your ass in here ordering mimosa flights?”

I laughed. “Since when do you want a baby, Kinga?”

“Since I realized you’re a light in my life and I gotta keep you being just that.”

“Getting me pregnant won’t guarantee that, it’ll guarantee you a conversation with my mother that I don’t think will be pleasant.”

“Nah, baby, your mama loves me.”

“She doesn't even know you. She met you through my phone, sir.” I laughed at that part because it was true. They met over FaceTime. I was in the washroom and she was calling to do her weekly check-in. The man not only answered my phone but also introduced himself to her. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and he was holding up my pink ass phone, smiling and laughing.

“Exactly, and when you get off that grumpy shit, we’re gonna go out to her house and have dinner. Fuck around and be telling her you carrying my baby while we at it.”

“Kinga.”

“Is there a possibility?” His eyes were locked on me like I was holding national security secrets.

“If you haven’t wrapped up and I haven’t taken anything, there is always a possibility. As reckless as it is.” I sighed at the thought. I didn’t need a baby and neither did he.

“Yeah.”

“If you are, would you keep it?”

I tucked my lips and nodded. That question was easily answered. I had no reason not to. If I was pregnant by him, I’d keep the baby. I didn’t know why I was so secure in that, but I was. I’d keep this lunatic’s baby, shit, even if I had a choice.

His eyes gleamed, going from my face to my midsection partially hidden by the table. “Good.”

“Good, meaning?” I asked, eyes feasting on him. Something about that damn bun always had me stuck on stupid staring at him.

“Means it was some shit meant to happen. If we made a baby, it was meant between me and you.”

His words were coated in something I couldn’t put my finger on, a sense of need I didn’t think had even registered to him. Understanding his background with his mother and father made it a no brainer as to why the need was so strong. He needed and wanted to be a better father than his father was. He needed to give something good to this world, especially since he felt like he had contributed so much bad. He didn’t broadcast it but I knew he struggled between light and darkness a lot.

“You want our baby, right?” His voice shattered my thoughts, making me blink a few times.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I?”

“You quiet.”

“It’s a lot to process, but if there is a baby, yes… I want him or her.”

“Her. You can’t give me a son just yet. I’m not ready to share you with the lil nigga just yet. I just got you.”

I couldn’t fight the smile that filled my features while warmth covered my entire being. Shit, was this what falling in love felt like?

We were on the way home to his place when he got a call. It was the type of call that had anger emitting from his body. He wasn’t on the phone for more than fifteen seconds before he busted a wild U-turn in the middle of the street, all while his hand was on my thigh.

“I’m on my way,” he said to whoever was on the line. He then dropped the phone in his lap and I felt his eyes. “Baby, I’ma pull up to the shop. I gotta handle something. You can take my car and go to the house. I’ll have some?—”

“No. I’ll wait in your office.”

He looked over at me, thinking about my request.

“I don’t want to be there alone.”

“Aight, but you gotta stay in my office. Don’t come out of there no matter what you hear.”

“Okay.” I didn’t know why I agreed or why I didn’t take the car and go back to his house. Shit, I should have, but I guess I was going to his garage. When we arrived, it was late but you couldn’t tell by the amount of cars parked in the parking lot.

Kinga didn’t park in the lot with the other cars. Instead, he pulled into the garage. I didn’t get out of the car until he came around and opened the door for me. Before I could get out, he pushed between my legs.

“You ain’t gonna leave me or nothing, are you?” His hands eased up the sides of my dress and his lips pressed against the side of my face.

“Why would I leave you?”

“’Cause you’ll realize I ain’t perfect.” The way he looked at me made my heart hurt. He never told me he had abandonment issues but in his eyes I saw something. The same thing I saw today when we talked about the possible pregnancy… then once, even before all of this.

“You’re still perfect in my eyes, regardless of what you think I’ma realize.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. He had still yet to realize that I truly wasn’t going anywhere at all. My ass was here…literally.

“Good. I’ma hold you to that.”

“I bet you will. When we leave here, I’ma need a double chocolate cake… no, make that a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing.”

He chuckled. “Aight, I got you. Long as you stay your ass up with me. Puppies with the doula and Tato is with Caya and Aja got Bleu. Your ass is staying up.”

I sucked my teeth. “Yeah, I’ll try.”

“Yeah right. Tighten up.” He patted my thighs for me to wrap my legs around his waist and I did just that. We were in his truck today, so he was enjoying helping me out of the truck.

He then picked me up and closed the door. He carried me further into the garage then unlocked the door to his office. Once inside, he set me down on his desk. “I won’t be long.”

“Okay.”

“Wait, before you go… Where is your phone charger?”

“Plugged up right there.” He pointed to the end table next to the sofa that I had every intention of curling up on. “Anything else?”

“Yeah, how many bitches you fucked on this couch?”

He chuckled. “None. The couch is new, Harlem. I did get some head in the office chair though.”

My face soured. “Go handle your business before you get into it with me here.” I unlocked my legs from his waist and looked off in another direction. I knew I couldn’t get mad, because that was before me, but I still didn’t want the visual.

He sucked his teeth and pressed his lips against the side of my face. “Stop asking questions you don’t want the answers to.”

“Whatever. Go ahead and han?—”

“Give me them lips before I go.”

I tried my absolute hardest to be stubborn but of course he turned my face to meet his and smashed his lips against mine. What started off as a simple kiss drew past that, raising the temperature in the room like a heater in somebody’s grandmother’s house. The man kissed me like he was going off to war, tongue all down my throat while I accepted. Yep, I was in love.