Page 19

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

FERRIS

“ H orsey, horsey, horsey!” Loren said repeatedly.

I rolled my eyes as I put my SUV in park.

I had my nieces and nephew with me to fulfill my promise of taking them to ride horses.

When I asked Asad to ask Mr. Red if it was okay, he thought it was a good idea to set up like a small petting zoo type of atmosphere for them.

That would put me out here even longer with their bad asses.

Asad would be bringing his son out, and I noticed more kids that I didn’t recognize.

When I got out, I heard another door open.

I immediately knew who had opened it. “Kam. Wait until I come around and open doors for y’all.

When I do, y’all are to stay close to me.

If you run off, I will take y’all back home. Okay?”

“Okay,” they all said.

I looked at Loren, and she smiled. “You hear me, Loren?”

“Yes!”

I chuckled then got out to help them out.

Once I had them all out, and we began making our way to the festivities, I took a deep breath.

I saw Milana’s cousins. I hadn’t spoken to her since I’d left the diner Thursday last week, despite her numerous text messages.

I still hadn’t made a decision concerning us, but I’d decided that if she texted again, I would respond.

When weighing the pros and cons, that shit was even.

That only made my decision harder and riskier.

I knew that if I didn’t keep the lines of communication open, though, I would never know if one started to outweigh the other.

I didn’t have to commit to having an exclusive relationship with her, but we would definitely talk, even if that was to get closure. It seemed she needed that.

“Ferris!”

I turned to see Carter Legend headed my way with one of those rude ass twins. I wanted to roll my eyes. When they got closer, I said, “What’s up, man?”

I slapped his hand then he took a step back. “This my girl, Bali. Bali, this is Ferris.”

“I know who Ferris wheel is,” she said as he laughed.

I didn’t restrain my eyeroll any longer. She sounded just like her father when I’d introduced myself to him at the diner. Carter stooped to speak to the kids and got them all riled up all over again. “You helping babysit? If not, you need to quit getting them all pumped up.”

He chuckled as he stood. “They’re your kids?” Bali asked.

“Naw. My nieces and nephew.”

“Shit, I was about to say.”

“What were you about to say Bali, Indonesia?”

She frowned, looking just like her damn daddy. “I was about to say that Milana was a fu—fool if she was pining after a ni—dude with four kids.” She glanced down at the kids and turned to Carter. “I’m going to meet my sister. I don’t like filtering myself. See you later.”

He bit his bottom lip as he scanned her curves. “A’ight, baby.”

She rolled her eyes and walked off. He watched her for a moment then turned back to me. “Come on. Y’all ready to ride?”

The kids started hopping up and down with their hands in the air. He tilted his head, wanting me to follow him. “I don’t know what you see in that mean ass girl.”

“She smart, fine, and ain’t no guesswork. She vocalizes damn near everything. If she don’t like something, she gon’ say she don’t like that shit. I like that.”

“I guess. What’s that new construction coming up close to the traffic light?”

He smirked then said, “Bali and Noni are going to be opening a community clinic. Their uncle Kenny Henderson is helping them with that. They’re in medical school and will be practicing in the next four years or so. They only have a year or two of med school left. See what I mean?”

I slowly shook my head. “If you like it, I love it.”

“Milana been quiet as hell,” he said as we approached the barn. “Just been chilling at home and practicing. Bali thinks she’s missing you.”

I didn’t respond to his silent inquiry. Surely, she had to know that her situation wasn’t easy for me to handle. What I look like being with a woman who would bring all sorts of drama to my doorstep? I hated that she was depressed, though, so we definitely needed to have a conversation.

“Uncle Ferris! These horses are big!” Kam said, causing the other kids to cower somewhat.

“I know, but you won’t have to ride alone. I’ll ride with you, and Cousin Asad will too.”

She smiled and seemed to relax a bit, especially when she saw Asad approaching.

Once he reached us, he slapped my hand then went to help Carter Legend saddle another horse.

When he got up on one, I picked up Kam and gave her to him.

Her eyes were wide. I figured if she went first, the other kids would see that they didn’t have a thing to be afraid of.

Carter hopped on the horse he’d just saddled and said, “Come on, baby girl.”

Loren clung to me, so I picked up Kiley and handed her to him. She looked a little nervous, but her excitement was evident through her wide eyes. When Mrs. Shana approached, Kohl said, “Me next!”

I chuckled and said, “Yeah, man.”

Mrs. Shana smiled and extended her hands to put him on the horse with her. Red Squared walked around the corner, looking slightly irritated. “You good, man?”

“Yep. You ready to get on?”

“Yeah.”

He pulled another horse from the stable and took Loren from me so I could get on.

Baby girl was holding on tight to me. She didn’t cry, but I could clearly see she was uneasy with Red holding her.

She wasn’t all that familiar with him, so I understood.

Once he handed her to me, she calmed significantly.

“Rub him, baby,” I said.

She did as I said and smiled. “Horsey.”

“Yep. We’re about to make him walk, okay?”

“Okay.”

I gave him a kick, and when he started walking, she started clapping in excitement.

I chuckled as the horse walked. Seeing all the kids out here having a good time was really cool.

Mr. Red had chickens, goats, cattle, lambs,— all that shit for the kids to see and touch if they wanted to.

It looked like most of Nome was out here, even the Hendersons.

They had probably contributed in some way.

When I saw Mrs. Tiffany out here, I took a deep breath, preparing myself to possibly see Milana.

Carter said she’d been at home depressed, so maybe she wouldn’t show up.

After waving to my nieces and nephew on the other horses, I made the turn to head back to the barn.

When I saw the other twin and Red Squared talking, I knew that was probably the source of his frustration.

He wanted Noni so bad, but she wasn’t giving him the time of day.

Once we got off the horse with Asad’s assistance, he said, “You know Mila wouldn’t let my son come out here today?”

“I was about to ask you where he was. Why not?”

“She claimed that she knew I wouldn’t be watching him. Someone told her I was chasing after Ashanni.” He slowly shook his head. “If people would mind their fucking business, the world would be a better place. People irritate me at times. I almost didn’t come out here.”

“Is it your weekend?”

“No. That’s why she got away with that shit.

I don’t know why she’s so fucking bitter.

Shit didn’t work out between us. It was both our decisions to go our separate ways.

We parted amicably. But now she got a muthafucka in her ear, making her think I’m the enemy all of a sudden.

I’m so sick of her shit, man. We ain’t even a couple.

I tried my hardest to make shit work with her. ”

I felt sorry for him. Asad loved his son. He had him whenever he was supposed to and even when it wasn’t his weekend at times. “Have you talked to Mister Red about it?”

“Naw, not yet. I probably will tonight. My mama didn’t give him those kinds of problems. I spent almost as much time with him as I did with my mama.

When he had a rodeo and couldn’t get me, sometimes my mama took me to the rodeo just so we could see him and Mama Shana compete. This shit is foreign to me.”

I nodded then looked down at Loren. “Well, let me take these kids to pet animals. We’ll talk later.”

“A’ight.”

I was hoping to have his help with these kids, but his mind was occupied.

I totally understood that. It was hell keeping up with all four of them, but I was somehow managing.

When we got to the lambs, I was helping Loren pet them, but out of the corners of my eyes, I could see Kohl trying to get in the pin with the goats. I huffed then quickly went over there.

“Man, those goats will beat the shit out of you. What did I say before we got out of the car?”

He lowered his head and followed me back to the lambs.

What I saw nearly took my breath away though.

Milana was stooped next to the girls, holding a lamb in her arms for them to pet.

She had on a Stetson, shorts, cowboy boots, and a vest. She looked so beautiful.

When she looked up at me, I could see just how puffy her eyes were.

“I’m sorry. I just saw them trying to pet the lambs, and they’d retreated to the back of the pin.”

She stood and put the lamb back in the pin.

“It’s okay,” I said as I stared at her.

She nodded and was about to walk away. I gently grabbed her arm. “Can we talk later?”

She glanced down at the kids then asked, “In person or by phone? I have to practice later.”

“When will you have free time?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I try not to have any. Just call or text when you have time.”

She walked away as I stared at her back.

When I’d seen she’d only worn a tube top under her vest, I wanted to pull her in my arms. When I saw her, the last thing I thought about was her drama.

I just wanted to make everything wrong in her life right.

Maybe this was the wake-up call I needed.

I just wanted to be with her at this point.

Glancing down at my nieces and nephew, I took a deep breath and continued showing them a good time so I could get them back to their parents.