Page 8 of Half Sight Whole Heart

ERISS JACKSON

I’ve been in a horrible mood ever since I talked to Zyro. I had to break down and call my dad because even though I was grown, I had no clue about trading in vehicles. He was there when I got my first car.

When I sat in Mahlia’s car after work, my mood hadn’t changed.

“Hey, bookie,” she sang out as I put my seatbelt on.

“Hey, girl,” I replied in a dry tone.

“Nuh uh, what’s wrong?” Mahlia pulled out of the lot and into traffic.

“My car is a bust.”

“But we already knew that. It’s time for something new, E. You’ve been holding onto that raggedy thing.” I cut my eyes over at her. “What?” she laughed. “Anyway, I heard you and my nephew are going to the fair tonight.”

I reared my head back. I had pushed Zyro’s talk about the fair to the back of my mind hours ago.

“I never agreed, plus, I don’t even know that man. Did his brother get out?”

“Don’t try to change the damn subject, Eriss.

Yes, Leek is out, but that man you don’t know got you and your son safely home yesterday.

Drove from one city to another and didn’t even get any pussy, so please don’t act like he ain’t a good guy.

I would have never called Zyro to help you if I didn’t think he was a good guy. ”

“He told you he was taking us to the fair?”

“Not really, Leek messy ass did. He called me to gossip.” Mahlia chortled.

“He said he knew that I knew what female had Zyro’s nose wide open.

His words, not mine. I didn’t tell Leek shit, though.

He has other shit to worry about. I think you should go and spend my cousin’s money.

It’ll take your mind off your car for a while,” she suggested.

“You are a mess. Did you just tell me to spend your cousin’s money?” I giggled.

“I did. Zyro can afford to trick,” Mahlia snickered.

“I can’t wait to tell him that,” I let slip.

“Oh, so you’re planning on going to the fair then? I love to hear it.”

“That’s not what I said, but if it’ll make Ermias happy, I guess. Why don’t you come, too?”

“Because my cousin didn’t invite me.” I watched Mahlia squint. “Why didn’t he invite me? I’m like his favorite person in this world.”

Chuckling, I said, “Sounds like you have questions that need answers.”

“Nope.” Mahlia smiled at me, then turned into the parking lot of Heartville Kiddies, Ermias’s daycare.” If Zyro has to replace me with someone, I would rather it be—”

“Don’t say it, because it’s not happening,” I warned.

“You.

“You’re a trip, Mahlia, but I’m afraid I’m gon have to disappoint you because me and your cousin are not happening,” I let her know and pressed my lips together. “I’ll be back with your nephew.”

I’d just put a load of clothes in the washer when my phone rang on the dryer. I picked it up and wiped the sweat from my brow. Seeing that it was Zyro, I figured he had more news about my car, not realizing the time.

“Hello?” I answered out of breath.

“Bad time?” he asked.

“No. I was doing chores around the house. More news about my car?”

“Nah,” he exhaled. “Nah, there’s no change, baby girl. I just hit Heartville. The fair…remember?”

“I didn’t agree to it…remember?” I mocked him, a little annoyed that he was persistent. If Zyro wanted to go to the far so badly, he could have taken someone else.

He kissed his teeth. “So, your son hasn’t been askin’ ‘bout the fair today?”

“He has, but I’m not in the position to do so right now,” I shot back.

“Down, baby. I’m just tryin’ to help out. Come out and have some fun.”

I was a sweaty mess and haven’t showered myself.

When I rounded the corner and saw Ermias sitting in the living room in his Ninja Turtles pajamas, my heart swelled.

The fair has been on his mind heavily. When I picked him up from daycare, he didn’t even greet me like he normally did with a “Hey, mommy!” It was “Are we going to the fair?”

Sighing, I gave in. “Okay. I need to shower and get Ermias dressed. Give me forty-five minutes.”

“Aight.”

I hit the end button, and before telling Ermias the good news, I told him to stay put while I showered.

He was good about not answering the door, trying to cook, or doing anything else that a child his age shouldn’t do while I showered or slept.

Cartoons, his coloring books, and toys would keep him busy.

It took me thirty-five minutes to shower, dry off, moisturize my body, and put on a graphic tee and distressed shorts with black socks and red Converse. I went ahead and took Ibuprofen ahead of time in case my eye began to ache. My drops would be in my purse, too. I never left home without them.

Ermias ran into my room and peeked inside the bathroom where I was brushing my hair into a high ponytail. He eyed my attire.

“Where are you going, Mommy?” he asked out of curiosity.

“We are going to the fair.”

His eyes lit up, and he began jumping up and down, screaming, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” He stopped. “Are we going with Zyro?”

I chuckled. “We are.” I turned the water on to wash my hands. “You want to wear the same thing as me?”

Ermias nodded. Most times, when I buy something for myself, I look to see if I can find it in his size.

There was a Mommy and Me shop here in Heartville that created cute graphic shirts with different artists and actors for adults and kids to match.

Today I sported a Crown Heart tour shirt, and Ermias had one too.

I’d just finished brushing Ermias’ hair when I heard car tires in my yard, and that now familiar rumble of Zyro’s big ass monster truck. Ermias couldn’t stop talking about the truck.

I had to stop him from trying to run to the door and open it without my permission. He knew better.

I waited to see if Zyro would blow the horn or get out like a gentleman and knock. I don’t know why it even mattered. Even if he was interested in me, I wasn’t ready to get into anything serious with anyone anytime soon.

When I heard knocks on the door, I couldn’t say I was shocked. I grabbed my purse, told Ermias to be on his best behavior, then opened the door.

We were met with a smile with diamond fangs that I hadn’t seen until now.

I couldn’t even remember if he had them in at the reunion.

Zyro wore crisp light blue jeans and a plain black crew neck t-shirt.

On his feet were grey and black Retro 4s.

The scent coming from him was intoxicating. So intoxicating.

“Y’all look nice,” he complimented with a bigger grin.

“Mama, I want diamond teeth! Look! He has diamond teeth!” Ermias pointed at Zyro, and I gently slapped his arm down.

“We don’t point at people, Ermias. I see them. You’re too small for diamond teeth,” I said before looking back up at Zyro. “Thanks, so do you.”

I scooped up Ermias’s booster seat from against the wall near the door, and Zyro took it from me, telling my son to follow him while I locked up.

“We get to ride in the monster truck again! When I get big, Zyro, I’m going to get one!”

I stifled a laugh. Next, he’s going to want me to take his little ass to the tattoo shop to get covered like Zyro.

I shook my head. If only he could get the same attention he was getting from Zyro, from Delion.

It’s been a month since Delion had even called for Ermias.

I wasn’t one of those baby mothers who’d call and cry about it either.

Ermias wasn’t missing out on anything. He was loved and he cared for.

I shouldn’t have to force anyone to be in his life.

Zyro helped me into his truck again. I could have sworn his hand lingered just a second longer than it needed to before he shut the door.

It was a fifteen-minute drive to the Heartville Expo, where the fair was always held. Zyro had music playing low.

“How you feelin’?” he asked about five minutes into the drive.

“About what?” I questioned. “My car? My eye?”

He pointed to his eye. “If I’m overstepping, let me know.”

“I took pain meds before I left the house, just in case. Right now, I’m fine. I appreciate you asking, though.” I offered Zyro a small smile.

“Do people…Do they give you problems in public? Do they just stare?” Zyro asked.

“Most of the time it’s kids, but they don’t know any better. I brought my eye patch to put on, though. Ermias…he’s very overprotective of me. He’ll buck up to a teen if he sees them talking about me,” I mumbled so my baby couldn’t hear me.

“As he should. Boys don’t play ‘bout they mamas.”

I shook my head and pointed behind me with my thumb. “He sure doesn’t.”

“I’ll knock a nigga off this Earth ‘bout mine,” Zyro uttered, then licked his lips. I had to glance out the window.

“Zyro?” Ermias called out from the back.

“Yeah, big man?”

“Are you getting on the rides? The scary ones?”

Zyro glanced over at me, and I raised a brow, awaiting his response to my baby.

“Yeah, I ain’t scared of shit.” Without thinking, I elbowed Zyro for cussing. He frowned at first and then grinned. “My bad.”

The fair wasn’t as packed as the weekend; that is why I preferred to bring Ermias on a weekday. When my feet touched the ground from exiting the truck, I reached into my purse to pull out my eyepatch. As I was about to pull it over my head, it was snatched out of my hand.

“You don’t need this,” Zyro mumbled, sticking it in his pocket while Ermias and I watched with our jaws dropped. “If anybody looks at you a lil’ too long, they gon have to answer to me. I’ll push a kid down,” he leaned over and said, lips inches from my ear.

I gasped and then broke into a laugh. I wasn’t sure if I should be afraid or grateful.

“You don’t have to. I’m used to it, I promise.”

“You’re too pretty for this damn patch.”

My cheeks heated.

“Ouuuu, Mama! Zyro called you pretty. He thinks you’re pretty!” Ermias stopped walking and cocked his head to the side as if he’d just thought of something. Nothing could prepare me for what would come out of his mouth. “Zyro, are you going to be my new daddy?”