Page 18

GERMAYNE

“ H old up. You mean to tell me that your sweet grandmother was throwing words at your woman’s grandmother like a WWE fighter throws haymakers?” Jarrod asks.

“What’s worse is I’m not sure she won the sparring match. That shit probably embarrassed me more than anything. Like, come on, Jolene. That’s how you’re representing the Malones?” I express, hanging my head.

“Damn. Maybe I need to trade Chardonnay’s freewill pussy ass in for a Thundercat. That might be the sexiest thing I’ve heard in a minute. I wonder if sis’ granny is looking for someone to warm her honey,” Desi adds dreamily.

My head pops up like a genie out of a bottle, and a grimace slides into place while I stare at Desi with hard eyes.

“What is wrong with you, nigga? Clearly, because who pissed in your Wheaties this morning?” Jarrod interjects before I’m able to respond to the madness coming from Desi.

My fuse is low from not being able to speak to Chaniya over the last week or so, thanks to the unexpected feud between our grandmothers. Somehow, their bullshit spilled over into our relationship, and Chaniya has been giving me her ass to kiss lately.

“My bad. I’m just getting fed up with playing second fiddle to Chardonnay,” Desi says.

“Second is reaching, my boy.” Jarrod laughs.

Picking up my Corona, I take a healthy drink to drown out the back and forth between Desi and Jarrod. I have bigger fish to fry than Desi not loving himself enough to leave my cousin alone. Setting my empty bottle on the table, I slide my phone from my pocket and send a message to Chaniya.

Me: I don’t like the idea of letting what our grandmothers have going on interfere with us, Cha-Cha. Let’s squash whatever this is between us. I miss your pretty ass.

“I met someone and am considering giving her a shot,” Jarrod says.

A small smile forms because Jarrod has been single since he found out the woman he was dating was a distant cousin.

The situation between Jarrod and ole girl became messy because they were already having sex.

They only found out when they were having dinner and ran into one of their older relatives.

After that failed relationship, Jarrod swore off dating and women, which I can’t say I blame him.

Jarrod’s situation is a prime example of why it’s essential to know your family members.

“For real? Did you check her out?” Desi questions with his right brow lifting.

“Did. I’m ready to see what this little infatuation between us can become,” Jarrod confirms.

“How much digging did you do?” I ask, entering this portion of the conversation.

“I had Moms pass her picture around the entire family and had a background check done. I ain’t got time for any more surprises and shit. That last situation almost had me cutting my dick off,” Jarrod tells us.

My eyes shift from Jarrod to my phone when it vibrates in my hand, causing my heart rate to accelerate at the possibility of getting a response from Chaniya.

The hardest part of our separation has been her silence.

My eyes only make out a C before my fingers stumble over each other, trying to unlock the phone and open the message.

My Cha-Cha: I miss you too. Let’s plan an outing between Caleb, you, and myself. He’s been asking about you. *side eye emoji*

Me: I’m off tomorrow if that works for you two. Don’t be looking crazy. Caleb knows I’m worth inquiring about, just like you do.

My Cha-Cha: Whatever. We’re free tomorrow.

Me: Bet. I’m gonna call you later to iron out the details.

My Cha-Cha: I suggest you do it soon. I can’t promise I’m gonna be awake much longer.

“Aye, I gotta step outside to make a call right quick. If our waiter comes back, have him bring me another beer.” I stand before moving toward the exit without waiting to hear a response from Desi or Jarrod.

Thanks to it being a weeknight, Club Stew isn’t busy, making my trek to the front door seamless and without incident.

Pushing on the metal door that feels like it weighs a ton, I step outside, frowning when the night air hits my face.

Heading to a space on the empty wall near the front entrance, I prop my leg up and dial Chaniya’s number.

“Hello.” Chaniya’s voice is heavy, low, and sultry, letting me know that she wasn’t kidding about being on her way to bed.

“Why would your ass answer the phone like this? Your ass is almost sounding like one of those thirst trap operators swindling men out of their hard-earned cash every night.”

Between my public surroundings and the air hitting my face, I’m surprisingly able to keep my dick from jumping and hardening in my pants.

“At one point in time, I thought about getting a part-time job in that field. It was that or becoming a foot model on only fans. Being a single mother ain’t for the faint.”

“Nigga, fuck you and your bitch. I keep telling you that ho ain’t loyal to shit but whatever slit she’s sucking nut from at the time,” some random man says to another man who’s had too much to drink based on his swaying body.

“Oh, it's fuck her now, but you weren’t saying shit when she was swallowing both our nuts, and your sorry ass was drinking it like milk,” the drunk man replies.

“Wow. Uh, where are you?” Chaniya questions lowly, causing me to smirk because no one other than me can hear her.

“Club Stew with Jarrod and Desi, having a couple beers,” I answer.

“Shoot. I’ll let you get back to them then. Let me know what time works for you tomorrow, and we can go from there.”

A frown forms at the rushing tone within Chaniya’s words because nobody is more important than she is, which is what I communicate.

“Fuck them. When we’re done, we’re done. I ain’t rushing our conversation to get back to them, Cha-Cha,” I bark.

“I hear you, and believe me, I understand. However, I’m not sitting on this phone for another minute, so give me a time so you can return to your friends, and I can go to sleep.” Chaniya’s deadpan statement brokers no rebuttal, despite my urge to push back.

“Eight,” I provide with a hard edge from my lack of acceptance with her wanting to end our call like she hasn’t had me in timeout.

“A.m. or p.m.?”

“A.m.”

Giggles flow through the line, warming my weary heart while charging my body like jumper cables. Missing Chaniya hasn’t been easy, but now it feels bearable, knowing I only have a wake-up before our reunion.

“It’s Saturday. Caleb and I like to sl?—”

“Not tomorrow. Come to the house. I’ll make y’all breakfast, and then we can go from there.”

“It’s a date. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

“Looking forward to seeing you, Cha-Cha.”

“Me too, and Germayne?”

“Yeah.”

“Be safe.” Warmth spreads throughout my chest upon hearing the calm and commanding tone of Chaniya before three beeps sound in my ear, letting me know she’s disconnected the call.

Placing my phone in my pocket, I return to the front entrance, feeling lighter than I had the first time I walked through the doors.

“Wow. You know how to make dinosaur-shaped pancakes, Mr. Germayne. You’re so cool,” Caleb says in a singsong voice when I place his plate in front of him the next morning.

“Yep. My dad taught me how to make them when I was your age. He felt like I should know how to add something special to cooking.”

“That’s cool. I wish I had a Daddy to teach me how to do stuff like yours did,” Caleb says, causing me to look from his solemn face to his mother.

Chaniya’s mouth is slightly ajar as her gaze bounces from her son to me, making me wonder if this is something Caleb has said before.

When she mouths her apology, I wave her off because there is no reason for it in my book.

We’ve previously discussed what led to Caleb being without a father, so there’s no need for her to feel bad or apologize about the aftermath with me.

“I’m not your dad, but I can teach you whatever you want to know as long as your mom is good with it,” I suggest.

“Yay!” Caleb shouts, dancing in his seat before forking a piece of his pancake and inserting it into his mouth.

Seeing the pride on his little face makes me adamant about securing my place in not only Chaniya’s life but Caleb’s as well.

From my short time in Caleb’s presence, I can see he’s a respectful and mild-mannered little boy.

In my opinion, Caleb is also thirsty for male attention, and being the man planning on locking his mother down, I’m committing myself to catering to his needs too.

“Excuse me for a second,” Chaniya says, pushing her chair back and speed walking out of the kitchen.

“I’m gonna check on your mom for a minute. We’ll be back in a minute, C.”

“Okay, Mr. Germayne,” Caleb says without lifting his head from his plate.

Setting the plate down that I’m filling for Chaniya, I head in the direction of where she went to see what’s up with her.

Reminding Chaniya that her situation doesn’t have to be continually regretted is what I need to express.

Caleb is here now, and so am I, so she doesn’t have to continue focusing on her past. It’s frustrating that men can drop their nuts without shame, and women are the ones people ridicule for the consequences of joint recklessness.

Hearing sniffles coming from the living room, I head there with a frown.

“Dry those eyes, Cha-Cha. This ain’t what we’re doing on our hangout day.” I enter the room, moving toward Chaniya.

“I can’t help it. He has never said that before, so I had no idea he was feeling his father's absence. I feel like a failure right now, Germayne. I’m trying my best to provide for Caleb so he doesn’t hate me for being careless when he grows up.

Now, I feel like my best isn’t good enough because he’s feeling the absence anyway. ”

Pulling Chaniya into my arms, I stroke her back when her shoulders bounce from the emotions she’s releasing into my chest.

“Listen, I know I’m not his dad, but I promise I’m here for both of y’all. I’m not going anywhere, so Caleb is straight.”

“I don’t want to get used to you being here and?—”

“I’m committing to being here for Caleb, even in the unlikelihood we don’t make it.

Stop crying. Caleb doesn’t need to see anything but a smile, especially when y’all are with me.

It’s good vibes and positive energy over everything, Cha-Cha.

Now, come on before the food gets cold.” Kissing Chaniya’s forehead, I squeeze her body, hoping that an ounce of my strength will seep into her pores.

Once I’m confident that Chaniya is good, I guide us back to the kitchen after making a quick pitstop to clean her face of any redness so as to not alarm Caleb.

“Mr. Germayne, those pancakes were sooo good. I can’t wait for you to teach me how to make them.” Caleb gushes when we reenter the kitchen.

Warmth stretches across my chest at seeing Caleb’s wide grin and twinkling merriment in his eyes.

“I got you. How about I make your mom and my plate and give you a couple more to tie you over until lunch?”

“Ooh, please.” Caleb dances in his seat, smiling wide, and my heart skips a beat at seeing his jubilation from something so simple.

The first order of business from today forward is showing Caleb that I’m a man of integrity and my word.