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nariah

. . .

Sliding my shades on my face I pulled the hoodie over my head and sat at the front of the jet by the window. Today was the day we were flying to Punta Cana for Jude’s birthday. Julius had rented out both villas at the Nickelodeon resort so the family could celebrate with him.

Me, him, and Jude were staying in one while both of our moms and my sister were going in the other one. Tito, Byron, Lucas, and the rest of the security were staying on site in a few of the other suites. We wanted everyone to be comfortable since we were staying for the week.

“Ma, you and Ms. Norma can take the room in the back. The rest of the peanut gallery will be alright out here.”

“You sure? I know you’re tired. If you want to go lay down, you can.” Ms. Norma said.

“No ma’am. I wouldn’t dare take that from y’all.”

“Alright baby.” My mama smiled.

The few days leading up to today was spent with me getting mine and Jude’s things ready but also at the warehouse packing orders.

I had run a thirty-five percent off sale so I could get rid of the rest of my inventory because by the time I made it back to Atlanta the new shipment would have arrived.

Between doing that and finalizing the last-minute details of this trip my ass was tired and planned on sleeping the entire flight. Jude had spent the night with Julius so that I could finish doing everything I needed to do.

“Mommy!” Jude yelled when he spotted me laid back in the seat.

Pushing my hood back, I dropped my shades in my lap. “Buddy. Are you excited?”

Jude threw his lil body into my chest. “Yes. My daddy said I get to see Sponge Bob.”

“Yes, baby you will.” I kissed his cheek. “You sitting with me or going with TT Lariah?”

“Ummm.” He pondered for a second before breaking my heart. “I’m going with TT.”

“Aight. Riah, make sure he has his headphones and his iPad.”

“They right here.” Julius said, stepping on the jet looking like something right out of heaven. Here I was from head to toe in Alo while this man looked like he was ‘bout to hop on stage. “Here Juju, give yo bag to Lariah.”

After getting him situated Julius leaned into the empty space beside me. “You gon’ let me sit here?”

Sliding my shades back on I fixed my hood. “Boy I do not care. Just make sure you or your son don’t bother me.”

Stepping out of the aisle he waited for everybody else to board before responding. “Aight. Now when you need somebody to get yo ass something don’t ask me or my son.” He laughed and mushed the side of my head.

“Trust me I won’t.” Unfolding my Hermes throw I draped it across my lap and kicked off my shoes.

Julius spoke with the pilot a few minutes before the door was closed. Once we were cleared for take-off I popped two Benadryl and let the engine lull me right on to sleep.

______

“Hold your nose.” I yelled before picking Jude up off the ground. Running towards the pool I hopped in it with him still in my arms. When we came from under the water his lil ass was begging me to do it again. “You gon’ have to go ask your daddy.” I laughed.

“Please mommy.”

“Aight.” I groaned. “One more time then we gotta get out and eat.”

We had barely checked in before Jude was begging to get in the pool.

While Julius handled everything, I had concierge drive us over to the villa so I could get changed and get in the water with him.

Once Julius finished, he joined us. The rest of the family had ventured to their own spots, so it was just the three of us.

“Don’t forget what I taught you.” I said to Jude before jumping in the pool one final time. This time when we swam to the surface Julius was standing on the edge of the pool with his hands on his hips.

“Y’all ain’t hear me calling y’all.” He fussed.

“No.” I dug in my ear. “We been hopping in and out of the pool for the last fifteen minutes. I placed Jude on the side of the pool near Julius before climbing out. After digging my bottoms out of my ass, I bypassed him and made a beeline for my towel. “What you wanted?”

“I was tryna tell y’all the food here.”

“Good. Cause I’m hungry as hell.”

“Ain’t nobody tell yo ass to stay out all night without eating.”

“Boy I was at my warehouse I’ll have you know.”

“Warehouse my ass. Atlanta Tea said you was hugged up with Dip.”

“You lying.” I laughed.

“On Ma Dukes I’m not.”

“Oh. We went to lunch yesterday but hugged up was a stretch.” The space Dip wanted to put between us lasted all of a week.

I was out at Saks shopping for the trip when I stumbled upon him at Chanel.

We actually spotted each other at the same time.

I was going to keep it pushing but it was no bad blood and the last thing I wanted him to think was that I felt a way ‘bout him ending things.

We ended up talking and he got some things off his chest which resulted in us agreeing to just be friends.

I wasn’t bothered by that at all. Slowly but surely the two of us started hanging out when either of us had a lil free time and since I was getting ready to be gone for a week, he wanted to do lunch the other day.

We met at Lenox and went and had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and once we were done, he got in his car, and I got in mine. No harm no foul.

“Y’all back kicking it?” Julius probed.

“We’re friends.”

“That’s what’s up. So, buddy didn’t let me run him off.” He smirked.

“Nope he didn’t.” I popped. “In fact, he told me he wasn’t worried ‘bout my bitch ass baby daddy.” I whispered the last part ‘cause we had a little person standing there all in our mouth.

“I’ll beat that nigga ass.” Julius frowned.

Ignoring him I ran my hands through Jude’s wet hair. “Come on Jude let me get you fed.”

“Can you call and order me a drink?”

“I ain’t ordering yo ass shit. Drink ya spit.” Julius fussed and pulled out a chair for him and Jude at the table.

“Chapped ass.” Sitting down across from them I put two slices of pizza on Jude’s plate before sliding over a bottle of water. “Once you finish eating and you give it a few minutes your dad will take you back to the pool.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Julius placed Jude’s iPad in front of him and sat down bedside him. “Did you tell the front desk how many people we were hosting for dinner tomorrow?”

“I did.” Getting up from the table Julius pulled a piece of paper out of his bag. “I meant to give this to you. That lady said call her if this not right.”

Julius and I picked this resort because of all the amenities it had for kids.

Tomorrow was Jude’s actual birthday, and we had paid to block off the Turtle Power Dinner so him and the rest of our guest can have an uninterrupted night.

I’d even went as far as finding a local baker to make his birthday cake.

Julius had spent some serious money for all of this but when it came to Jude nothing was off limits.

Looking over the paper I checked to make sure that the event planner had gotten everything right.

With the way life abruptly changed for Jude I wanted to make this year’s party extra special.

Honestly it was a little heartbreaking that he had to be in the middle of me and Julius’s shit, but life happened and unfortunately the situation was out of my control.

I would much rather him experience us apart and happy opposed to together and miserable. Checking over the final details I sat the paper down. “Looks good to me.”

“Bet. I ain’t trying to have shit go wrong and you be in your feelings.” Julius chuckled.

“As long and Jude has a good party then I’ll be happy. After all, this was what he’s been asking for so I’m just trying to make sure everything goes off without any hiccups. Ain’t that right Jude?”

“Yes ma’am.” He said, lightweight ignoring my ass.

“You know he ain’t heard shit you just said.”

“I know.” I laughed. “I’ve got somebody coming in the morning to decorate. I’ll have everything set up before he wakes up.”

“I’m sure you will.” Julius chided. “It’s gone be good Nariah. Don’t be over there stressing out ‘bout the shit.”

“I’m not.” I lied. Jude was an apathetic kid.

Anytime I asked him what he wanted for his birthday or Christmas he would always tell me he didn’t care.

So, when he specifically asked for his birthday to be here, I knew I had to go all out.

“He doesn’t require much so I want to make sure he enjoys this. ”

“He will enjoy anything you do for him. You already know that. He gon’ be good Nariah.” Julius confirmed.

“You right.” I sighed. Forcing my back into the seat I crossed my arms at my stomach. “How’s the new album going?”

“It’s going. The label tryna sway me to switch my sound up. After everything that went down with ya boy they feel like I need more mainstream songs. You know...to make me more marketable.”

“And how do you feel ‘bout that?”

“You know that ain’t even me. I’m a Grady baby through and through all I know is the struggle and how to hustle. Ain’t no way they think I’m ‘bout to be up there rapping ‘bout some shit that don’t have no substance.”

“What Tito and Noble say ‘bout it?”

“To do me.” He shrugged.

“Doing you has landed you where you are right now. So, I would have to agree.”

“Yeah. We gon’ see though. I know my ass been skating on thin ice with all of the unnecessary drama and shit, so I been trying to do just enough to appease them to keep them off my back.”

“Well...” I drawled. “Juice doesn’t think before he reacts.”

“Juice huh.” He snorted. “I hear ya talking.”

“Just saying.” I held my arms up. “You’re hot headed and don’t think ‘bout the consequences of your actions. Juice moves how he wants to move and doesn’t care how those move affects those around him.”

“I call bullshit.” He snorted. Leaning up he furrowed his brows and stared at me. “Never once have I done some shit and ain’t think ‘bout what the fuck the consequences were. I’m very calculated Nariah and grown enough to know that behind every action lies a reaction.”

“Okay.” I chuckled under my breath. “If you say so.”