Page 23 of Out of Bounds (Atlanta Demon Series #4)
Looking down at the paper, I read the information in front of me and had to do a double-take. Surely, my fucking eyes were deceiving me. There was no way Masai had stooped to this fucking level.
I thought for sure after our failed dinner date that she would concede and try shit my way.
Obviously, my ass was wrong because not only had she run the fucking ad in the paper, but her petty ass had also sent a fresh set of documents to my crib via courier.
I was so focused on the newspaper that I barely heard Jrue and Deuce’s ass laughing beside me.
It wasn’t until Deuce called my name that I snapped out of it.
“Yeah, yo’ ass thought you had one. Sis said she ’bout to beat you at yo’ own fucking game.”
“Fuck you, dog.” I groaned and tossed the paper on the counter. Swiping my cell up, I dialed Masai’s number.
“What do you want, Kreed?”
The way she answered the phone was like she ain’t want to talk to me or some shit, so I asked, “I’m bothering you or something, Masai?”
“I’m kind of in the middle of something. Can I call you right back?” Without even giving me the chance to respond, Masai banged on my ass.
“Oh… She really not fucking with you,” Jrue noted. “Shit, in the past, you couldn’t end the call without telling her you love her and shit. Dog…” he exaggerated. “Y’all really ’bout to get a divorce. Me and Jream really ain’t got a fucking chance now.” He tossed his arms in the air.
“I knew the shit was over.” Deuce shrugged and sat down at the table. “Her and Koya been on their fuck Kreed shit since Masai saw KJ in person.”
“What you talking ’bout?” I asked.
“Oh, the day you had all the kids was the day Masai really knew it was over.”
“What you mean by that?”
“Nigga… that was the day shit started to set in. She knew you had another kid, but having to see him did something to her. That’s why I kept telling you to just sign the papers ’cause she not coming back.”
I loved the way Deuce loved and cared for my wife. It was admirable, to say the least, but this nigga was my best friend, and instead of trying to help me get my wife back, his ass had been pushing for me to free her.
I thought I had backed her into a corner when I told her to quit her job, but Masai wasn’t playing with my ass.
In the beginning, I was happy that she was taking the steps to get back into law.
My issue arose when Maddie Claire called me in a panic because my wife hadn’t shown up to take her to her tryouts.
Shit, we were both lucky that I’d finished practice early and was on my way to the crib.
There was no way their nanny would have time to get all five of them together and out of the house to get her to the tryouts on time.
I was pissed because I felt like this would become a pattern for Masai.
I get it, probably more than anybody. I fucked up.
I owned the shit. My children’s lives had shifted because of me, but enough was enough.
I didn’t want them to have to deal with both parents being indisposed.
Had Masai said she was going to step back from the firm, I would’ve given her the divorce.
I’m lying. Let me not even sit up here and say that shit because somebody is going to have to force my hand, literally, to sign those papers.
I’m not about to sign any fucking divorce papers.
The more I sat with the shit, the more I felt like I could get my wife back.
I didn’t care how delusional it sounded.
I knew in my heart I had a chance to make Masai mine again by choice.
Don’t know how or when, but I was about to dodge this bullshit-ass divorce until Masai just gave up.
“Fuck you, Deuce!” I finally spat. Dialing my lawyer, I hit the speakerphone button and set it on the counter.
“Dolla, what can I do you for?”
“Aye, you saw the Gwinnett Daily Post?”
“I haven’t. What’s in it?”
“A fucking divorce notice.”
“Oh… Oh, wow,” Jason uttered. “So, she’s going forward with things?”
“Yes, Jason.. She’s going forward. Is there anything that I can do to stop this shit?”
“Unfortunately, Dolla, the only thing you can do is take it to mediation. If she’s run the notice, then only she can withdraw the proceedings at this time.”
“So… In other words, I’m fucked.”
“Yes… unfortunately. There is nothing else we can do at this point. Unless there’s something in the paperwork that you’re protesting.”
“Nawl, it’s not.” Dropping my head, I sighed. “I’m not tryna divorce, Masai.”
“Listen, I understand. If anyone gets it, that’s me. But our hands are pretty much tied, Dolla.”
Pushing my locs out of my face, I folded my arms across my chest. “How long do I have?”
“Approximately thirty days.”
“Aight, man. I guess we can go ahead and respond. I done drug this shit out long enough.”
“Are you certain there isn’t anything you want to contest?”
“Nawl. She’s not asking for shit, and it ain’t like she’s trying to strip me of my parental rights.”
“Okay.” He sighed. “I’ll get right on it.”
“Thank you, man.”
“You’re welcome. And, Kreed… I really am sorry.”
“So am I,” I mumbled, ending the call. “Fuck!” I roared and swiped everything off the counter.
“Awww, man.” Deuce huffed. “I know I been giving yo’ ass a hard time, but I’m sorry, bruh.
” Leaning over, he held his hand out. I stared at it for a few seconds before dapping him up.
When Deuce palmed the back of my head and pulled me into his chest, I broke down.
My fucking lifeline was leaving my ass, and I don’t think I’d ever felt a pain like this.
I thought I had more time to try and make us work.
I thought if I begged, she would somehow forgive me.
“She’s actually doing this shit, man. She’s leaving, man.”
I knew the shit was bad. I knew the minute Ashton sent me that picture that my fucking life was over.
Hell, that’s the main reason I held off on telling Masai.
Honestly, it would have been easier to accept if she and I had somehow grown apart.
That wasn’t the case, though. It was my actions that caused this.
Eventually, Deuce let me go. Passing me a paper towel, he said, “I know this shit hurts, bruh, but you gotta think ’bout how hurt Masai is.”
“I think ’bout that shit every fucking day.
Dog… this ain’t just the end of my marriage.
It’s the end of us . I’m losing my best friend, bruh.
The inside jokes, the routines, the loving glances that we give each other across the room.
I feel like a fucking failure, bruh… as a husband and as a man.
Masai keeps saying she has no identity outside of me, but the truth is…
I’on know who the fuck I am without that girl. I fucked up so bad, dog…” I drawled.
“You did, and as yo’ homie, I’m not gon’ continue beating you up ’bout it. I’mma thug it out with ya. Whatever it is that you need, I got ya. Know that.”
“’Preciate that shit, man.”
“You know it’s nothing but love on my end,” Jrue shared.
“Right. We fucked up ’bout it ’cause the crew breaking up, but we got ya back,” Deuce said after patting me on the chest.
“Wanna go have a drink or something? I can’t sit here another minute and watch yo’ ass cry.” Jrue joked.
“Shit, might as well. I gotta get my kids from my mother-in-law first thing in the morning, but I’m down to kick it a lil’ bit.”
“Copper Cove?” Jrue asked, making me and Deuce look at him funny.
“Bruh, fuck no!” I finally retorted. “Did we forget Copper Cove is the reason I’m even in this mess?”
“I mean…” He hiked his shoulder up. “I don’t think Copper Cove did anything to you, but I gotcha.”
“Let’s just hit up JR Crickets,” Deuce suggested.
“Now that I can fuck with. Let me go change, and I’ll be ready.”
Walking out of the kitchen, I slumped my shoulders. As a man, it was hard for me to share my feelings. In this moment, I thanked God that Deuce and Jrue were here because had they not been, I don’t know how I would’ve been affected by the news.
Masai was bent on moving forward with the divorce, and the best thing I could do for everybody involved was focus on strengthening my relationship with my kids.
If it was meant for us to be together, we would.
Until that time came, I had no choice but to wave the white flag and give her what she wanted.
This week began with a devastating loss, and for a few days, I stayed locked up in the crib reviewing film.
The closer time got for me to meet Masai so she and I could sign off on our divorce documents, the more my game suffered.
I had been fucking up badly on the field, but nobody was taking it personally because at this point, everyone was aware of the changes going on in my life.
Had it not been for my promising the girls that we could hang out after school, my ass wouldn’t have left the crib.
Masai was headed out with Koya, so she offered to drop them off at my crib and was planning on picking them up before she headed back home tonight.
Initially, when she put my ass out, I decided to find a spot not too far from her for my own selfish reasons.
Now, I was grateful that I was only a skip and hop down the road.
It really worked out better for everyone’s schedule.
I was sitting on the couch when the doorbell rang, alerting me that my girls had finally made it. Hopping up, I trekked to the foyer and pulled the door open. “Bug, what have you done to your hair?” I quizzed and pulled her into a hug.
“Mommy let me get a silk press.”
“A silk press, huh.” Rubbing my hand through her silky, straight hair, I frowned. “It’s cute, but where is my little girl? Bug, you can’t grow up on your old man.”
“Dad.” She giggled. “I’m only eleven.”
“I know…” I fretted. After kissing her on the temple, I walked out the door and met Masai in the middle of the driveway. “You straightened her hair?”
She rolled her eyes and passed me the Lululemon duffel bag. “Hello to you, too, Kreed.”