Page 24 of Pieces of Us

Nehemiah

T he Next Day…

My baby girl’s pre-birthday was everything she imagined it to be. She got to see her favorite artist in concert for the first time and stayed the night at her aunt BB’s house for the first time. I knew she would love it over there because, much like mine, Shelby’s house was kid-friendly too.

I was trying to make up for lost time, so whatever Megan wanted, I was going to be sure she got it.

That shit with Diana pissed me off. She knew telling Morgan that she was my ex would set her off, and as bad I was wanted to strangle her, I knew she only did that shit out of pure jealousy.

It was in her DNA to be a mean girl. Diana tried that shit in high school, but my sisters always put her in her place when I wasn’t there to defend Morgan.

Morgan wasn’t weak by any means, but back then, she was on her church girl trip and always wanted to see the good in people.

I could see remnants of that in her now because she was playing with this divorce shit.

I knew the process of dividing the household and money all too well, but this had been going on for a month now, and a nigga was getting agitated with this bum trying to play in her face.

It was only a matter of time before we came face to face to have that conversation.

“See you later, Anna,” I said, heading out of my office to go be a host for my demanding teenager.

“Have a good weekend, Dr. Newson,” she replied.

I hurried out the door, so I could make it across town to get her birthday cake from the bakery before they closed. My cell rang, and Loon’s name flashed across the screen.

“What up, sleeze?”

“My nigga, since when do you start driving yourself around?”

I chuckled. “Since now I guess.”

“You foolin’.”

“I mean, I can take care of myself, G. You know I keep that thang on me.”

“I know that, but I’m the eyes behind ya head.”

“True that. Where you at?”

“Driving behind your slow ass.”

I looked in the rearview, seeing his silver Silverado tailing me.

“My bad. I’m still kind of off from last night.”

“Yooo, last night was like that.”

It truly was. After dropping Megan and Shelby off, the rest of us hit the town and went dancing.

Well, the ladies did all the dancing, while me and Loon chilled and had drinks.

Morgan blew mind when she got on the dance floor and started shaking her ass.

I had never known her to dance, especially not as good as she did last night.

My shorty was throwing that ass like she created that shit.

So much so, I had that ass up in the air as soon as we crossed my threshold.

Little Morgan wasn’t little no more. My baby was Big Morgan now.

Just thinking about her tight, wet pussy had me ready to say fuck this cake and go eat hers.

I shook from my thoughts as I tuned back into the conversation.

“Tell me about it. I can’t party like I used to, but Mo did her big one.”

“Fa sho. Who knew Lil Jesus had it in her?”

We both laughed.

“Chill on my girl, nigga.”

“Aw shit. I forgot how sick in love you was with her. I see you about to start acting funny and shit now that you got her and your shorty back. That’s why your funny looking ass driving yourself around and shit.”

“Yo, fuck you, man.”

“Nah, but that Rollie she gifted you was dope.”

“It was. I never thought to buy me one, but now, I need me a few of them shits.”

“Late ass nigga. And Shani gon’ make me fuck her ass up if she keeps playing with me.”

I laughed. “Loon, leave my fucking cousin alone, man.”

“Nah, G. I need that.”

“Fuck my people look like dating a criminal when she’s a whole defense attorney?”

He laughed. “Perfect balance, my nigga. I do a crime, and she gets me off. Simple.”

“So, you basically saying you trying to use her?”

“Aye, chill with that. I’m licensed to kill, my guy. You know I been feeling Shanise since before I started cutting up in these streets.”

“Yeah, whatever, bum.”

“Where the fuck is we going, anyway?”

“You know it’s your niece’s birthday. She’s having a pool party at the house, so I’m on cake duty.”

“Aw, damn. How the fuck I forget that quick? I ain’t used to you saying my niece. I gotta get her a gift or something.”

“I know, man. Shit sounds foreign to me too sometimes, but she’s mine no doubt.”

“I’m happy for you, G. Shits gon’ work out between you and Mo Boog. It always does.”

“Thanks, brodie. I receive that. I’m just ready for her to be released from that clown ass nigga she roped herself into a marriage with. That nigga gon’ make me come see him next.”

“You want me to handle it?”

“Nah…not yet. I’ma let the shit play out. We’ll see if he needs a little reinforcement soon enough.”

“Facts.”

I pulled into the parking lot of the bakery and stepped out.

Loon followed me as we walked inside of the bakery.

There were a few people inside getting serviced as we waited in line behind a dude and his girl.

I took out my phone to retrieve the order number when my ears tuned in to the couple in front of us.

I wasn’t trying to be in their business, but their conversation caught my attention.

“I don’t want to keep talking about this, Jo. It’s my daughter’s birthday. I’m just trying to make her happy today.”

“I’m just saying. Why are you dragging this out? Jonathan and I take great care of you. It’s not like you really loved her anyway.”

“So, it’s okay for you to be married, but not me? She has my kids. I won’t let her leave me and take them away from me.”

“I’m not saying that, and I’m not trying to be insensitive to your feelings. But she caught you, Justin. The cat is out of the bag now, so there is no reason why you should fight her on this. Let her have what she wants and split custody. What’s so wrong about that?”

“Can we not talk about this here?”

“Fine. Did she even respond to you taking her out for a few hours?”

“I talked to Megan, and she said she would come over for a few hours. Apparently, her father is throwing her a party at his house. For some reason, I think Morgan is only doing this because of his ass. Fucking coward. He ran away from his responsibility and now wants to come back and play daddy of the fucking year.” He scoffed.

Loon and I locked eyes, and I signaled for him to chill.

I couldn’t believe this was the goofy ass nigga Morgan chose to marry.

The fact that he was standing in a fucking bakery with a whole other woman talking mad shit was crazy work.

This man sounded like he wasn’t just having a regular poly relationship; he sounded like he was getting fucked by her husband too.

Pussy ass nigga. He wasn’t taking my daughter nowhere.

“I’m so sorry for the delay. We had some orders that were backed up.” The baker came back to the front with his little cake.

“It’s fine. How much do I owe you again?”

“Twenty-seven fifty.”

While fuck boy paid for that cheap ass cake, Loon and I went back outside and waited for them to come out. As soon as they stepped out, I bumped into him purposely, making the cake fall out of his hands.

“What the hell, man! You can’t fu—You!” he exclaimed, looking at me.

“Oh, you know me?” I asked.

“Of course, I know you. You’re the deadbeat asshole who now wants to start coming around after fourteen years.”

“You and fat boy seem to have gotten your wires crossed about me. Neither one of you clowns know me. Because if you did, you wouldn’t even exist in my girls’ world.”

“Clown? It seems like you’re the one that likes to do magic tricks, Houdini.”

I didn’t have time to stand here and go back and forth with him. I checked my watch, realizing I only had twenty minutes until the bakery closed.

“Considering you’re standing here with your side piece, buying a cake for your soon-to-be ex-stepdaughter, I’d say the biggest clown out here is you.

I appreciate you for standing in for my daughter when motherfuckas like your ex-father-in-law did everything in his power to shut me out, but I got it from here, homie. Daddy’s home, and I’m here to stay.”

“You will never be a father to my daughter. That’ll only happen over my dead body.”

“What color you want baby girl to wear to your funeral?”

“Justin, let’s just go, okay?”

Shorty looked scared. I understood, though.

I had shed my lab coat and rolled up the sleeves on my shirt, so I was sure my tattoos and my size were intimidating.

I played football in high school and a little in college, so I outweighed homie by at least a hundred pounds.

Not to mention, I had two inches on him.

I wanted to squeeze his head like a sponge just from how he looked at me.

He chuckled menacingly. “It’s hard to believe you’re a doctor. You look just like the thug Gio said you were.”

“Fuck you and him. Megan’s good. She don’t need your two-dollar cake or five minute date. Stay the fuck away from Morgan and my daughter. They don’t need shit from you, my nigga.”

“We’ll see about that.” He took ol’ girl by the hand and stormed away. I shook my head and went back inside the bakery.

“You know he’s going to be a problem, right?”

“Yeah…but I’m the bigger problem.”

Having a kid wasn’t something that I’d always dreamed about, but it had always been on my agenda when Morgan and I were together.

We always had talks of being married, having children, and living in this very home.

The night before I left for college, we both were emotional—her more than me, but knowing that I was leaving her behind had a nigga sad as hell.

I wasn’t thinking about protecting us, and it all happened so fast, so I knew she wasn’t thinking either.

That night produced this fourteen year old that had my house full of teenagers that I was about to put out.

These little heathens were live as hell, but the smile on my baby’s face was priceless.