Page 30 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

“How the hell am I childish? It’s you that ain’t ask who she was to me.

You assumed and fed off that shit. If you want to know something, ask.

I ain’t got no reason to lie to you. I ain’t no disrespectful ass nigga, either.

I’m not parading no broad in yo’ face knowing I’m smashing or smashed.

That ain’t me, My Baby,” he explained. I heard every word and each one was valid.

I was facing Heidi once more with a softer expression. I wasn’t going to apologize because I had nothing to be sorry about. However, I could speak to her in a more polite tone and show some respect.

“You and Royce really need to start telling people from jump what’s the dynamics of your friendship. I was ready to throw hands,” I said followed by a small laugh.

“Understandable. I did tell him to clear it up and he chose not to. He’s a menace to society if you ask me.

He does these kind of things on purpose.

I never wanted you to think I was some competition because you are genuinely the only person that wants his crazy behind.

I truly don’t see how you tolerate him,” she jested.

“He’s not as bad as he seems. I mean, he’s all of crazy, but he’s also sweet and protective. I kind of like it… I think?” I said dropping my head to the side with an expression of thinking.

She laughed at my response causing me to do the same.

I guess she was alright in my book. Maybe asking questions first around these parts would be best. I was on the other side of the tracks and what I was used to wasn’t their normality.

They did things a little differently and their relationships with each other were all close.

They showed genuineness no matter who it was.

Cojak would’ve brought a bitch to our doorstep and called her his cousin in a heartbeat. From the way he played me at that visit, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of those cousins really was a bitch he fucked on. He was a bold individual.

“Nah, be sure ‘bout me,” he chimed.

“Would you hush? Go take care of Essence and let me speak to Heidi.”

“Don’t tell me what to do woman,” he said grabbing Essence’s car seat and leaving out the kitchen. He always had something to say but still did everything I asked.

“And that’s what you want to sleep next to every night?” she questioned pointing in his direction.

“He’s a headache but you knew that already. So, you give off this wholesome angelic look and I’m jealous of it. I can’t lie.”

“Girl don’t be. This ain’t nothing but a church girl glow.

I be at every Sunday service, Bible study, choir rehearsal, revival, prayer circle, you name it.

I turned to God after a few things in my life tried to tear me down and been happy ever since.

It’s been like maybe five years since I changed my life.

I try and get your boo to go with me, but he has an excuse every time or a flat out no.

I pray for him as much as I can though.”

She was such a sweet woman and now I felt bad for wanting to beat her ass.

She wasn’t nothing but a real friend to Royce.

Hell, she was the kind of friend he needed, to be honest. It took a lot of guts to give your life over to Christ and genuinely accept him and his guidance.

I knew many who claimed to accept him and still lived a life he wouldn’t approve of. Kudos Heidi.

“As many screws as he’s missing, he needs every prayer he can get. So, Striker… he’s your man?” I was curious about her love life now that I knew she wasn’t after the same nigga as me.

“Hel… heck no! He’s a best friend as well.

Me, Royce, Striker, and Mercedees all grew up together.

They called us The Four Seasons all our lives from how different we were, but if you saw one, trust, the other three was right behind them.

It was never a fair fight when it came to us, you were getting jumped for sure,” she commented with a smirk.

I could tell she wasn’t one to be played with. Her new persona didn’t change that she would throw them thangs if need be. I liked that. “Who’s Mercedees?”

“Uhm, when you came here on day one, she was the one wearing the black and green hair. She loves everything green by the way. She’s Royce’s cousin on his dad side but was raised as a sister to Royce.

They’re closer than me and him. She has a chain of nail salons called Nail Fairy’s. Have you heard of them?”

“Uh, yeah! When I had the extra funds, that was the only place I let touch my nails. Jesus, I had no idea she was out here doing it like that. We haven’t had a chance to talk but maybe somewhere down the line we will.

So, if not Striker, then who? Are you single? ” I was just being nosy at this point.

“Very. I won’t touch a man until God places him in my path, and he makes me his wife.

I can’t do anymore relationships or men for that matter that doesn’t walk in their faith the way I do.

I take my relationship with God seriously.

You though, that man isn’t going to let you be anything but his wife. Are you going to allow it?”

She was asking a question I’d spent weeks asking myself.

Royce claimed me as his wife but if he ever asked me to be for real, would I say yes?

He hadn’t released the gas since he stepped on it behind me and the kids.

Everything he did, we were involved. Every time he held a conversation, we were mentioned.

I felt like he wasn’t giving us up anytime soon.

If living a life as an Atkins came with so much freedom and advantages, anyone who was in my position would choose it at the drop of a dime.

However, I was in my head more than anything.

Cojak showed me that a person could have so much love for you and still betray you.

Royce was a man of status, and he could have any and everything he touched. Who’s to say he wouldn’t do the same?

“I honestly don’t know. He talks a good game and backs up everything he says but I just left an abusive relationship and don’t think I should be getting into a new relationship right now.”

“Well, you know what they say. Sit on a new one to get over the old one.” I dropped my head to the side with raised brows and a smirk. My expression was all of excuse me . “I mean, at least that’s what I heard,” she said trying to clean it up.

“Right,” I said giggling at her hoe ass response.

She wasn’t too saved. “Well, I’m fresh off a baby.

I won’t be sitting on anything any time soon and if he’s already delusional, I ain’t trying to make it worse.

I’m honestly shocked that he hasn’t tried anything with me.

We shower together all the time, and he never makes a move. ”

“Oh, Royce is a gentleman with all the women in his life. He doesn’t touch if he doesn’t have consent. That has a lot to do with me and my situation and he tries not to be categorized as anything other than a man who respects boundaries. If you don’t make that move first, he won’t engage.”

It made sense why he asked me if he could shower with me before he just undressed. When he bathed me, his hand never slipped, and he never made me feel uncomfortable being touched by him. A small smile appeared on my face as I thought about how much respect he had for women.

Dammit. I was not supposed to find that shit attractive.

“Good to know. Well, thank you for stopping by and making some goodies. Now that I know what’s up, come see your friend more. He acts like he has to be up my ass all damn day. You’d be saving me believe it or not.”

She laughed as she nodded, then said, “Will do. Thanks for the talk, Klarity.”

“Same.” I returned the smile and went on ‘bout my business.

As I made my way upstairs, I thought on Royce from day one until now.

He really was in a lane of his own. His mouth was reckless, he was a different type of delusional, but he was better than anyone else I’d encountered.

He made me rethink every word I said thus far.

Maybe, just maybe, he was where me and my kids needed to be.

He’d slowly but surely become a safe space for us.

There was no doubt in my mind we would find this type of security and stability anywhere else.

Give him a chance, Klarity. He deserves one.