Page 40 of Search My Soul (Taylor Family Saga #3)

“I promise it’s not that deep. I was entertaining someone, that’s why I didn’t answer.”

“I checked your location and it said you were at home. You never bring women to your house. Who the hell is she?”

“Now you’re starting to sound like a bitter baby mama. What’s with all the questions?”

“Naw, I’m just not used to you being sneaky that’s all.”

“Why are you all in my business?”

“Yeah, she must be special because you don’t hide shit from me. If you’re letting her in your space, I’m gonna assume that you trust her.” Duke continued to probe.

“What’s up with you and Mariah? I saw she posted on the Gram that she was pregnant. You never told me I was about to become a godfather again.” I slipped the question in to change the subject because I wasn’t ready to talk about what was going on with me.

“Man, I don’t even want to talk about her stupid ass.

She made that post, and then when I checked her about it, she went off on me.

You know I don’t fuck without a rubber unless I’m in deep with a bitch, so I told her that I wasn’t claiming shit until we got a DNA test. Now she is online throwing shots about deadbeat daddies and shit.

I don’t give a fuck how she feels about the situation.

I’m not about to be like some of these other fools claiming a baby that doesn’t belong to me.

” Duke vented. I could tell the situation was getting under his skin because of the way his fists clenched.

“You ain’t ever lied. I know a few suckas who have gotten caught up like that. I think DNA tests should be mandatory before you even leave the hospital. Especially before you start signing paperwork and shit like that.”

“Hell yeah. I don’t have a problem taking care of my responsibilities, but I’m not about to let her play with me.

She already has four kids with three baby daddies.

Clearly, her ass is fertile as fuck, so there’s no telling who the father is.

One baby momma is enough as it is. I really don’t want to have to co-parent with another miserable bitch. ”

“Damn, Taysha still giving you the clues about seeing Talia?”

“Hell yeah. First, she was upset because she said she didn’t want her around other women. I told her multiple times that I never have my daughter around anyone who isn’t family. She was tripping because I took Romi and Lia to the zoo and Patience was in the picture.”

“Why would she have an issue with my sister? We’ve been your family long before she even came into the picture.”

“She claims that we were taking pictures like a family. Romi and Lia go to the same school and they’re friends. She wasn’t tryna hear shit I had to say so I stopped arguing with her. I don’t want to get the courts involved but I’m not about to keep going through this shit.”

“Damn, that’s tough. Have you still been able to talk to baby girl?”

“Yeah, but Taysha’s crazy ass tried to block me from her phone a few weeks ago.

I went over there to drop off some clothes for my baby and she answered the door with no clothes on.

I already knew what she was on, but I wasn’t tryna be on that type of time with her.

After I turned her down, she started throwing punches, so I got the fuck out of there.

The next thing I know is my calls to my daughter aren’t going through.

I had to go over there and show my natural ass.

I’m trying not to go through the courts because I don’t want the laws in my business, but she ain’t making this easy for me at all. ”

“I get where you’re coming from, but you’ve got to do whatever it takes to make sure you can see your little girl.”

“Yeah, I know. I don’t regret my child at all, but I swear I wish I had driven that hoe right to the clinic the moment she told me she was pregnant. Dealing with her makes my ass itch.” He fumed.

“Don’t say that. Baby girl is a blessing even though her momma ain’t shit.”

“You’re right. So about the woman in your life. Are you planning on making her your baby momma? It’s about time you started having some kids too.”

“I don’t want any baby mommas. When and if I decide to have kids, it has to be with my wife.

I’m not doing any custody battles or child support.

The person who carries my child will be the only woman who carries them.

” To be honest, I hadn’t even considered children, but lately I’ve been thinking about what life would look like with a couple of mini me’s running around.

Duke slapped his rough ass hand on my forehead, making me smack him in the back of the head.

“Ow. What did you hit me like that for?”

“Why the fuck would you put your dick beaters on my face like that?” I grumbled.

“My bad, bro. I was making sure you weren’t coming down with something because I’ve never heard you talk about getting married. Who the hell are you, and what have you done with my best friend?” I chuckled in response to his question.

“I can’t really say. I mean, we’re not getting any younger.

The last thing I want to do is wait too late to start a family.

I’m not tryna be at my son’s kindergarten graduation and have his friends asking if I’m his grandfather.

I’m not saying it’s something I plan to do right now, but it’s something I’ve been considering. ”

“Yeah, all right, mothafucka. I’ll leave it alone for now, but I’mma get to the bottom of this,” Duke muttered before downing the rest of his beer.

I got a message from Juicy, so I opened it up to see what she had going on.

We were supposed to link up later on, but I told her I would be with my family for most of the day.

The more time I spent with her, the more I grew attached to her.

I found myself craving her presence whenever we weren’t together, which was new for me.

“Shit.” I almost dropped my phone when I opened the images she sent to me.

Lucky for me, Duke was caught up with his own phone, so he wasn’t paying me any mind.

The first few photos were of her topless in a thong.

Then she sent a video of her doing some moves on the pole in her room.

When she dropped down into a split, I lost it.

Instead of texting back, I got up to find some privacy. I needed to see her sexy ass face.

I dipped off into one of the hall bathrooms before pressing the FaceTime button. She picked up on the second ring with a mischievous look on her face.

“What are you over there doing?”

“I was bored, so I figured I would get some practice in before I go to work tomorrow.”

“I’m not one to knock the next person’s hustle, but I don’t know if I can handle this shit,” I admitted.

We hadn’t spoken much about her job, but it was mainly because she was barely there these days.

At the end of the day, she had a right to make her money the way she saw fit.

However, the closer we became, the more possessive I became.

I wasn’t insecure by any means, but I also wasn’t a broke nigga.

I was a millionaire with multiple streams of income, so there was no reason for her to stay in the club now that things were official.

“Well, that sounds like a personal problem to me. I like what we have, but I’m not in the business of relying on a man.

We’re good right now, but what happens when we aren’t?

I don’t want to have to depend on you to make sure I have what I need because when the relationship ends, so do the benefits.

” The conversation took a turn I wasn’t expecting, but I guess it was a good thing since we needed to get some things established.

“I feel what you’re saying, but I’m not even built like that.

At the end of the day, I don’t want my woman to work at all, but I respect a hustler.

My problem is that I’m a possessive ass nigga.

When you’re dancing on that stage, I like to believe I’m the only person you’re dancing for.

You don’t belong to any of those niggas. You belong to me.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t belong to you or any other man.

I understand where you’re coming from, but I can’t let anyone come between me and my money.

What I do in there is strictly business.

It has nothing to do with us and who I am to you.

If it’s a problem and you can’t handle it, I understand.

We can go our separate ways, and it won’t be any hard feelings on my end.

” My face twisted up as I watched her do her makeup at her vanity.

“No hard feelings? Yeah, you must want me to come over there and fuck you up. Don’t ever try to play me like some weak ass nigga.”

“My bad. I wasn’t trying to insinuate anything. I just don’t want to get caught up in whatever this is and lose myself. I like you a lot, but I also know how men can be. When I’m ready to quit, I want it to be my decision.”

“Yeah, I understand. Where are you on your way to? I thought you didn’t have any plans.” She smirked, then focused her attention on me.

“I don’t have any plans, but I wanted to put a little makeup on before my man comes over.”

“You look sexy, but you already know I don’t care about any of that.

You can answer the door in a dusty T-shirt and a bare face.

I’ll still think you’re the finest thing walking.

” Her face reddened, but I meant what I said.

Juicy never had to try too hard around me because I found her attractive in her natural state. That was enough for me.

“You don’t need to lay it on so thick. You were gonna get the pussy regardless.

” Her response irritated me a little, but not because I was offended.

Juicy knew she was a beautiful girl, but there were times when she allowed her insecurities to show.

It was usually in the form of a joke, but I caught it every time.

“You know me enough to know I say whatever I feel, and I don’t hold my tongue for anyone.

I don’t have to spit any lines to get what I want.

You’re beautiful with or without makeup.

I’m simply letting you know that I don’t care about that shit.

You don’t need to get dressed up for me, unless it’s what you want to do.

Besides, I would hate for you to get your pillowcases dirty when I’mma have your face pressed into them later.

I don’t believe in being wasteful.” Juicy put her head down, but I could tell she was smiling.

“What am I gonna do with you?”

“To be honest, I don’t know. You might want to figure it out, though, because I don’t plan on going anywhere,” I declared.

“You seem so sure about that.”

“Of course. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say. Now let me get off this phone before my niece comes looking for me. Normally, I wouldn’t put any other girl before you, but she had me first.”

“Well, I don’t mind sharing as long as it’s only with family,” Juicy said with her eyebrow raised as if she thought I was about to dispute her words.

“Roger that. I’ll see you later, mamas.”

“I’ll be waiting.” She blew me a kiss before our call ended. I don’t know what she was doing to me, but I knew I wasn’t ready to let her go any time soon.