27. Core
core
. . .
I could tell when I pulled up on Flatbush Avenue that Jeffie was looking at me with the side eye. As a certified control freak, she wasn’t in control, and she was dying on the inside trying to figure out what we were doing out here.
“Jerk and Lime,” Jeffie read the name of the restaurant.
It was Saturday so everybody was out tonight chilling in front of Jerk and Lime, shooting the breeze with each other. “Why you looking like that?”
“Corleon, you just pulled up in a Rolls Royce Wraith, and you’re asking me why I look like this… we might get robbed.”
I couldn’t help but to laugh because I was comfortable everywhere I went. I turned in her direction. “You trust me, Sexy?”
“You know I do…I’m nervous that we’re setting ourselves up.” She looked out the window and I pulled her face back toward me.
“Then trust that I wouldn’t have us out here being sitting ducks…I’m always going to protect you, ight?”
“Yes.” She smiled at me.
I got out and walked around toward her side and opened the door for her. She took my hand and stepped out looking more beautiful than ever. She was dressed down in a sweatsuit, her locs pulled up into a bun, and her favorite black glasses.
When she called me to vent, I could hear she was stressed out and went to pick her up. Jeffie was the type that took her work home, and while Menace’s ass was somewhere counting how many grapes he ate for the day, she was home stressed about something she couldn’t control.
After damn near promising her my kidney, she agreed to come out with me tonight without knowing where I was taking her. She took my hand as I helped her out the car and closed the door behind her.
As I held her hand, I pulled her behind me as I dapped a few of the homies that were hanging out front. They nodded their heads in approval at Jeffie, while we were headed into the restaurant. I maneuvered us through all the people waiting for their to-go plates until we were in the back.
The Dim lights and smooth R&B playing was a big change from the chaos that ensued in the front of the restaurant. There were seven booths and the music played while those dining got to enjoy the music and their food at the same time.
She slid into the booth and I slid in beside her as Dru Hill played softly. Jeffie moved her head to the music and sang along with the music. “This is one of my favorite songs,” she crooned the words to “Beauty” by Dru Hill.
I licked my lips as I watched her loosen up around me. Where Skyler wasn’t a control freak and was down to go with the vibe, Jeffie wasn’t that easy going. She was used to being in control and that was because she had to.
Even convincing her to go with us to Capri, me and Skyler damn near had to guilt her to go. Skyler put on a puppy dog face with her lip poked out and made some excuse about her losing her dog when she was a child around her birthday.
My baby was a fucking clown, and I loved that shit about her. Both Jeffie and Skyler balanced each other out. The fact that they spoke without me being the middle man made me feel good as shit.
Who knew what the future held for us three, I knew that I wanted them and I’ve always been a patient man and could wait on them to decide what they wanted.
“You look beautiful tonight, Jeffie.” I kissed her on the neck, and she allowed a small moan to escape her mouth. “You know you beautiful, too.”
“Why are you gassing me up, Corleon? I look a mess and you refused to let me change.” She got in her head again, and squeezed her thigh.
Our eyes locked and she tried to look away. “When I say something, I mean that shit, Jeffie. Stop overthinking shit when it comes to me.”
She got closer to me and snuggled in my arms as the waiter came and took our order. Jeffie had me order for her, and I took pride in knowing what she would like. As a woman that always had to handle shit, she needed a man that allowed her to turn her brain off every once in a while.
When it came to both my women, I was the leader and provider and they didn’t have to worry about shit when it came to that.
“It’s hard not to overthink about everything, Corleon… I’m falling hard for you and that scares me. The last man I loved broke my heart so bad.”
“I’m not that man, Sexy… I don’t expect to pay for that man’s crimes. All I know is that I want to give you the world and love the fuck out of you.”
“Do you have enough love for the both of us though? It’s a question that I continue to ask myself. Me and Skyler are so locked in, but what happens if it changes.”
“It only changes if you both don’t communicate with me. I’m your man, so let me know what’s going on with you… don’t hide the shit. Same applies to Skyler. If we’re all on the same page, then nothing can go wrong.”
“What about Estella? I’ve met her twice already and she’s such a beautiful girl… Core, the way she stares into your eyes will melt your heart. That curly hair and those eyes suckered me right into giving her candy.”
My heart skipped a beat when I thought about Estella and what that meant. It meant I would be stepping into her life, loving on her mother, and eventually making her my wife. I saw how my brothers were with their daughters, and though Estella wasn’t my daughter, I could see how Jeffie got caught up.
“Geeky did say she had little eyes that make you wanna give her whatever.” I chuckled.
“Is that something that you’re prepared for, Corleon?” Jeffie asked, as she kissed my hand. “Skyler comes with a child, and I want children… we both want commitment. I feel like I need to put this out there because I’ve dated men in the past that have run the other way when I mention wanting children and forever with someone. Having two women is fun until it comes with real life.”
As she looked into my eyes, I knew I wanted to give her and Skyler everything they wanted. “I look like somebody that gets people’s feelings involved for fun?” I stared at her and she turned away. “No, look at me… answer the question.”
“No, Corleon… but are you ready for the things that I… we want?” she corrected herself and looked at me, as I kissed her soft lips.
I went from her lips to her neck, slowly biting her neck. “I want a family with you, Skyler, and Estella. I want to give you both my babies… I want to lead, provide, protect and love you both equally. I want to create a home for us, one where I can see you turn your mind off every once in a while. If you’re asking me if I’m ready for all of that… I am. I never say shit that I don’t mean, Jeffie. I want a family.”
She held my face and kissed my lips slowly, finally letting her walls down and seeing that I wanted to protect and love her like she had been craving. My phone ringing pulled us from our moment, and I looked down at the phone and it was Skyler calling.
“What up, baby?”
“Um, Corleon… Keyshawn is beating on your car outside my apartment. I pulled up and he’s pissed that I have Estella in your car.”
“Bitch, get the fuck out the car… you wanna have my daughter around random niggas… get the fuck out.” I heard a loud thud in the background.
Skyler took a deep breath. “And I can’t find the stupid key,” I could hear the emotion behind her words, and Jeffie grabbed her purse.
“We’re on our way, Skyler,” Jeffie said before I could.
Whenever I was way past angry, I remained quiet. “I’m on my way, baby.”
“K… hurry.”
“Who the fuck you on the phone with?” I heard another thud, and then heard Estella crying in the background.
I tossed money on the table and grabbed Jeffie’s hand and we were out. Soon as my ass hit the seat, I hit an illegal U-turn and headed to the Bronx to see a nigga about my wife and daughter.
Soon as I pulled onto the block, I spotted my whip and this nigga had the nerve to be sitting on the hood of it with his homies standing on the block looking on. A bunch of pussy niggas watching a nigga torment a woman and her child.
They really didn’t make real niggas anymore and that shit scared me for the future. “Stay in here, Sexy… lock the doors when I get out.”
She looked unsure. “Okay.”
I quickly hopped out, with my gun tucked and strolled down the block. When I made it to the car, Skyler unlocked the door, expecting me to get in with her. Meanwhile big mouth had hopped off the car while I unbuckled Estella.
“Hi Estella, you wanna come with me real quick?”
“Mommy is kay?” she looked to her mother to see if it was okay. Jeffie didn’t lie about those little eyes that peered up at me.
Skyler gave her a weak smile. “Yes, he’s a good person, Stellie Bellie.”
Estella nodded her head and extended her arms and I picked her up before heading around to the driver seat and helping Skyler out. “The fuck you think you doing with my daughter and my bitch?”
I kissed Skyler on the lips as I pulled her behind me while carrying Estella. When she saw Jeffie, she started clapping. “Jeff Bezos.”
I laughed at her knowing the nicknames the girls had with each other. “You better not be teaching her Jeffie’s name for you.”
Skyler nervously laughed. “I’m not. Stellie Bellie, he loves hugs.”
Estella gasped and gave me the tightest neck hug that I had ever experienced. Shit felt like she hugged my heart with her little arms. “I needed that hug, Stellie... thank you.”’
I needed that little hug before going to put my hands on her sperm donor.
I pulled Skyler in front of me and held the back door open for them, and kissed Skyler again before closing the door. Homie decided me ignoring him wasn’t enough of a warning and walked up on me. I swaggered toward him, picking my pants up. Before he could open his mouth, I grabbed his ass by the throat and carried him all the way toward the closed store that his homies were in front of.
Pulling my gun with the other hand, I put it to his temple and looked at them. “I can fucking promise you that the next time that you approach my fucking wife we gonna have a problem. Nigga, that’s my fucking seed… do something about it? Keep fucking with me and I can promise I will make sure your brother never plays pro ball again… feel me? That house that he bought your moms, you want that shit gone? You don’t know me, Keyshawn Marcus Braham… but I fucking know you and your mama. Want yo grandmama’s social security check in my account? Keep fucking with me and I’ll fucking wipe your entire family out… wanna try me?”
He couldn’t speak because I held his neck so fucking tight. Seeing the worry in Skyler’s eyes and then the dried tears on Estella’s face brought me here. Anybody hurt them, they automatically hurt me.
I released him, tossing him into the gates that were pulled down in front of the store.
I went to walk away and then stopped, grabbing his ass up again and taking his phone. All it took was for my phone to swipe his, and I had his bank information from whatever apps he had. “Good looking on the repairs too. I’m just gonna put her in something better… every time you see her, she gonna be doing better than when she fucked yo lame ass.”
I turned to walk away knowing that none of those niggas would try something. They were too concerned with how I knew all they homie’s business and threatened his entire family in one breath.
Jeffie hit the locks for me and I hopped in, pulling away from the block as quick as I came. “You alright, baby?”
“I hate that he even did that in front of her. We legit mind our business, don’t never ask him for anything and here he comes always doing shit to me… like what the hell.”
“He is very much corny just like you said,” Jeffie agreed with whatever conversation she and Skyler had without me.
“We going, Mommy?” Estella asked.
“To Bruster Manor, Baby Geeky.” I felt a hand massaging the back of my neck and looked in the rearview at Skyler.
“Thank you,” she mouthed, as she massaged my neck, and Jeffie held my hand. I looked at three of my girls, and knew I would do whatever when it came to protecting them.