Chapter 13
For the past two weeks, all my nights consisted of my going over to Jabari’s house after work.
Since our first date, both of us had become addicted to each other.
We spent the entire day texting and calling each other, ending the night together.
No matter how tired I was, I always ended up at Jabari’s house.
By the time I arrived, he had dinner cooked and laid out on the table.
Throughout the day, he would find out what I was craving and would try his damn hardest to cook it for me.
The things that I’d hoped for were happening right before my eyes, and I was in La La Land.
It was a great feeling, a feeling I didn’t realize my mental and physical missed so much.
It was Friday evening, and Jabari had bought tickets to see a movie that JaBria had been asking to see since she’d seen the previews. While I waited for Jabari to finish getting dressed, JaBria and I sat in the living room while I helped her tie her shoes.
“Thank you, Miss Amina.”
“You’re welcome. I like your pink dress. It’s so cute.”
“Thank you. Grandma Gloria got it for me.”
“Grandma Gloria has great taste because it’s beautiful.”
She smiled as she spun around in her light pink dress with hot pink lace flowers on it.
JaBria was a breath of fresh air. She was the happiest, brightest, and sweetest seven-year-old I had ever met.
Besides being hyper, she didn’t give Jabari any issues and was very well-mannered.
She was wise beyond her years, and I was impressed with her upbringing.
The doorbell rang, and JaBria and I looked at each other. She shrugged, and so did I.
“Jabari, do you want me to get that?” I asked, shouting down the hallway.
Instead of Jabari responding, he stormed out of the room with his phone in his hand and a pissed off expression on his face.
“JaBria, do me a favor. Go to your room and shut the door. Busy yourself with your tablet, please.”
JaBria must’ve known Jabari was serious because she didn’t ask questions. She just hopped off the couch and sped off into the room.
“Jabari, is everything okay?” I asked, walking behind him.
By this time, Jabari had made it to the door and snatched it open. There stood a woman, average height, with long black braids that flowed down her back. She was neither skinny nor thick. She and JaBria had the same face. The only difference was that her skin was a shade darker than JaBria’s.
“Kya, you have some goddamn nerve. Why the fuck are you here?”
She sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “I came to get my child. Why else would I be here? It sholl ain’t for your ass.”
“Bit—” He paused and took a deep breath. “Kya, it’s been what? Two years since you dropped JaBria off at my house, and now, suddenly, you think I’m about to let you just take her? I don’t know shit about what you got going on. You could put my baby in danger.”
“Fuck you! I’m a better parent than half the people in this world. I needed a break, and you know that. It was time for you to step up to that plate!” Kya hissed.
Jabari had explained the situation between him and JaBria’s mom to me, but I didn’t think it was so severe. I cringed as the two bickered back and forth.
Jabari took another deep breath and lowered his tone. “I don’t care about any of that. If you needed a break, you could’ve said that. I would’ve happily taken her for a week or two, but no?—”
“Nigga, I did!” Kya fumed. “I called and called and yet got no results. You called back when it was best for you. My last resort was to drop her off and disappear. You were living your life. Why couldn’t I live mine?”
Things were beginning to get out of hand, and I didn’t know how much longer I could take listening to them go back and forth.
“Let me in so I can get her, Jabari!”
“Tuh! I ain’t letting you in shit.”
“I’ll call the police!” Kya threatened.
“And say what? You wanted to come get your daughter, whom you’ve had no contact with for two years. They’ll lock your ass up for abandonment!”
Things were getting loud, and I’d had enough of the cussing and fussing. I placed my hand on Jabari’s shoulder, getting his attention.
“Hey. Y’all are loud. JaBria and the neighborhood can hear y’all. Let’s just wrap this up and save it for another day,” I softly advised Jabari.
“And who the fuck is this?” Kya hissed, looking over at me.
“Hi, I’m Amina. I’m a friend of Jabari.” I stuck my hand out, and she looked at it like it had shit on it.
“Girl, you’re probably one of his little flings. Jabari doesn’t commit to shit but his career. Come tomorrow, it’ll be another bitch over here. So anyway...”
My eyes bounced from him to her. I was confused about who she thought she was talking to and what she meant by fling?
“Kya, get on with that disrespectful shit. If you want to take JaBria, go get a lawyer and serve me.”
Jabari then slammed the door in her face.
He turned around and looked at me. The words Kya said were on repeat in my head.
I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a fling.
I never thought so at first, but now, I couldn’t help but think that way.
It also didn’t resonate with me that Jabari wasn’t that great of a father during the early years of JaBria’s life.
“Amina, I’m sorry about that.”
“Um... There’s no need to apologize.”
He let out a deep breath. “Damn, I need to get on the phone with a lawyer. I know Kya, and she likes to get dirty and grimy. JaBria is going to miss the movies tonight. Damn, she’s going to be so sad.”
“I’m sure she’ll understand. Just let her know it was an emergency.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” He looked at me. “You good?”
I nodded, but deep down inside, I wasn’t. The entire interaction had thrown me off, and there were some things I needed to think about.
“Yeah, I’m good. I’m probably going to head out and let you handle your business. I don’t want to be a distraction.”
“No, you’re good. Your company is needed, especially right now.
I smiled because I no longer wanted to be in his space. I had some things to think about. I was so hypnotized by the way Jabari treated me that I’d been deluded on other shit.
“Please stay.”
Jabari’s tone was sincere. He looked exhausted and irritated at the same time. I wanted to run away from all of this and sit alone with my personal thoughts to process everything. Instead, I took him up on his offer.
“I’ll stay.”
He smiled and placed a kiss on each of my hands. “Thank you.” He pecked my lips. “I appreciate you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll go talk to JaBria. Can I get you anything?”
“Um... no. I’ll sit out here and let you handle things.”
He kissed my forehead and headed to JaBria’s room.
I sat back on the couch and pulled out my phone.
I noticed I had three missed calls, and two were from Gio and one from Danita.
I rolled my eyes, realizing I wouldn’t hear the end of missing their phone calls, especially Gio.
Instead of calling Danita back, I called Gio.
My conversations with Gio were usually quick, unlike Danita’s.
Gio answered the phone, and per usual, there was no greeting, just questions. “Where are you?”
“Hi, Gio.”
“Man, I’m looking at the Ring camera and you’re not home. I’ve also noticed, that your car is there during the day at times but then gone at night. Plus, I know it doesn’t take that long to put a TV screen in a car. Are you stripping or something?”
I sucked my teeth. “Gio, please.”
I regretted giving Gio access to my Ring camera. He demanded that Danita and I give him access to our home cameras just to keep tabs on us. We fought tooth and nail but eventually gave in to him.
“Don’t Gio, please, me. What’s going on? Are you working two jobs?”
“No, Gio, I’m not working two jobs.”
I knew eventually I would have to tell Gio about Jabari, but I didn’t think it would be as soon as this. It didn’t feel right keeping this from him because eventually I knew he would find out.
“Then what is it?”
I sighed. “I’ve been seeing someone. Before you jump off the bridge and start flying off questions, it’s nothing serious. We’re just learning each other and spending time together. Things are new and fresh?—”
“Seriously, Peanut? Do you honestly think you have time for any of that?” He sucked his teeth. “It now makes sense why you’re not applying for other jobs. Damn it, Peanut! I told y’all worry about these niggas later and get to the bag first!”
“Gio, that’s not what I’m doing! I know my end goal, but it’s okay for me to have fun. I’m not marrying him!” I defended.
“Man, and don’t! Get your bag first. I see how niggas are every day. They only want one thing.”
“I know, Gio. I got this, okay? I’m just having fun right now. That’s it,” I insisted, exhausted.
“Good, and start back staying home at night. It seems like you’re nothing but a booty call to him anyway.”
I’d had enough. I wasn’t expecting this phone call to be about my personal life and what I was doing. Gio didn’t know boundaries and tended to overstep. I couldn’t handle anything else on top of everything that happened with Jabari and Kya.
“Alright, Gio. I’ve got some stuff to handle. I’ll call later.”
“Hmm. Remember what the hell I said, Peanut. Worry about your business first and these niggas last.”
“Bye, Gio. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
We ended the call, and I tossed my phone aside.
Today was already too much, and I was over it.
The light feeling from earlier had vanished.
I felt as if, as soon as things felt right, some sort of curveball was thrown into it.
It felt as if I didn’t deserve happiness like everyone else.
I laid down on the couch and shut my eyes to stop the exhausted tears from falling.
This was too much, and I need to reset. I was content with my life prior to Jabari, but the feeling of him was addicting.