Chapter 13 #3
“I know tonight didn’t go as planned, but don’t let it take away from all that you’ve accomplished.
You are making a name for yourself and creating the life you always wanted.
Don’t allow someone who didn’t bother to stick around to steal your joy from you.
Your family and friends are proud of you, Noodle is proud of you, and I’m proud of you too. She doesn’t deserve your energy.”
I heard her words, and while I appreciated her encouragement, it did nothing to shake the feeling in my chest. Seeing Enoka after all of this time fucked me up.
When I was younger, I would pray for her to come back for me.
I questioned why I wasn’t good enough and why she wanted to leave me so badly.
When I got older, my hurt turned into anger, and eventually, I convinced myself she was dead, and I would never have to see her again.
I was aware that Granny still communicated with her because I had witnessed her rushing someone off the phone whenever I walked into her house, and I knew it wasn’t the old ass deacon because we had met already.
I never said too much about it because, at the end of the day, she was her child, and I could never ask her to cut her off completely.
“Come on.” Lyric held her hand out for me.
I hadn’t even realized I had zoned out, but she was wearing a towel wrapped around her body.
Instead of asking questions, I followed her until we reached the bathroom.
Lyric ran us a bubble bath, accompanied by a bottle of champagne and several lit candles.
“What is this for?” I finally inquired.
“Today is a special day, and I wanted to end it on a good note. I’ve had to share you all night, and now I get to have you to myself.” My body reacted to the last part of her statement. We were in a good place, and it felt good to have her to myself.
I stripped out of my clothes, then checked the temperature before I stepped inside. I loved having a jacuzzi tub because I could stretch my legs out. Lyric dropped her towel before gliding over to me. She exuded sex appeal even when she wasn’t trying, which was why I couldn’t get enough of her.
She popped the champagne bottle and poured us both a glass. I wasn’t someone who cared for grand gestures, but I appreciated the fact that Lyric went out of her way to celebrate me. I couldn’t say no one else ever tried; I just never allowed anyone to get close enough to me.
“Let’s toast to my baby daddy, the entrepreneur.
I see the work you’ve been putting in. Even though I might complain about you being gone, I appreciate how hard you work to provide for Noodle and me.
I’m grateful to have a man like you in my life.
I admire your drive and work ethic, and I appreciate everything you do for us.
Cheers to another successful business venture. I love you so much.”
She climbed into my lap and kissed my lips. When she pulled away, she held her glass against mine. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she looked gorgeous under the flickers of candlelight.
“I love you, Lola B. Thank you for looking out for me. You know I don’t like when your little ass fights, but I appreciate you wanting to protect me.
Watching you work the room tonight made me proud.
You really make a nigga look good, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have your fine ass on my arm. ”
“You already know I’m riding with you until the wheels fall off. I know she might be your biological mother, but I’ll beat that hoe every time I see her.”
I chuckled, seeing the frown on her face.
“Put your boxing gloves down, Laila Ali. I doubt either of us will be seeing much of her after tonight. I do plan to sit down and have a talk with my granny about boundaries. She can have that lady around her all she wants, but she doesn’t exist in my world.”
“Yeah, she had a lot of nerve showing up tonight. I wanted to smack that ugly wig off her head the moment she stepped inside, but I was trying not to make you look bad.”
“You could never make me look bad, but I appreciate your consideration. They would have been quick to post an article about a smackdown at the grand opening.” I chuckled.
“Symphonee doesn’t even know how good she’s got it. I would rather die than become like my mother or yours. I could never abandon my child and then show up like everything is all good. It has to be a mental illness.”
“Speaking of sorry mommas, what’s going on with yours?”
Lyric mentioned her mom had reached out to her recently, but I was so busy I forgot to follow up.
“She’s called a few times, but it’s only so she can beg for money. I don’t know what she has gotten herself into, but she’s constantly begging. The last couple of times, I told her I didn’t have it, and she basically told me I was useless to her.”
“Damn. Did you block her number?”
The guilty expression on her face gave me the answer I was looking for.
“I know I need to cut her off, but it’s not as easy as I thought it would be. I know she wasn’t a good mother to me, but she’s the only living parent I have. As stupid as it might sound, a part of me keeps waiting for her to change. It’s delusional thinking, but that’s where I am.”
As much as I wanted to judge her, I couldn’t. At the end of the day, she loved her momma even though she didn’t deserve it. Unfortunately, this was one of those lessons she would have to learn on her own.
“Did she ask about Keyz?”
“Not really. She mentioned him, but it was only to complain. She still blames him for ruining her life, which is crazy because she doesn’t care about what happened to me. All she cares about is how this has affected her.”
“Fuck her. Neither one of y’all need her for anything.
If she isn’t interested in fixing the relationship, she doesn’t need to have access to you.
I’m telling you right now, I don’t want her around my baby.
If you decide to allow her into your space, that’s on you, but Noodle won’t be a part of that. ”
Lyric and I locked eyes, and I expected her to give me pushback, but she surprised me.
“I agree with you. It’s my job to protect our baby, and I don’t want to introduce her to anyone who may not be around long-term. Plus, I don’t trust my momma as far as I can throw her, so I would never let her spend any time with her alone.”
“Damn right. I talked to Nauri today. He congratulated me on the restaurant. I’m getting tired of keeping secrets from my homie, Lola B.”
Lyric sighed, already knowing where the conversation was going.
“I know, baby. I’ve been trying to find the right time to talk to him about it, but there’s always something going on. He’s been so focused on his music that I didn’t want to bother him.”
I tilted my head and gave her a look to let her know I wasn’t buying what she was selling.
“Come on, now. I’ve given you plenty of time to tell him what was up.
You wanted a commitment, and I gave it to you with no questions asked.
Now I’m asking you to be honest with your brother.
I could have told him already, but you begged me not to.
I’m trying to respect your stance, but I don’t like lying to someone I care about.
I can’t even be fully open with our relationship because you haven’t told him about us.
That’s not fair to me. I’m a real ass nigga, and I don’t hide from anyone, but I can’t even really show you off the way I want, because you’re so worried about what your brother thinks. ”
“And you’re not?”
“Hell no. I’m a grown ass man. As much as I love and respect Nauri, this is my life and my family.
Even if he didn’t accept us being together, it wouldn’t stop shit.
That’s why I don’t understand why you keep stalling.
You’re not a child anymore. He can’t tell you what to do with your life, nor should his opinion change what we have going on. ”
I could tell the conversation was growing uncomfortable for her because she started looking everywhere except at me.
When she did finally acknowledge me again, she sat up and slid down on my dick.
Lyric wasn’t slick in the least bit. I knew she was hoping sex would distract me from pressing the issue, and I decided not to press her for now.
She couldn’t avoid the subject forever, so I was gonna let her make it.
Besides, her pussy held me in a vice grip, and I wanted to enjoy every second of it.