Chapter 20
L a Fin was the kind of place you didn’t make too much noise in. Dark mahogany walls, mirrored panels, and the heavy scent of cedar tickled the senses of all who walked through the door. It was the kind of bougie place Mark preferred these days.
He poured himself a bourbon and watched as Davion stood in his tux in front of a three-way mirror, his shirt half-buttoned and brows furrowed.
“It feels tight,” he muttered, rotating his shoulders.
“I can let the seam out another quarter inch,” the tailor offered.
Orion, lounging on one of the leather club chairs, shook his head. “That tux fits fine.”
Davion’s jaw clenched. “It feels tight to me.”
“You’re just in a bad mood,” Orion insisted. “Looking for things to nitpick.”
Mark drank a finger of bourbon, determined not to get involved in the petty bullshit.
“Want one?” he asked Orion, holding up his glass.
He nodded, making his way over to the bar cart.
Amari and Sylvan stood against the wall on their phones while the rest of the guys were in the private fitting rooms.
“I can’t wait for this shit to be over with,” Orion muttered. “No offense to you, Doc. You know how to throw a party. I’m just over this shit.”
Mark gave a nod. He knew more was coming.
Orion took two sips before exhaling loudly. “My ex-wife so fuckin’ dramatic. I swear, she’s gonna be the death of me.”
Mark’s fingers tightened around his glass tumbler.
“Why do you say that?” he gritted, hoping and praying Orion kept it respectful.
“She done flew in a fuckin’ teenager just to make me jealous,” he huffed out, taking another sip. “She’s petty like that.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
Orion lifted a shoulder, his eyes on Davion. “It’s whatever. She ain’t foolin’ me, Doc.” He looked around, then lowered his voice. “I was just in them guts a few days ago.”
Mark’s blood went cold. He felt like the floor had just dropped out from under him.
“She out here playing the scorned woman, meanwhile she’s fuckin’ me on some getback,” he continued. “She acts all high and mighty, but deep down, she’s like all the rest of these birds. Trifling.”
Mark set his glass on the tray. “Don’t do that.”
Orion arched an eyebrow. “Do what?”
“Talk about your ex like that.”
Orion’s face balled up. “Be for real, Doc.”
“Oh, this is as real as it gets,” Mark said through gritted teeth. “That’s some weak ass shit, disrespecting the mother of your kids while they stand five feet away.”
Orion stood, squaring his shoulders. “What’s it to you? You ain’t got a dog in this fight.”
“I respectfully disagree.”
“Yeah, well, all due respect, but it ain’t your place to correct me. I’m a grown ass man. You don’t know me or her.”
Mark chuckled. “I know enough.”
His eyes scanned the room for employees. He didn’t want to make a scene in a place like this, but Sunny’s bitch ass ex-husband was taking him there.
“Ohhhhh. I see.” Orion’s eyes narrowed. “You wanna get at her. You have since day one. I don’t know how I missed that.”
“I bet we could fill a book with all the shit you’ve missed.”
Silence thickened the air around them.
“In case you need it spelled out for you,” Orion said, taking a step forward, “that’s mine. All of it. I don’t give a fuck what it looks like from the outside. We’re locked in.”
Mark smirked. “You think so?”
Orion huffed out a laugh. “What’s a square ass nigga like you gon’ do with all that anyway? Fuck outta here. My name’s tattooed on that thang, Doc. Don’t get your feelings hurt.”
“What did you just say?”
Davion had snuck up on them without them realizing.
“Son—“
“Nah, what you just say about my mama?”
Amari and Sylvan looked up, instantly alert.
Orion swallowed hard. “Just a little jawjackin’, that’s all. Don’t worry about it.”
Mark exhaled. It sounded to him like Orion made it up, which made a lot more sense than Sunny lying to his face.
“Nah. I wanna know what you just said to him about my mother. ”
Orion frowned, backing up a step. “Why don’t you watch your tone first. Take that bass out your voice.”
Davion chuckled bitterly. “Whatever you said…I already know it’s gonna piss me off.”
“Then quit ear hustlin’.”
“Or you can just stop talkin’ shit!”
Mark moved in front of Davion as Orion charged him, taking the brunt of the man’s weight. He was unfazed; three years of college football had prepared him for days like this.
“Tell ‘em!” Davion said from behind Mark. “Tell your sons the truth.”
“About what?” Sylvan said. “What’s going on?”
Mark pressed his palms against Orion’s chest, moving him backwards with some ease. An employee rushed out of the fitting room, concern on his face.
“We’re good,” Mark said, shaking his head at Orion. “Let’s not do this here.”
“Nah, tell the truth, Pop! Tell them why Mama divorced you.”
Orion’s shoulders dropped as the fight went out of him.
“Because you cheated,” Dav said flatly, turning toward his brothers. “With a bitch he met at Mama’s job. Who she was friends with. Mama introduced them.”
Amari blinked. “Wait…what?”
“You serious?” Sylvan said, his phone forgotten in his hand.
Orion opened his mouth, then closed it.
Mark stood at attention, ready to step in again if he needed to. But Orion was like a balloon that had been unknotted, leaking oxygen, falling and flattening against the floor.
“I ain’t doin’ this shit,” Davion muttered. He snatched the garment bag out of the employee’s hand and stormed out the door.
Mark caught up with him outside on the boutique steps.
“Dav—“
“I’ma take an Uber,” he snapped. “I ain’t riding back with his ass.”
“Alright, but just listen to me for a second.”
The emotional young man brought his gaze to Mark, who quickly realized he was witnessing more pain than anger.
“You’re not in the right headspace right now. I get it.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I do.” Mark crossed his arms. “You love my daughter, but you’re surrounded by bullshit.”
“Exactly. Lies, people hiding shit, drama around every goddamn corner.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry for cursing but I’m frustrated.”
“It’s all good.” Mark inhaled deeply, feeling a prickle of guilt for being part of the problem. “We just gotta get you down that aisle, man. So block out all the noise. Keep your head down and push through. It’ll be alright. I promise.”
“You can’t promise me that,” Dav mumbled. “Thanks for trying, though.”
A black Navigator pulled up to the curb. The driver jogged around, opened the door, and Mark smiled as his father stepped out.
“Here we go,” Mark said. “We got a celebrity in our midst.”
In spite of everything, Davion smiled, too. William Bennett was even cooler than his son.
Mark and his father hugged lovingly, making Davion ache with envy. William embraced him next, patting him warmly on the back. They didn’t get a chance to talk before Dav’s ride pulled up, but they promised to catch up later.
Mark held it together long enough to see Davion off, but once the Uber was out of sight, he blew out a breath.
“Pop. I’ma tell you right now…you just walked into some bullshit.”