Chapter 5 #2
“So, that’s still not telling me who he is.”
“He’s a bo—” Her phone started ringing before I could finish the statement and I shrugged, moving toward the kitchen.
“Yes, I know, baby. Mommy will be home very soon. I was checking on your auntie. You know she has a habit of not answering her phone.” I laughed at her explanation to my niece. They talked for a few minutes longer before she joined me in the kitchen.
“So what was the real reason you met me at my place? I know it wasn’t because you missed me that much, Siyah.”
“I was worried about you,” she admitted, setting her phone on the island and looking me dead in my eyes.
“Why? I’ve been fine and in my space. I’m not thinking about Nathanial.”
“Well, you’re not and you haven’t been here. Outpost broke a story last night and the media has been in a frenzy since.”
Now I was confused. “And what is the story?”
“Three girls have come forth with paternity proving Knockout is the father of their babies. According to one of them, it was a threesome and he opted out of wearing a condom. They’re all three months old, supposedly the chick who DMed you’s real name is Darla Springs.
Lil mama tried to kill one of them in a club last month. ”
I was completely floored. “So you mean to tell me he wa—”
“Fucking everybody. Literally. So I’m glad you’re not taking him back because this shit is embarrassing.”
I nodded. “It really is.”
My sister stuck around for a while longer before she ultimately had to get home to her family.
That left me staring blankly at my TV, thinking about how stupid I had been.
Now that I really thought about it, while I was in Chicago, Nathanial had called me several times but I didn’t pick up.
He must have thought I’d seen the news. Outpost was Briar South local, so it wouldn’t have made it that far yet.
I also wasn’t a social media fanatic, so I damn sure wouldn’t have known had it not been for my sister.
I couldn’t sit here and obsess over a man who seemed to not have thoughts about me at any point. I’d be a damn fool to do that. Then again I was human and this was somebody I thought I knew, somebody I saw my future with, no matter how flawed it was.
My phone rang across the room by the time I exited the thoughts running rampant through my brain. I slowly removed myself from the cobalt blue blanket and gray sofa to get it. It was Indiri, immediately bringing a smile to my face.
“Hello.”
“You’re hardheaded as hell, Selah.”
I giggled, toe walking all the way back to my sofa. “And how is that?”
“Because I told you to call me when you made it upstairs.”
“Oh, my bad. I forgot. I got here and my sister was waiting on me.”
“You have a sister?” he asked.
“Yes, just one. Not a plethora of lookalikes like you.”
He chuckled. “Them niggas don’t look like me. I look like myself. And speaking of, my sister said she’s gonna need an overnight order of those red velvet cupcakes immediately.”
“Jade?”
“Nah, Beyah. Shorty is feral and had G call me about an hour ago.”
I laughed, remembering she was his brother’s wife and she was also pregnant. So she was probably going hard about the sweets. “Grandma’s recipe always eats.”
“How come I’m just hearing about the red velvet? I don’t fuck with sweets like that, but if I had, that would be it.”
“Good to know and I don’t know. You were at the reception just like I was, Indiri.” I settled into the sofa, pulling my cover back over my body.
“Maybe, but you knew what was there, right? I missed out, but it’s cool because you’re gonna teach me how to make my own.”
“I am, huh?”
“Yeah. You got me.”
I laughed. He was intrusive yet extremely accommodating. He only gave a fuck to make sure his demand was comfortable for me and him. “Sure, Indiri. Why not?”
“I’ma hold you to that. Who knows? I might be able to make a cupcake or two and take them to my grandmother. She’s worried as fuck that while I’m out here fighting for a living I won’t be able to cook for myself.”
I swooned silently because he was sweet. Hell yeah I was gonna help him so he could take cupcakes to his grandmother.
“You there, Selah baby?”
I was about to reply, but knocking on my door interrupted my words. Then the sound of a key being jammed into the lock had me on my feet.
“Selah, you gotta hear me out, baby,” I heard coming from the other side of the door before it unlocked. Of course it was this fool.
“I’m gonna call you right back, okay?”
“Yeah. You better get me before I knock out. Once I’m out it’s done, shorty.”
I giggled. “Okay.” He was the most fake grouchy nigga I had ever known. As soon as I hung up, I was looking at an uninvited Nathanial letting himself into my house.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.
He studied my features, looking for something to say before he sucked his teeth. “Nothing I’ma say can change everything I did, I know, but I nee—”
“You need what?” I found myself asking, then anger rushed to the forefront. “No, fuck what you need. I need you to leave my key on your way out.”
“Can you just hear me out, Selah? Damn. That’s all I’m asking and I’ll leave the key and be out of your life for good.”
I glanced at my watch before my eyes landed on him. “You have five minutes. Go.”
He blinked several times, eyes glossing the room. “Fine. I know I fucked up and nothing will fix it, but I need you to know where my head was at the time.”
I dropped my head, waiting for this grand explanation.
“It was after the Mason interview and I just needed something to feel alive, you know. I give so much out here that when it’s time for me to just be, I’m lost. You were busy with the second location opening and you weren’t there for me.”
“Is that really where you wanna take this? Let me finish it for you then. You were busy for once taking care of yourself, Selah, and while you did that, I had a threesome with God knows who to feel whole. I didn’t use protection because I was so lost and not thinking.
” I paused and looked at him with disgust. “Was that right?”
“I fucked up Selah, damn.” His voice elevated.
“Okay, you fucked up. What am I supposed to do with that?”
“Forgive me, damn. We were friends before anything. You know my heart and you know I’d never set out to hurt you.” He pointed to his chest.
“Correction. I knew your heart. Now I don’t know anything about you. I don’t know this person you’ve become. As a matter of fact, it dawned on me the other day that I haven’t known you for a while.”
“You know me. And you know I need you, Selah. As of tomorrow, I have a fight coming up and I’ve never not had you in my corner. You’re everything to me, even though I’ve done a piss poor job of showing it.”
I couldn’t stop the laughter that spilled from my lips. “In your corner? Are you crazy? Haven’t you done enough where I’m concerned? You better call Darla or one of those baby mamas.”
“Fuck them. You’re the only person who knows me. With you, I’m invincible, and I need that fight. This is for a title and this opponent is different from anybody I’ve ever faced.”
He was nervous, maybe even scared. I could tell from the way he fidgeted with his hands. Damn, who was this nigga?