Chapter 8
Arf. Arf.
The sound of barking caused me to peek my head out of Kannon’s bedroom.
I had been taking my hair out of the French braids I wore at night to keep my hair from getting tangled.
It was something I did to keep from having the hairstylist come every other day like Cyrus and Tyler suggested.
I didn’t need somebody tugging on my hair every day.
I had a performance next week. I had no idea how Kannon was going to act, but I planned to be there.
He was already so touchy about me leaving the house that I could only imagine what he would say when I mentioned having a performance.
I looked forward to the show, so I didn’t care what he had to say, because I was going.
As long as he stayed close, I knew I didn’t have to worry about anything.
I was going to call Tyler and get him to let the client know that I had an injury that would cause me to have to sit through most of my performance.
Technically, today was my last day to keep the weight off my foot.
Instead of riding around in that wheelchair like a little fool, I had been sitting most of the time.
If Kannon wanted to wait on me hand and foot, then his wish was my command. With that in mind, I quickly hobbled over and plopped down in that stupid wheelchair. I didn’t feel like hearing Kannon’s mouth. I winced in pain as I rolled over to the door to see where the hell that barking came from.
I had been biting the bullet and not taking anything for pain. I had already been drugged. I didn’t need any more poison in my body right now. There was too much at stake. I followed the sound of the barking, expecting to see Kross.
Kannon’s brother Kross had huge dogs that went with him everywhere, so I figured he must have been there. When I finally made it to the door, instead of the big black dogs, I saw the cutest brown labradoodle.
I looked around the room but didn’t see anyone else. As I walked closer, I noticed that the dog had a note hanging from her sparkly pink collar. Something told me Kannon was behind this, so I squatted beside the adorable dog and plucked the note from its collar.
Mommy,
Daddy is really sorry for leaving you tied up. Please don’t be mad with him. He was really worried about you. Plus, you leaving him in the cold like a stray dog made him a little crazy. Let him make it up to you.
Love,
Your new daughter Frisky
I looked up from the note in time to see Kannon walking in the house with his eyes glued to the dog. The stuffed monkey under his arm made me smile, but I had to fight it off. I wasn’t giving in that easily.
“You’re adorable, Frisky, but I’m not forgiving your daddy for being crazy until he makes it up to me.”
“What I gotta do, Carrie? I feel like we’re even. You dumped me on my head like a chump first.”
“You said something about making it up to me,” I mentioned. “And you’re the one that likes Mojo Jojo, not me.”
“I’ll play fair. The next time I tie you up for two days, it will be to eat your pussy for forty-eight hours.”
“Correction, you won’t be tying me up at all.”
“But you look so beautiful all tied up, C. I promise I’ll play fair.”
“I’m not holding you to that. Your ass is crazy.”
“You know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”
“I do know that.” I agreed.
“I’m not going to try to hold you hostage here. I plan on going with you wherever you go.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I was going to remind you to find something to wear to the Instapic Awards.”
“I don’t need nothing to wear. I’m not the one that’s going to be in the spotlight. It’s crazy, when I was on the way home, I was just thinking I don’t know how I feel about going back to sharing you with the world again.”
“Why not?”
“As long as I got you in this bubble, I know you’re safe.”
“It’ll be fine as long as you’re with me,” I assured him.
“Are you ready for a performance, Carrie? I don’t have any problem with carrying you down the red carpet, but what about this performance?”
I laughed a little, although Kannon was dead serious. “You won’t have to carry me. The performance will be fine. I’ve done shows with injuries before. I am going to sit on a stool.”
Kannon narrowed his eyes, apparently considering my answer. “We might need to take your chair.”
“Uh-uh, I’m not taking that damn wheelchair, Kannon.”
“Well, you’re wearing tennis shoes. I’ll find you some if I have to. What are you wearing?”
“There will be a stylist for all that. I don’t even have to think about it.”
“Let them know that your ankle is all fucked up then. Don’t go out there wearing heels and trying to be cute and mess it up even worse.”
“I won’t. I need to make a follow-up appointment with a doctor. Not the one the label uses,” I said, remembering how he didn’t give a damn about a HIPPA violation when it came to his employers.
“Find one and I’ll take you,” he assured me.
“Now for the elephant in the room, where in the world did you get a dog, Kannon? Your brother? He should know you’re an unfit parent.”
“Nah, we are unfit parents. This is a joint effort.”
I laughed. “Whatever. I’ve been wanting a dog, but I never have time to take care of one. It feels pointless to hire somebody to take care of it when we’re on the road.”
“Well, now you don’t have to worry about being a single mother,” Kannon said, stooping to pet Frisky.
Someone banging on the back door caused both of us to look up. The frown on Kannon’s face indicated that he wasn’t expecting anyone. He motioned with his hand for me to back up as he moved toward the door.
“Bedroom!” he ordered.
Something about his tone made me decide against questioning him. Still, I kept the door open as I slinked into his bedroom to listen in and see who was at the door.
“I came over here to make sure your black ass was still alive.”
“What were you gon’ do if I wasn’t?” Kannon asked his uninvited guest.
“Put one in the air and get on the grill in your honor,” they said.
“That ain’t worth a damn, boy. You better avenge me.”
“Well, we ain’t got to worry about that, because your black ass is still here.”
“What happened to calling? I could have been in here fucking.”
“I ain’t got to call you, boy. I’m your mama’s favorite son.”
Realizing that the visitor was one of Kannon’s brothers gave me the courage to pop my head out of the bedroom.
“Hey, Keywan,” I spoke, giving him a little wave as I walked deeper into the room. It was the younger one who had surprised his wife’s bridal party by having me sing at their wedding.
“Oh, hell nah! What the hell going on here?” he asked, looking between Kannon and me.
“What you mean?” Kannon asked, lifting his shoulders.
“Don’t you supposed to be somewhere else, Carteay? What you doing hiding out here with this big, rusty clown?”
“Boy, I got your clown.”
I smiled, knowing that I was in for a treat when the two of them got together. All they did was argue the entire time, but it was clear that they loved each other.
I shrugged. “I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
Kannon’s brother ignored what I had to say as he turned his attention to him. “Oh, so that’s why you were blocking like hell when I told you to hook me up? Y’all asses been sneak fucking all this time.” Keywan shook his head.
“Boy, shut up and close my door before you let my dog out,” Kannon chastised.
“I know damn well Kross wasn’t crazy enough to sell you no dog.”
“That dog you’re referring to is our daughter. I got my girl someone to keep her company while I’m out handling business. I need her to stay put for a while.”
“I got a show tomorrow though, Kannon,” I reminded him.
“And we’re going. Key, I need you and Bro to pull up. Bring your wives.”
“You know Moon would love that, but I don’t know if Kross and Doc can get a babysitter this late in the game.”
“I’ma ask Mom to keep Frisky,” Kannon stated.
Keywan laughed. “Boy, you named that dog Frisky?”
“She already had a name. The lame ass nigga I got her from named her Frisky.”
“Who did you get her from?” I chimed in. Kannon never did say where he got the dog from.
“A friend,” he replied without looking my way. He was lying. Kannon didn’t lie.
“What time is the show? I need to go take my wife shopping. She thinks she’s a blimp now that she’s in her third trimester. I love watching her grow our child. This shit is amazing, dog. I hope you get that experience one day,” Keywan said, cutting his eyes to me and making me clear my throat.
“Well, that’s my cue,” I said, turning and leaving the room before the conversation got any more awkward.
My stomach was already in knots, and with reason.
I wondered how Kannon felt about having kids.
We had never had that discussion. Him referring to the dog as our daughter kinda gave me the idea that he might not want actual real-life kids.
I would have to find a way to broach the subject.
For the moment, I was just enjoying being around him again.
It was crazy how much I missed him when I had to be away.
“Wait, Miss Carteay. I want to thank you again for singing at my wedding. You made my baby’s day.”
“Thank you for reminding me that good men exist. It was sweet to see how much you wanted her to have a special day.”
Kannon cleared his throat, making me look at him.
“What you clearing your throat for?” Keywan asked him. “This woman recognizes a good man when she sees one. Not that she sees many examples of one around here.”
“Boy, go home. Ain’t you happily sprung or some shit?”
“Thank God I met my wife because my brother backdoored me from getting the woman I thought was the girl of my dreams. You’re still a beautiful woman, Carteay. You can do much better than this.”
“Get out,” Kannon fussed, trying to fight back his laughter as he escorted his brother toward the door.
It was so cute to see Kannon and his brother interact. He was usually so stiff and cold unless it was just us. His brother’s brought out his cheerful side. After walking his brother out, Kannon came back in still wearing that adorable smile. His smile made me smile.
“What?” he asked, only breaking his smile a little.
“Just glad to be here.”