Daymir #2
As she hands me the receipt, I notice how her eyes scan me from head to toe. Then, her smile gets too damn big. “Do you need anything?” she asks, her tone lower.
“Nah. We good. Thanks,” I say then reach for the receipt.
Clearly, she’s clueless as hell because she isn’t picking up on my non-interested tone or face.
When I reach for the receipt, she places her other hand on mine.
Because I don’t want to embarrass her or say something off in front of DJ, I warn her non-verbally.
My eyes cut to her hand then I shake my head.
This time, she more perceptive because she quickly draws back her hands, dropping the receipt on the counter.
I grab it and DJ and I leave her thirsty ass in the store.
On a directory outside of the store, I find an Office Mart, we head there and pick up the remainder of those outlandish items on his list. Since it’s getting late, I decide to grab us dinner from the Italian joint here, two kids’ meals for him and the chicken Parmesan for me.
Although DJ doesn’t seem like a picky eater, I don’t know if he’ll eat the school lunch so his second meal is for his lunch bag tomorrow.
As soon as we walk into the crib, he rushes to the room with his stuff.
He insisted on carrying it all so his book bag is filled with his supplies, all of them.
I walk to the kitchen, wash my hands, and take out the food.
Because I like my food hot, I place my container in the microwave. While it warms, I walk to his room.
“After we eat, you gotta shower and get ready for bed.”
“Okay but can I call Maw Maw? I need to show her my stuff and my hair.”
“Yeah. Go head but man, where’s the lunch bag though? I need to clean it and put your lunch inside.”
“Right here,” he says before hopping off his bed.
He runs into his closet and I watch him as he pulls it out of his bookbag. I hold in my laugh when he hands me the smashed in bag. He had it jammed into his bookbag.
“You can pick out the snacks to go with it after we eat dinner.”
“Okay,” he says before jumping back on the bed.
“You sure you don’t want a different bed in here, man?” I ask again.
This is my second time asking him. This room was my guestroom. Nothing in here was picked with a kid in mind. There’s a king size platform bed, armoire, small dresser by the bed, and a TV mounted on the wall.
“No. I like this big bed. I don’t want a little one,” he insists again.
“Not little,” I say with a grin. “Maybe something different. I don’t know. I just want you to like your room.”
He laughs then says, “This is my favorite room. It’s big.”
“A’ight. I won’t ask again. Grab yo’ phone and come in the kitchen so we can eat and you can call yo’ grandma.”
“Yes, sir,” he says, looking me square in the eye.
I’m still amazed at how much he looks and acts like me. It’s crazy. A little me has been in this world for six years and I had no clue. That’s why I’m doing everything I can to make that shit up to him, to his grandmother too.
I’ve learned from DJ through general convos that her house in Houston has some issues.
He mentioned only being able to take a bath in one of the bathrooms and he said that when it rains, he had a bucket in his room for the water.
I have a contractor going there on Monday to do a walk-through and tell me what’s up so I can get it all fixed.
I also set up an account for her and set up monthly deposits.
When I walk out with the lunch bag; he’s right behind me, walking fast to keep up with my longer strides.
I trek into the kitchen and place his bag on the counter.
He places his phone in the counter stool then runs into the hall bathroom.
Both of our food containers are on the island when he returns along with two bottles of water.
“Call yo’ Maw Maw before you eat. She’ll be sleep in a minute,” I say and he grabs his phone. As he calls her, I warm the breadsticks in my air fryer.
“Look at your hair?” she says. “You look like a grown man,” she says then laughs.
“I got it cut today. I go to school in the morning and I got everything.”
“Everything?” she asks.
“Yes, ma’am. I got my Marvin backpack, a lunch kit, some markers, a bunch of stuff,” he says then looks up at me.
“Daddy, can I go show her?” he asks and I nod.
He takes off for his room and I grab the breadsticks.
After placing them on the island, I sit and start to eat.
I’m hungry as hell and don’t want my shit to get cold.
I’ve killed a good amount of it by the time he’s back in the kitchen.
“She wanna talk to you?” he says while holding his cell out to me.
“Okay, you sit up here and eat while I talk to her.” I take the phone then walk through the living room and down the hall to my bedroom. “What’s going on, Miss Pat? I’m not cancelling the contractor.”
“I’m not going to object anymore. This old house needs some repairs.”
“Good because he’ll be there Monday at ten.”
“I wrote it on my calendar on this fridgerator. But that’s not what I wanted.
It’s that girl,” she sighs. “She done checked herself out of that place. Didn’t even make it a whole week.
I called to check on her and they said she left last Sunday night.
I love that girl but I can’t let her take me to an early grave. ”
“No, you can’t,” I tell her. H ain’t no joke and when people are on that shit it’s hard to shake it, especially if the person isn’t ready. Makenna isn’t going to get clean until she wants to and if she doesn’t soon, that shit is gonna kill her.
“I know cause I’m not ready now, especially with the baby doing so good. He’s so excited about school and he looks so happy. I’m so glad she at least had sense enough to finally reach out to you.”
“I’m glad you forced her too,” I add. “I would have never known about DJ if you hadn’t. Thank you again.”
“That was prayer. She keeps me on these bad knees,” she says then forces a smile. It’s obvious that she loves and worries about Makenna. It’s written all over her little round face. “Now, I gotta leave it in God’s hands. You pray for her too, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. I got you.”
“Send me pictures of him going to school. I think I figured out how to look at them on this thing but I can’t take no pictures though,” she smiles. “Good night.”
“Good night, Miss Pat.”
When I end the call, I check myself. I don’t want DJ reading my face and sensing that something is wrong. So, after running my hand down my face and taking a deep breath, I walk back to the kitchen. He’s finishing up his food when I return.
“Is Maw Maw still on there?” he asks.
“Nah. She’s gone to bed but she wants me to send her pictures of you tomorrow when we get to the school.”
“Just one, please,” he says, sounding like me. I’m not big on pictures either. I focus more on living in the moment than taking time from it to take a picture.
“One is cool. You done eating?”
“Yes, sir,” he says before sliding off the stool. “Can I pack my lunch?”
“Yeah. You’re going to have that Italian sandwich and fruit cup from the restaurant. So, grab what you want to go with it while I clean this up.”
“I got my stuff,” he insists.
As he grabs his empty container, I pull his sandwich and fruit out of the bag then throw the bag away.
I wipe off the counters while he grabs one of his frozen PB&J things from the freezer and a bag of chips and bottle of flavored water from the pantry.
He packs everything in his lunch kit then places it in the fridge before going to his room to shower and get in bed.
I stay in the living room to chill for a minute. While he’s at school, I’ll be taking my ass to the warehouse. We have a nice size shipment coming in on Friday and I have to make sure we are all set. I trust Hazel to handle shit but I still like to be hands-on in all operations and shipments.
In the midst of all of this, I can’t keep my mind off of Imani.
She consumes it all the fucking time and I miss her.
Even though I agreed to our break to allow DJ and I to have time, I’m over it.
Two weeks without her has been hard as fuck.
I miss her sultry voice, long ass legs, and beautiful face.
Hell, I miss all of her. So, I say fuck it and shoot her a text.
Me: Hey Beauty.
When she doesn’t respond after about two minutes, I shake my head because it looks like she was serious as hell about a break. I was just hoping the shit wouldn’t be this damn long. Disappointed, I reach for my remote to turn on my TV but my phone vibrates.
Imani: How’s it going, my Beast?
The smile that creeps on my face is damn near shameful but I don’t give a fuck. She hit me back and she called me her beast, remembering our conversation after the first time she blessed me with her pussy.
Me: Good but it would be better with you.
Imani: I would be in the way.
Me: And? That’s what I want. You all up in my way. You don’t miss me?
Imani: I do but how’s DJ? Are you two good together?
Me: We are really good. He’s gotten used to being here with me. He starts school tomorrow.
Imani: Oh good! Send pictures. ??
Me: I got you but when can I see you?
Imani: Daymir!
Me: I didn’t ask you for my name. I know it When can I see you?
Imani: Let’s see how he adjusts to school.
Me: He’ll adjust quick
She basically disregards my text then ends our conversation. Imani: Good night.