11. Won’t Keep You Waiting #3
“Let me clear my throat!” I had one hand in the air doing a family friendly body roll that had me dropping to the floor.
“Hammercy babe. I hope you don’t mind.” We danced through the song.
When I sat back on the bleachers, Vayce handed me a water bottle, and I downed it as the last round began.
The rules changed, it was three buckets instead of five from the score markers.
The first boy hit one. I did a little dance.
The second boy made the first two shots.
I put one hand over my mouth as he dribbled the ball.
Everybody was shouting different things, including you got this, miss it, and I see you .
The little boy shot the ball, and it bounced off the rim then hit the ground. I damn near leaped off the ground.
“Give it up for Zionnn!” The DJ yelled. Everybody cheered while he gave a shy smile. He was locked in and all he had to do was bring it home.
The first shot went in easily. The second, he moved back, shot, and the shit was smooth as butter.
“That’s my baby!” I clapped my hands.
“Yeah, Zy!” Vayce yelled along with the rest of the family.
“You got it, Granny baby!” Mama cheered.
Zy dribbled and shot and it was all net.
“Yess! On yo dawg ass!” I slapped hands with Vayce. “Yeahhhh!”
“And the birthday boy is the winner!”
Vayce ran on the court and threw Zy on his shoulders, spinning him around a few times. Everyone cheered for him, even his friends that lost. They weren’t sore losers, but I was. Real tournament or not, we got the dub.
The crowd was clearing out little by little, so we cleaned in increments so it wouldn’t be too much when everyone left.
We sang happy birthday, and he was opening a few of his gifts.
People had really shown him so much love.
I couldn’t believe my baby was really ten.
Before I knew it, he was going to be on the way to college.
Mama was holding the phone so close to her face that I didn’t know if she was taking a selfie or recording.
Valen hit the record button for her and threw Mama a wink when she told her thank you.
“Aight, Zy. That one from me,” Vayce folded his arms across his chest.
Zion unwrapped the velvet box and I was tuned in because Vayce still hadn’t told me what he got him. Zion removed the top and took off running around the room. Everybody was laughing.
“His Georgetown jersey and it’s signed?”
“No way bro!” One of his friends peeked into the box and his eyes widened too. “Wow!’
Vayce laughed when he ran and jumped on him. So overwhelmed with emotion, he burst into tears. Vayce lifted him, giving him a big hug.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Vayce!”
“You’re welcome, Zy. Glad you like it, man.” He placed him on his feet when he calmed down then grabbed his phone from his pocket. Vayce swiped through it. “Oh, I got one more thing for you,” he turned the screen to face Zy who frowned as his eyes moved over the words.
“LA and Boston tickets?” He squealed.
“Courtside. For you, your mom, and I. AI won’t be there of course, but we’ll both get to see our current favorites.”
I smiled as they hugged again. Jade hit my arm. “I know that’s right. Got you a good man sista.”
“And do!”
As Zion and Vayce rambled about the tickets, there was a deep clearing of the throat that gained all of our attention.
When I looked over, my blood boiled because he’d missed over three hours of the party but came only to say he did.
What added fuel to the fire was the fact that he dragged Victor in here with him.
Vayce placed his hand on the small of my back as if he could feel the steam rising.
I took a deep breath reminding myself that this was not the time.
Solomon’s absence had been in the back of my mind all day, but I don’t think Zion realized he was missing because he barely showed any emotion seeing him. He would usually take off running the same way he’d just done for his gifts, but he walked as if he had all the time in the world.
“Hi Dad. Hi Uncle Victor,” he waved.
A sour taste filled my mouth hearing that uncle shit.
“What’s up son! Happy birthday!” He lowered himself to be at Zion’s height and handed over a gift.
“I got you something. Probably not as flashy as that guy there, but it’s something,” Solomon cut his eyes at Vayce, who removed his hand from my back.
It was my turn to grab his hand and give it a light squeeze.
“Thanks,” Zion peeked in the bag. “I’m grateful, but I stopped liking Ninja Turtles when I turned eight.”
“Oh.” Embarrassment filled him as his cheeks flushed red as he looked around the room.
His eyes landed on me before giving me the nastiest eyeroll known to man.
You would’ve thought I was the one that got caught cheating.
“Well son, it seems like a lot has changed. Hasn’t it? I will have to get you another gift.”
“Okay,” he turned toward me with sadness in his puppy dog eyes. I wanted war now, but I was trying to calm down and not express that in front of Zion.
Squatting in front of him, I placed my hands on his shoulders.
“Baby, how about we finish the gifts later and you and your friends go finish those cupcakes on the table. I know. I know. I said no earlier, but I don’t want those to go to waste.
Then y’all can play the VR before we wrap up and I’ll even play a round with you. How’s that sound?”
“Yes! Can we play the mummy game?” Happiness filled his eyes again.
“Whatever you want, Zy.”
He smiled. “Okay and how many cupcakes can I eat? Is three more too many?”
“Not when it’s your day,” I pinched his cheek, making him giggle. “Go ahead. I’ll be there soon.”
The boys took off running toward the gym area and the parents followed behind them. A few other of the grown-ups read the room and exited too, leaving nothing but family, Victor, and his bitch.
“The party was at four, Solomon. Not sure if that expensive watch of yours ticks correctly,” Mama fussed the second we were alone.
“Hello to you too Mama Brenda,” he quipped.
“Don’t mama me nothing,” she seethed. “You never put a ring on my daughter’s finger, sorry joker you.
” She looked him up and down as she walked out but not before turning to his man.
“Victor,” Mama scoffed then chuckled. “Boy, I can’t wait for the truth to prevail.
” You could see the color drain from his face.
“Jersei Monroe, I’m going to watch the children. My new son, you behave.”
“Will do, Mama Brenda,” Vayce taunted. Each time I looked up at him, his eyes were locked on Solomon who couldn’t hold his gaze past two seconds.
“This was more important than your son?” Jade pointed at Victor.
“Jade, you know nothing about me. Stay out of this,” Victor pointed.
“Nigga that’s w?—"
Solomon cut Jade off. “Why wouldn’t you tell me he doesn’t like Ninja Turtles anymore?”
“Watch your tone,” Vayce spoke.
Solomon didn’t utter a response, but his next words were much calmer than the first. “You allowed me to come in here and make a fool of myself. Why didn’t you send me his birthday list Jersei? That’s what mothers do. They inform people of shit.”
“Inform you?” I threw my head back. “Nigga, fuck you! I sent the invitation to you, your mama, your sister, and all your trifling ass family members too,” I listed out on my fingers.
“If you cared enough, you would’ve seen his list and if you wanted to gift him that bad, you have his number and mine.
Stop making some shit about you! This is for Zion!
Then you bring this nigga in here ‘cause you thinking with that dick filled brain of yours, how can I piss Jersei off.
Not how can I be there and support my son on his birthday?
You deserve to be shot in every toe, Solomon.
I would love to get news that each of them were blown clean off your fucking foot ‘cause you so fucking selfish bruh!
“Were you not in the delivery room when they told us Zion wouldn’t make it past an hour?
Huh?” My voice carried. “He’s ten today and that might not mean shit to you but he is my entire heart Solomon, so we will continue celebrating him with or without you.
So, you can prance your happy ass out of here or spend the last of the party pretending that you give a fuck about my child and you got three fucking seconds to choose. ”
“Who is this man that you have around my son?” He spoke like I said nothing at all.
“Vayce Denver, nigga. Who the fuck are you?”
“Solomon Collins. I am t?—”
“A fuck nigga,” Vayce finished. Something about his even tone made me giggle and so did Valen.
“I think we should go,” Victor commented, pushing at Solomon’s chest.
“Yeah, I think so too,” Devon added.
“Where are you from?” Solomon wagged his finger at Vayce. “You’re giving me Grove Hollow.”
“You sound stupid. Get the fuck out, nigga,” Valen said.
Solomon flicked his nose in anger. “I take you out the hood and you still end up with a hood rat and hood rat colleagues? Huh? The fuck is up with that Jersei? Did you see if this nigga has a record before you have him around our son? You got him thinking it’s okay to buy our son gifts and shit.”
Vayce turned me to face him. I didn’t recognize the look in his eyes, and it scared and oddly excited me. “J, I need you to step outside, baby.”
“No. I don’t need you to clean up my mess.”
He didn’t speak, only gently moved me aside by the hip.
Vayce crossed the space between us so fast I thought it was lightning.
He wrapped one hand around Solomon's neck and slammed him into the nearby wall, his head making a thud sound that made me cringe. I knew Victor wouldn’t do anything, but Devon didn’t so he hemmed him up.
Vayce had Solomon by a few inches. That same hand had been around my neck several times, and the fact that he was pissed off, I just knew I was about to witness a homicide. Solomon tried prying his hands away as he gasped for air.
“Let me tell yo’ bitch ass something you stupid mutha’fucka.
First impressions are a mutha’fucka, so let me make mine.
It’s a lot of shit I’on play about. My peace is at the top.
Jersei is part of my peace, so when she’s disturbed so am I nigga and when I’m disturbed, some shit gone get fucked up.
Every. Single. Time. Have you ever heard of decorum nigga? ” Vayce’s voice rang.
It was so low and rugged that I didn’t even recognize who I was hearing.
I could see that he was squeezing tighter because Solomon was floating in and out, his eyes fluttering then closing.
Vayce opened his hand a little and when Solomon sucked in air, he enclosed his throat again.
The veins in his head were visible, and his color was fading.
“Please,” Victor cried. “We’ll le?—"
“Shut the fuck up,” Vayce rushed out without ever turning to him.
“I don’t give a fuck what you heard, thought, felt, nunnadat.
If you ever in yo mutha’fuckin’ life speak to Jersei as if she’s anything less than a queen, you can bet your last breath, that will be your last conversation.
Your people will be scheduling your embalmment date.
Understand that Zion is yours by blood, but he’ll become mine by time, love, and care, some shit you have failed to give him.
What you have lacked will be provided for them both.
Nigga, I can crop you out the picture you barely in.
Add a filter to that mutha’fucka and poof you outta here.
I’m here to stay and the only person that will change that is God Himself.
From this day forward, you will come correct, or you will suffer.
So, here’s what you gone do. You gone apologize to everybody in this room, then to the mother of your child, and tomorrow once you gain full consciousness, you will apologize to your son for being a fucking asshole.
Do you understand?” Solomon’s eyes closed.
Vayce banged his head against the wall with force.
Victor covered his mouth and cried. “I said do you fucking understand?”
“Yes,” he choked out.
Vayce released his grip but not before sending a vicious uppercut to his stomach. Solomon hunched over, coughing and wheezing trying to catch his breath.
“That’s for being a sorry ass father. But don’t even trip, stepdaddy Vayce to the mutha’fuckin’ rescue you pussy ass nigga,” he walked toward me. “Oh and if you still have doubts, I’m a reformed hood rat. Now, apologize.”
Victor was at Solomon’s side trying to help him to his feet. I should’ve been mad, but I was relieved, and I didn’t feel bad for feeling satisfaction in my bones. Vayce stood up for me in a way I never could. It was crazy to see him so bold with me, but fold for another man.
“I’m sor—I apologize everyone,” he looked up, eyes filled with tears. “Jersei, I’m sorry for everything, for being a bad father, for how I treat you, for cheating. Everything.”
I didn’t respond because saying I accept would be a lie. He was only sorry because he didn’t want to get his ass beat. I folded my arms against my chest and nodded my head toward the door as I looked at Devon.
“Get him out of here before our son comes.”
“You press charges, my father will remove his stock from the bank. Fuck with me,” Devon hissed as he grabbed him by the collar. Thankfully there was a back door in the room that they could exit through so Zion, or the other kids wouldn’t see them.
Valen followed behind and Jade told me she was going to check on the kids. Vayce returned to my space
“I apologize, baby,” he grabbed my hand, kissing the back of it. “That disrespectful shit set me off. Are you okay?”
“I’m good,” I spoke, noticing his eyes were still filled with rage. I rested a hand on his cheek, and he exhaled and curled into my palm as if he was chasing my touch. “I’m not mad. I promise. It’s okay.”
“It’s not. I never want you to see me in that mode.
That’s the version of myself I put to rest, but it’s my nature, Jersei.
I protect what I love and if I don’t protect my black woman, then who the fuck will?
If I don’t, I can’t expect the world to, J and how I see the shit, it’s us versus them every time. It’s war behind you.”
I placed two kisses against his lips. “If I didn’t know that, today solidified that. Thank you for stepping in, but right now, you’re on a thousand. I need you to go home, shower, and calm your nerves. When I finish here, I’ll be on my way to you.”
He licked his lips. “Don’t keep me waiting.”
“Never.”