5. Makari
Makari
“Shit, this is happening,” I mumbled two seconds before my phone illuminated with a call.
I hadn’t saved his number but already had it memorized.
So when those digits filled my screen, I groaned in annoyance.
I hit decline, hoping he got the point, but he called right back so I decided to get this over with.
“You got it?”
“Yes, goodbye…”
“If you hang up the damn phone I’m pulling up, Makari.”
I dropped back against the chair and waited. After a minute I heard him laughing cockily. “I swear your ass is so gotdamn stubborn. Raaj wants to meet at his office tomorrow morning to finalize everything.”
“I need time to find a lawyer to review it for me.”
“Raaj can explain whatever you need him to.”
“He’s your lawyer, why would I trust him?”
“I’m not gonna cheat you.”
“I don’t know that. I want someone on my side who I can trust.”
“Aight, pick whoever you want, let me know who it is and Raaj will set it up. Tell them it’s just a custody agreement but leave my name out of the conversation.
I’ll tell Raaj to make a draft that leaves all the names off and email it to you.
Send it to whoever you want and tell them you need it reviewed as a priority, I’ll pay whatever it costs. ”
“Fine, I’ll check around…”
“Today, Makari.”
I massaged my temple and sighed. “Fine, I’ll do it now.”
“We’re gonna have to work on that attitude, ’cause the shit is unnecessary. We’re going to be in each other’s lives for the next eighteen years.”
“It’s very necessary considering the fact that you seem to have this nasty little habit of telling me what I need to do.”
Eighteen years with this man. Holidays, birthdays, school events, and milestones. How was I going to survive this?
“Cooperate more and stop fighting me on every little thing and I won’t have to tell your ass what to do.”
“Omiri, what do you want? Because this conversation is counterproductive.”
“I just wanted to make sure you don’t bail on tomorrow.”
“I won’t, just send the revised contract so I can be prepared.”
“Aight, I’m about to hit Raaj up now.”
“Thank you.”
“You got it.”
I ended the call and placed my phone on the table and focused on my laptop, pulling up a search for family law lawyers. I glanced at the reclining bouncer and smiled at my baby girl. She was actively gnawing on her fist.
“If your daddy keeps trying to check me, I’m going to be a single parent again and no one will ever find the body.”
Avi made a sound, and when I glanced at her she was frowning. Mostly because she couldn’t figure out how to get her fist back into her mouth but I swear that was her way of telling me to chill the fuck out because she didn’t like the idea of me threatening her father.
After three calls I managed to reach someone who agreed to review the custody agreement free of charge.
I could have easily made him pay for it, he offered, but being on his dime felt like handing over more control.
I promised to send the contract as soon as I had it and they promised to get it done today if it was sent within the next couple of hours.
By the time I had that squared away, I managed to pull my life together enough to get Avi fed, grabbed a quick shower, and dressed in something that made me partially feel like a respectable human.
Unfortunately though, before I could get to work, it was time to put out the next Omiri Hayes fire when I heard a vehicle motion alarm too damn close to my house.
It was warmer today than it had been but I still didn’t want to risk taking Avi out in the cold.
“Stay put, pretty girl. Mommy will be right back.” I kissed her forehead and was on my way to the door frowning hard when I stepped outside and noticed a box truck with Goode Living on the side backing into my driveway.
I watched as the driver hopped out of the truck and headed my way, speaking before he had a chance to.
“I didn’t order anything, I think you have the wrong address.”
The driver looked down at the handheld electronic device he brought with him and rattled off my name and address.
“Makari Phoenix. 3224 Rochelle Lane?”
“Yes, that’s me, but I didn’t order anything so?—”
“According to this you did. I have a living room set and kitchenette which are both paid for. I don’t really care where they go as long as it’s off my truck.”
“I don’t care what that says. I didn’t order anything, so whatever is on your truck is not mine.”
“Ma’am, again, I just make the deliveries and what’s on my truck belongs to you unless you’re telling me you’re not Makari Phoenix and this is not 3224 Rochelle Lane.”
“The name and address are right but it’s still not mine. Can’t you call someone?”
“I can call the store?—”
“Good, do that.” I turned to walk away and he paused me.
“Hang on, I was going to say I can call the store but they’re only going to tell me that this is correct, which then means that furniture is coming off my truck. If you don’t want it in your house, I can leave it here in the driveway…”
“It’s not mine.” I threw my hand up before I dropped my hands to my hips.
Before he could argue the point again, the moment was interrupted by the black Range Rover that pulled alongside the curb in front of my house. My stomach dropped and I got pissed, connecting all the dots. This truck was in my driveway because of the man walking across my lawn.
The man’s body was sinful. There wasn’t a muscle attached to him that hadn’t been toned to the highest level of perfection. Just the visual alone was enough to induce the most dangerous orgasms.
He was the type of man who drained a room full of people of all their energy because his presence was just that profound and hard to compete with.
The arrogance in everything he did was annoying. Even something as simple as him crossing my yard with the type of arrogance that dared you to not want his attention.
He strode right up to the driver but kept his eyes on me when he addressed him. “We good?”
I watched the driver squint then smile big as hell. “Omiri Hayes.”
In the blink of an eye, Omiri transformed into the Sharks’ revered quarterback.
The driver congratulated him on the Super Bowl win and assured Omiri that he was about to get a fat ass contract extension, like he himself had been at the table during the contract negotiations.
After the two ignored me, chatting it up, the driver pointed at me.
“Your girlfriend said that she doesn’t have a delivery but I have a paid order with her name and address. You wanna help me out with her?”
With her?
The fuck…
I was seconds from checking the driver but Omiri got his words out before me. “She’s not my girlfriend. My daughter’s mother and I don’t know why she’s giving you shit; the order is hers.”
“That isn’t mine.”
“It is. I ordered it.” He brushed me off and turned to the driver. “Y’all can bring it in and I’ll tell you where to put everything. I paid for removal too.”
“It’s on here. We’ll take the current set with us. It’s marked for donation.”
“Aight, bet.”
When he turned to me, he grinned. This man had me aroused and annoyed at the same time. “Problem solved.”
“No, problem not solved. I don’t want that. Tell them to take it back.”
“Nah, can’t do that. You’re keeping it.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you insane? Hell, you’re definitely insane. I need to have my baby checked because you’re for sure dealing with some type of chemical imbalance or personality disorder.”
He smiled sexily. “There isn’t a damn thing wrong with me. Speaking of, where is my daughter while you’re out here raising hell for no reason?”
“ My daughter is fine. She’s inside but can we discuss the fact that you ordered furniture and donated mine without my permission?”
“You have a problem with donating to a family in need? Your shit is tiny as hell but in good shape so somebody will be grateful to have it.”
“No, I don’t have an issue with donating to a family in need, I have an issue donating furniture I had no intention of replacing. So again, what the fuck is wrong with you?”
“My daughter lives here, which means I’m going to be spending time here getting to know her. That shit you had is cool for you but I can’t fit on that little ass sofa without my knees hitting my chest. How am I supposed to hold her like that?”
“You can’t just?—”
“Yes the fuck I can. According to the custody agreement I can buy whatever I want for my daughter.”
“Toys, clothes, food, hell buy her a gotdamn car if that makes you happy, but redecorating my house is not part of the deal.”
“Me getting to know Avi is part of the deal, and in order for that to happen, I have to be comfortable here. Don’t babies pick up on shit like that? If I’m uncomfortable, she’ll be uncomfortable, right?”
He smiled smugly and I wanted to chop his ass in the throat. I also wanted to argue but technically he had a point.
“You do realize that’s not what the clause is for.”
“That’s exactly what it was for because I knew you were going to give me shit about everything I want to do.”
“Okay fine, the same applies at your house. If I don’t feel comfortable, are you going to replace furniture?”
“No, but you can if you can afford to meet my standard.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know that meets my standard?” I pointed to the truck.
“If you don’t like it, then I’ll have him pack that shit up and take it back.
You can pick something that you like but this is happening.
” He grinned and started walking toward my porch.
I watched him stroll right up to the door and enter my house like his name was on the lease.
Meanwhile the driver and the guy who was with him were unloading a sofa from the back of the truck.
I counted to ten in my head and made my way back to the house. When I got inside, I found Omiri standing over Avi, frowning while she kicked her feet and smiled behind her tiny fist which was still being slobbered on.
“Stop looking at my baby like she’s a freak.”