3. Gunner
“Damn, that shit is crazy, cousin. You did better than me because I would have taken My Boy out there to pee on the seat of her car. Stupid bitch,” my cousin Toolie fussed.
Toolie was the person in my life who didn’t give a damn about anything or anyone if it wasn’t family.
He considered his true friends as family.
Toolie was Tink’s older brother, and he instilled a lot of his craziness in her.
We’d been tight since we were toddlers.
He was also my best friend and charter captain when I was fishing.
He made sure I stayed focused when I competed by ensuring I had everything that I needed to succeed.
In competitions where the charter captain’s catches were added to mine, he showed off his fishing skills.
I chortled. “Boy, what! How the hell was I going to do that shit? I wanted that girl to get the fuck off my porch. See what happens when I try to be a nice person.”
Miss Adabelle, fuck that Belle shit, pissed me off the other night.
I was real life offended when she called My Boy a mutt.
There were three things that I took very seriously in life: my family, my money, and my dog babies.
I spent thousands to make sure that I was a reputable, humane, and loving breeder.
I’d seen breeders who had their dogs in kennels outside and in conditions that were horrific.
Nah, that wasn’t me.
In addition to the inside kennel that I built onto my home, I had another stand-alone building.
There were times when I had to keep my different breeds separated because they were in heat.
My personal babies that I didn’t breed or were finished breeding were all fixed.
All in all, I had a lot of dogs that were taken care of better than some humans.
“I told you about being nice. Half these hos don’t deserve your niceness. The only time I’m nice to a bitch is when she’s on this dick. That ain’t even me being nice, that’s this dick,” Toolie said with a titter.
“Once they get off my shit, they need to get out my shit.”
I shook my head because I’d heard stories about how he dismissed girls after he fucked.
My daddy told him that he needed to sit his ass down before he had a basketball team of children like his father.
Tink and Toolie were two of eight kids from three baby mamas.
Their daddy and mama were married.
“No one is trying to be out there like you. I was nice because my daddy asked me to. Hell, after her and Tink got into it earlier that day at the store, I ain’t think I’d see her ass again. You would think that her ass would be chill with her situation being out there like it is,” I said.
My father asked me the morning after how it went with Adabelle.
I told him what happened, and all he did was laugh before he called her daddy.
Her daddy, Jessie, was mad as hell.
It was known in town that Mr. Lee was not a loud and boisterous person, but on that phone call, his ass was loud as hell.
It was fucked up when your child brought out the worst in you.
Toolie snickered. “Yeah, that shit is crazy. I will say this though: Her ass is fine as hell. She still grits thick too.” I couldn’t disagree with him.
She’d always been a beautiful girl.
Toolie and I were sitting in my backyard, watching some of my dogs play in their dog park.
I had a company from Birmingham come out here to build me a fenced in dog park on my land.
People in town that I fucked with or who had bought a dog from me came through sometimes to let their dogs socialize.
There was nothing like chilling with family and being worry-free.
“So, you still want me to go with you to Africa?” Toolie asked.
Another skill that I was an expert on was hunting.
Five years ago, I was invited to Africa for a safari hunting trip.
From that trip, I started the process of becoming a licensed, certified Safari Hunting Guide.
When I went to Africa, I stayed for a few weeks to a month.
My parents and sister took care of my babies while I was away.
Over a year and a half ago, I purchased some land in Namibia, where I worked when I was there, and had a small house built.
“Yeah, man. I told Abidemi that you were coming. His wife, Muna, can’t wait to meet and feed you,” I told him.
Toolie just got his license to hunt in Africa, so I wanted him to spend more time there with me.
People were amazed at the things that I did.
When they saw me, all they saw was a country ass, tatted up nigga from a small ass town.
They assumed that country meant broke, just like Adabelle did.
When she was in high school, the females in town stayed on her ass because of her stuck-up attitude.
She never wavered though.
That stuck-up attitude rode with her until she rode her ass out of Newsome.
My dogs started to bark, letting me know someone had pulled into my front yard.
I pulled out my phone to check my cameras.
My brow perked when I saw Mr. Lee’s truck.
What does he want? I got out of my seat to walk around to the front yard to greet him.
My feet stopped when I realized he had a passenger with him.
“What’s up, Mr. Lee?”
“Hey, Gunner. How you doing, son? Boy, ya lookin’ just like ya daddy.” We dapped each other up.
I tittered. He wasn’t the first and wouldn’t be the last to tell me that.
I was my father’s twin while my sister, Nadine, was our mother’s mini-me.
“Looking like my daddy is a compliment. I’m doing good. What can I do for you today?”
Adabelle stood behind him, fidgeting with her fingers with her head down.
She looked like a kid that had gotten in trouble.
She probably did. She was cute in her leggings and cropped t-shirt.
For her to be as thick as she was, her stomach was toned.
The tiny pouch she had was noticeable but didn’t take away from anything.
Mr. Lee looked over his shoulder.
“Come on here, girl. You know what you came here to do,” he coaxed his daughter.
I knew Toolie was behind me from the sounds of his snicker.
That nigga was nosy as hell.
Mr. Lee stepped to the side to allow his daughter the room to come forward.
Her eyes pinballed between Toolie, her father, and me.
It felt like she walked in slow motion to reach the place where she stood in front of me.
“Um, Gunner, I apologize for how I acted the other night. I shouldn’t have been rude and called the puppy a mutt, but I didn’t know it wasn’t.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. I was relaxed today in a wife beater, sweatpants, socks, and a pair of slides.
My brows furrowed and head leaned to the side.
“You do know that but cancels out the first part of the sentence. Whether you knew My Boy was a mutt or not, you still called him one. Apologies with excuses aren’t apologies.”
Her chest expanded before it fell.
Yeah, she wants to curse my ass out.
She peeked in her father’s direction.
His expression dared her to buck.
Her attention came back to me.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have disrespected you. Um, I would still like to have the puppy if you still have it.”
My nostrils widened, my forehead creased, and my lip turned up.
This girl must have bumped her head.
My chin moved toward each shoulder.
“Yeah, I still have him, but nah. I don’t feel comfortable letting you take him right now with the attitude you had about him the other day.”
She kissed her teeth before her hand went to her hip as it stuck out.
“Look, I apologized. I’m not going to beg you for a damn puppy I didn’t even ask for. You can kiss?—”
“Adabelle Caroline Lee!”
Mr. Lee’s outburst caused her to jump and shut the hell up.
I saw why her ass came over here initially acting like a little girl.
When he yelled, he sounded like Mufasa.
Just a loud, roaring lion.
That was more than likely why he tried to keep calm.
“I done told you about your fuck ass attitude. He has every right to not trust you with that puppy, especially now. If anyone needs to kiss your ass, it needs to be your damn self. That seems to be where your head is, up your fuckin’ ass!” Well, damn.
He hurt my damn feelings.
Toolie chuckled behind me.
“Damn shame. I hope your ass don’t smell like your attitude. If it does, I know that shit stinks.”
Don’t laugh, Gunner.
Don’t fuckin’ laugh.
Yeah, that little inner peptalk was a waste of time.
My eruption of laughter was disrespectful.
What was even more disrespectful was Mr. Lee’s laugh.
It took us a few more seconds to calm down.
Adabelle glared at us the entire time like she wanted to blow us off the map.
“Alright, Gunner. What she need to do to get a puppy? I know she said she didn’t ask for one, which she didn’t, but I want her to have one. I want her to see how it feels to take care of something outside of her. If she does, I pray God blesses her with some genuine compassion,” Mr. Lee said.
His daughter huffed.
“Daddy, you act like I didn’t have a husband to take care of.” When we all got quiet, her eyes turned to slits.
“Regardless of how fake my marriage was, I didn’t know it. I was in it for ten years, so yes. I’ve taken care of something or someone other than me.”
“Shit, you must not be a good caretaker. That nigga sure got another one and bred with her,” Toolie mumbled.
The way her face dropped from his comment made me feel bad.
I flung my hand back to smack him on his chest. “Come on, man. All that ain’t called for.” My softened eyes moved to Adabelle.
“Look, if you want My Boy, I’m going to need you to come over here and spend time with him. Once I feel comfortable about you and him together, then you can take him.”
Her eyes bulged.
Before she could say anything, her daddy grabbed her hand.
“That’s fine. When do you want her here?”
It was clear that she wanted nothing more than to not have to come here, but oh well.
If she wanted My Boy, she would.
I understood why her father wanted her to have a pet.
It was true that pets could reduce stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, as well as a slew of other things.
Now, I wasn’t sure if it would help her be compassionate.
“My Boy eats around six thirty, then goes for a walk no more than thirty minutes after he eats.
“Six thirty in the morning!
” Her entire body became an animation.
“You expect me to be over here at six thirty in the fuckin’ morning!”
Yeah, I’m gonna have to break her fake, privileged ass down.
My head bucked back.
“Oh God, no.” I smirked when she breathed a sigh of relief.
“I expect you to be here at six in the morning. My Boy needs to be settled for a little while before he eats.”
Her body turned to face her dad.
“Daddy, are you serious right now? I don’t even roll over in the bed until like nine.”
“Well, good. Now you’ll have something to get up for.” He cut his eyes from her to me.
“She’ll be here, Gunner. Let’s go, Adabelle.”
If looks could kill, I would have been dead, resurrected, then blown the hell up.
I didn’t give a fuck.
This is going to be fun.
Toolie and I watched Mr. Lee and Adabelle get into his truck, then pull off.
Once they were out of sight, I noticed my cousin was gawking at me.
“What?”
“Cuz, you like her stuck up ass,” he said with excitement.
When I shook my head, he covered his mouth with his fist. “Hell yeah, you do. You about to let that girl come in your house to spend time with your puppy until you’re comfortable. Man, you might as well tell her that you’d be comfortable when she’s on your dick.”
I chortled.
“Shut the hell up. She’s gonna come through, spend time with My Boy, and I’m going to see if they really bond. If not, she can go somewhere else to find a dog.” I meant that shit.
I was an early riser since fishing was best at dawn and dusk.
Fish tended to be more active and liked to eat during those times because of the low light.
With all the dogs that I had, I had to get them together in the morning as well.
My Boy was the youngest puppy that I had right now, at nine weeks old.
I kept him separated from the rest of my babies at night and until the mid-morning.
Ding, ding, dong. I glanced at the clock over my fireplace.
Five fifty-eight. She’s punctual.
I like that. I moved to the door, then opened it.
Damn!
“Can I come in, or are we doing everything out here?” Her hand must have been in love with her hip.
It seemed to always want to be on it.
I shook my head. “I guess you’re not a morning person. You can come in.”
I moved to the side to let her inside.
She walked past me slowly with her head on a swivel like something was about to jump out at her.
“Mm, you’re place is actually nice.”
“You said that shit like it wasn’t supposed to be.” I walked around her to step into her personal space.
She was taller than my cousin Tink but still much shorter than me.
I had to lean down a little for our eyes to meet.
“I’m not sure what type of nigga you’re used to, but I’m not that. Don’t disrespect me, my house, or my babies again, Adabelle. Don’t become a victim.”
Her ass needed to learn early not to play with me.
I was a nigga with big guns, sharp hooks, hard teeth, and a big dick.
I am he. She was the first to break our eye contact when she took a step back and shifted on her feet.
“Um, where is the puppy?”
Her tone was soft as it should have been the other day.
I stared at her for a beat before I cut my eye over to the door that led into my doghouse.
“My Boy is in here. Come on.”
“Why do you call him My Boy?” she asked to my back.
After I opened the door, I turned to face her to answer her.
“That’s his name. Like Adabelle is yours.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Yes, it is. Just like Holden is yours, but you choose to go by Gunner.” Her brow tiptoed up her forehead.
“I choose to go by Belle.”
She had me there, so I chose not to say anything.
I simply nodded and continued into the doghouse.
My dogs got excited when I came in.
My older babies knew not to do all that barking shit, but my younger babies were still learning.
My Boy was in a room but separated from three older puppies from another litter that I was rehoming.
In my breeder contract, I offered rehoming for any puppy bought from me within twenty weeks of birth.
It was rare that the clause was enacted.
“My Boy, what you doing?” His entire bottom shook because of his hard wagging tail.
I picked him up with a smile.
“I got someone that I want you to meet.”
I turned him so that Adabelle could see him.
“My Boy, this is…” I paused, looked at Adabelle for a beat, then back at My Boy.
“This is Belle. Belle, do you want to hold My Boy?”
A small smile rested on her face.
I chuckled because it seemed like she didn’t want to smile but couldn’t help it.
I held him out to her, and she took him from me.
As soon as he was close enough to her chest, he wiggled himself to lick her face.
When I thought she would shriek before she pushed him away, she surprised me by letting out a smile accompanied by a giggle.
Her smile is beautiful.
“Your tongue is cold, My Boy,” she said between her giggles.
“Hey, handsome, My Boy.” She played with him as I stood there and watched them connect.
When she smiled, you would never think she was the stuck-up bitch that she was.
Belle was a beautiful woman.
I wasn’t sure why her fake husband did what he did, but it was hard for me to believe that she had this uppity attitude when they met.
“Come on so I can show you what to feed him and how to make it. I have one last batch, so you’re going to help me feed all my dogs and then make their food. The time it takes for the babies to eat, we will have the time to prep their food and put it on,” I told her.
Her lip turned up. “Wait, what do you mean prep their food? Do you mean open the bag of food and pour it in something?” Her ear leaned toward her shoulder.
“Why do I have to help with all the dogs when I only want My Boy?”
For a beat, the room was silent.
Even my lil babies that were barking stopped.
It was like they knew she was doing too much.
“You are helping with the rest of the dogs because I need to know that you can take care of him even when he becomes a full-grown dog. He’s not a purse type dog. No, I don’t feed my babies bag food. I cook all their food.”
Her top eyelids tried to kiss her brows.
“Are you serious? Wouldn’t it be easier if you just bought food? I feel like it would be less expensive too.” She followed me, with My Boy in her arms, to the kitchen.
“Contrary to popular belief, no, it’s not with the amount of dogs that I own and take care of. Plus, I want my babies to be healthy with top-tier coats. You should remember that we have farmers and butchers here in Newsome. They give me deep discounts on what I need because I typically buy in bulk,” I told her.
It looked like she was thinking about it before she nodded.
“I guess that makes sense. Do you make the people that buy puppies from you cook their food?”
I moved around the feeding room to get the bowls ready.
The younger babies ate in a separate room.
“I can’t force them, but I do highly suggest it. I do offer prepared meal prep services where I will mail them their food at a price.”
For the next ten minutes, I showed her what needed to be done to feed the babies, and she helped.
She didn’t complain much, but I could tell she wasn’t used to manual labor.
When we let the dogs out, they were all interested in the new female in the house.
They all stopped to smell her and let her pet them before they scurried off to eat.
When I pulled out everything that I needed to make the food for my dogs, which I made in weekly batches, she had a comment or question about every ingredient.
“Why the hell would a dog need sweet potatoes?”
I chuckled when she rolled her eyes.
“Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A and fiber. It has a lot of benefits like gut health with regular bowel movements, it’s low in calories and fat so it helps with weight management, helps with heart and brain health, immune function, stuff like that. Everything in my dishes for them helps them.”
I told her that I had a bachelor's degree in animal science from Alabama A&M University when she asked me how I knew what I knew. “You have a degree, like from a real school?”
“There you go with that disrespectful shit again. Is Alabama A&M University not a real school? That’s your second time. Make it your last, Belle. I promise you won’t like the outcome if we hit number three,” I warned her.
She raised her hands in surrender. “I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. You just don’t look like a person who went to college and actually graduated. I was surprised. Sorry.” Her smirk told me that she was still trying to be a smart ass.
“You’re funny. You look like a person who does have a degree or two. What was your degree in again?” I tapped my chin. “Wait, you didn’t finish because you opted to drop out to get fake married.”
Her face figuratively dropped on the floor. “That was a little bitchy, but I wouldn’t expect anything else from a nigga like you. Is it time to walk My Boy yet?” When she mumbled country ass nigga under her breath, I wasn’t surprised.
I gave a hearty laugh. “A nigga like me, huh? Well, this country ass nigga knows how important it is to file the marriage license to the woman I love. I also know not to marry another bitch while I’m still fake married to the first.”
I dried my hands off that I just finished washing with a towel before I moved my body behind her. I leaned my body forward, putting pressure on her back and my lips to her ear. “It sounds to me like you should have put your chips on a downhome country nigga. Then maybe you would have been really married and getting good dick. From all that attitude, it tells me that you haven’t had good dick in ya life. Fuck a puppy. You need some dick.”
Her shoulders rose, back stiffened, and breath hitched. “Um, I think we should walk the dogs now. Th-they’re probably done eating.”
She said that with her mouth. Her body said something different when her ass pushed back on my dick. Yeah, she may not like country boys, but she wants this country boy dick.