Chapter 6 Semi
Semi
“Peanut,” I started, setting my phone down on the counter. “Your mama hit me up.”
Semerah froze mid-bite, her spoon clinking against the bowl. “For what?” She frowned.
“She said she wanna see you.”
Her eyes narrowed quick, and she shoved the bowl away. “I’on want to.”
I exhaled slow, leaning on the counter with my arms crossed. “Semerah—”
“No, Daddy,” she cut me off, shaking her head. “I’on want to see her. She always says that, and she never comes. She lies… every time.”
Her little voice cracked, and it damn near ripped me in half. I walked over, crouched down so we were eye to eye. “Look, I’ain gon’ sit here and act like you’re wrong. She’s been slipping… bad. But let me tell you something… you’on owe her shit. You’on have to go nowhere you’on want to.”
“So I’on have to go?” she asked somberly.
“You don’t,” I countered. “If you ever decide you do wanna see her, that’s on you. That’s your call… not mine… not hers. Nobody’s forcing you into nothing.”
She blinked, her shoulders loosening just a little. “But what if she comes, anyway?”
“Then I’ll handle it,” I told her. “You let me handle her, and you continue to be the prettiest lil’ girl ever.” I smirked.
“Okay, Daddy,” she simpered.
I kissed her forehead and stood. “Good. Now finish your cereal so we can get outta here.”
Minutes later, we were in the car, headed toward the school while she hummed along with the radio.
Her mama popping up didn’t change shit. I’d protect Semerah from every letdown, even if I had to stand in the gap for the rest of her life.
She deserved consistency, somebody she never had to question, and if that meant I carried the whole load, then so be it.
But as I watched her through the mirror, that carefree hum pulling me out of my head for a second, Zora crept in.
That same smart-ass mouth, the way she moved like she refused to need anybody, and she still managed to hook me, anyway.
I told myself I wanted things to stay casual, but the truth was already rearing its ugly head.
I wanted more than her body. I wanted her time, her attention, her trust, even if she swore she wasn’t giving it.
That shit was dangerous, because I knew once I decided she was mine, there wasn’t no turning back. I’d chase it all the way down until she gave in, and then it’d be too late for either of us to act like it was light.
By the time I pulled up at Semerah’s school, my chest was tight with the weight of it all. Protecting my daughter was the only thing I couldn’t bend on. But wanting Zora? That was a risk I could already feel myself willing to take.
***
The shop was active with clippers buzzing at every chair. Me and Case moved around while the prospects worked on live cuts. That was the only way to know if they belonged here—how sharp their hands were, how clean they finished, and how they talked to whoever was in the chair.
Case leaned over one dude’s shoulder, pointing. “Your fade’s crooked. Fix that line before you spin him around. Clients peep that shit first.”
The kid nodded quick and tried to tighten it up.
Two chairs down, the female barber had her client laughing while she worked, clippers moving smooth and steady. She asked questions, cracked jokes, and kept him engaged while her cut came together clean. I kept my eyes on her, noting the way she controlled the entire space.
“She’s got it,” Case muttered to me.
I nodded. “We’ll test her again, but yeah… she’s solid.”
The front door opened, and that’s when I caught sight of Zora walking in with two big bags in her hands.
“Ain’t this some shit?” Case chuckled.
I cut him a look and walked over before he could get another word out. “What you doing here?”
She lifted the bags. “I brought lunch. It’s enough for everybody.”
I shook my head, smirking. “You didn’t have to do that, shorty.”
“I wanted to,” she said, her eyes holding mine steady.
“Well, in that case… I appreciate you,” I told her, my voice dropping low. “Come on, walk with me.”
I led her to the office, shutting the door behind us. She set her purse on the desk while I put the food down.
“What’s all this?” I asked, stepping closer. “You feeding a nigga now?”
“Don’t make it bigger than it is, Semi. It’s just food.”
“Nah,” I said, brushing my thumb under her chin until she looked at me. “It’s you showing that you care. That’s different for you.”
She didn’t argue, just held my stare. That was all the opening I needed. I leaned in and kissed her, slow but heavy, taking what she wasn’t saying out loud. She kissed me back; her hands pressed against my chest like she meant to stop me but pulled me closer instead.
When she finally eased back, her voice was soft. “I should get going.”
“You gon’ let me see you later?” I asked, eyes never leaving hers.
“Yeah… later.”
I walked her out, my hand resting low on her back until she stepped outside. By the time I came back, Case was grinning like a fool.
“So that’s how you doing it?” he asked, eyebrows raised.
“Mind your business,” I told him, dropping back into my chair.
He laughed, shaking his head. “Aight… just don’t lose focus, my boy.”
I looked back toward the prospect in the chair before giving him my attention. “I’on lose focus, so don’t get that shit twisted.”
Case smirked but let it go. We went back to watching the interviewees, but even with the noise of the shop running steady, the thought of Zora still ran rampant in my thoughts.
***
I dropped Semerah at my mama’s before heading across town to Zora’s. Soon as she opened the door, Mama gave me her signature look that let me know she was about to get in my business.
“So…” she started, leaning on the doorframe. “I heard through the grapevine you went on a date with the girl that does Maya’s hair.”
I smirked, shaking my head as I stepped inside. “Who told you that?”
“Maya,” she shot back.
I kissed her cheek before she could go further. “Yeah, I took her out. That’s all you need to know.”
Mama raised her brows, eyes narrowing like she was trying to read me. “Mhm. That’s all I need to know, huh? You smiling a little too much for it to be ‘just a date’.”
I chuckled, setting Semerah’s bag down. “You always got jokes.”
“Not jokes,” she corrected. “Observations. You don’t bring women around, so when I hear about one… I pay attention.” She put a hand on her hip. “This Zora girl… how is she?”
“She’s aight,” I said simply, cutting it off before she dug deeper. “Ain’t nothing for you to stress about.”
Mama gave me that like she knew was lying. “Boy, if you’re spending time with her, it’s my business to stress about. You don’t need nobody halfway in your life when you’re already raising a daughter after letting the last hussy in.”
Before I could respond, Semerah popped up, sliding her arms around my waist. “Love you, Daddy.”
I bent down, kissing the top of her head. “Love you too, baby girl. Be good for MeMe.”
“I always am,” she said with a grin, heading toward the back.
Mama watched her go, then turned back to me. “That’s all I care about right there.” She pointed at my daughter. “As long as Semerah’s good, I won’t get in your way. But if this woman ain’t right, you cut her loose before my grandbaby gets attached. You hear me?”
I nodded. “I hear you, Ma.”
“Good.” She softened her voice a little. “And Semi… don’t block your blessings being stubborn either. If she’s right, don’t let her slip away just ‘cause you’re scared to need somebody.”
I kissed her cheek again, cutting her lecture short. “Aight, Ma. I’ll be back later.”
By the time I hit the road, her words were still sitting heavy.
She wasn’t wrong. I didn’t bring women around, or give her reason to even ask questions.
But Zora wasn’t just anybody. That woman had a presence I couldn’t shake, even when I told myself to keep it casual.
Mama saw it in me before I admitted it out loud, and that was the part that had me stuck.
I was in my head the entire ride to Zora’s house…
lost in my own thoughts. By the time I pulled up to her house, the weight in my chest shifted.
Mama’s warning was clear, but all I could think about was Zora on the other side of that door waiting for me.
Once I pulled into her driveway, I parked beside her bright green Hellcat.
I smirked and shook my head at the thought of her little ass driving a car that damn fast. As soon as she opened the door, I didn’t waste time with words.
I kissed her like I missed her… because I did.
She didn’t hold back either, like she’d been waiting to do the same.
“I wasn’t expecting that as a hello, but I appreciate it,” she said when we pulled apart.
“You cooked?” I asked once I stepped inside her place.
“You sound surprised.”
“I am,” I grinned. “I didn’t think you were the domesticated type. First you bring a nigga lunch, now you cooking me dinner? What else you got for me?” I swaggered toward her and pulled her small body into mine.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.” She smirked before pulling herself away from me.
“What you make?” I asked as I watched her move around the kitchen.
“Baked barbecue chicken, rice, and smothered green beans,” she said.
“Shit… sounds good to me,” I countered, taking my seat. “I appreciate your effort, shorty.”
We held a conversation as we ate, letting it flow naturally and smoothly. Being around Zora was easy… too easy, but surprisingly I wasn’t complaining.
After a while, I leaned back, watching her. “So tell me more about that car club of yours. You mentioned it, but that was about it.”
Her eyes lit up a little. “We call ourselves the Hellcat Barbies. We hit up races, shows, and even do charity runs. It’s not just a crew… it’s a sisterhood,” she affirmed.
I nodded. “That’s wassup. You racing at that big event you invited me to?”
She shook her head. “Not this one. But sometimes, yeah.”
“I need to see that. Something tells me you’re a whole different person behind the wheel.”
“Maybe one day you’ll find out.”
“I plan on it.” I smirked.
Her laugh lingered as she set her fork down, eyes glinting. “You keep talking like you wanna see me race, maybe I should give you a test ride first.”
Before I could answer, she got up from her spot at the table before climbing right into my lap. My hands went straight to her hips, locking her in place as she smirked down at me.
“You bold as fuck. You know that?” I muttered, my voice low against her mouth.
“Mhm,” she moaned against my lips.
I kissed her again, harder this time, my fingers digging into her waist. She melted against me, but I could feel her trying to gain control, shifting on my lap like she was testing how much I’d let her get away with.
I pulled back just enough to catch her eye. “Aight, Zo. You keep playing like that, and this shit gon’ go way past dinner.”
“Who said I wanted it to stop there?”
Before I could counter with a response, there was a loud, persistent knock on the door.
“You expecting somebody?” I inquired.
She shook her head. “No. You’re already here. My brother has keys, and my girls would’ve called first.”
Another knock came through… louder this time.
She stood, but I caught her wrist before she could walk off. “Nah… stay here,” I ordered, already headed toward her front door.
I crossed the room and swung the door open to find a nigga standing there with a scowl on his face and too much fuckin’ air in his chest.
“Who the fuck are you?” he demanded.
I leaned into the frame, looking him over once before I spoke. “Your worst nightmare if you’on take all that bass out ya voice.”
I heard Zora come behind me, but I never took my eyes off this nigga. “Semi—” she started, but her tone shifted when she got a clear look at who was at her door. “Malik? What the fuck you doing here?”
He glanced past me like I was nothing. “I came to talk to you. You need to tell your company to leave.”
“Mutha… you know what?” I started but caught myself.
Malik squared his shoulders like he was ready for whatever and any other time I would’ve given him exactly what he was looking for.
Instead, I gave my attention back to Zora.
“Zora, I’ll make this easy for you. I’m gone.
Handle this shit and hit me back when you get rid of this bum ass energy. ”
“Semi, you don’t have to go,” she pleaded.
I kissed her temple before pulling back. “Yeah, I do.” My eyes cut to Malik, so he knew I was talking to him. “But listen close, my boy. Test me again, and I’ll put you somewhere you can’t climb back from. Don’t fuck around and find out.”
I didn’t wait for his answer. I brushed past him, letting my shoulder clip his just enough, and walked off into the night.
By the time I got in my car, my blood was still running hot.
I wasn’t pressed about no nigga, but I hated the thought of Zora being stuck explaining shit she didn’t owe him.
She wasn’t mine… not yet, but the way I felt leaving her standing there didn’t sit right.
Malik wasn’t a threat, but I could be. I found myself ready to go to war for Zora, and like I mentioned before… I’ain fighting the shit.