Chapter 2
“Cassidy.”
I looked up from my workbook to my boss standing at my desk. I cringed internally before I gave him my full attention.
This nigga don’t never mind his fucking business.
“Sir?”
“Can I see you for a sec?”
Aw shit.
I was a little nervous because I was sure this had something to do with me doing other things while I was supposed to be working on reports.
It was my last day of class before I became an early childhood and development specialist. I already had my certifications in CPR, childcare, and first aid, and I even had a degree in childhood education.
I was finally at the finish line, so I was currently going over my notes for the test that afternoon.
“Sure,” I replied, closing my workbook. I followed him down the aisle to his office, which sat in the corner.
“Close the door, and take a seat,” he ordered. I did as he instructed, then took a seat in front of his desk. I smoothed down my tie as I waited for him to speak. “How are those reports going?”
“They’re going good, sir,” I replied. I only had one more report to do, then I was going to send it over to him. Working at the brokerage firm my father helped me get into, I was still able to pay my bills while continuing to go to class to earn my certification and open my daycare.
“Then why aren’t they on my desk?”
“You told me I had until four o’clock. It’s only noon.”
“Listen, I admire your work ethic and your ambition to get things done, but when you’re here, the only thing you should be focused on is the work you have to do here. It’s never taken you this long to complete any task that I give you.”
“I know, and my apologies for the delay, sir. I’m going to get right on it.”
He was quiet for a moment, just staring at me as if he wanted to say more. “Get it done, Mr. Cassidy.”
I gave him a curt nod, then stood from the chair and exited his office.
He could have said that shit at my desk.
He just didn’t know that I was putting in my two weeks’ notice before I left this building.
I was moving on to pursue my dream of becoming a CD specialist and, hopefully, opening my own daycare one day.
A nigga loved kids. Ever since my brother had his first son, Brenton, I fell in love with the little guy and the three that came after him.
Whatever they wanted from Uncle Baye, they got it.
While they were in my care, I made sure they were properly cared for, learned new things, and could live carefree.
My brother hated that I spoiled them, but he couldn’t deny when they were with me, they were in the best hands.
I did a few babysitting gigs in college, just to pay for the shit I needed, so I had experience with other children outside my family. I was just ready to stop doing this meaningless shit and get to where I wanted to be.
I went back to my desk to finish the reports until it was time to take my lunch.
I wasn’t mad at my boss for interrupting my study session, because I was indeed on his clock, but I needed that little time to process my notes so I could pass the test to get my certification.
I was serious about owning my own daycare, and there wasn’t shit that would stand in the way of that.
By one o’clock, I was done with the first part of the reports and decided to take my lunch and study some more.
While walking out of Smith’s Brokerage Firm, I heard someone call my name just as I reached the door.
I looked back to see Amara Kent approaching me.
She was one of the brokers who worked on my floor and always made it her business to speak to me.
Not to mention, she stayed bringing me snacks, complimenting me, and bringing me lunch every Friday.
Her food was terrible, but I’d never tell her that. She wanted to fuck.
That much, I knew. It was just sad that I wasn’t the least bit interested.
I was selective as fuck when it came to my women, and even though Amara was nice looking, she was built like a box with no curves.
I didn’t judge a woman by their looks. It was their personality that I looked forward to analyzing.
Amara was a big flirt, and if given the opportunity, she would have sex with any man who showed interest in her.
I could see it in her eyes every time she looked at me, wanting me to be the one to beat her box—literally.
Her desperation was a turn-off, but I was always polite and never shaded her, even though I badly wanted to.
“Hey, Basil. Going to lunch?”
“Uh, yeah. I’m going to head to the deli up the block.”
“Oh, I made you some spaghetti. I was trying to catch you before you left,” she said, going inside her lunch bag, pulling out the Tupperware bowl, and handing it to me. That shit looked dry and . . . dead.
Where the fuck is the sauce on this shit?
There was no way this woman thought her food was appeasing. I admired her effort, but shorty had to come harder on her culinary skills, or she’d never keep a man, especially a nigga like me, who loved to eat.
“I’ll eat it for dinner tonight. Thanks, Amara,” I lied.
“No problem.”
I gave her a light smile and walked out the door.
“Hey, wait.” She followed me out, and I stopped my stride once again to give her my undivided attention. “I was wondering, if you aren’t busy tonight, we could go out for drinks. My treat, of course.”
“No can do. I got my nieces and nephews tonight. Sorry.”
“Oh! Well, maybe some other time?”
“Of course.”
Not in this lifetime, shorty.
“Okay! I’ll see you later.”
“Later,” I replied and continued my stride up the street to the local deli. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I reached inside to grab it.
I smiled, looking at the number on the screen. It was my seven-year-old niece, Sahira. She called me every Friday during my lunch break, like clockwork, because I made it my mission to get them every Friday. Baby girl always needed assurance that her uncle was coming for her.
“Hey, baby girl,” I answered on the third ring.
“Hi, Uncle Baye! What time are you picking us up today?”
“I’ll be there right after I take my test, so about six o’clock.”
“Okay! Are we going to get in the pool? I can bring my swimsuit.”
“Yeah, we can do that.”
“Okay. We want to stay the whole weekend. Can we?”
I chuckled, opening the door to the deli and walking inside. “If it’s okay with your parents, baby girl, y’all can stay the weekend.”
“Yay! Mommmyyy! Uncle Baye said we can stay the whole weekend!” I could hear her sister and brothers in the background as they cheered. That made me smile.
“Let me see the phone.” My sister-in-law, Sheena, got on the line. “You know you don’t have to keep them the whole weekend, Basil.”
“Sis, chill. You know it’s never a problem. I ain’t doing shit this weekend.”
“I need you to start doing something, Brother B. Ever since you and Nyami’s split, you have been a freaking hermit. It’ll be nice if you get out and have some fun. You’re still young—”
“Sis, I’m cool on that right now. I love having my nieces and nephews over, and they love coming over. Who am I to deny them access to their favorite person?” I joked.
“Whatever, Basil. Stop using my kids as a distraction.”
“I’m not using ya kids, Sheena. Right now, I’m just focused on opening my daycare. If or when I want to go out, I’ll do just that. You acting like I ain’t got me a few dimes in my pocket for a rainy day.”
“Boy, please! It never rains your way, because you’re always working or stealing my kids.”
I laughed as I stood in line to place my order.
“Just have my shooters ready by six. Where my bighead brother at?”
“Okay, and he’s on the road. He’s supposed to be back this evening.”
“Then this is perfect for y’all. I know he’s been gone for a few days, so this is the perfect time to get y’all some alone time.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll have them ready.”
“Bet. Tell Sahira I’ll be there as soon as I’m done.”
“Mm-hmm, bye.”
I chuckled as she hung up. Sheena’s ass stayed in my business and acted just like the big sister I never had.
She swore my reasoning for not dating or going out was because of my cheating-ass ex, Nyami, but that wasn’t the case.
After the breakup, I needed to reset. That relationship took a lot out of me because Nyami was spoiled and selfish as fuck.
Any time I spent with my nieces and nephews, she would get jealous, and that shit pissed me off.
When she aborted my baby, that was when shit went left.
She knew how much I loved and wanted kids, but because she was selfish as hell, she went to the chop shop and killed my seed.
That shit murdered me.
I gave her everything.
But no matter what I did for her, it was never enough, and I couldn’t fuck with it anymore.
When I called it quits a year before, she stalked me for weeks, vandalizing my property and trying to break into my condo.
It took her spending a night in jail for her to leave me alone after she tried to steal my whip.
I promised myself that I would tread lightly on relationships for a while after that shit.
I still entertained a few women, but they weren’t getting any more than some dick and a meal from me.
“Excuse me.”
I turned to find a beautiful, brown-skinned woman standing behind me in the line.
Her lips were the first thing to grab my attention.
They were full and pretty as fuck. It was weird, but that feature alone had me licking my lips to make sure my shit wasn’t ashy or chapped.
My eyes then cased the rest of her face, and to say a nigga’s chest didn’t expand was an understatement.
Her body was shaped like a Coke bottle in the royal-blue pantsuit she rocked, and those childbearing hips had me mesmerized.
Fucking perfection.
I had never been speechless before, but this woman standing before me had me tongue-tied.
“I’m in a bit of a hurry. Could I pay you to jump the line? I’ll buy whatever you’re going to order.”
A light smile lifted on my face. “How about we order together, and I’ll pay for whatever you’re going to order.”
She thought about it for a few seconds, then shrugged. “That’s fair. I’ll give you the money for my items. Your payment won’t be necessary.”
“Chivalry isn’t dead, love, and paying it forward guarantees big blessings.”
A soft smile curved on those luscious-ass lips. I moved up in line, placed my order, and waited for her to do the same. Once that was complete, I paid for our items and stepped aside. Before I could ask her name, her phone rang as she answered.
“Hi, Ms. Shelly . . . Oh, no, I’m so sorry . . . No, it’s fine. I know, but your health is more important. Leo and I will figure it out . . . It’s okay. I hope you get well soon, Ms. Shelly. Okay, talk to you later. Bye.” She hung up and cursed under her breath.
“Basil.” I decided to give her my name instead of staring at her profile like a creep.
“Pardon?”
“That’s my name. Or you can call me Baye for short.”
“Baye?”
“Yes. I only let the pretty women call me that—my moms, my nieces, and my nephews. Can’t have no nigga around here calling me Baye.”
That pulled a laugh from her, and what a sexy laugh it was. “Understood.”
I smiled at her. “Are you going to tell me your name, or should I take a guess?” The cashier handed us our bags as I waited for her to speak.
“Married. That’s my name.”
“Ahh, got it.”
Damn. Just my luck.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Married.” I held out my hand for her to shake. She slid her dainty palm into mine, and I felt something in my hand.
“Thanks for the offer, but again, it wasn’t necessary. Nice to meet you, . . . Baye.” She winked, removed her hand, and walked away as I stared at the twenty-dollar bill in my palm. I couldn’t hide the smirk on my face as I watched her round ass switch out of the shop.
So much for adding another dime for my rainy day.
I slipped the twenty inside the cashier’s tip jar, then turned to walk away. Before I could take a step, I noticed a business card on the floor. Subconsciously, I picked it up and read it.
Alicia D. Hill
Prosecuting Attorney at Law
A smirk crossed my face as I pocketed the card and headed to a table in the corner. I wouldn’t use it, even though I badly wanted to. Somehow, I knew our paths would align again, and maybe then, things would be a little different.