Chapter 18 Baye
Friday
Since I was going on the field trip with Carsyn, Ms. Anika had come to pick Carlee up from the house. Alicia had left about an hour ago, claiming she had work to do at the office.
I didn’t believe that. I believed she didn’t want to face me since I hadn’t particularly been giving her the attention I knew she wanted. I didn’t want to be friends with her. I wanted to be her man.
Seeing her every morning, looking beautiful as fuck, did shit to me. But I did as I promised and kept things professional. I wouldn’t give my time and attention to someone who couldn’t see past their pain. I didn’t want to rush her healing; I just wanted her to make the effort to start the process.
The field trip was to see the new Avatar movie at the Emagine theater. I was never into alien shit, but Carsyn seemed excited, so I was rolling with it.
I had the option to ride on the school bus with him, but I chose to follow instead.
Once I parked, I got out to wait for him at the entrance of the theater.
Parents and children filed off the bus while I waited for Carsyn to get off.
When he saw me, he smiled widely and hurried over to me, wrapping his arms around me.
“Hey, Mr. B!”
“What’s good, lil G? You ready to see this movie?”
“Yes! Me and my friends been talking about it all week. I’m excited!” he exclaimed.
I chuckled. “I see.”
“Well, damn!” I looked up to see one of the mothers looking dead at me with dreamy eyes. “How you doing, handsome?”
I smirked and looked away from her. She was cute but not my type.
“Hey, Carsyn!” A little girl approached him with whom I assumed was her pops. “Is this your dad?”
Carsyn looked up at me, and I shrugged my brows, giving him the floor to answer her however he saw fit.
He looked back to her and gave her a light smile. “No . . . He’s my best friend.”
“Oh,” she said, then smiled at him. I saw the little confused look on her face, but she didn’t say anything further.
“You have a nice best friend, Carsyn,” the flirting mom said, still looking at me with that look in her eyes.
The little girl’s pops chuckled and shook his head. “Women,” he said under his breath. I laughed because even he peeped her thirstiness.
I could see the other moms and even the teacher staring at me before his teacher snapped out of whatever thought she was having of me, then approached the crowd.
“Okay, parents. Here are the vouchers for the snack bar and movie theater. Once the movie is over, we’ll meet back here and count heads to make sure everyone is here and on time to load the bus.
If you all don’t have any questions, then we can proceed inside.
Let’s have some fun and enjoy the movie! ” she exclaimed as the kids cheered.
Three whole damn hours later, the movie finally ended.
I couldn’t lie though. It was kind of lit.
On the way home from the school, I could feel Carsyn staring at me. He looked like he wanted to say something, so I urged him to do so.
“What’s up, lil homie?” I asked, looking over at him.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Nah, we not doing that. Use your words, baby boy. Speak whatever is in your heart. Don’t ever be afraid to say what’s on your mind, unless you know it’d be rude to say it.”
“I didn’t want to say you were my best friend.”
“Oh yeah? Why not? I’m not best friend material?” I chuckled.
He smiled. “You are. I wanted to lie and tell her you were my dad.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I know you aren’t my dad, but you make me feel like you are. We go with my real dad today, and I don’t know if I want to. I want to stay home with you and my mom.”
I looked out of the window and pulled at the hairs on my chin. I honestly didn’t know what to say to him without crossing over the boundary Alicia put in front of us.
I wanted to tell him that his daddy was a fuck nigga, and he had a right to want to stay with his moms, but I couldn’t do that, would never do that, even if I did feel that way about him.
Carsyn was about to be seven next month. He was smarter than any average six-year-old that I knew, aside from Siori, so he knew a lot more than his moms gave him credit for.
He felt the shift, he felt the foundation splitting, he saw the break in the glass house, and he watched the differences between me and his pops.
For him to want to tell someone that I was his dad made me feel both honored and guilty—guilty because I was doing what the fuck his daddy should have been doing.
Even I knew a child this smart still needed to be guided and have a male figure to lead him into his growing years. It made me sick to my stomach how men could get these women pregnant, then abandon the child they helped create.
So, with a heavy heart, I had to encourage him to have an open mind about his fuck-ass daddy.
“Give your pops a chance, lil G. Sometimes, parents separate, and don’t ever think it’s your fault. You had nothing to do with their decision not to live in the same home anymore. You love your pops, don’t you?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but I don’t know if he loves me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because he’s never taken us anywhere. He didn’t help me learn how to tie my shoes, play the game with me, or tell me bedtime stories.
He would wrestle with me sometimes and teach me about fire, but .
. . I don’t know. I just don’t want to go with him, and my grandma’s breath stinks, and she always kisses me. ”
I tucked my lips to hold in my laugh. It took a minute before I could speak without laughing. Kids were a motherfucka.
“I know it may be hard, but give him a shot. You never know. He might have changed.”
“I guess so.”
“Come on. There’s Chloe’s bus,” I told him as we got out of the truck and walked to the corner to meet his sister.
Just like Carsyn was excited to see me when he saw me, Chloe was no different.
She ran to me, and I swooped her up. I was happy to be able to bring light to their otherwise gloomy situation.
“What’s up, Loe-Loe?”
“Hey, Mr. B! Look what I made you.” She held up a colorful bracelet. “It’s a friendship bracelet.”
“You did? I’m honored to be your friend.”
She giggled. “Put it on. I made Carlee and Mommy one too! You too, Carsyn.”
I set her on her feet and put the bracelet on my wrist.
“Thank you, Loe-Loe.”
“Yeah, thanks, Chloe. You want to play hide-and-seek?” Carsyn asked as we walked back down the street.
“Yeah, but you’re it this time.”
“Aht aht. Y’all know what time it is. Do y’all have homework?” I asked.
“No,” they said simultaneously.
I chuckled. “A’ight. Then I’ll be it.”
“Yayy!” Chloe yelled in excitement as I opened the door.
“Y’all better go hide because I’m only giving y’all twenty seconds to be ready or not.”
They dropped their backpacks and took off running. I laughed as I began the countdown.
I was in the kitchen, finishing up with dinner.
I decided to cook early since the kids would be leaving this weekend.
I stirred the pot of yams when I heard the front door alarm go off, indicating Alicia’s arrival.
Since the kids loved chicken so much, I decided to make soul food: baked mac, greens, candied yams, potato salad, dressing, and fried chicken.
“Damn! It smells good up in here!” a voice not belonging to the woman of the house exclaimed. I turned from the pot and saw a light-skinned version of Ms. Anika and Alicia walking into the kitchen. “Well, hello. You’re the one that got it smelling like a beautiful holiday in here?”
I smiled. “That would be me.”
“Cousin Rae!” the kids shouted, getting up from their seats at the table and rushing over to her.
“Hey, babies! Oooh, I miss y’all so much!” She wrapped her arms around them just as Ms. Anika, Alicia, and Carlee came into view.
“It smells wonderful in here,” Ms. Anika said, coming over to me. I gave her a hug as she kissed my cheek. “How are you, baby?”
“I’m doing well, Ms. Anika.” I extended my palm to whom the kids called Rae. “Basil.”
She smiled and shook my hand. “Raeley, but you can call me Rae . . . or yours. Whichever you’d prefer.”
“Rae,” Alicia reprimanded.
“What? You don’t want him,” Rae sassed. My eyes locked with Alicia’s, and she hurriedly looked away from me. I chuckled lightly as I approached her, and Carlee instantly reached for me.
“Baye-Baye, here.” Her little palms opened and closed until I took her into my arms, hugging her tight.
“Hey, Lee Bear. I missed you today.”
“Miss you,” she countered.
“Did you show Mommy what you can do?”
“Me do it?”
I smiled at her. “Yeah.”
Carlee counted her little fingers. “Wun, two, thee, four, fye, six, seben, eight, nigh, teeenn! Yayyyy!” Everybody cheered her on, which got her extra excited.
“Baye-Baye, shoe off.” She tried to lift her leg as I chuckled.
I set her on the table and took her shoes off so she could count her toes too.
I could see Alicia beaming with pride as she scooped her up and kissed her cheeks.
“Very good, my little lamb! You’re so smart, baby.”
Ms. Anika placed her hand over her heart. “That’s a good man, Savannah.”
Rae chuckled and slapped hands with her aunt.
“Mom, please.”
Ms. Anika waved her off. “I hope you made enough for us all, my new S.I.L.,” she said, calling me her son-in-law.
I smiled widely.
“Of course,” I replied.
“Let me go wash my hands. If you cook as good as you look, I may have to go get pregnant and have a baby just so I can hire you.” She and Ms. Anika laughed. “Don’t worry, Ali Cat. I promise not to have your booski swinging me from the chandelier.”
“Raeley, go wash your damn hands,” Alicia scolded. The whole time, my eyes never left Alicia. She was just so fucking pretty. I wanted to eat her pussy so bad that I could taste her on my tongue.
“Oooh, Mommy said a bad word!” Chloe giggled.
“Cover your ears, baby.” She then looked back at me. “Can I speak to you for a moment? In private?”
“Can it wait? I’m in the middle of cooking. Should be done in a minute.” I brushed her off. The food was done; I just didn’t want to talk, because I was sure it was going to be something confusing.
Ten minutes later, I plated the kids’ food, then served Ms. Anika and Raeley. I purposely served Alicia last to get a reaction out of her. I could tell she was irritated, but she didn’t say shit. I smiled in triumph.
That was what she got for giving me that good pussy, then taking it away from me. I’d been going through withdrawals, fucking around with her, but that shit was ending tomorrow. I was climbing in something to get my mind off her good-pussy ass.
After putting the food away, I cleaned up behind myself while the ladies chitchatted. After making sure everything was in pristine condition, I went around the table, hugging the gang before I bid the ladies adieu.
“Alright, ladies. I hope you all enjoy your meal. It was my pleasure to have served you.”
“Thank you, Baye,” Rae said, winking at me.
Ms. Anika and I laughed.
“You’re welcome.”
“See you later, baby. Come to church this Sunday, hear?” Ms. Anika asked.
“Y’all got night service? I’ll probably be too inebriated to get up early on Sunday.”
She chuckled. “We do. It starts at six.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Okay.”
I tossed the paper towel I used to dry my hands into the trash and headed out of the kitchen.
“Basil,” Alicia called out to me.
“Bye, Alicia.” I walked out of the kitchen, and a few moments later, I heard footsteps coming up behind me. I knew it was her, but I didn’t turn to acknowledge her.
“Bas—” The sound of the doorbell halted her words. She walked over to the door, and her fuck-ass ex entered moments later.
“You’re early,” she told him.
His eyes came to me, and I gave him eye contact right back.
This corny-ass nigga.
I could tell he used to be a nerd or a dumb jock in college. Alicia looked like she was into nerdy niggas who were still getting fed through an umbilical cord. He swore he was a tough guy, but if he gave me a reason, I was going to put him on his back with ease.
He looked away from me. “Yeah, I was already in the area.”
“They’re almost done eating. You can wait in the living room.”
“Still running with this manny business, huh?” he asked.
I chuckled.
He looked at me. “Something funny?”
“Yeah, you.”
“Basil,” Alicia pleaded.
“It’s cool, Ms. Alicia. See you Monday.” I grabbed my items and headed toward the door.
“Where’s the iPad, Mr. Cassidy?”
Mr. Cassidy? Oh, you want to be disrespectful, huh? Got you.
I flicked my nose a few times to reel back my anger because shorty was really bugging. I was about to show her ass how fucked up she had me, trying to play me in front of this fuck nigga.
“Oh, really? Was I Mr. Cassidy when I had you gagging on my dick?”
Her eyes ballooned, and her mouth fell open in shock.
“Have a good day, Mrs. Hill.” I walked past them and out the door.
If she wanted to play games, then I was a master at them.
Since she came home, her whole energy just felt awkward.
I knew she wanted to talk to me, but I didn’t have the energy for her confusion.
Although I didn’t know what she wanted, per se, I had a feeling it was something concerning us.
As far as I was concerned, there was no us—just a boss and a manny.
I felt bad for having to use what happened between us as a weapon against her, but I also wasn’t about to let her think she could treat me like a David Ruffin and kick me out of the fucking group like I meant nothing.
This weekend, I was going to enjoy myself. My best friend was home, the party was all set to go, and there would be women available for my choosing, . . . even when I desperately wanted the one I had already chosen.