Chapter 31 Kevin
KEVIN
“Hey love, I was just texting you.”
“Is everything okay?” Ava asked.
“Yeah, I was just letting you know that I made the reservation, so we’re good for tonight.”
“Sounds great, but about tonight…”
“Uh-oh, don’t tell me you changed your mind.” I wondered, hoping she wasn’t backing out because I had been looking forward to tonight ever since she told me about the divorce earlier today.
“No, not at all. I just wanted to tell you that there has been a slight change in plans. Instead of riding with you to the restaurant, I’ma ride with Dawn. I hope you’re cool with that. I know I said we could ride together, but some shit went down between her and Troy so...”
“That’s cool with me. As long as you’re not cancelling, I’m straight,” I sighed, feeling relieved but surprised to hear that Dawn and Troy had some beef. “What happened with them, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“You haven’t talked with Troy?”
“No, I haven’t talked to him at all.”
“Hmmm…maybe he should tell you then,” Ava responded with a little attitude in her tone. It must have been bad for her to sound like that when she was just speaking so highly of him earlier.
“Was it that bad?”
“It wasn’t good, I’ll just say that.”
“Oh, I’m almost scared to ask.”
“It was pretty tacky on Troy’s part,” Ava responded. “I was thinking, maybe you can take me home afterward. Dawn more than likely won’t be staying long. I thought she was going to cancel, but she’s just as happy about my divorce as I am, so she’s still coming in support of me.”
“Ummm…okay. Of course, I can take you home. You know you don’t even have to ask. Did you promise your sister that you weren’t going to say something about what happened with them? I mean, I was under the impression that we were gonna double date, so it’ll be weird if he isn’t coming.”
“I agree. No, I didn’t promise her that I wouldn’t say anything.”
“Then spill the tea!” I chuckled.
“Well,” Ava chuckled then continued, “Apparently, when she called Troy to invite him out with us, his baby mama answered his phone.”
“What!” I swallowed hard. “Wait, what happened nah?” I asked, almost choking on air interrupting her. I was not expecting to hear that at all.
“Did you know he had a kid?”
“I mean, yeah. Is having a kid a bad thing?” I asked, interested in her response.
I didn’t feel it was my business or place to tell it.
I figured that Troy would tell Dawn if he wanted to share that part of his life with her.
His baby mama was a piece of work, so he was very mindful who he let in when it came to her.
He didn’t bring his kid around all of the women he would mess with, and I knew and respected his judgement on that as well as understood why he moved that way.
But to hear that his baby mama answered his phone was just crazy because I could only imagine the drama she kicked up.
Last I heard, they weren’t together like that, just co-parenting, so it was interesting to hear that she was now answering his calls.
“Not exactly. But having a baby mama that answers your phone isn’t a great thing.”
“I agree! I take it things went down then ‘cause that baby mama of his is a true handful.”
“Something like that. Long story short, he isn’t coming tonight.”
“Damn, I was really looking forward to this double date. I’m sorry that happened to your sister.
That isn’t like Troy to let ol’ girl answer his phone though.
I just want you to know that I never said anything about what he had going on because I felt like it wasn’t my place to share. I hope you can understand that.”
“I get it. I just wish he would’ve said something to Dawn, but I get why he would want to wait, I guess. Yeah, ol’ girl is definitely a handful because she clowned and acted the fool from what I was told. She disrespected my sister, and Dawn is pissed off to say the least.”
“As she should be,” I responded. “Look, this is Troy calling me now. Can I call you right back?”
“Sure, of course you can. Or how about I’ll just call you when we’re on the way to the restaurant. Dawn is coming over so that we can get ready together, and she should be here any minute.”
“That works, too. I’ll see you both later.”
Clicking the line over to Troy’s call, I couldn’t wait to find out what all went down with his crazy ass baby mama.
“Hey cuz,” I answered. “Hang up so I can clear my line, and I’ll call you right back.”
I didn’t want to take the chance of my line not being clear and Ava hearing me and Troy’s conversation.
That shit happened to me one time when I used to play the field and talk to multiple women, way back when.
I called myself getting off the line with one honey, and when I clicked over, I actually merged the calls instead of hanging up and switching the calls.
To say that ended in a shit show would be an understatement.
Troy had already messed up with Dawn today, so I wasn’t trying to be on Ava’s shit list.
“Okay, bet. I gotta tell you about some bullshit that just went down with your girl’s sister.”
Clearing my line then calling Troy back, the phone barely rang before he answered it.
“Cuz, you wouldn’t believe the fuckery I just had to deal with!” Troy exclaimed sounding frustrated.
“What the hell happened, dude? I just got off the phone with Ava, and from what I understand, her sister is pretty pissed. How you fuck that up already? I had high hopes for y’all.”
“Man, Monica’s ol’ hatin’ ass is what happened! I was over at her house visiting with TJ. I turned my back for a few minutes, and the crazy bitch answered my phone.”
“Damn, that’s fucked up.”
“Right! This crazy nut was calling Dawn bitches and saying God only knows what else when I walked back into the room.”
“Damn, cuz. Did she know that you had a baby mama? ‘Cause from the conversation I just had it didn’t sound like she knew.”
“Nah, she ain’t know. Dawn is one of those ghetto, bougie types.
I didn’t tell her about TJ yet because I didn’t want to turn her off.
I planned on telling her eventually once she and I became a sure thing, but we ain’t even smashed yet, so I didn’t think I had to tell all my business up front.
You know how I am about my son. I’m not about to have different women coming in and out of his life like that, plus his mama is crazy as hell.
She stay tryna cock block, so hell nah Dawn didn’t know shit about TJ. ”
“I feel you on that, and that’s what I tried to explain to Ava. It’s fucked up what Monica did though. I don’t know what you were thinking leaving your phone around her unattended when you know how she is. You more than anybody knows how she can get down.”
“Man, who you tellin’! I was straight slackin’!”
“You sure you not hittin’ that anymore?”
“I mean-”
“Ah come on, cuz!” I sighed. “I thought you was done with that? You know that girl ain’t wrapped tight. It’s bad enough y’all got a kid together. The fact that you’re still sleeping with her complicates shit with her, and that’s why she acts the way that she does.”
“You know I already know. I swear I ain’t hit that in at least two months, cuz, swear to God!” Troy tried to convince me, but I wasn’t falling for it.
“So, why not pick TJ up and take him to your crib or the park to spend time with him? Why kick it at her crib if you not tryna give her the wrong impression?” I asked, because I couldn’t understand why he was still chilling with her if they weren’t together.
“The crazy ass girl won’t let me take TJ anywhere, so I can only visit him at her house. I know it’s her way of trying to spend time with me, but I ain’t payin’ that girl no attention when I’m over there. She’s too wild, and what she did today proved that.”
“Dude, that shit sounds like a damn set up. She knows your weakness, and you tend to fall in her trap all the time. She probably don’t take you serious ‘cause you always go back and hit.”
“I mean… you probably right. When I was going back and tappin’ that ass, I could definitely see that she was getting the wrong impression about us.
Where I was looking at it as just fucking, she thought we were back in a relationship.
She started tripping and the last stunt she pulled, coming up to my job and getting me fired, was the shit that broke the camel’s back for me.
Remember I told you that a few months back?
I ain’t gon’ lie, I was tappin’ that ass faithfully, but the last time we smashed we got into it over some nigga poppin’ up at her crib while I was over there.
One thing led to another, and she started putting her hands on me, and you know how I feel about that shit, so I bounced.
I told her that I was done fucking with her ass and for good that time.
Then the crazy broad gon’ pop up at my job the next day and start tearin’ shit up.
Breaking glass and throwing shit all over the place.
When I got fired, I was done. But like I said, in order for me to see my shorty, I have to go to her crib and chill with him there. ”
“I swear Monica wild as hell, dude! You losing your job at T-Mobile was a blessing though because the security job you have now is much better, right?”
“Yeah, the security job is easy as fuck, but still. I loved working for T-Mobile. I was top salesman every quarter at the store I worked at faithfully. My bonus checks were crazy good, and I met some decent-looking females every day.”
“I feel you on that. Which is even more reason why I don’t get you leaving your phone around that crazy ass girl. Anybody could have been calling you.”
“RIGHT! Man, I wigged out on her ass too, cuz. I wanted to choke the life out of her, but I’m not that nigga.
Then, Dawn basically dismissed me before I could even explain anything to her, and that shit had me hot.
Now, I’ma need your help to get back in good with her.
After I left Monica’s, I tried calling Dawn a few times, but I think she has me on block. ”