Chapter 31 Kevin #2
“Hell nah!” I busted out laughing. “I ain’t gettin’ in the middle of that! That’s all you, cuz.”
“Dude, come on! That shit ain’t even funny!”
“Yes, that shit is! You need to fight for visitation for your shorty to dead all that drama between you and Monica, ‘cause this ain’t it, cuz. Little man don’t need to be around all that arguin’ and fightin’, and you’ll never be able to get with a decent female as long as you have Monica sniffing in everything you got goin’ on.
I suggest you get yourself a family court lawyer and take her ass to court for visitation.
That way, she won’t be able to dictate shit no more!
You give her ass way too much control over the situation with your son.
TJ is your son, too, so you have just as much rights as she does. ”
“You right. I just might have to do that. I swear I wasn’t thinking, but what had happened was, I had to take TJ to the bathroom.
He’s almost potty trained, but not quite yet, and every damn time he has to use the bathroom, that lil’ nigga waits ‘til he damn near ‘bout to piss on himself before saying he has to go. Man, I took off with him in tow so he wouldn’t have an accident in his pants and didn’t even think about my phone. ”
I was doubled over laughing at him because he legit sounded upset.
“Man, you always got something going on.”
“So, you gon’ help me out or what?”
“I don’t know what you think I can say or do.”
“You can talk to your girl and explain the shit to her better so she can tell her sister.”
“Man, I’m not tryna get involved ‘cause I ain’t tryna mess up my chances with Ava,” I said, being totally honest.
“This ain’t got nothin’ to do with you and Ava.”
“It doesn’t, but you’re my family, so they both gon’ be lookin’ for answers from me.”
“That’s good. Then you can tell them both that the shit wasn’t my fault.”
“I can already hear them now.” I laughed. “Oh, and thanks a lot! Because now instead of celebrating with my girl, I’m sure tonight they’re going to interrogate the hell out me!” I chuckled.
“You meetin’ up with them tonight?”
“Ah yeah, to celebrate Ava’s divorce. Dawn didn’t tell you?”
“Man, hell nah! I told you she was pissed and didn’t give me a chance to explain shit to her. She hung the phone up in my face! But, that’s what’s up! Good for Ava and you!”
“Yeah, it’s been a long time coming for me. I hated that she got married in the first place. But when shit didn’t work out, I felt bad for her, but at the same time excited as fuck ‘cause now I can finally shoot my shot. Tonight was supposed to be a double date, but you done fucked all that up.”
“Damn, I bet that’s why Dawn was calling me, too.
Fuck!” Troy snapped, causing me to bust out laughing again.
“I have the nerve to go back by Monica’s to choke her ass.
She’s lucky I’m not that nigga—cock-blockin’ ass girl, shit!
Dawn and I was so good before this happened.
I just knew I was gon’ hit that shit soon, too!
I know Dawn was feeling me and she looks like she got that good-good. Fuck, man!”
“TMI, fool! Yo ass is stupid!”
“Where y’all gon’ be chillin’ at?”
“Why?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“I might slide through.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“Why would it not be? I never got the chance to explain shit.”
“You really feelin’ Dawn, huh?”
“Man, she straight. I was making good progress with her. Shorty and I have decent conversations and have been getting to know each other. I’m telling you; I was close to hittin’ that, ‘cause now our conversations be headin’ towards sex talk and questions.
Plus, she’s a very beautiful girl. She had me the first time I saw her.
I’m feeling her, but she can come off as super guarded sometimes.
I feel like she has been hurt really bad, and I’m not sure I’m up for dealing with emotions from her behind what some other nigga did.
It had me feeling a little hesitant at first, but it’s something about her. ”
“I can understand that. Look at my situation,” I said.
“I have gotten to know Ava on a deeper level by being there and allowing her to vent and be emotional. I would be lying if I said her past hurts didn’t concern me.
What she went through was enough to make anyone feel guarded, so I get how you feel. ”
“Exactly. I know that she’s guarded from heartbreak ‘cause she has been opening up a little about it. You know how I could be about women, they come a dime a dozen. Normally, I wouldn’t be checkin’ for a woman, but there is something about Dawn that I’m drawn to.
I don’t want things to end before they can really get started. ”
“Then you gon’ have to open up to let her in. Had she known about TJ and how Monica gets down, she could have been prepared to deal with her answering your phone. But she didn’t know, so I could see why she’s so pissed off. I’m sure you can understand that.”
“Hell yeah! I would have been pissed had it happened to me, so I get it.”
“Well, if you feel that she is someone you can really see yourself with, then fight for it.”
“Do you think I should pop up on y’all tonight?” Troy asked.
“Well, that’s something I’m not too sure of!” I laughed. “If you wanna walk into the lion’s den, then be my guest. Just don’t look to me to have any parts to how it goes.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Troy laughed.
“It means my name’s Bennet, and I ain’t gon’ be in none of that shit!”
“You a fool, Kev!” Troy laughed.
“I’m serious! I know that it’s none of my business, but if you not gon’ do right by Dawn just leave her be, man. But, if you’re serious about her, then you gon’ have to move a little different.”
“I’m not gon’ do shorty bogus. I get what you’re saying, plus that’s Ava’s sister. I get how that can make things awkward with y’all, especially whenever I come around.”
“That would be uncomfortable as hell. Like tonight was supposed to be a double date, but now that’s out the window.”
“I know you and shorty gon’ be straight though. I can tell y’all feelin’ each other by the way y’all be lookin’ at one another. Right now, I’m back at square one. I’m the one that needs help with getting Dawn back into my good graces.”
“Good luck with that.”
“Where y’all gon’ be at later?” Troy questioned.
“Bob Chinn’s. I got a reservation for seven. Just ask for my table when you get there... if you decide to come. When I first made it, it was for four people, so you’ll be fine. I never called them to take you off the list.”
“Okay, bet! Thanks, cuz.”
“Fo’sho.”
“Ava got you wide open I see.”
“Nah, man, not at all. Her and her sister are just good people. You know how I’m coming with Ava already.”
“Don’t I know. Dawn’s diggin’ me just as much as I’m checkin’ for her.
At least she was, so I know she should be open to hearing me out if I pop up tonight.
I wasn’t planning on hittin’ and quittin’ unless her shit is trash or smells.
Otherwise, I was open and still am to see where things could go with us. ”
“Bye, fool! I’m out. You didn’t just say not if her shit smells or is trash! You too much, fool!” I laughed. “I gotta stop by the store then head home to get changed for later.”
“Okay, bet. I’ll see y’all later. More than likely, I’ll show up around eight.
That way it gives you ample time alone with them in case they need to vent about me and shit.
You can also get a vibe from them. If you think it’s straight, I’ll still come.
But, if it’s gon’ cause any drama, I won’t show up.
That way your girl’s night isn’t ruined. ”
“I appreciate that. I ain’t tryna let anything get in the way of us celebrating this long-awaited divorce.”
Getting off the phone with Troy, all I could do was shake my head.
Checking the time, I saw that it was a little after four-thirty p.m., so I went to Mariano’s to get some flowers for Ava and wine for later tonight.
I remembered Ava mentioned that she wanted to try some Stella Rosa wine.
Who knew that there were so many different flavors for it!
I didn’t recall her saying a specific flavor, but I did know that she loved peach flavored drinks from all the times we ate lunch together at work.
I grabbed a couple of the peach favored bottles and a large bouquet of flowers mixed with sunflowers.
I knew that she liked sunflowers because occasionally she would keep a vase of them in her office on her desk.
Once I was done at the store, I headed home so that I could shower and change.
By the time I was done getting dressed, it was after six-thirty.
I wanted to make sure that I smelled extra good, so I decided to put on some Guilty by Gucci cologne, then headed out to my car so that I could make it to Bob Chinn’s on time.
Bob Chinn’s was a pretty busy place and the line/waiting list to get in would fill up rather quickly.
Thankfully, I was proactive and had a reservation, so I didn’t have to worry about how busy they were gonna be.
I didn’t want to miss my time slot because they only gave a ten-minute grace period due to the fact that they always had people anxious to get in.
Pulling up to the valet parking station, I checked the time and saw that it was five minutes to seven.
I had made pretty decent timing. Getting out of my whip and handing my keys to the valet driver, I pulled out my cellphone to see if Ava was here yet.
Looking around to see just as suspected, it was pretty busy.
Groups of people were standing around on the patio of the restaurant and there was a long line of people waiting to be put on the waiting list.
Noticing that she hadn’t called or texted me yet, I decided to give her a quick call.
“Hey love, just checking to see how far out you guys are,” I said when she answered the phone.
“Hey Kev, we just got off the freeway and should be there in ten minutes or less.”