Aria Hollister
Wicked… The fucking Wicked Saint-Mercier… Ain’t no way. Out of all the people that I could’ve come across on that application, it just had to be him. Wren isn’t gon’ believe this shit.
I left the prison and headed back to Montgomery so that I can tell Wren all about this mess.
She was still at work at the moment, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t show up and see her.
I’d come by the library all the time and just fuck off with her whenever I didn’t have anything else better to do.
I would’ve been at work had I not gone to visit Wicked.
Now that I knew who he was, I was definitely debating on dealing with him further.
It’s bad enough that Wren got wrapped up in the family.
All the shit I talked about Maniac when she first started dealing with him, I’d be a hypocrite.
When I made it back to the city, I stopped by Moe’s and grabbed her some tacos to smooth over the news I was about to give her. I’m still in disbelief, so I know she’s not gon’ believe it.
Pulling into the parking lot of the library, I parked and grabbed the food off the passenger seat and then got out the car.
Entering the building, my heart pound against my ribcage as I neared the entrance.
I’ve heard all sorts of stories about Wicked before he got locked up.
If he was anything like Maniac, I’m in for a rude awakening.
“Hey,” Wren said soon as her eyes landed on me. “Oh my God, you brought food. I don’t know how you knew I was hungry.”
“Girl, please. You’re pregnant. You’re always hungry.”
“True.” She snickered, and I handed her the food. She rolled back from the desk and opened the bag. “What brings you by here? You ain’t tell me you was coming earlier when we talked on the phone.”
Rounding the desk, I took a seat in the empty chair and said, “I needed to talk to you about something.”
“Okay.” She removed one of the tacos from the bag and unwrapped it.
“What do you know about Wicked?” Her eyes shot to me with the taco stuck at her lips. She placed the taco back in the foil and gave me her undivided attention.
“Why are you asking me about Wicked?”
Pursing my lips, I replied, “Turns out, that’s the guy that I’ve been talking to.”
“You’re lying right?” Her brows furrowed.
“No. I’m serious. I took your advice and went to see him and turns out, it’s Castro Saint-Mercier.
See.” Going to my phone, I brought up the picture of him that I found online and showed it to her.
Wicked was fine as hell. He was a shade bit brighter than Maniac and his hair was in a curly tapper and the tattoos.
Please don’t get me started on them. Even though he was wearing a jumpsuit, I still could see them peeking from underneath.
“This is insane.” Wren took a bite from her taco. “What are the odds?” she asked with a mouth full of food.
“Right. Now, I’m trying to figure out what I’m gon’ do.”
“What do you mean?”
Resting my phone against the desk, I turned my attention back to her. “I don’t know if I want to keep talking to him now that I know who he is.”
“But why not?”
“I know that he says he’s about to get out soon, but I’m not sure if that’s the type of life I want Zion to grow up in. I don’t even know if that man even wants kids.”
“You still haven’t told him about Zion?”
“No.” My eyes lowered, and I fiddled with my fingers.
“I can’t tell you what to do with your life. If you don’t want to talk to him, then don’t, but I will say that I think you should give him a chance. You never know what can happen. There’s no harm in trying, Aria. Not everyone is like Zion’s daddy.”
Zion’s daddy. I hated that man’s guts with a passion. I’m thankful that he gave me my son, but I wish I never crossed paths with him. He was full of shit. Dead beat ass bitch. If I ever get my hands on him again, I’ll choke the fucking life out of him.
“Maybe you’re right.”
My phone chimed. I looked down and saw that it was a text from Wicked. A few days ago, we’d upgraded from the application to texting. I was nervous as hell giving him my phone number, but I took a chance and did it anyway.
Madness: You’re beautiful as fuck. Hope you know that.
I nibbled on my thumbnail. I’on know what to say to him.
“What’s wrong?” Wren questioned me.
“Nothing,” I lied and placed the phone back down.
After sitting there with Wren for a while, I went to grab Zion from daycare. Parking at the door, I got out and went up to it. My thumb pressed against the doorbell, and I waited for someone to open the door. The door pushed out and it was a guy.
“Hey,” he spoke and stepped out the way.
I’m assuming he was here to pick up his kid.
It bothered me whenever I would see men coming here or out in public period with their kids.
It hurt that Zion would never have that feeling.
I desperately wanted a man in his life, but I wasn’t about to just give him no anybody.
“Oh, hey,” Mia said when she stepped into the lobby. “Zion!” she yelled over her shoulder and handed the guy a bag. “They about to bring her up here. They’re changing her right quick.”
“Okay,” he replied.
A few moments later, I heard footsteps coming from the hallway. Zion entered the room and ran straight over to me, hugging my legs. “Hey, mommy.”
“Hey, baby. You ready?”
“Yeah.”
The guy pushed the door open for me. “Thanks,” I tossed over my shoulder and headed for the car. Opening the back passenger door, I helped Zion into his seat and snapped him in.
“Mommy, I want chips,” Zion said as I straightened my posture.
“Okay.” I shut the door and rounded the car to my side.
Knowing that I needed to go home and make dinner, I could stop by the gas station and grab him a couple snacks to hold him over ’til it’s done.
Zion more than likely just had a snack before I picked him up, but that didn’t mean anything.
This lil boy knows he can eat. I’m scared to see what his appetite looks like when he gets older.
Pulling off, I headed to the gas station that wasn’t too far from the daycare, so that I didn’t have to stop anywhere else along the way to the house.
I turned into a space that was close to the door and got out the car and then grabbed Zion.
Holding his hand, I led him into the store. This guy held the door open for us.
“Thanks.” He nodded and we went further into the store. “Get whatever you want,” I told Zion.
He ran over to the bag of chips and grabbed him some Cheetos and then found his way to the snack cake aisle. He pointed at the honey buns and I grabbed him one. After that, he went to the freezer and waited for me to open it for him to get a juice.
Once we had everything he wanted, I walked him over to cash register. This guy stood in line in front of me. He glanced back in my direction and smirked. Whatever he was thinking, he might as well keep to himself because I don’t want to hear it.
“That’s you?” He nodded toward Zion.
Duh. Zion looked just like me. His daddy’s DNA didn’t stand a fighting chance. I guess we’re lucky for that.
“Yeah,” I simply replied and diverted my eyes elsewhere, hoping that he’d leave me the fuck alone.
I didn’t come in here to be harassed. We were only in here to get some snacks and gone about our business.
This the exact reason why I didn’t like going in gas stations now.
No matter what side of town I’m on, whatever store I go in, I’m being bothered by somebody.
These people just wouldn’t let me exist in peace.
“Where yo’ old man at?”
“In prison…” My eyes darted back to him. “…for killing someone.” I didn’t know why Wicked was locked up. We never got to that conversation. Maybe I should ask him before I even consider dealing with him like that.
“You think that shit scare me?” he asked, lifting his t-shirt to show the pistol tucked in his waistline. I pulled Zion closer to me.
“Are you crazy? My son is standing right here.”
Chuckling, he lowered his shirt. “I was just letting you know that I ain’t scared.”
“Well, you should be because it’s Wicked.” He choked and coughed on his own saliva. “Yeah… Saint-Mercier. Unless you wanna end up like the last nigga, I suggest you leave me the fuck alone. Move.” I shoved him out the way and stepped to the register.
After I paid for Zion’s things, we left the store.
When I made it home, I helped Zion from the car. He ran up to the porch while I grabbed my purse off the passenger seat. “Stay up there on the porch,” I told him as I headed down to the sidewalk to check the mailbox.
Bills. Bills. Bills. That’s all it seems like I get these days.
I’m so tired of paying all these damn bills.
I know that it’s a part of being an adult, but shit was getting expensive.
There’re utilities, rent, daycare bills, phone bill, so many fucking bills and its getting overwhelming. My days are seeming routine.
Sighing, I shut the mailbox and went up to the front door. Soon as I pushed it in, my mouth dropped. My entire living room was covered with dozens of red roses bouquets.
“What is happening?” I questioned aloud.
I gently nudged Zion on into the house and stepped in behind him. Shutting the door, I grabbed the card off one of the flowers closest to me. Zion took off running to his bedroom with his snacks.
“Don’t eat that stuff in that bed!” I yelled behind him and ripped the envelope.
You’re going to hate how much you feel drawn to me… and I’m going to love every second of it. -Wicked
Lord, this man is already staking claims on me. I don’t know if I should fall into it or run.
“You wanna play, let’s play.”