ALONE WITH YOU #4
“I miss you. I just wanted to make sure you was good. You, Ma, and Lo transfer the girls back and forth, and I don’t get to see you. I started this new job, too, so my time is limited.”
“How is the job going?” Rhema asked, flagging down the bartender and ordering a Long Island iced tea.
“Shit is cool.” He nodded. “I was thinking about getting a new place for the girls to live. I wanted to run it by you.”
“No need. You do what’s best for you and them.”
“I’m trying to do what’s best for us,” Jewel clarified.
“What are you talking about?” Rhema dropped a hand against the counter.
“I’m saying the place isn’t just for me and them. I want you there too. It’s big enough for all of us. Bigger than my parents’ spot where they share a room and your place. It’s in the middle of town, close to your job and mine, plus my parents’ and Lotus’s spot.”
“I am fine living where I am,” Rhema argued. “And I’m not moving in with you.”
“I’m talking co-parenting shit, Rhem. Think about all the money you’ll save on everything living together. I’ll take care of all the bills. We can set up a schedule. You can even have your own room,” Jewel presented, watching her face crinkle in scrutiny.
He would play the long game with her if it meant they would be together in the end. His only goal was to make sure her and the girls never wanted or needed for shit.
“I know you all on yo’ independent shit, but this is something I want to do for you. For us.”
“Jasiel, don’t play with me.”
“Rhema, I fuck around about a lot of shit, but you know I’m solid when it comes to you and them girls.”
There were no lies told there. The only problem she and Jewel had was the fact that he couldn’t stop chasing pussy.
It was his weakness. Having his ego stroked by various women while he was digging out their guts was a vice he couldn’t let go of no matter how devoted she remained to him.
She couldn’t keep putting herself through a repeated cycle of allowing her girls to see her unhappy.
She did miss him, though. He knew her better than anyone.
He made her laugh, and they shared children together.
“How is this supposed to work for us, Jasiel? I’m not about to sit around and let you play in my face again with different bitches.”
“What about you and the niggas you entertain?”
“Who said I was entertaining anybody?” Rhema’s lip curled in distaste as she reeled her neck.
“You ain’t got time for me. The girls spend more time with my people than anything.”
“That was the agreement we came to. I’ve been working and going to school, trying to get my degree. You already know this. Ain’t shit changed. I realized I needed to keep my distance from you and your people, so we don’t fall into old habits,” Rhema clarified.
“You family. Fuck all that shit you talking.”
“Definitely fuck all that.” Lotus walked up with Eazy behind her and threw her arm around Rhema to greet her with a hug. “What’s up, sis?”
“Hey, you look cute!” Rhema pulled back to look her over and noticed Eazy posted behind her.
“What’s up, Eazy?”
“What’s good, Rhem?”
“I’m going to dance. You want to come?” Lotus checked with her.
“In a minute. Let me get this drink in me first.” She reached for the glass placed on the counter in front of her and grabbed the straw to take a sip.
Eazy pivoted to keep eyes on Lotus. She walked like a cat, all prissy and shit, to the dance floor.
When she stepped to Essence, the two fell into a dance routine, and all eyes fell on them.
He didn’t like that shit, so he made sure to stick close and keep an eye on them.
Drinks flowed, and they partied until it was almost 1:00 a.m. Stumbling into the parking lot together, laughing and talking shit, the group went to grab food off the trucks that gained a crowd.
Eazy went to warm up his car while everyone else stood around the trucks, placing orders. He was going to need another blunt or two to cap his night off, so he sat there with his door propped open and one foot on the ground rolling up.
Lotus joined him, leaning against the side of his car beside his open door and indulging in her order of carne asada street tacos. There was another container the same size under it. Much like his sister and Rhema, she was drunk.
“Oh, my God, these are fire.” She moaned, licking her lips after chewing.
Jewel and Rhema approached, and she hung off him, doing her best to hold herself up with the keyfob to her car in her hand.
“I’m taking Rhema home. Y’all good?” Jasiel took her keys from her.
“Yeah.” Eazy nodded, and Essence waved to a car passing them in the lot.
“Well, don’t wait up for me.” She strut over to the Charger when they stopped in front of Eazy’s car.
“The fuck you going?” he asked, taking a mental picture of the vehicle running in front of him.
The tint was so thick on the windows he couldn’t see through them.
“Taking my life off pause.” She winked and threw up the deuces before sprinting around the car and hopping in the passenger seat. “Goodnight, y’all! I had fun!”
When the car pulled off, he also made note of the license plate while licking his blunt closed. A deep frown embedded in his face, causing his thick brows to draw together. He watched the brake lights until it whipped off the lot.
“You need a ride, sis?” Jewel checked, leading Rhema toward her car on the other side of the lot.
“I got her,” Eazy chimed in, positioning the blunt between his lips and sparking it with his lighter.
“Aight, good looking. Later, Lo.” Jewel threw up the deuces and strolled off.
“Bye.” She waved him off but kept eating.
“Get in,” Eazy instructed.
“Rude ass.” She rolled her eyes.