Chapter 20 #2
“Exactly!” Shiro adds.
“Shuga really didn’t want to talk about it, so she didn’t say much. But I’m going to have my investigator see what she can find about our sister.”
“Nigga, that’s yo’ sister,” Tre says out of anger. “My siblings are all in this damn room and nowhere else.”
“She didn’t do shit to us,” Ace says. “Don’t be like that.”
“I’ll be like the fuck I want to be,” Tre utters.
“Look. I’m going to Shuga’s. I can’t sit here and not check on her,” Ace says. “When you find out the shit from your investigator, hit me.” Against my warning that Shuga doesn’t want to talk, Ace walks out.
Deuce stands and gathers all his snacks. “I’m going back to damn bed. When you find out where Asali is, hit me,” he says, then leaves.
“I’m out too. This shit is wild. Let me know when you find him. Keep that sister shit to yo’ self,” Tre says. He stands, steps to me, and we dap.
“Ace is right though. The girl is innocent,” I tell him and he merely shakes his head then leaves.
“How bad is Shuga?” Shiro asks once it’s just us.
“Fucked up. Red, swollen eyes, couldn’t stop crying, sad, and really hurt. I just… I mean… She damn near made me cry. I’m telling you, that shit fucked with me; it’s still fucking with me, seeing her like that. Asali really broke her heart.”
“Shit,” he sighs. “That nigga…how did we not know?”
“I don’t know. This shit is wild,” I say and he sighs loud as hell.
“If I see that nigga, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he says, then stands. So do I. “I’m dipping too. After work, I’m going to check on Shuga. I know what you said but I got to lay eyes on her,” he says.
“I knew you would. I’m walking out with you.”
After turning off the light in the living room, I quickly check my kitchen to make sure Deuce didn’t leave shit all over the place.
He didn’t, so I set my alarm and walk out with Shiro.
We dap up and hug before he gets in his ride and I get in mine.
Because I need something other than this whole fucked up situation on my mind, I FaceTime the two people I know will at least put a smile on my face.
Niya’s face fills the screen as she answers my wife’s phone. Whatever she’s doing, she has the phone extremely close to her cute little face.
“What you doing, baby girl?” I ask.
“Hold on, Daddy,” she says and my view changes to the ceiling. Seconds later, hers and my wife’s lovely faces are in my view. My smile returns. “Okay,” Niya says. “You in your truck?”
“Yeah. I’m headed back to y’all. Did y’all eat lunch? I can stop and get something.”
“We making chuttery board,” Niya announces proudly but I don’t know what the hell that is.
“What’s chuttery?” I ask.
With a grin, Mireya says, “A charcuterie board but I actually like chuttery better. It’s easier to pronounce. We are having a girl plate for lunch.”
“Yeah and it’s good. We got strawberries, crackers, cheese, a bunch of stuff,” Niya lists off while holding a finger up for each item. The smile on her face is big; she’s having fun.
“It’s going to be real good but I made something else for you. Just come home; you don’t need to stop anywhere.” The phone lifts and it’s only my kyau on the screen. “Sweetie, place the graham crackers on each board while I talk to your daddy for a minute.”
“Okay. I got it,” Niya assures her.
Mireya walks off and I see she’s out of the kitchen. “Are you okay?”
“Not really.”
“I can tell. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t even know what’s wrong, kyau.”
“Whatever it is has you looking like that, and for that, I’m sorry. Come home so you can tell me. I don’t want it on your mind while you drive,” she says with so much sincerity and concern.
“I really love you,” I tell her.
“I love you too,” she replies.
“I’m coming now.”
“We’re here.”
I end the call then start my ride. Before getting on the highway, I stop for gas at the C-Mart and grab a bottle of water. A little over an hour later, I’m parking at The Millennium and heading up in the elevator.
“Daddy,” Niya says when I walk through the door. “You came fast.”
“I couldn’t wait to see you,” I tell her.
The perfect vision is right before my eyes.
Niya and Mireya are sitting on the sofa with food trays in their laps, eating their charcuterie stuff.
The bond between these two seemed to have happened overnight and I love every part of that.
Niya absolutely loves my wife and she adores Niya.
Niya does a lot of little things to mimic my wife and it’s so cute.
Seeing them together is an actual dream come true.
When I step over to them, I lean in and kiss Niya’s forehead. My wife’s lips are next and she kisses me back lovingly.
“We missed you,” she utters when our lips part. Her hand caresses the side of my face, and for a moment, she studies me. Whatever she sees prompts her to sigh. “Baby.” She pecks my lips, then says, “Get comfortable. Let me get your food. We’re eating in here and watching a movie.
“The Smurfs,” Niya says excitedly.
“Are those the little green things?” I tease.
“No,” Niya says with a laugh. “Blue! They’re blue.”
“That’s right. Blue,” I say with a smile. “Let me get comfortable and I’ll come watch it too.”
“Put on your jammies,” Niya says and my wife nods in agreement.
“Gotcha. I will,” I agree.
I straighten up and my wife places her tray on the ottoman. She stands and steps into my arms, placing her arms around my neck.
“Put on your jammies and I’ll get your food. Niya is already nodding. She’ll be knocked out in a minute and you can tell me why you’re frowning,” She places her hand on my chest. “You know you can tell me anything, right?” she says lowly.
“I know.”
“Good because I’m here. Go get comfortable so I can feed you.”
“What did you make me?” I ask.
“It’s a surprise. Change and you can see,” she says with a smile.
I kiss her soft ass lips one more time then release her. When she turns and heads to the kitchen, I step back over to Niya.
“What’s all of this?” I ask as I look at her wooden board filled with berries, yogurt, crackers, and other little items that will not fill me up. I’m hungry as hell, but for real food.
“My chuttery stuff. Want some?” she offers, holding out a graham cracker dipped in yogurt.
“Thank you, baby. It looks good but I’m going to eat what Mireya cooked,” I tell her.
“It’s noodles,” she says, then gets right back to her board and little food.
The look on my baby’s face is priceless. She’s so content and comfortable in her pajamas, sitting on this sectional and eating her little food. This is something I wouldn’t have ever thought to do with her and she’s loving it. My baby girl is beaming and having fun and that alone changes my mood.
Instead of going to the bedroom, Niya’s contentment sends me into the kitchen.
I want to love on the person responsible for my baby girl’s happiness, my kyau.
When I enter, she’s at the stove and something smells good as hell.
I step behind her, wrap my arms around her, then rest my head on her shoulder.
She’s stirring alfredo noodles and a steak, bell peppers, and red onions are sizzling on the grill pan.
“I needed you and didn’t even know it,” I utter before kissing her neck.
“What, baby?” she asks.
“You. I needed you in my life and I didn’t even know it.”
“See how lucky we are,” she says with a titter.
“Nah. I’m the lucky one. I’m definitely lucky as hell to have you,” I admit before trying to show her how much I love and appreciate her with my kiss.