27. Givens
GIVENS
“Yellow diamonds?” I questioned, and Yale nodded.
I’d been at her shop for the last few hours trying to figure out what I wanted Mercy’s engagement ring to look like.
Was I moving too fast? Probably, but the only thing I could think of was to lock her down.
Our relationship was dope, we were happy, and I knew that I loved her ass.
Marriage was going to happen; I just had to make sure this bullshit with Shai went away.
I knew her ass was on some bullshit; even if she was pregnant, there was no way it was mine. “I don’t know if she’s into them.”
“Are you asking me or telling me?” Yale replied as she sat back in her seat.
If she were anybody else, I would’ve flipped the table over and crashed out, but this was Yale.
She was cool as fuck, and I knew that if I stepped to her ass wrong, she’d step even harder.
“You called me - at the last minute – might I add, begging me to stop my moves and come here and work with you. And now you’re questioning my ability to put something together that will have you in your woman's good graces for years?” She playfully rolled her eyes. “Stop playing with me.”
“I’m not questioning your abilities,” I denied as I shook my head. “I’m just trying to see your vision, is all. Yellow diamonds and what else?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yeah,” I laughed. “This shit gotta be a reflection of my love for her, not just your imagination.”
“This my shit, Givens,” she said, shaking her head. “I know what I’m doing; it's why I came here. Either let me work or go somewhere else.”
I nodded as I turned my attention back to the diamonds in front of me.
Yale was damn good at putting jewelry designs together, which is why she was always booked.
When I met her years ago through Amethyst, I was surprised by her talent.
She’d made a name for herself without the backing of a big-name jewelry store.
“I trust you,” I said, nodding as I pushed the diamonds back to her.
“I’m glad at least one man in my life knows I’m that girl,” she said as she stood. “What’s your budget, or are you looking for a family discount?”
“Stop playing with me, Yale,” I laughed. “Just send me the bill, and it’ll get paid.”
“Hey, I just had to make sure.” She shrugged as she started putting things away. “And you know I’m happy as hell for you, right?”
I stood and nodded. Yale talked a lot of shit, but she never shied away from giving praise, either. “I appreciate it, sis, legit. When are you back in town for longer than five hours?”
“Never,” she answered. “I only came back because you called. As soon as we are done here, I’ll be gone. The plane is waiting.”
“You legit running?” I asked, slightly surprised.
“I’m not running,” she denied. “I just need a minute to myself. I went from thinking I was happily married to the love of my life to a widow.” she put the diamonds she’d brought with her in a briefcase and then locked it.
“I had plans, Givens. I had things I wanted and dreamed of. I came home to find him dead, and I was left alone to deal with all his shit. The one person I needed to be there hasn’t picked up the phone in almost six months. ”
“That nigga has his reasons,” I sighed. I could never tell Amethyst how to deal with his feelings for Yale, but I understood why he ended her husband. It wasn’t my story to tell or my emotions to figure out. That was on Amethyst and Yale to navigate when it was their time.
“And he can keep them close to his vest for all I care,” she said, then grabbed her bag. “I’m good with how my life is moving right now. I have clients worldwide, and I never have to lay my head in one place more than once unless I want to.”
I kept my comments to myself as we walked to the door. We stepped outside, and Yale hit the keyfob to unlock her car.
“Just promise me that you’ll come back for the engagement and wedding,” I said as I pulled her into a quick hug.
“I got you,” she replied with a smile as she stepped back. “I’ll start thinking of designs, sketch them out, and then send you my ideas.” She walked backward to her car to keep the conversation going.
“That’ll work,” I said, nodding. “Be safe.”
“Always,” she said with a laugh. “I have a few guardian angels out there watching over me. “ She threw me one last wave before getting in the car and starting it; I waited until she was down the driveway before returning to the house.
I went upstairs to shower before I had to leave and pick up dinner.
Faylin mentioned before leaving for practice that she wanted wings from Cool’s.
I grabbed a pair of shorts and tall socks from my dresser, went to the bathroom, and started the shower.
After I stripped off my clothes, I checked myself in the mirror.
My hair needed to be cut, and I made a mental note to hit my barber to take care of that.
Once the steam from the shower started to fog up the mirror, I got in and closed the door behind me.
Mercy and Faylin probably had another hour or so of practice, but I still needed to hurry up.
“Why didn’t you answer the phone?” Mercy said, pulling open the shower door. “I called you like fifty times.”
“My phone went dead, so it’s on the charger,” I said as I stepped into the water to rinse my face, then stepped back. I wiped the water from my face and turned to see she looked mad as hell. “What’s wrong?”
“Shai came and got Faylin from practice,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
I kissed my teeth and finished washing so I could get out. “I’m sick of her shit, like legit,” I said as I washed. “She is on her bullshit right now and dragging Faylin into it.”
“Why?” she questioned.
“Cuz she bitter as fuck,” I answered, then shut the water off. “That’s the only thing I can think of.” I wrapped the towel Mercy handed me around my waist and stepped out of the shower. “I got something for her ass, though. I’m done playing nice. We about to go to court.”
“Why don’t you have custody of Faylin?” she asked as I dried off. I looked up at her, confused. “She lives with you, but you don’t have custody? Why?”
“Cuz of my schedule,” I said as I put on lotion. “I travel most of the year and still work during the off-season. Shai had a stable environment because she didn’t have to travel, and I could see Faylin when I wanted, no questions asked.”
“What about child support?”
I pulled on my shorts and then sat on the edge of the bed to put on my socks. “I pay her monthly, well nah, I paid her weekly. Now I’m dropping a bag in her account monthly.”
“Even though Faylin has been living with you for months?” her face twisted in confusion, and I nodded. “Why?”
“Because I wanted my daughter with me,” I replied.
“The day Faylin met you at Cool’s, she called me crying, talking about her mama said she can’t play ball and some other shit.
I offered for Faylin to stay with me for a little while, and Shai jumped on it.
It wasn’t abnormal for Faylin to stay with me for a few weeks and then slide back to her mama's house when they were good again. I’m a nigga.
I don’t know shit about raising a daughter, so I thought them going back and forth like they were was normal.
I didn’t realize how much that shit was affecting Faylin until that day.
My baby was suffering. Then, a little while later, Shai stopped by saying that Faylin needed to live with me, and I was cool with it cuz she’s my heart. ”
“How did that end up with you paying her child support weekly for a child that was now living with you?”
“Man, what’s up with the questions?” I asked as I stood.
“Just answer me, Givens,” she sighed. I could tell something was bothering her, and I cared, but right now, I needed to finish getting ready, so I could go get Faylin. “Why are you still paying her child support?”
“So she’d stay off my back,” I answered as I stood.
I went to the end table and grabbed my phone.
I had thirty missed calls, all of them from either Faylin or Mercy.
My texts were just as bad. Faylin just sent me a message begging me to come get her.
I responded, letting her know I was on my way, but it came back saying I was blocked.
“She got me fucked up.” I threw the phone on the bed and walked to the closet to grab some shoes.
“She blocked me from my daughters' phone.”
“I should’ve beat her fuckin’ ass at the arena,” Mercy said as I came out of the closet. “She tried me, and the only thing that saved her was Faylin coming into the court.”
“I’ll be back.” I dropped a kiss on her forehead as I passed her.
“I’m coming with you,” she said, following me.
“Nah,” I denied as I shook my head. “Let me handle this shit. If Shai is on some bullshit like I think she is, then I need to handle this alone. I can't have you going upside her head when all I’m trying to do is get my daughter.” I walked down the stairs, grabbed my keys, and headed to the garage.
I unlocked the car door and saw Mercy standing in the doorway with a mug on her face.
“Look, I love you, legit. I do but I need you to stand down on this one. You can be mad at me later when Faylin is back here, and we are chilling. You can call me dumb or whatever, but I gotta handle this alone. Trust me, DeCorte.” She nodded, and I smirked. “I’ll be back.”
I got in the car, started it, and pulled out of the garage. The only thing I needed to focus on was getting my daughter away from Shai’s ass, and I knew if she saw Mercy with me that she’d be on some bullshit and probably try to say she was pregnant by me on some vindictive shit.
I pulled up to Shai's house and got out of my car; I didn’t even turn it off. I wasn’t here on friendly shit. I wanted my daughter and to get the fuck out of here. I pounded my fist against the door and waited.
“Open the fuckin’ door, Shai!” I yelled and hit the door again. “Open the fuckin’ door!”
A few seconds later, the door opened, and Shai stood on the other side with a smirk on her face. “What do you want, Givens?”
“Send Faylin out here,” I said, shaking my head. She had on a mommy-to-be shirt, and all I could do was laugh at her stupid ass. She expected Mercy to be here with me, which is why I left her at home. I wasn’t about to let her dumb ass fuck up my home.
“Faylin won't be leaving with you,” she denied and rubbed her flat stomach. “We talked, and she knows everything.”
“Nah,” I replied. “Send my fuckin’ daughter out here.”
“No,” she laughed as she looked around for Mercy. “Why didn’t you bring your little girlfriend with you? You know she tried to boss up on me at the arena, right? Did she tell you she said she was big mama and you were hers?”
“Cuz I am.” I mugged her. What I saw in Shai years ago had disappeared entirely. She was just the shell of the woman I once knew. “Now, send my daughter down here.”
“Our daughter isn’t going anywhere,” she sighed. “Look, Givens, I’m trying to play nice right now and not show out, but you are making it hard.”
“You threatening me, Shai?” I stepped into her space and looked down at her. I was so mad I could feel my face turning red and the vein in my neck bulging. “Like you legit think this shit is a game.”
“Get out of my face, Givens!” she yelled and had the nerve to look scared. “I don’t even want you in my house!”
“Chill the fuck out!” I grabbed her arm and dragged her to me. “Do you think this shit is a game? Huh?”
She tried snatching away from me, but my grip was too tight. “You’re hurting me! Let me go! Help!”
“Shut that bullshit up!” I yelled. “Just give me my fuckin’ daughter!”
“I’m pregnant, Givens! Let me go! You’re hurting me!”
I pushed her away, and Shai dramatically fell back into the wall, but I didn’t give a fuck. We both knew I didn’t hurt her.
“Let’s keep it a buck, Shai! You don’t even want Faylin unless it comes with a bag. I want my daughter, and that’s all. I’ll keep paying you, but she’s coming home with me!” I towered over her, grabbed her chin, and made her look at me. “Do you understand me? Faylin is coming home with me!”
“Okay,” she sobbed. “Just don’t hurt me.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I said, pushing her away from me. I walked through the living room to go to Faylin’s room. I knocked twice, then pushed the door open to find it empty. I went back to the living room and stopped dead in my tracks.
“Mr. Robbins, I need you to come with us, sir,” a police officer said. I looked over at Shai and smirked. This bitch had set me up.