Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Titan
I was finally meeting up with my pops today so we could talk about this shit with him and my mama.
I know she told me everything was good, but after the shit with Tink and her people, I needed to know what’s really going on, but first I had to talk to Lani and have her get some shit straight for me.
“Bubby, I think it’s cute that you want to do something special for Cady. You really like her huh?” Lani voiced.
“I do, man. When I first met her, she was worried about graduating and now she’s doing that shit.”
“With your help,” she added.
“Nah, that was all her,” I countered.
Whether Tink agreed to help me with this image shit or not, I was still going to help her with her tuition. She was a good girl, and she was stuck in a hard place. I would’ve done that shit, regardless.
“Okay, so her graduation is in the morning,” Lani started.
“Yeah, too fucking early,” I mumbled.
“Boy, shut up. You’re up earlier than that most days.” She waved me off. “Anyway, by the time it’s over, we could do brunch at Harbor House,” she stated while she scrolled on her phone.
“Aight, make the reservations. Get with Nae too and let her help. I’on want her to think we’re taking over and that’s her best friend.”
I continued to get ready while she went over the plans for Tink’s graduation. I felt good doing this shit for her, and I hoped she appreciated it.
“You know you have that event at CPC in a few days. Trey was available to participate and a few other teammates as well. With Cady being in physical therapy, I think it would be good for her to be there and help wherever she can,” she stated.
I nodded.
“I didn’t even think about that. I’ll get with Sash and make sure it happens.”
She nodded and continued doing something on her phone.
“You sure you’on wanna go with me to meet Pops?” I asked.
“I’m good. You’re just nosy and want to be in everybody’s business,” she blurted.
“I know you fucking lying.” I reared my head back. “As much as you stay in my fucking business.”
“You pay me, though.” She shrugged.
I just shook my head because she really thought that logic made sense.
I finished getting dressed and headed out. I left Lani at my spot and headed out. Tink was at the hospital doing her clinical, but I texted her, anyway.
You gone let me slide through and drop this dick off ??
I knew she wouldn’t respond right then, and when she did, she was going to curse me out.
Tink ??: You don’t think you did that enough before I left??
I laughed out loud because she was right. I couldn’t get enough of her, and I wasn’t even ashamed to say it.
I finally pulled up to The Reserve where I was meeting my pops. When I arrived, I parked and headed inside with Graves following close behind. Once inside, I looked around until I saw my pops seated in a booth near the back wall.
“Wassup, Pops,” I greeted once I got close.
He got up and hugged me before shaking Graves’ hand. I told Graves he could sit close by and order whatever he wanted. That was a big nigga, so I knew I just set myself up.
The waitress came as soon as she saw me, and I ordered a Corona. My pops already had an appetizer of Southwest egg rolls, so I indulged in them.
“Nice to see you, son. How’s your shoulder?” he spoke.
“It’s straight, and didn’t you just see me a few days ago?” I smirked.
“Yeah, but we hardly ever do shit like this anymore,” he admitted, and I nodded.
He was right. Between football and my personal life, I rarely saw my people as much as I wanted to. Lani was an exception because she was my assistant, with her nosy ass.
“Yeah, I know. Once the off-season comes, we’ll make up for it. I’ll plan a trip for the family and shit.”
“Cadence too?” He asked.
“Of course. She’s a part of this family,” I concluded.
He nodded.
The waitress came back and brought our food and left us alone again. I tasted my steak and shrimp bites before I got to the reason I was here.
“Wassup with you and Maureen?” I asked.
Pops wiped his mouth and hands before leaning back in the seat.
“Shit between me and Maureen was never supposed to be, son. I was still out here in the streets, and I was seeing Maureen and your mama at the same time. Your mama didn’t find out until Maureen thought she was Shirley and wanted to have a woman-to-woman talk with Ai.
She told her she was pregnant, and that we were going to be a family.
Well, I didn’t know your mama knew until I came to see y’all and she beat the dog shit out my ass and told me to get my black ass on before she killed my ass and everybody kids were gone be bastards. Defeated, I left.”
“I went to ask Maureen why she did that dumb shit and she said our baby deserved a family too. I thought that was the dumbest shit ever because I already had two kids that I was there for, so I don’t know what she thought by saying that. She knew I would’ve been there for our kid too.”
I just sat silently until he finished.
“Well, I never committed to her, not then anyway. I stayed away and avoided all contact with her. I was pissed that she made me lose Ai. I just knew it was over for me and your mama. A few months passed, and Maureen told me she lost the baby and it was all my fault because I ignored her and that stressed her out. I felt like shit. I ended up spending time with her, and I married her because she said that was the only way I could make it up to her, so I did.”
“I never loved her... at least not the way that I love your mama. I tried to make my marriage work because it was the right thing to do, but my heart wasn’t in it.
I asked Maureen for a divorce, but she wouldn’t give it to me, so I said, fuck it.
I explained everything to your mama, and we worked through it, and that’s why we’re together now,” he explained.
“So, you plan on fucking my mama and staying married to Maureen?” I questioned. Pops or not, he said the wrong shit, and I was going to beat his ass all over this place.
“Nah, son. I’ve finally filed for divorce again, and she agreed this time,” he admitted.
“What made you ask again?”
He looked at me for a second and said, “You.”
“Me?” I quizzed. “How the fuck I make you do some shit that you knew needed to be done in the first place?”
“Your actions, son,” he started. “You were running through these women like fresh drawls. You didn’t seem to care how they felt, and it was ruining you.
I ruined you. You knew I was married, but you also knew that I was still seeing your mama, and you thought that was okay.
It wasn’t. I never wanted you to be the man that I was.
I felt like I failed you, son,” he explained.
“You didn’t fail me, Pops,” I countered, but he stopped me.
“I did. You only did that shit because that’s all you knew. Granted, you knew I loved your mother, but I also had a wife and any other woman I wanted. My actions almost ruined your life, and I knew I had to change that shit for me, and for you.”
I looked at my pops and knew he meant every word he said. It was days he pissed me off when he tried to tell me how to live my life, but now I see he was trying to help me not to go the same route he did.
“You know what, Pops. I can respect that you were trying to do the right thing. I get that the heart wants what it wants, but you should know I’ll always have my mama’s best interests at heart. Now, if you’re serious about getting this shit over with, Maureen, I’ll help you out,” I offered.
“I appreciate it, son, but I’m good. You don’t need to do that.”
“I know I’on need to, but I want to. Mac is a defense attorney, but I’m pretty sure he knows a good divorce lawyer. I’ll hit him up and have him look into it,” I offered.
“I appreciate you, son.” He nodded. “But now that we got my business squared away. How are things between you and Cadence. I know how they started, but I also see how they’re going.” He smirked.
I laughed because it was no hiding that I was feeling Tink more than I thought I would have.
“Shit,” I stressed. “Things are straight,” I mentioned.
“How straight?” He asked.
“Straight enough for me to get my shit together because I’on wanna lose her,” I admitted out loud for the first time.
Pops smiled, so I knew he was going to get all sentimental on me and shit.
“I’m proud of you, son,” he beamed with pride. “I know the thrill of being with any woman you want, but nothing beats the feeling of being with the woman you love,” he stated.
Loved? Did I love Tink?
“I see the look on your face and that alone should answer your question. You love her, and that’s okay.” He nodded.
I thought about what he said, and he was right. I did love Tink, but I wasn’t ready to verbalize it just yet. I needed to make sure that this was what I wanted and needed.
“I hear you, Pops.” I wiped my mouth. “I’m about to get out here. I got one more stop to make before I get to therapy.”
I waved the waitress over so I could close out the tab and told her to close out Graves’ as well. Once she had that done, the three of us headed out. On the way, I was stopped by a group of women, and one approached me.
“Hey, Titan. Can I get a picture and an autograph?” she asked.
I looked at her and immediately knew what she wanted, but I wasn’t on that. She could get her picture, and that was it.
“Sure,” I complied.
She got close and tried to wrap her arm around my body, but I backed up and put some space between us.
Graves stepped closer just in case shit got out of hand, but she was cool, even though I know she didn’t like the move I made.
Her friends snapped a picture on her phone, and I promptly removed myself from her space.
“Hey,” she called out. “How about we go somewhere and have some fun.” She flirted.
I gave her a once over and shook my head. “Nah, I’m straight. Y’all be easy,” I responded and walked off.
“I’m proud of you, son,” Pops said as he patted my back.
“Shit, I’m proud of me too,” I chuckled as I got in my car.