9. Cambrie
Cambrie
“ W hat’s your daddy like?” Piaget asked, swinging her feet while I tied Rogue’s shoes as he sat on the small bench in the front entryway beside her.
“Well, he can be stern, but he’s so funny. If he’s being stern, it usually means you messed up. He’s pretty cool otherwise.” I finished with Rogue’s shoe and slowly stood.
I heard keys at the front door before the knob turned, and in strolled Nadia with Tavi and Saga. Locking eyes with her, she immediately scowled, and I gave a slight eye roll. She’d been keeping her distance for the most part, but neither she nor Tavi was happy about me and Staten dating.
“Nadia,” I greeted her in my best sugary sweet tone.
“Cambrie,” she replied, closing the door behind them. “They’re just here to grab a few things and we’re heading back to the main house.”
“Hey, Saga. Tavi.” I smiled in their direction.
“What’s up? Where y’all going?” Saga queried.
“Cambrie made dinner for her daddy, and we’re going to take it to him and visit,” Piaget declared.
“For real?” Saga lifted a brow as if he was interested.
“Yeah. I promised I would, and your daddy suggested we all go for a little bit.”
“You wanna come?” Rogue craned his neck and peered up at his big brother.
Saga seemed torn. His gaze drifted from me to his mother as his father came ambling down the steps.
Staten was casual in denim 501s and a white button-up Polo shirt.
I loved that he dressed like a man and not like the rest of these dudes out here.
Even the older ones were trying to keep up with the young niggas in the tight jeans, shirts, and big ass clown shoes.
“No, he doesn’t,” Tavi answered for her brother. “We’re going to the arcade.”
“You don’t speak for me, Tavi,” her brother chimed in as Staten reached the landing.
“Does that mean you want to go?” Piaget queried. “It’ll be fun.”
“Nah, I’m meeting some friends at the arcade too. Maybe another day,” Saga voiced.
“Okay!” Piaget gave a shrug and hopped to her feet. “Daddy, are we ready to go now?”
“Yeah, make sure you got everything you need though.”
“Just one big happy family now, huh?” Nadia kidded, shaking her head. “One day you’re going to regret this, Staten. It’ll be too late by then though.”
Piaget and Rogue went to grab their things from upstairs, and Tavi remained at her mother’s side, all indignant with her arms tucked across her chest.
“You are a piece of work, Nadia. Why you using these kids as a weapon against a man that obviously loves them?”
“These are my kids, Cambrie, and I didn’t ask you for your little two cents,” she sneered.
“Maybe not, but I’ve been taking care of them too, and you might not know or care, but this family means something to me. There is nothing more that I want than for all these kids to be happy.”
“That’s what you say, but all I see is a woman taking advantage.”
“Hmm, I guess you would know what that looks like, right?”
Whipping my head toward Staten, I didn’t want to lose it on this chick in front of these kids. Right now, she had me on the verge of that shit though. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed and shook my head.
“I’m going to load the kids into the car. I really don’t want to go there with her with her children present.”
“Don’t hold back,” Nadia taunted. “Show us who you really are.”
“Piaget! Rogue! Let’s go!” I shouted up to the top of the stairs.
Pausing in front of Staten, I stood on my toes and pressed my lips into his just because. I wanted to leave that bitch seething and full of jealousy every time she was around.He played right into it and eased his arm behind my back, drawing me closer and slipping his tongue through my teeth.
“Mmm,” I moaned gently before lowering myself to my feet.
I reached up to wipe some of the gloss from his lips before turning to Nadia and the other two kids.
“Have fun at the arcade.”
“Tavi, Saga, go grab what you need so we can go,” Nadia ordered, brows drawing together in anger.
Both kids brushed by me and Staten and started up the steps.
She inched closer, eyes filled with rage while bouncing around mine.
Tilting my head, I dared her to come for me, and the gloves officially came off.
Nadia swung, but missed, and I took the opportunity to punch her right in her fucking face.
The blow sent her stumbling backward into the coat rack.
“Shit!” Staten hissed. “Cam, fall back, mama. Get the kids and go get in the car. I’ll be right there. Please?” he pleaded.
Peering up into his eyes, I nodded as Nadia managed to gain stability on her feet again. She lunged for me, but Staten caught her around the waist to keep her from getting closer.
“You stupid bitch!”
“Chill, Nadia.”
“Chill! That bitch just hit me!” Nadia screamed.
“You tried to hit her first,” he pointed out.
“Fuck her! You’re so protective over her, and that bitch ain’t shit! I’ll prove it! Let me go!” she pried herself out of his arms and stomped toward the front door. “Tavi, Saga, come on! We’re leaving. I’m packing my things and getting my kids the hell out of here.”
“You ain’t taking them no fucking where!” Staten growled. “School isn’t out yet, and it’s not your turn for the year.”
“I don’t care! I don’t want them around that bitch any longer!” Nadia pointed her almond nail in my direction.
“I already told you, you don’t run shit around here, Nadia. You can stomp, yell, scream, and throw a fucking tantrum if you want. We have a court order in place, and we’ve managed to follow it to the letter until now.”
“Until she came into the picture!”
“Right. Like you ain’t the one been feeding Tavi that fantasy about us getting back together eventually. It’s why she’s been walking around here saying that shit and behaving the same damn way when shit don’t go her way.”
“Fuck you, Staten! I deserve to be here! I was the one with you and stayed down for you before you were shot. We created a family together?—”
“And you can’t keep using that as an excuse,” Staten cut her off. “The past is just that, and it needs to be left there. Not just for you and me, but for the kids too. Our daughter is hurt now because you had her believing some fairytale.”
Nadia blinked back tears and sniffled before angrily swiping a drop away from her cheek.
I’ll give her credit for being persistent if nothing else.
She had somehow convinced herself that she was going to find her way back into this man’s life without his consent.
Staten wasn’t going for that though, and I loved that he was standing on all ten behind me.
“You want to talk about excuses? You’ve always been one for self-loathing and punishment. You mean to tell me that what happened to her mother isn’t the reason you’re so invested in this?” Nadia sneered.
Staten blinked rapidly before his jaw locked. He slowly inched into Nadia’s space, a feral glare bouncing behind his eyes that had her breath stalling. His fist nearly balled up on its own as he got in her face.
“The fuck you say?”
“What are you going to do? Hit me? Is that who you are now, Staten?”
“I suggest you get the kids and everything they need and get the fuck out of my house right now, Nadia.”
“Did I hit a nerve?”
Watching him snatch her by her throat showed a completely different side to Staten that I hadn’t been prepared to meet. Nadia trembled against his touch, but he backed her against the wall and pinned her there.
“This is the very last time that we’re going to have this conversation. Are we clear?”
Nodding slowly, she sighed in relief when he released her.
She didn’t even bother to look in my direction as she scrambled up the stairs to gather Tavi and Saga.
Staten pinched the bridge of his nose and let his shoulders drop as he took a deep breath.
Coming up behind him, I placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Hey, you didn’t have to do that. I’m not worried about Nadia.”
“Nah, she don’t get to disrespect like that.” He shook his head and faced me. “She needs to know now about the boundaries. She’s my kids’ mother, so yeah, I respect her, but that’s as far as this goes. Let’s go see your pops though. I could use a distraction.”
“Same,” I agreed with a smile. “Thank you.” I stood on my toes and pressed my lips into his.
“For what?” he asked, arms around my waist.
“For standing up for me. I don’t have a lot of people in my life that do that.”
“I know you’re capable of doing it yourself, but you don’t have to worry about that as long as I’m around.”
“We ready to go?” Piaget and Rogue stopped at the landing of the steps and waited for me or Staten to respond.
“Yeah. Go start the car. I’ll be out in a minute. I want to make sure Nadia ain’t on no petty shit.”
“Good luck with that. Come on, you two.” I nudged the youngest of the crew to the door, and they bounced along with excitement.
Moments later, Staten emerged with Nadia, Saga, and Tavi.
He made sure to lock up the house once everyone exited.
Piaget and Rogue waved to their siblings, but their mother was still seething with anger.
I got the feeling she wasn’t going to let this go.
She just gave me super petty and spiteful vibes.
I’d made my point though. If she knew nothing else, I was nobody’s punk bitch, and if she wanted to keep coming for me, then it was on sight every single time until she got the message.
“Hey, Daddy!” Carrying my pan of roasted chicken, I stepped into my father’s private room wearing a big grin.
I could have easily allowed Staten’s ex to put me in a bad place, but I was more concerned with making the most of my time with my father instead and not dwelling on that too much. Rogue and Piaget were right behind me, and Staten brought up the rear, carrying my pans filled with dinner.
“Brie, I thought you forgot about me.” Leaning forward, he set the remote to his TV on the table and observed me with everyone. “And you brought company.”
“He remembers you today!” Piaget squealed with a smile.