15. Daylin #2
“Nah, not to my knowledge, but we don’t really discuss one another.
At least I don’t discuss that nigga.” He checked his phone as he spoke, and it was crazy to me how he didn’t realize how odd that sounded.
To have a sibling that you somewhat acted like they didn’t exist. He and Ayan were in a bad way, but rightfully so.
“Hmm, so aren’t you doing to Shaun what your brother did to you?” I smirked, and he mirrored my expression.
“Nah, I ain’t never been against taking a nigga’s woman, especially if she ain’t being handled right by her nigga.
” He eyed me momentarily, and I picked up on his dig at Shaun.
“But that’s my brother. I would never, even now after what he did, snatch a woman he was in a relationship with or had children with.
Jojo fucks over his baby mamas constantly, and I ain’t never thought to push up on one of ’em.
Just some shit you don’t do as a brother.
My issue will always be with him. LaMia is an outsider, and that was on me for not seeing her true colors before I made her mine. ”
“I understand,” I nodded, because I did. I still didn’t like LaMia nor Ayan’s ass.
“You wanna come up? Them niggas brought food and shit.”
“You sure?”
“I am.” He smiled.
“Okay.” I hopped up and went to spruce up my appearance a bit, changing into one of the racerback ribbed dresses Cynthia had given me along with more undergarments and things from the superstore.
After taking my Dutch braids down to rock waves, I spritzed on the Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet perfume that I’d gotten with Rakim’s credit card, and then came out. The function seemed to be a relaxed thing, so makeup wasn’t gonna happen.
“Pretty girl,” Rakim commented, taking my hand in his to lead me out of the room and upstairs.
The living area and open kitchen were already littered with people who immediately greeted Rakim, bright eyes and wearing wide grins at the sight of him. He politely greeted them in return, before giving me a look that made me chuckle.
“Seems like the perfect time for me to run,” I said.
“Where to? I’d catch you before you made it anywhere.”
“Hmm, maybe you’re right, but don’t underestimate me, Mr. Godfrey.” I looked up at him as “How To Rob A Rapper” by YG played over the party.
There was pizza, wings, breadsticks, and plenty of liquor and juice bottles all over the counter. I could smell the weed flowing through the air right along with the loud laughter and conversation.
“If you do run, I might be in the mood to chase a lil bit.” He spoke against my ear as he palmed my hip, sending chills down my frame.
I caught the eyes of the few women who seemingly didn’t like how closely I was standing to Rakim.
“Damn, thought we was gon’ walk in to see ya balls on the counter,” Zaire commented, sending everyone in the kitchen into a fit of laughter.
I knew he was referencing catching Rakim and me in a compromising position that one night, but it was still hilarious.
“Nigga, fuck you. Keep being a liar like Josias if you want to.” Rakim shook his head, trying to smother the subtle smile he wore.
“Hos-Daylin!” Josias caught himself, almost calling me a hostage. He clenched his teeth to apologize non-verbally.
Rakim could only shake his head as he dapped his brother up. Zaire came in, too, and after speaking, the twins quickly engrossed Rakim in conversation, making me simper at the sight. You could tell they loved him, and as exhausted as Rakim pretended to be, he loved their attention too.
The woman on Josias’s arm thankfully wasn’t Tarin but another pretty girl. She was chocolate, thick, and had a bright, welcoming smile. I could tell that quickly that she was more humble and probably less delusional than Tarin, but looks could be deceiving.
“Hi! I’m Kasia.” She reached to hug me, and I accepted. “Did he say your name was Daylin?”
“He did. Nice to meet you.” I playfully rolled my eyes at Josias.
“He does the most.” She grabbed a paper plate and handed it over to me before grabbing one for herself.
“Yes, I’ve been around him a few times and have the same sentiments.” I piled my plate up like she had done.
We grabbed some drinks and started out of the kitchen. I glanced back at Rakim on the way out and, like always, couldn’t help but to smile at him. He did the same, concealing his with a red SOLO cup shortly after.
“So, you date Rakim?” Kasia frowned as soon as we sat down at one of the card tables out in the living room. “I have legit never seen him with anyone.” She bit a wing.
“Seriously?” I toggled between Kasia and Rakim standing off in the kitchen being yapped at by his brothers.
“Very much so. I have seen every Godfrey with a woman, sometimes multiple, but never him. He is usually always solo at functions. And it’s not for lack of stock, because the girls be trying.” She giggled.
I stole another look at him, but this time, our eyes caught, making me fight the tug at the corner of my mouth. I felt special, and by the way he was looking at me, I could tell he wanted me to feel just that.
“He and I are just friends.” I bit into the piping hot pizza slice.
“Girl. I haven’t seen a Godfrey man have a female friend he wasn’t fucking.” She eyed me suspiciously, making me laugh.
“I swear. I have never fucked him.” I kept strong eye contact with her, making her lean back in her seat.
While that was true, the thought had me wanting to do away with my celibacy and made me wonder what life would be like when or if he released me.
“Okay, I believe you.”
“So what Godfrey are you not friends with?”
Giggling, she replied, “I’m Jojo’s girlfriend.”
Did all this man’s baby mamas think they were his girlfriend? Rakim wasn’t playing when he said his brother mistreated his children’s mothers.
“Okay then.” I nodded, hoping my true thoughts didn’t bleed out onto my face. When Kasia sighed, I asked, “Why the sigh?”
“He’s still got some growing up to do.” She ate some more food. “I’m only admitting this because you seem like the type to keep secrets and not be messy.”
“You’ve pegged me right.”
She lowered her voice, then said, “He’s got this toxic ass attachment to his other baby’s mother.”
“Oh hell no. So why are you with him?” When I watched her face change, I added, “I’m genuinely asking, not trying to convince you of anything.”
“The real answer is it’s harder than it sounds to just cut him off. However, he claims he’s done with her this time, so we’re going to see.”
“And if he isn’t?”
“I’m gonna be done with his ass for good. I promised myself, especially now that our daughter is older and can comprehend a lot of things she sees. I don’t want her to either grow up accepting the shit I have or not having any respect for me because she feels like I’m weak.”
I nodded, agreeing with Kasia. Like I knew, I liked her much better than Tarin. She didn’t try to make excuses for what she allowed Josias to do and didn’t blame anything on Tarin as Tarin had done her.
I didn’t have many friends, because a lot of the women I’d run across were either too self-absorbed, sneaky, or already had their core friend group, so I felt like an outcast. Morgin was my assistant who I on occasion hung out with, but the way she thought and moved through life put her in a do not befriend category.
I liked to surround myself with like-minded people in my personal time.
By saying that, I could see myself becoming cool with Kasia.
“I hope he knows you’re not playing this time.” I sipped some of my drink.
“If he doesn’t, that’s on him.” She shrugged, and something about her body language told me she wasn’t fucking around.
For Josias’s sake, I hoped he told Kasia he wasn’t messing with Tarin anymore after the boys’ father’s party, because if it was before, then the nigga was surely lying.
Kasia and I chatted for a bit longer, mainly about our careers and goals we had, to which I learned she was the manager of Russell’s—an upscale steakhouse out in West Hollywood.
I’d been there a long time ago, and the food was amazing, so when she promised me that the next time I came, she would comp my food, I knew she and I would be close.
“I been looking for yo’ fine ass all night.” Josias walked up, gripping Kasia’s hand to make her stand and immediately hugging her body while groping her ass.
I watched her smile, giggle, and blush, letting me know how deep in she was. I wasn’t a judgmental person and had never been so head over heels for a man that it kept me from leaving when he fucked me over, so I wouldn’t use that against her.
Standing so I could give the couple some privacy since they were already tongue kissing, I journeyed into the kitchen that was now empty, the only light coming in from the window above the sink.
Rakim was standing near it, doing something on one of those flip phones he often disassembled or assembled.
“Why aren’t you out there in the mix with all the pretty girls?” I asked, nearing him and watching him smile down at me, slipping the phone into his pocket.
“It was only one pretty girl out there, and now she in here, so I really ain’t leaving,” he said, pulling me in and kissing my neck.
I could feel the way my body heated at his touch and the sound of his words. I noticed I was a different person with Rakim but in a good way. I wasn’t so tough and hard around him like I was with Shaun.
When the latter made mistakes, it would be nothing for me to get out of pocket and be disrespectful or become offended when he asked for things that I deemed misogynistic.
But with Rakim, I couldn’t imagine speaking to him in that way because I guessed I respected him too much and was also a little bit afraid of him.
And if he asked me to make his plate, I would probably be halfway done with it before he opened his mouth.
It made me feel like a terrible person thinking back on how much of a tough bitch I was with Shaun, but it was possibly due to how much of a man I felt he wasn’t at times. Rakim was all man.