3. Daylin #3
“Would probably be easier because you wouldn’t need to ship anything.” Serene tried her hand at a distasteful joke that clearly was a hit with my family who laughed.
“Anyway, I’m happy you got rid of that boy. You know, your mother’s college friend Diana has a son who is a brain surgeon and single,” my dad said as my mother nodded animatedly.
“Yes, she told me—”
“No, I have a boyfriend,” I said and acted like it wasn’t shocking that I’d only been home for about two weeks yet was able to end one relationship and start another.
I hadn’t planned on mentioning Rakim yet because I knew they would be suspicious as to how I’d come up on a nigga already, but I had to say something to stop this stupid ass matchmaking session.
Telling my mama I wasn’t interested wouldn’t cut it.
She would be sending that man up to my warehouse with roses and a dinner reservation by tomorrow, regardless.
“Wait, I don’t get it.” My brother blinked rapidly, shaking his head. I chuckled.
“Me either. You broke up with Shaun and already have managed to get a new man? Were you cheating?” Serene inquired.
“Little bit.” I downed my wine, smirking into my glass as my family exchanged perplexed looks around the table.
“Alright. Well, what does he do? Hopefully he is a professional.” My mom attempted to hide her shocked tone.
“He is. He owns a business, actually.” I answered truthfully . . . somewhat.
Rakim did own two businesses—Godfrey Boxing Gym and Godfrey Baking Co.—but I also knew he was into less glamorous shit.
“Oh! That’s nice. When can we meet him?” My mother beamed.
“Soon, but right now I want to focus on the next few collaborations I’m dropping with Delicacies. They’re big, and we’re gonna be slammed with shipping orders and answering customer service emails.”
I was excited with what was coming, especially since I used some of the money Rakim had given me to book this one artist that was expensive but worth it.
Thinking about how supportive my man already was had me smiling.
Even better, I didn’t have to worry about being away from him anymore.
We didn’t even make it a week apart, and I wasn’t complaining.
I just hoped he understood that I wasn’t under some haze or in a trance after being in a forced proximity situation. I truly wanted him. Badly.
Bored with me being tight lipped and my business endeavors, my sister switched the conversation to my nephew, Jeremiah, which was welcomed.
I loved hearing about her kids because they were so smart.
Despite our last conversation in regard to them, I loved babysitting for her.
Cairo’s too, but his son was smaller and less interesting at the moment.
After dinner, I went out to sit under the cabana my parents had in their backyard. It was cold as hell out here, but the big fire pit they had going made up for it.
“Fire feels good.” Serene came and sat beside me on the outdoor sofa.
“It does.”
“So, how long have you been messing around on Shaun?” Serene asked, tipping her wineglass to gulp some down.
“Not that long.”
“So who is this guy? Because you acted like Shaun was the love of your damn life in the past.” She giggled drunkenly.
“A very nice man, Serene.”
“Hmph.” She drank some more.
“You better slow down, or I’m gonna have to drive your ass home.” I looked her way, seeing she’d brought the bottle with her.
“I’m spending the night.” She sank back into the couch, seemingly in deep thought.
“Need a break from them munchkins and Avant, huh?”
“No, because I’m tipsy, Day.”
Laughing at her ridiculousness, I said, “It’s fine to need a break, Serene. You run your own practice, you have a husband and two kids which can sometimes feel like four kids, so I would get it.”
“How would you get it when you’ve never been married or even gotten a pregnancy scare, let alone have had kids?” She frowned. “My husband, kids, and career are perfect. I have no reason to want some break or getaway.”
Snickering humorlessly, I nodded. “Okay.”
“What was it like being kidnapped?” she queried after a few minutes of silence.
“Scary, as most would assume.”
“Day, give me something. We were worried as hell about you the whole time, and Daddy would barely tell us shit. He just kept saying he had it under control and for us to carry on with our normal lives for your safety.”
I looked over at her to see she was actually genuine in her interest.
“It was scary, and he was really mean at first. But then we talked, and he told me why he was doing it, and I low-key felt bad.”
“Felt bad for him kidnapping you for money? Is he the man you’re fucking now?” She guffawed, not even realizing how on the money she was.
I wanted to burst her bubble about the fake ass ransom and tell her my father was lying, but I didn’t know if that would fuck over Rakim, so I chose to hold off for now.
“I’m gonna go.” I rose. “I’m not in the mood to talk. I need to be spending my time with my nigga to make sure I get married and have a perfect life like you.”
“Smartest thing you’ve said all night!” she shouted to my back, and I didn’t even acknowledge it.