Chapter 12 Eris
After a few terrible days of being sick since coming back from the premiere, I had the nastiest cold. But thanks to Courtland, I was better than ever. He made me sweat it out with exercise, juices and sex. Yes, it sounds crazy, but it worked.
Life had been moving fast since meeting him. He took me to a movie premiere and when I say my nerves were rattled, but he made it enjoyable. I couldn’t believe I was there to begin with, but he says it’s the first of many. I’m looking forward to it.
Levi and Eris wanted a day in the city. After breakfast, we jumped in the streets.
“I want these.” Levi picked up a pair of shoes with Erin across the way showing me a pair as well.
I shook my head because they wanted everything. My money wasn’t long, but I could afford the shoes they wanted.
Just as we were checking out, I opened my purse. That’s when I noticed a wad of cash sitting in the bottom. I looked around like there was a fragrant red flag hovering over me.
My mind went to Rayzor as I closed the bag up.
I stepped to the side to call him.
“Sup, beautiful.”
“Hey, you.” I smiled, forgetting that I was about to lay into him.
His background was loud. He was at the gym.
“You miss me already? I just gave you some dick last night. I mean, I’m charged up and can be through in a minute.”
I don’t even understand why his mannish ways had me blushing, but I felt my cheeks flush. Rayzor had ways about him that made me feel things on the inside just from the sound of his words– it didn’t matter what they were.
“Hey, I’m out and was wondering did you put this money in my purse?” I got to the point, reminding myself that I wasn’t a charity.
“Who else dropping shit in your purse?”
“Rayzor, what have I told you about that?”
He’s done it before, and he knew how I felt about it.
“I guess this gon’ be our thing because fuck that shit. Run it up and if you want more, just hit me, I’ll drop it in the account.”
“How you do have my account info…” I sighed. “You know what, never mind.”
I realized who I was talking to. He finds out whatever he needs to.
“That shit clicking, ain’t it?” He chuckled.
It was no use in arguing because he’d do what he wanted anyway.
That’s one of the things I liked about him.
It scared me because it’s only been me taking care of myself and the kids.
However, since he came along, he does things that I don’t ask for.
Like, he gets inside my head and does it before I say something.
I couldn’t even get Levi’s daddy who stays in the same city to send me forty dollars or pay daycare fees. And here Rayzor was dropping thousands and taking care of business that wasn’t even his just because he wanted to keep me happy.
“Thank you.”
“I don’t need a thank you. You deserve that shit, Eris. When you accept it, then this back-and-forth shit can cease.” He paused. “Gon’ and enjoy, I’ll hit you back, aiight?”
“Okay,” I replied meekly like he put me in my place.
While shopping for them, I decided to do something nice for Rayzor. I wasn’t getting it with the money he gave me, this was from me. I felt strange looking for something for a man. It’s been too many years since the last time I did it; it’s foreign.
I grabbed him an outfit, something Rayzor like. I couldn’t stop smiling thinking about how grateful he’d be for it. Then my pussy quivered when I noticed it’ll come with some of the big dick as a thank you.
I went to grab lingerie, letting the kids run wild while I picked something special out to wear for him. Getting it in his signature red, I was excited for him to see me in it.
“Eris!” my name was called in the distance.
I cringed at the voice. I knew who it belonged to.
“Come on y’all,” I told the kids, trying to get the hell away. I wasn’t in the mood to show my ass today, but this was a necessary showing.
Then he ran out in front, stopping us.
Levi stared up at his twin, but me, I glowered at my deadbeat ass baby’s father Phillip.
“He’s gotten so big,” he had the nerve to say.
His words were like nails on a chalkboard.
“Yeah, that’s what happens when they grow and you ain’t seen him in years. So what?”
He bent down in front of Levi, plastering a fake smile, ignoring me.
“Hey, Levi.”
Levi held on to his toy for comfort.
I softly rubbed his shoulders, trying to calm his little nervous system.
Phillip had that stupid look in his eyes but did that ugly awkward chuckle then looked up at me and back at Levi again.
“You don’t know your daddy no more, Levi?”
Levi nodded.
“You not talking to me, Levi?” He rubbed Levi’s head. “He’s this big and can’t talk, Eris? The last time I saw him he was talking.”
I went to that dark place. Wanted to tear a new hole into this dumb ass man. There’s no way he was even having this conversation right now. I shouldn’t have even stop to begin with because his existence bothers me and my son.
“I’ve taught my son not to talk to strangers. He’s doing the right thing.”
“How you doing, son?”
“Mommy.” He reached for me, pushing his head deeper into my stomach before turning around and grabbing me.
“Let’s go, baby.” I grabbed his hand, turning to leave.
“You turned my son against me, hating ass,” Phillip chastised, and it coiled my spine.
“I didn’t do a damn thing. This boy doesn’t even know you.”
“No, I’m not hearing that. You got that famous mothafucka and got my son thinking he don’t know me.”
“First off, fuck you. Secondly, go to hell where you belong. Your son doesn’t know you because you made that choice for him. Don’t get mad at me.”
Just then, a woman walked up to him and laced her arm in his, kissing his cheek.
“Baby, why are you yelling like that?” she said to him while scolding me.
Phillip had a death glare on me just as I had one on him.
It took everything in me not to clock his ass with these bags, but he wasn’t worth the headache.
“Who’s this?” she asked.
“Them? Nobody,” he said and proceeded to walk off.
“Exactly why your son don’t know you now, stupid ass!” I spat, continuing to walk in the other direction.
My brain was scattered. I can’t believe how he tried to play my son in his face. If I didn’t have shit to lose, I would’ve been in handcuffs, but I let it go like I did him years ago. Fuck him. Levi’s been good without him, and the way Levi treated him was testament to it.
I hate my baby had to see him.
Continuing about my day, I tried to calm my nervous system when all I wanted to do was cause hell. Phillip made the worst come out of me. I wanted him to hurt in the worst way whenever he was in proximity but strangely, I don’t think about him at all on any other day– wasn’t even in my memory bank.
Heading into INSTYLE boutique, I let Erin and Levi go have a seat.
A stylist gave me a dressing room promptly.
“Yeah, that’s her,” I heard someone say behind me. I didn’t think they were talking to me, so I continued bobbing and humming with the music.
My nails raking over the dresses as I decided what to choose.
“Mm hmm.”
Two women came into my line of view, but not close enough in my space. One Asian, the other a slim, tall, polished socialite. The overly thick chick with a BBL, looked like she stepped out of a magazine with heavy makeup, heels and long, bone- straight middle parted weave.
Then they got closer.
“Excuse me, were you at the Netflix premiere with Rayzor the boxer?”
I glanced around.
“Yes, why?”
I tried remembering if I knew her from somewhere but couldn’t recall.
“Oh,” was all she said.
The lingering quietness was awkwardness.
The girls whispered amongst themselves. I moved down the aisle. There’s nothing left to say. Some people were nosey.
“That’s your man?” she asked.
I was taken aback by the question because she didn’t even know me.
“If you’re asking, you know the answer already,” I said matter-of-factly.
“Hmph,” she remarked.
“Who are you?”
“Oh, she’s jazzy,” her friend snickered.
“I’m who I am,” she retorted.
“Conversation over,” I cut the conversation.
“I wanna know, that’s why,” the other girl said.
“If you a fan, you gotta go to the meet and greets.”
“She called you a fan, girl. Naya, I wouldn’t even take that. Oooo wee,” her friend instigated.
“I’m the furthest thing from a fan. In fact, I’m the reason you or anybody else knows who he is…” she argued.
“Bitch, look…” I started to snap when I realized that Rayzor’s my man and women will be over him. I didn’t have to respect or respond to none of them thirsty bitches trying to stake their claim. I’d hate to have to beat up half the city behind dick that’s mine.
“Ma’am, we’re going to have to ask you all to leave,” the sales associate told them.
“Leave?” Naya repeated, gazing at me. “I ain’t even buy my clothes.”
“I’m sorry, but you’re causing a disturbance for our customers.”
Naya slammed down her dress.
“Do you even know him?” She cut her eyes at me.
“Didn’t she tell y’all to leave?” I smirked.
“Ma’am. Please, leave,” the associate begged.
“How far do you think he’d go for you?” Naya asked me.
“’Bout as far as your ass will, outside the store.”
She gasped.
“You probably want him because he’s a boxer, but what if his opps from the streets come looking?”
Security walked up and escorted them away from me.
I caught her glare from the window as I set my clothes on the counter to be rung up. What did she mean “opps from the streets”?
“Girl, you have some great taste. Wherever you’re going, you’ll turn heads,” the associate complimented, breaking me from my thoughts.
I forced a smile. “Thank you, boo. That’s the plan.”
Her words swarmed, leaving a lasting impression. I wasn’t giving them the satisfaction to see they had me in my feelings. Some bitches couldn’t stand seeing the next female winning.
“Well, when you do go out, please tag us on social media because I must see the end results. You have a great day, Eris,” she said, handing me the bags.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation at the boutique.