Chapter 4 #2
“I’m sure she will be,” I absentmindedly said as I watched Marlo carry Mason down the aisle. I could hear his deep voice, but his words weren’t clear. I’m sure he was trying to soothe Mason and whatever she was going through.
Whoever her mama was needed her ass whooped. There was no way that baby should have broken down crying like that because she thought her mama didn’t like her. I swear bitches made me sick to my stomach. Sunshyne was my world. I couldn't imagine doing anything to cause that kind of pain.
Hearing Sunshyne blow out a breath of frustration I looked down at her as defeat settled on her face again. “I guess Mr. Marlo has to take care of his daughter so I can’t get my toy.”
“I’ll get it,” The smile on Sunshyne’s face meant the world to me as she screamed in happiness.
“Thank you mommy! I promise Imma pick my toys up and I won’t cry when you comb my hair.” I tuned Sunshyne as she rambled about all the stuff she wasn’t really going to do.
I didn’t have it in me to tell Sunshyne no.
I couldn’t be the one to crush her feelings after she’d gotten her hopes so high.
I guess my little three nights off were going to be cut short and I’d have to pick up a few extra shifts.
But it was going to be worth it if it meant my baby girl had a smile on her face.
“Come on, boo.” I told Sunshyne and she grabbed my hand and we made our way to the front registers.
We stopped to grab a few things to eat and drink then went to the self-check-out.
Scanning all our items reality set in, I was going to be flat broke until next week.
My stomach churned as I thought about ways to tell Sunshyne she had to put the doll back.
her happiness over a doll didn’t trump our need to eat over the next week.
The urge to cry hit me like a ton of bricks.
I felt like a fucking failure. I couldn’t even buy my daughter a fucking doll and feed her.
My eyes watered as I squatted down pulling Sunshyne into my arms. I took a deep breath to get the shakiness out of my voice. “Baby…’’
“There y’all go,” I don’t know why but hearing Marlo’s voice gave me a relief I couldn’t quite explain yet. “We was looking for y’all,” He coolly said, walking over to us and I stood up. Looking at Marlo my words got stuck in my throat.
“I got a doll too! See?” Mason happily said, rushing to show Sunshyne her doll.
It warmed my heart seeing Mason in better spirits. There were traces of her tears, but she had the biggest grin on her face. Marlo had to be an amazing dad to be able to turn her tears into a smile.
“Gimmie that so I can scan it.” Marlo told Mason and she rushed over to scan her doll on the same scanner I was using.
“Hold on!” I nervously grabbing Marlo’s firm forearm, when he looked back at me, I dropped my hand from touching him.
I wanted to keep my hand there forever but the feeling I was getting from feeling his skin and the look he gave me wasn’t right.
“You don’t have to pay for that. I can’t let you.
” I freaked out when I watched him start putting money into the checkout machine.
“You can’t stop me either. It’s not like I’m doing it for you. I fuck with little mama. If I can help her by helpin’ you I will.” Marlo told me while he continued to pay for our stuff.
“Who said we need help?” I felt annoyed with his words. We weren’t some poor charity cases. Yeah, money was tight, but we were doing okay for the time being.
I ain’t mean it like that,” Marlo turned around looking at me with a serious expression. “Ion judge nobody but I know everybody can use a little help from time to time.”
“So, who helps you when you need help?” I asked, making the mistake of meeting his heated gaze head on and getting lost in his eyes.
“I’m not everybody. I’m somebody, I don’t need help.”
“Even somebodies, need help too, it might not be money, because clearly that’s the least of your worries but there are other things you can be lacking.” I challenged him.
Marlo was a fixer; I could tell he was the one everyone went to when they needed help. If he was so willing to help me, a stranger I could only imagine how much he’d do for the people he loved. I couldn’t help wondering who helped him?
Marlo ran his tongue across his bottom lip, chuckling as he eyed me from head to toe, “You might be right,”
We stood there staring at each other, a comfortable silence.
I don’t know what it was about Marlo, but it felt like I’d known him for years rather than a few minutes.
He had an aura that made you feel safe and secure.
I felt protected with him standing at my side.
I might have not known him, but my instincts knew he’d keep us safe.
“Thank you,” I said, breaking the silence between us even though I didn’t want to. I had to, it was getting late and I needed to get Sunshyne ready for bed.
“Don’t mention it,” The infectious smile on his face caused me to smile bashfully.
“Uh, I guess we should get going.” I nervously said. A part of me prayed he would ask for my number. Marlo seemed different and I liked his brand of different.
“Maybe we’ll run into each other again,”
“Yeah,” My smile turned into a frown as a very pregnant female holding a little girl that looked like she was around Sunshyne’s age in her arms.
“Marlo, did you not see me calling your phone,” Her squeaky voice was a contrast to her beauty,
The annoyance that flashed over Marlo’s face when he heard her voice wasn’t missed.
“Daddddy” The little girl exclaimed as she wiggled down from her mom and ran over to Marlo. Joy returned to his face as he turned around picking the little girl up, kissing her. “You like my nails? Mommy got them done wif her.”
“So, you don’t hear me?” She asked Marlo but her eyes were glued to Sunshyne and me. Her eyes told of her disgust, she thought she was better than us.
“If you was gettin’ y’all nails done why you ain’t take Mason too?” Marlo angrily asked the pregnant woman who was unbothered by his anger.
“For what? So, you can run around with ya little whores.” She cut her eyes over to me again.
“Oh no, love this isn’t that.” I quickly corrected her. My temper was short when it came to certain things. Bitches calling me out of my name just so happened to be one of my main triggers.
“Broke bitches can’t talk to me. Speak to me when ya bank got more than a hundred dollars in it.
Matter a fact let me give you some advice, my nigga don’t want you.
I hate to be the one to tell you, Marlo don’t fuck with basic bitches like you.
You far from his type. Boo my nigga likes them polished, them old ass braids and that outta da-”
“Shut that dumb shit up Fallon,” Marlo barked, cutting her words off. “Ignore her, she ain’t said shit. Let me help you take y’all’s stuff to ya car.” Marlo offered and I was disgusted.
Not only had his bitch tried me in the worst way, but the nerve of him to have a bitch and be trying to go out of his way to help me.
Fallon had managed to get under my skin with her words.
No, I wasn’t at my best and my braids were old but this version of me was temporary.
I wasn’t going to be rocking four month old braids forever.
I would be damned if I let her see that her words bothered me.
“I’m good. Enjoy your family,” I said in a cold tone as I grabbed my bags in one hand.
I wasn't too proud to take the stuff he had bought.
Fuck Marlo though, he had turned out to be like every other nigga in the world.
Lame, lying, weird ass bitches. Mall just confirmed I needed to stay single cause niggas would never be shit.
Taking Sunshyne’s hand in my free hand with my head held high I made my way out the store. I refused to look back even if I felt Marlo's eyes burning a hole in my back. He could kiss my ass, him and his stankin’ ass girlfriend.