Chapter 2
“Damn, my little man is looking fly. Mommy is gonna have to run interference with these fast ass little girls now. I might need to make you a regular at that shop.” Nyelle smiled at her son and kissed the top of his freshly cut head.
“Here, Mommy. East said to give you this and that I have to come back there to get my haircut. He’s my friend now. It’s fly, right? He said I can only see him.”
Nick excitedly handed off the business card East had given him. “Oh, really? And you’re okay with that?” Nyelle stared skeptically at her son but smiled when he did. It stretched across his face, causing hers to do the same.
“I like it there. He didn’t cut me. My daddy can take me there if he wants to.”
Nyelle’s face softened and she kissed her son on the cheek. “Give Auntie Joi a hug and tell her thank you for taking you to get your haircut. Then I want you to go clean up all those toys you left out this morning.”
Nick ran right to Joi and threw his small body against hers. He hugged her legs and she leaned down to hug him back. “Thank you, Auntie Joi. I had fun.”
“Me too, Small Fry.”
“I’m not a French fry.” He beamed before taking off running to his room.
“You good, sis?” Joi saw the shift in her girl’s mood. She knew Nyelle was catching it since Reese had been MIA, which was the main reason she didn’t mind stepping up.
“Yeah, I’m good. I just hate his trifling ass, like for real. Nick just wants his father and he’s too busy trying to impress the next hoe with how good of a father he is while neglecting his son. It’s all good, though. Karma is a bitch.”
Haircuts were something her son usually experienced with his father and Nick was always excited about the time they spent.
However, since the birth of his baby sister, whom her trifling ass baby father created while cheating on Nyelle, Reese hadn’t come around much.
He deposited money in her account monthly but kept his head up his new hoe’s ass because she forced him to.
Nyelle didn’t blame her because her issue was with Reese. It was up to him to be a man, and if he was one, no woman would have the power to control his moves or keep him from his kid. Reese had two children, even if he had recently forgotten about the fact that he had Nick.
“Karma is a bitch, but that doesn’t protect you from hurt feelings.”
“I’m not hurt behind him. Well, not like that. I’m hurt behind my baby wanting time with his dad that he can’t get.”
“I feel you, but he didn’t just leave Nick. He left you too, Ny. You put in five years with him and he just dipped.”
“I’m good. I’m just doing me. Thank God I didn’t listen to his stupid ass and skip school like he wanted me to. I can support my son and we’re good over here.”
Reese was a street dude. He brought in decent money, so he wanted a woman who was at home keeping house and raising their kid.
Nyelle gave him that but also found a way to go to school in the process, refusing to solely rely on any man.
One of the biggest lessons her father taught her due to his absence was to never put all her trust in a man, no matter how much he tried to convince you that he would be there for you.
Nyelle had seen the fallout too many times for women who made that mistake, her mother included.
“Facts, baby. And what you don’t have, I have, so we’re real good. You know I’m always gonna be here for whatever.”
“Girl, your broke ass.” Nyelle smugly rolled her eyes at her girl. “But I know you always got my back.”
She had only known Joi for five years. They met through Reese because Joi was with his boy at the time.
Unfortunately, they didn’t last. Joi wasn’t the type to put up with nonsense and Reese’s boy Krass did not have the word faithful in his vocabulary.
Even after Joi left Krass alone, the two women built a bond and had been rocking ever since.
“So, Reg called me when I was on the way to take Nick to get his cut…”
“Ahh, hell, what he do?” Nyelle knew her girl better than anyone and instantly saw through her tone and blank expression.
“It’s not what he did, it’s what happened when he called. As soon as he said ‘what’s up, babe,’ some female in the background spoke up all loud, saying, ‘Damn, baby, I didn’t know you were on the phone. My bad.’”
Nyelle angled her head to the side then walked away.
Joi frowned as she followed her.
“Where you going?”
“To put my shoes on. Reg is about to catch this damn fade.”
Joi smiled hard, almost laughing. “Sit your hood rat ass down. We’re not about to go anywhere. Let me tell you the rest.”
Nyelle turned, placing her hands on her hips and waiting. Joi laughed again at the serious look on her face but wasn’t surprised. Nyelle played no games with any man who was cheating. Reese had her on a thousand with that.
“I’m listening.” She pursed her lips.
“So when I asked him what the hell was up with that, he said he was with Riggs at his girl’s house, and she was talking to him, not Reg.”
“And you believe that bullshit?”
“Yes and no. Riggs spoke up, telling whoever the hoe was to shut up before I got mad, thinking she was talking to Reg and not him—”
“And what did the hoe say?”
“Nothing.”
“You know his boy would lie for him, right?”
“Yeah, I do, but I don’t have any proof other than that. I mean, sometimes I think it’s possible that he might cheat, but…”
“Trust your gut, Joi. I didn’t and my man had a whole baby on me. I knew something wasn’t right, but I ignored my gut and believed him.”
“I know. I’m gonna give it some time, but I will definitely be on his ass. Trust me.”
“You better. Don’t get played like I did, Joi. I mean it. That shit hurt, but more than anything, it made me feel dumb for not knowing better.”
“Ny, don’t do that. It’s not about you. It’s about him.”
“I’m a grown ass woman. I needed to know better. It was about me believing in a man more than I believed in myself. Never again, though.” She pushed out an exasperated breath before moving on. “So, the barber, this East dude. He was cool? Nick seemed to like him. That’s good.”
At the mention of East, Joi’s cheeks flushed and her body warmed. She had been trying her best to extract him from her mind, but damn.
“Ah, shit. It looks like Reg is not the problem. You are,” Nyelle teased, picking up on the change in Joi’s demeanor.
“Shut up. I’m not a cheater.”
“You haven’t been but looks like you want to be. He must be fine. Got your brown ass blushing. What’s the deets, boo?”
“Nothing. He’s aight. Nothing to trip over, and he was kinda annoying.”
“Annoying how?”
“Just saying anything kinda annoying. You know I don’t rock like that. I wanted to chop his ass in the throat.”
Nyelle grinned and rolled her eyes. “I bet. Sounds more like you wanted him to chop you in your throat with something long and hard.”
Joi burst out laughing and shot Nyelle a bird.
“See, that’s why I don’t tell you anything. I’m about to go, though. We still going to Presidential tonight?”
“Yeah, I guess so. Nick is going to be with my mom for a week to give me a break, so I might as well. You know it’s a whole movement for me to get out these days since I’m a single parent now.”
“Aight, cool. You’re driving, though.”
“Nooooo,” Nyelle whined.
“Well, I’m not, so we can Uber or it’s not happening.”
“Uber then. I’ll schedule it and do a multi-stop, so I’ll swing through about ten.”
“My girl. Get an X. I don’t want to be in a Kia or no compact shit.”
“You paying?”
“Nope, you just said I was broke, Ny, but you love me, so you got it.” Joi blew Nyelle a kiss and headed to the door, grabbing her purse off the sofa in the process.
She needed to get home and catch a nap if they were going to be out late.
As much as she hated to admit it, her partying days were long gone, and by midnight, she was ready to crash.
Joi was cool with it though, because she was too old to be clubbing every night.
The way her life was set up, she had to be more focused on building her career.
Joi was a year into ownership of her lash and brow loft and was barely breaking even.
Money over everything was her motto and she didn’t see it changing anytime soon.
“I’m tired as shit,” East mumbled as he sat outside his house in the driveway.
It was a little after nine and he was just getting home.
His body and mind were exhausted. He had been at the shop since seven.
His first cut was at eight and his last was at six.
He had forgotten how long the days could be when he had to be on his feet all day cutting.
As he pushed out a short breath, he climbed out of his car, feeling tension in his back.
East was in decent shape, but regardless, standing on his feet all day had his back stiff and cutting heads had his shoulders and arms sore.
He damn sure didn’t miss days like today, but he respected the work, and he respected his barbers who followed the same routine daily.
That was why he made sure each one was paid well.
The stations he rented to them were affordable and he didn’t kill them with percentages.
He didn’t have to. The shop kept clients in heavy rotation, which meant money was always flowing.
East’s shop was well known and elite in the city.
It started with the dope boys who ran the city then crossed over to the celebrities in their circles.
Not many in the city didn’t know about East. People paid good money for services and convenience.
Since East had no issue accommodating, it was nothing for big names to drop big money just to have one of his barbers open up for them beyond business hours.
Money was good, which meant life was good.
The second East walked into the house, his body relaxed.
There was something about being in his own space that just calmed him.
Unfortunately, it only lasted for a moment before he was forced to readjust due to the fact that he was greeted with a blast of energy he wasn’t expecting.
His baby sister bolted his way and jumped into his arms, catching him off guard.
At three years old, she was always moving a mile a minute.
“Ay, pretty. Why you up this late?”
“She didn’t see you today and had to wait.”
East hugged Kelsey tight and kissed her puffy cheeks. “You giving Miss Mel a hard time, baby girl?”
East looked across the room at his sitter, Mel, who was approaching him with a huge smile.
“No, she’s never a problem. Isn’t that right, smart girl?”
“I’m good, East,” Kelsey stated with confidence, placing her head on his shoulder at the same time.
It was late and she was tired. Now that her brother was home, she was slowly drifting.
“You want me to get her to bed for you? I’m sure you had a long day.”
“You don’t know the half, but nah, I got her. You can head out. Tell your husband I apologize for the long hours today.”
“It’s not a problem. You already know that. You sure you don’t want me to stay?”
Mel had no issue stepping up on days like today.
They were rare. Usually, Kelsey went to daycare and East got her right after.
Mel typically only had to sit with her when he went out or had business where Kelsey couldn’t be with him, but since she left daycare early with a fever the day before, she had to stay out for a full twenty-four hours.
East explained that he had a barber out and needed to fill in, which meant Mel had been with Kelsey all day.
She didn’t mind; Mel admired the fact that East took care of his sister when his mother couldn’t.
“I still appreciate you, and no, you’ve been here all day. Go home. Miss Ronda’s coming. She doesn’t have a family, so it’s easier for her to stay overnight.”
Mel nodded and headed back to the living room to gather her things but stopped to kiss Kelsey on the cheek before leaving.
“Your mom comes home this weekend, right?”
“Yeah. She’s ready too. She hates those stays.”
“I’m sure. I know she misses her baby girl also.”
East chuckled and nodded.
“Yeah, she does.”
East was happy his mother was doing better.
She had been in an inpatient facility for the past three months, struggling to get her depression under control.
Normally, it didn’t get this bad, but for some reason, she’d sank deep a few months back.
East convinced his mother to do in-house treatment and he took over caring for his baby sister so she could.
Although his mom had a boyfriend who lived with her, he wasn’t Kelsey’s father.
As much of a good dude as East thought he was, he wasn’t taking any chances on leaving his sister in his care.
That meant he had to step up. It called for a few adjustments like finding Mel and Ronda through an agency to be on call and take care of Kelsey when needed, but he never complained.
East even shut off most of the women he dealt with to make sure he could balance running his businesses and spending time with Kelsey.
Family over everything was how he functioned, and even if he didn’t know a damn thing about being a father, he did pretty good at being a big brother.
“Call me if you need me before then. You know I’m always available,” Mel instructed with a genuine heart.
“I will, and check that drawer by the door before you leave. There’s an envelope in there for you.”
“East.” Mel frowned while he shrugged.
“Complain all you want. Just take it with you. I told you, I appreciate you. Text me when you make it home so I know you’re good.”
Mel smiled at the way East genuinely cared. She felt as if he was the son she never had, and in the short time she had known him, she had grown to love him as such.
“I will. Lock up.”
East chuckled and followed her. “You know I’m on it.”
After she was gone, he headed to the room he had decorated for his sister and got her in bed.
After hanging for a minute to make sure she was actually asleep, he then retreated to his master suite to shower and chill for a minute, praying he didn’t fall asleep.
The plan to head to Presidential was looking more and more like a no go with each second that passed.