7. Old Threats #4
“I’m just saying, baby. You getting big.
Plus, I think we should pack some shit first to take with us.
Necessities. I don’t want you over there crying about nothing.
I got the power and everything being switched over Monday, and Javon put me on to a moving company that can come through and have us moved within a day. ”
“Oh, so you just thought of everything?”
“Damn right. Besides, you pregnant. I don’t want you lifting a finger.”
Lotus loved how he took care of her. She studied his lips and reached up to touch his cheek.
“What, something on my face?”
“Mmm hmm.” She nodded and leaned forward to steal a kiss.
Eazy threw his arms around her, pulling her close and kissing her back passionately.
“Lotus!” A familiar small voice screamed her name.
A genuine smile graced her lips when she saw Michael and Emrys Wakefiled approaching. It had been months, but the two of them were over the moon to see her. An unhappy Michelle and stoic Evren slowly strolled up behind them. Emrys threw her arms around Lotus in a big hug.
“I’ve missed you so much!”
“Yeah! I be needing help with my sociology homework,” Michael chimed in.
“Michael, we got you a tutor,” his mother spoke up.
“Yeah, and I don’t like her. She’s boring. Lotus knew how to make learning fun.” Their son interjected.
“I miss you guys too. You’ve gotten so big!” She observed their height difference from the last few months.
“When are you coming back?” Emrys pouted, and Lotus glanced past her at her stiffened parents.
“Um, I’m not.” She broke the news to them. “I’m sorry. I already got another job.”
“And a baby!” Emrys squealed, acknowledging the bump she carried around with her now. “Is it a girl?”
“I don’t know yet. My ultrasound is next week,” she answered.
“This baby will be so lucky to have you as a mama,” Michael voiced, warming her heart as Evren studied her with suspicion.
Eazy didn’t like how his bitch ass was eyeing his woman. Clearing his plate of hibachi, he reached for his drink to wash it down. He didn’t want to show his ass in front of his kids, so Eazy held his reserve.
“Aw, thank you. That means so much coming from you.”
“We didn’t know you were seeing anyone when you left,” Evren voiced.
Michelle cut a hardened glare in his direction.
“Yo, who the fuck are you?” Eazy finally chimed in.
“Ezekiel,” Lotus warned with a quick glance at him before turning back to the Wakefields. “It’s none of your business, first of all. Baby, this is Evren Wakefield, his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Emrys and Michael,” Lotus introduced.
“Hi!” Both kids waved at him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Come on, kids, we should go if we’re going to get in that Mama Lila’s line,” Michelle encouraged them.
“Yeah, you don’t want to miss that. Her fried chicken smells so good over there. I might head over and get me a couple of pieces soon. It’s so good seeing you both.”
“You too!” Emrys embraced her one last time.
“Bye.” Michael waved, and Michelle strolled off with both kids while Evren lingered behind.
It was obvious he had some shit on his mind, but it was pissing Eazy off the longer he stood there.
“Yo’ family went that way.” Eazy pointed past him.
Finally, Evren moved the fuck around, and Lotus returned to her food. She stuffed her face and kept her head down, hoping Eazy would let it go.
“The fuck was that, Lo?”
“What you mean?”
“Why that nigga looking at you like that?” Eazy demanded.
Lotus took a bite of an eggroll and chewed slowly.
“Like what?”
“That’s the muhfucka you was fucking, right?”
Lotus swallowed. “Yes.”
“So why you get all tense, and why he sitting there hawking you like some damn stalker?”
“Ezekiel, don’t do this right now.”
“The fuck am I doing, Lo? Asking you a question that you can’t seem to answer.” Leaning forward, he grit his teeth and his dark eyes pierced her.
“What do you want me to say? Shit got weird after I broke it off with him.” She dropped her fork into her container.
“Weird how?” Eazy pried.
Lotus sighed. Suddenly, she’d lost her appetite thinking about Evren. It didn’t help that Eazy was stirring up some shit she’d rather stay buried.
“I don’t know. The first time he showed up at my apartment. This was after we first hooked up. He got a little physical—”
“Physical like how?” Eazy’s nostrils flared.
“He hit me,” she admitted, watching his fist ball. “But I pulled my gun on him, and he left. I haven’t seen him since then, but he was calling. A lot. I blocked him, and he would call from another number.”
“Is this why you got your number changed not long ago?” Eazy concluded.
“Yes,” she whispered, and Eazy gritted his teeth.
“You don’t owe me your past, Lo, because I never put that shit on you with me and Niva, but you owe me the fucking truth about here and now.”
“Eazy—”
“I need to take a walk before I say some shit I can’t take back.” He got up, picked up his trash, and left Lotus seated alone.
She wanted to go after him, but she didn’t know what to say. Eazy wasn’t the type to argue. He said some shit and let you sit with it. Tonight was a prime example.