Chapter 17 #2
“And I see you didn’t fight much on the subject,” Angie added as she glanced at my newly upgraded ring I still couldn’t get over.
“Sho didn’t. Fun fact, Angie, Luke and I got married right out there, months after I graduated from high school.
He’s two years older than me, so his ass had to wait,” I said, pointing out to the yard that still had the damn metal arch where we’d stood at the preacher.
The sound of my phone vibrating had me reaching to see who it was. Of course it was Luke.
“Ah shit, we spoke him up, didn’t we?” Johnni said as I buried my face in my phone.
Deke: I won’t ask what you’re doing, because I know you’re at the house. Please don’t stay there all damn day and not eat anything, and you better not be by yourself neither, Hershey.
Me: I won’t, baby. I got Johnni and Angie with me. We’re doing lunch after, then I’m headed home. I miss you.
Deke: I’ll be home soon. I miss the fuck outta you too, Hershey. Have fun with the girls. I love you.
Me: I love you too.
“See, I told you. That heffa can’t hear or see shit when that man is either in her face or on the damn phone. It’s a sad ass shame,” Johnni said to Angie while I flipped her off, locking my phone and placing it back in my pocket.
“Johnni, don’t act as if Tunk doesn’t have the same power over your ass, and Angie, we’re new, but um… yeah, I’m sure Shep got that too. So now, don’t be judging me.” They chuckled, both agreeing.
“True, but this ain’t about me right now. Angie had a question about the pictures of y’all. Separate box or keep them out?”
I tapped my chin, thinking for a quick second. “Keep them out for now. I’m going to bring up the idea of using this as my office to Luke.” Angie smiled while placing the prom picture back where it was and moving to the next one.
We continued until my stomach was growling way too loud to ignore. This baby kept me stuffing my face.
We ended up at Nawlins after Angie got her son Ryan from her mother.
“Thank you so much for inviting me to hang out today, girl. I swear, when these men go on the road, I really do feel like my best friend left me alone to watch his bad ass son.”
“Oh of course. Thank you for coming to help me earlier and you know I completely understand. I told Luke last night on the phone that the next away games I’m packing myself in his luggage.” That had her and Johnni both laughing while I was serious.
This was the longest week with my nerves going through all the emotions. And yeah, the news of the pregnancy played a huge factor.
“Hollis, it’s easier for you to move around.
Y’all don’t have any kids. I got this baby on my hip just about everywhere I go.
I’m sure Deacon will book the flight before you even ask,” Angie said, waving me off as she went for her mimosa.
I smiled, thinking about how that statement was about to change as I stared down at the cute brown skinned baby boy who didn’t resemble neither Shepherd nor Angie.
I figured he got his looks from his sperm donor.
“Uht uht, don’t do that, especially when we both know that—"
I couldn’t even finish my sentence before a voice barked from behind me.
“So now I’m blocked, Angie?” I turned to see a man who appeared to be the baby’s twin as he made his way over to our table. I looked at Angie who was shaking her head at him.
Oh my gosh, Hollis. This is the story, beginning and end! Get your phone out.
And before I could think straight and stick to my word about not doing the dead story, my phone was out, hitting buttons but keeping it pointed to the ceiling, catching a side eye from Johnni.
She didn’t say anything, just shook her head as she put her head down while I began to record the very private and heated conversation about the mystery man wanting to see his son that no one else seemed to care about but me.
I knew what I’d told her, but I still was employed by Caught Live and had a boss riding my ass about this damn story. If I wanted to keep my job, I had to do something, even if I didn’t tell the whole truth.
“Are you stalking me, Keith? What the hell are you doing here?” He scoffed and grabbed his beard, stroking it as he looked her over with a disgusted expression. I squinted until it hit me.
I know this nigga!
He was a big name and attached to something that would crumble if this conversation ever got out.
“Not you, but my damn seed. I don’t give a fuck about what you and that bitch ass husband of yours got going on. He ain’t got shit to do with mine. I’m done playing nice.” He went for the car seat, but Angie was quick, pulling it back then picking up the baby.
“Keith, you’re not taking my baby, especially a baby you told me you didn’t even want.
Why are you doing this?” She spoke low and sternly, in protective mother mode.
It was like I fully understood the situation.
Well, part of it. I still didn’t understand how or why she’d cheated on Shepherd, and made a baby at that.
But I got why Shepherd said Keith had no rights to his son, because technically speaking, it sounded as if he gave them away.
Like Mickey’s bitch ass baby daddy.
“Oh yes the fuck I am. You’re keeping him from me.
I have rights to what’s mine.” He stepped closer to Angie now, attempting to take the baby from her when something in me had me stepping in.
I saw the whole scene going bad, so I had to do something without getting physical or causing a bigger crowd.
“Um… excuse me, hi.” I cleared my throat, getting his attention as he turned to glare at me. I went for my other phone, prepared to call my connection at CFPD.
“Look, you don’t know me, but clearly you’re upsetting my home girl and causing a scene while I’m trying to eat and it’s pissing me off because I’m hungry as hell.
I swear a muthafucka is always trying to ruin my food with their fucked up energy.
Now, I’ma give you two options, so make a good choice, okay?
I got CFPD on speed dial, meaning you won’t even have two minutes to leave before they’re here.
So you can leave on your own or in the back of their car getting ready to be hit with harassment and stalking charges.
And you won’t be able to lie because I recorded it.
Ooh and, I’ll have a face to go with my name for the story now, say cheese,” I said, grabbing my other phone that was still recording, aiming it high to get a good angle, taunting him as I plastered on my smile.
Yeah, I was exposing myself to Angie, but this was the risk I was willing to take to help her. Men like Keith wouldn’t stop until they got what they didn’t want for real.
“And trust me, I ruin lives with my words. Keith Jackson, owner of KJS, an organization said to help single mothers and women escape their abusive partners. I know you’re a nonprofit.
We did a piece on you a while back, over at Caught Live.
Oh yeah, that’s where I work. How would your sponsors react to you causing distress to a woman?
No, correction, the mother of a baby you denied.
You have no rights by the way. I even know your name isn’t on the birth certificate.
Why am I overexplaining shit, this conversation is pointless.
You know what, I’ma just call my friends.
I’m sure they’ll love meeting you, Keith. ”
I went to hit the button when he stared at me then stalked off. I stopped recording then locked both phones, setting them back on the table. I avoided Angie’s eyes for a minute until I looked up to see them glossy as hell while she still cradled her baby close.
It was quiet and awkward as fuck, so I spoke first.
“I guess I should tell you what I do now.” I snorted, then continued. “I write for Caught Live. I’m a field reporter, meaning I’m the person getting the pictures and gossip without a proper interview.”
“Stalking celebrities.” She scoffed as I ate that word that had so quickly become a nuisance to everything I do…did. I hated it. It had a bitter taste and I didn’t want it attached to me and my name.
“Stalk is a strong word, but yes, you can call it that. I’m not proud of what I do most days, but I’m damn good at my job.”
She rolled her eyes. “And let me guess, since you were recording this whole time, this whole getting close to me was a lie? You were working on a story about me and Shep.” She chuckled humorlessly as she shook her head.
“No…yes. But I haven’t been able to do it. I got the assignment before I met you and—"
“Bitch please, do you think I’m dumb? Hollis, my circle is small for a reason. Even if we were never acquainted, you know who I was. You’ve been with Deacon for years.”
I shook my head. “Yes and no. It’s complicated. Angie, I think of you as a friend, hell a close one.”
“You talk shit about all your friends and write about their private lives for money, huh? If so, I don’t want or need those types of friends around me.
Those who know understand that Shep and I were separated when I was dealing with Keith.
I didn’t even know I was pregnant with his baby until after I got back with my husband to make it work.
I let Keith know I was pregnant and he said fuck me and my baby since I wouldn’t leave my husband.
So, Shep stepped up. Once Keith figured out who I was married to, that’s when he started making noise about being a father and bullshit, and Shep knew, so he shut it down. ”
“Angie, I don’t care to know the details. That’s your business.”
“Obviously you do, you just sat and recorded it! It was hot shit too. Had he not been someone you could sell a bigger story on, would you have said something or run with the original idea of me and my mystery baby daddy?”
I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. I wasn’t a liar and I wouldn’t start now.
“Right.” She got up, packing up her things to leave, but I stopped her.
“Angie, it’s not that simple. I promise I wasn’t going to slander your image.”