Chapter 3 Steel #2
We shared another hug before she left the office.
Just like that, I was feeling worse. I guess today was just set to be mentally taxing on a nigga.
I needed a blunt like hell right now, but my kids would be here in an hour.
I decided to set my alarm and take a fucking nap.
Hopefully, my dreams were better than reality.
“Good job today, y’all,” I said, going around to slap high fives with the kids.
We’d been practicing getting out of holds today. While some of them got a little rough, they were able to pull it together and get back on track. I approached my newest student, Nayelli. Today was her first day, and I could tell she was nervous.
“Good job today, Nayelli,” I said, raising my hand to slap her five.
“Thanks, Mr. K.”
“How was school today?”
“It was okay. My mom came up to the school to fuss at the principal. He gave me a buddy, so nobody’s been bothering me.”
“That’s good.”
“It’s embarrassing,” she said, hanging her head. “I hate it here, and I miss my old friends.”
“I’m sure they miss you too. This place isn’t so bad. I’ve been here my whole life.”
She crossed her arms and stared up at me with a familiar look. “You like it here?”
“You have to make the most of every situation, sweetheart. If you think negative, negative happens.”
“You sound like my mom.”
I chuckled. “I’m sure she’s a wise woman.”
“You haven’t met her yet. She can be extra.”
I smiled. I swore something about her felt very familiar. I’d been feeling it since she first walked into the building. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.
“You ready, baby?” her aunt asked, coming over after finishing up her phone call.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t forget your snacks,” I said, pointing to the snack table the kids had begun to crowd around.
“We get snacks? Awesome! I’ll be right back, Auntie Dee!”
She ran over and joined the rest of the class.
Her aunt laughed. “She definitely gets her love of snacks from me.”
“No lie, I love a good snack my damn self. She did great today, by the way.”
“She did.” Dee sighed. “I really hope this builds her confidence back up. I’ve seen the light dim in her eyes since we’ve been here.”
“What made y’all move?”
“My sister got a new job. I couldn’t let her move here alone.”
“Y’all must be close.”
“That’s my best friend.”
“I feel you. My siblings and I are super close too. I mean, we really don’t have an option in the matter.”
“How many of you is it?”
“Six.”
“Damn!” she exclaimed, then covered her mouth. “Sorry.”
I laughed. “No need to apologize. It’s a lot of us. Same dad, four different moms. Most of us have maternal siblings too, so it’s really like ten. If you get to adding in-laws and their siblings, . . . yeah. It’s a damn clan. It doesn’t help that everybody is so fucking fertile.”
It was her turn to laugh. “You have kids?”
“I have a son. KJ.”
Pulling out my phone, I showed her a picture of my big boy. She stared at it for a moment, before an awkward smile formed on her face. I wasn’t sure what that shit was about.
“He’s adorable. So chunky.” She grew quiet for a moment. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Uh, . . . sure.”
“What’s the D in KD Defense Academy stand for?”
“Dillinger. Why?”
“Oh, oh, no reason. I just realized I only knew your first name. Nayelli! Baby, we have to go!”
Something in her shifted. It was like she knew who I was. I hadn’t noticed it the first time, but she looked familiar too. Just as I was about to ask where I knew her from, Nayelli ran back over.
“Bye, Mr. K. See you tomorrow!”
“Bye, Nayelli. Have a good day.”
She waved as her aunt ushered her out the front door. Something about this shit didn’t sit right with me.
After saying goodbye to the rest of the kids, I went back to my office and finished up some paperwork. Once I was done, I made a beeline for Jaeda’s to get my baby and talk to her. When I walked into the house, KJ was rolling around on the floor with Quaid, squealing loud as hell.
“Look at your overgrown ass,” I said, chuckling.
Quaid took his eyes off KJ for a second, and my boy snatched those glasses right off his face.
I laughed. “I told you not to wear them around him. My boy got hands.”
He grinned as he pried them from KJ’s tight little grip. “I keep a spare.”
“Blind ass.”
He chuckled as he climbed to his feet with KJ in his arms. “Whatever, man. He had a good time with his favorite uncle.”
I kissed my teeth. “Give me my son, nigga.”
He handed KJ to me as he was kicking his feet and grinning.
“Hey, Fat Man,” I said, kissing his cheeks. “Daddy missed you, dude.”
He laid his head on my shoulder as he fidgeted with my ears. I smiled to myself. He would never know how much I loved him.
“I think he missed you too,” Quaid said as he cleaned up the toys all over the floor. “You good?”
“I don’t know, man. Some shit is bothering me. I need my sister.”
“She’s back there working. Y’all got an assignment today.”
“Shit. Okay.”
I headed down the hall to Jaeda’s office. After knocking on the door, I walked in. She was seated at her desk, typing a mile a minute.
“Hey, Jae.”
“Hey.”
“I need your help.”
“What is it? I’m kinda in the middle of something.”
“I need you to look someone up for me.”
“Who?’
“Neha Malone.”
Jaeda stopped typing and looked back at me. “Why? After all this time, now you want to know where she is?”
“I saw her.”
“Here?”
“When I dropped Jaiden off a couple days ago. She damn near backed into me.”
“Wait. What was she doing at the school? Does she have a kid? Is she married?”
“I don’t know, Jae. I don’t know shit.”
She shook her head. “Are you sure you want to do this, Kerrion? You wanna open that can of worms again?”
I didn’t, but seeing Neha stirred up something in me. She ran away that day just like she did back in school. I never got closure from her leaving me. A nigga was still hurt over that shit, and seeing her had my chest hurting all over again.
“It’s just some shit I need to know,” I said.
I needed to know like a muthafucka. I couldn’t get her out of my head.
Time had been good to her. She was still as beautiful as she’d always been.
Those brown eyes were still captivating.
That milk chocolate skin was still buttery smooth and blemish free.
Those full lips still called me to kiss them.
Her full-figured frame still looked as soft as it had always been whenever I held her.
She’d put on a little weight, but it was in all the right places.
I had to know what was going on with her. . . had to.
Jaeda sighed. “How soon do you need this information? I really have to work on this case.”
“I’ve waited this long. I guess I can wait a little longer.”
“I’ll get on it as soon as possible. Just . . . be careful.” She fingered KJ’s cheek. “I don’t know what I’ll find, but you have him to think about. Just keep that in mind.”
“I will. I’ma head out. I promised Ms. Anita we’d call her before his bath. She came to see me today.”
Jaeda offered me a warm smile. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s holding up. Shit is still hard for her.”
“I imagine so. Well, tell her I said hey.”
“I will.” She stood and leaned over to smother KJ with kisses. “Bye, Fat Man. TiTi is gonna miss you! I love you.” She kissed my cheek. “I love you too.”
“Love you, Sis.”
We said our goodbyes and left the house. I had to push all thoughts of Neha from my head right now. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done.