Chapter 6
T he steady buzzing of the needle was a sound that had always relaxed me and kept me focused, but the shit didn’t seem to work today after the lunch I took with Willow. I don’t know if it was the thought of going to the damn class reunion, my shit with Tierra, or that Willow was wearing the hell out of those ripped jeans. Either way, the usual peace that settled over me was nonexistent.
I lifted my hand to survey my work and this dragon piece I was working on was turning out dope as hell. All I had to do was add some shading and I could wrap this up. Before I leaned back in, I checked on my client.
“You straight?”
He nodded and looked at his shoulder the best he could.
“I’m cool. From what I can see, this shit looks fire as fuck. I can’t wait to see the finished product.”
“Hell yeah. Thanks. All we got left is a little shading, and I wanted to add a little color to the eyes. But other than that, we’re on our way.”
I told him just as my phone vibrated against the counter. I rolled over in my chair and pulled my gloves off. I checked to make sure it wasn’t my parents and noticed it was just Jordan. I kissed my teeth and answered but placed it on speaker before grabbing a new pair of gloves, then rolling back over to my client.
“You on speaker, I’m tattooing. What’s up, man?”
“I’m coming through. I just made it into town. Do you have more appointments today?” he asked.
“Nah, this is my last one for the day. I planned to go pick up Charlie after this, but my parents aren’t in any rush. Come through, I haven’t put eyes on you in a minute.” I told him.
“Aight,” he responded, then ended the call.
I turned my music back up and then continued to finish the tattoo. Thirty minutes passed, and I was finally finished. I took my pictures and allowed my client to look in the mirror behind him, while I cleaned my space and tossed the needle I used on his tattoo.
“Damn, you killed this shit. I need to come back to get my sleeve finished. How is your schedule next week?” he asked.
Once I tossed my gloves and the million paper towels I used during the session, I wrapped his arm up and gave him the care instructions. I pulled my pants up and nodded towards the door.
“Meet me out front and I’ll look.”
He rubbed his hands together and glanced in the mirror once more at his tattoo before following me to the front just as Jordan was walking through the door. Dude’s eyes widened at the sight of him.
“Oh shit! You’re Jordan Smith. I heard you were from here, but I have never seen you. Man, you dope as fuck on the court!”
Jordan smiled and dapped him up, then gripped his chest.
“I appreciate that! Nice to meet you.”
Jordan was always the most social out of us. You would think the fame would make him chill out on how he treated no one he met as a stranger. But, the man was exactly the same. It was one of the reasons we were more like brothers than friends.
I shook my head and continued to look through my computer to find my appointments for the next week. They continued to talk about Jordan’s stats until I gave him the information on my next availability.
“You cool with Wednesday?” I asked.
“Yeah, that works for me. I’m paying cash for this session.”
I watched as he reached into his pocket to pull out $750. He had all hundreds outside of the fifty-dollar bill. So, I used my marking tool to make sure they were real, then slipped them into my pocket. I made a receipt for him then walked him out. But, not before he got a picture with Jordan.
“Aye, don’t tell nobody this man over here.” I told him before he left.
“I got you,” he responded.
Soon as he left, I turned to face him, and he was smiling big as fuck. I wanted to be annoyed, but this was my brother. I shook my head as I walked over to him to dap him up and give him a hug.
“I would ask you what brought you back to Rose Haven, but you're hell bent on going to that damn class reunion. You know, like I do, folks are going to be in your face heavy.” I told him.
I walked around the counter to mark my session completed and make sure I scheduled the appointment for Wednesday. He followed behind me and grabbed a few pieces of candy from the jar on the countertop.
“I ain’t worried about it. You are worried about the wrong shit. You need to be there, too. It’s not like you got other plans than watching kid movies with my niece. Tell me I’m lying.”
He craned his head to the side as he dug into the candy jar again to take a few more pieces out. I snatched the jar from the counter and put it away.
“I know damn well yo’ ass can afford your own candy. Don’t get happy and shit. To answer your question, me and my baby do more than watch kid movies. We color and shit, tea parties, we busy folks, if you didn’t know.”
Jordan laughed.
“Yeah, right.” He waved me off.
“Willow was on this same thing earlier?—”
I started before Jordan interrupted with wide eyes.
“Who was on what earlier?” he asked, like he didn’t hear me.
“Man, get the hell out of here. Nothing like that. She was in the neighborhood. I saw her the other night, and she was on some snappy shit. So, she felt the need to come here today and annoy me.”
I walked from behind the counter and grabbed my keys to head to my place. I told one of my tattoo artists, Jin, to lock up once she finished her final appointment and to call if she needed anything. Jordan followed me toward the back as I made my way up to my place.
The moment we walked inside, he made a beeline for my kitchen and ducked down to rummage through my fridge like he hadn’t just signed a 200 million dollar contract to stay with his current team for another four years.
“Why every time you come in here, you in my fridge?” I asked as I ruffled through the many bills in front of me.
“Everybody knows folks who got kids got the best snacks. Now stop trying to change the subject and tell me about this date you had with Willow. She still fine?” he asked, while pulling one of my baby’s juice boxes from the fridge.
“I don’t even know why I’m talking to you about this. She just went with me down to the food trucks. It wasn’t a date. I ate, and she talked. That was it.”
I kept my eyes focused down, not looking up at him, although I could feel his eyes burning through my forehead.
“Yeah, aight. You haven’t really answered my question. You know what? Don’t worry about it, I’ll go find out myself tonight.”
I finally looked up at him with a lift of my brow.
“Nah, leave that woman be. She got enough shit going on.” I told him, then continued to work through my mail.
Jordan’s laugh caught my attention again, so I looked up at him to see he now had a fruit snack and a bag of chips.
“Man, you are about to be at the grocery store replacing all that shit. You know Charlie doesn’t play about her snacks.” I told him.
“Hell yeah, she mean just like her damn dad. Nah, but forreal I’m gone need you to slide through. I’m sure mama will keep lil’ bit if you asked her,” Jordan pointed out.
“Charlie is not my people’s responsibility.”
“You don’t have to convince me you’re a good father. But you need a break, too. The kind that Tierra’s ass is getting on the regular. And before you say it, I know you love being with your daughter, but you can’t tell me you don’t want to put eyes on Willow again. The way you keep shuffling between those same damn envelopes when her name is brought up is saying it all. No need to front with me. We will just go for an hour, tops. Come on, make that call.”
I expelled a breath and pulled my phone from my back pocket to give my mom a call. I don’t know why this need to see Willow was so heavy on my heart, but this shit wasn’t going further than checking on her. I can admit, I hated hearing about what she had been going through. She didn’t deserve the shit.
Just one hour and one conversation. That should be more than enough to sate this curiosity that Willow undoubtedly had piqued.
* * *
THE CLASS REUNION
“Would you stop checking your phone?” Jordan asked.
He was driving. I’m sure it was his way of making sure I followed through with going as we planned.
“Stop worrying about what I’m doing and drive this muthafucka. You already got me going to this damn thing.”
Jordan laughed and continued to listen to the music while heading for East Rose High School. Even though I lived in town, I never found a reason to visit the school. I didn’t have a reason to come back here or seek out people I went to school with. I saw the majority of my classmates in passing if they still lived in town, but that was about it. It wasn’t something that I needed to be concerned with, which is why I didn’t give a damn about attending.
It wasn’t long before we were pulling into the school parking lot. I don’t know who got the school to agree to allow them to host the reunion in the school gym. But, here we were. Once Jordan parked, I stepped out of the car and straightened out my leather jacket. I kept it simple; I went with a clean white tee, a pair of black jeans, with my leather jacket, and my thick Cuban diamond necklace.
“Damn, can you believe we are back here? I remember all the crazy shit we used to get into here.” Jordan said, walking around his truck.
I stuffed my hands into my pockets and nodded. “Hell yeah, shit was cool as it could be.”
Jordan pushed my shoulder, and we burst into laughter. “You love to act like you don’t give a fuck. I keep forgetting that’s how you pull all the women.”
I waved him off as we walked toward the open doors leading to the gym.
“Get outta here.” I laughed.
The moment we stepped inside, the music was playing all the top hits, and they had a table with two of our classmates sitting at the front. We waited in line as each person gave them their names, then walked into the gym after getting a name tag. Finally, we made it to the front and the moment we stepped up, Gabby and Sabrina Douglass’ eyes widened. They were identical twins and ran everything that had to do with anything when we were in school.
“I did not think I would see you here, Benny! Shoot, and definitely didn’t think you were coming, Jordan; where is your security?” Gabby asked.
I held back my laughter. Jordan placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled.
“You looking at him!”
I shrugged my shoulders so his hand would drop as I shook my head. This man got on my damn nerves sometimes, but this was my boy. They looked down and started to write our names on the tags.
“Aye, I’m not gone need that, and neither is he. We appreciate y’all, though.” I told them.
They nodded.
“Alright! It was nice seeing y’all again. Also, have a good time. We have an open bar and it’s also food in there. I hope we can get a picture with you before you go,” Sabrina said.
“I’m cool to take the picture now. I won’t be here long.” Jordan said.
He didn’t have to tell Sabrina or Gabby twice before they hopped up from their seats with their phones pulled out. They made sure I was in the picture as they stood in front of us to take the picture. Once they were satisfied, we gave them hugs and made our way into the gym. They had streamers blocking the doors, but once you walked through, it was as if they brought our asses right back to when we used to have dances in here.
The moment we stepped inside, all eyes were on us, or rather on Jordan. I tapped his shoulder and pointed to the bar. If I was going to be standing around being his personal assistant, I was going to need a drink. He followed me and while we were in line, different people approached, wanting pictures with him. Some even tried to pretend like they had been cooler than they actually were with him back in school. I stayed quiet and enjoyed my drink, making sure nobody tried him.
A light tap against my shoulder made me peek over my shoulder. Willow was standing there in a white shirt that dipped, showing off the full curves of her breasts paired with royal blue dress pants that fanned out with gold heels peeking through. The way her pants were hugging her hips and thighs, I just knew that ass was sitting right. I brought my cup to my lips for a drink. Being in her presence had my mouth dry as fuck. I needed to calm the hell down; she was a taken woman, and I wasn’t in the business for drama. At least, not more than I was already dealing with.
“I see you knew what was best for you,” she said.
I lifted a brow and took another drink before turning to face her.
“And what was that?” I asked.
“That you be here. Shirah and I even rode by the shop. I was going to make good on dragging you out of there if I had to.” She said, then shrugged, taking a sip of her drink.
I laughed and waved her off.
“Where is your girl, anyway?” I asked.
Not long after I asked did I notice Shirah in the center of the floor dancing to Chingy, doing the chicken head all by her damn self.
“You gone leave your girl out there by herself?” I asked.
“She will be alright. Does it look like she needs any help?” she returned.
We looked back in her direction and a few of our other classmates were now on the floor with her being just as ratchet.
“Look at you trying so hard to get rid of me. Are you trying to tell me you aren’t enjoying my company?”
I finished my drink, then tossed it into the closest trash bin before returning my focus back to her. A few of her curls dropped in front of her face, so I reached out and moved them behind her ear. I ran my tongue against my lower lip before stepping back.
I smiled. “Nah, never that. You cool, I’m just trying not to bore you.”
Willow looked away briefly and then back at me with a smile.
“If I was bored, trust me, I wouldn’t have come seeking you out to be around you.”
“Touché.”
Jordan walked over before I could say more.
“Oh shit, if it isn’t Willow Dawson. How you doing, girl? You just as fine, if not finer, than you were in high school,” he pointed out.
She waved him off and then gave him a hug. Not long after, Shirah was walking over all out of breath.
“Damn, y’all. I don’t know how we had enough energy to be doing all that shit at those dances. These knees almost gave out!”
I shook my head as they all fell into conversation around me. Willow stepped away from Jordan and Shirah to stand next to me.
“You know, you always look like you have somewhere better to be, even in high school. Do you?” she asked with a smirk.
“I could name a few places, but I’m cool chilling with you.”
Soon after I made the comment, a commotion across the gym caught our attention. I frowned at the sight of Tierra and a few of her friends arguing with some of our old classmates. I couldn’t imagine what would be the problem with people you haven’t seen in years. Man, she didn’t use to be this way. She might have had some attitude on her, but she at least had class before she got hooked on liquor and drugs.
Jordan glanced at me, then back over at Tierra.
“I didn’t expect to see her here,” he said.
I shrugged. “Anybody else want another drink?” I asked.
Willow smiled and nodded. “I’ll go with you.”
We weren’t far from the bar and ordered a few drinks.
“Hey, baby daddy, I know you saw me over there. You weren’t going to speak?” Tierra asked.
“Nah, I wasn’t. Have a good night, Tierra.” I told her.
I hoped she took the hint and walked her ass back to where the rest of her clique was posted up. I wasn’t in the mood to be dealing with her here, or anywhere else, for that matter. I could tell Willow was taken aback, but she just kept moving and followed me back to where Jordan and Shirah were actively flirting.
Tierra gripped my jacket and pulled it with everything she had, but it only caused me to spill the drinks onto my white t-shirt. Willow rushed over to the table to grab a few napkins to help clean up the spill on me.
“Oh, so this uppity bitch is the reason you don’t want to speak to me? You got me fucked up! You out here flirting with bitches. Where is our daughter?”
Willow froze and looked up at me. I held up my hand to let her know I was good.
“Thank you, I got it.” I told her.
I looked back at Tierra, who was steaming because I still hadn’t entertained the scene she was trying to put on. I couldn’t help but to chuckle as I nodded my head towards the exit.
“Take yo’ ass outside.” I told her.
“I’m not going no damn place, while you get to be in here—” she started.
“Now!” I yelled.
I hated to raise my voice, and I hated unnecessary attention, but attention was something Tierra thrived on. She looked at Willow and rolled her eyes before crossing her arms across her chest, then stomping toward the exit.
“Aye, I’m going to go outside real quick. If you need me, call.” I told Jordan.
“I’m gone be straight, actually, take my keys. I’m getting a ride back with Shirah. I’ll come by the shop to grab it,” he told me.
I nodded, then looked over at Willow; I felt horrible. I hated that this was how tonight had gone, but Tierra had never been someone I could control.
“My bad about that. I hope I get the chance to see you again and give you a proper explanation. But, enjoy the rest of your night.”
I leaned in and hugged her, then made my way out of the gym.
The moment I made it outside, Tierra was pacing on the sidewalk with her arms crossed tightly. I strolled over and stuffed my hands into my pockets to keep from strangling her ass.
“You got my attention now, and I’m gone keep it real with you. It’s not the kind you were looking for. I’m tired of this shit, Tee. I have given you chance after chance to get your shit together. Not so we could get back together, but so you could be a better fucking mom for Charlie. Yet, here you are in this gym, acting like a concerned mother.”
I had to take a minute and laugh before looking back up at her.
“You think I want to be in a gym with the man I love and watch him flirt with another bitch? Someone who has always thought she was better than everyone else? No! I have my faults, but we can work this out. I can change.”
I shook my head, because if she had said this a few years ago, I might have been willing to give her a chance to give my daughter a two-parent household. Would we have lasted? Hell no, but I would have tried. Watching who she has become and what she does to my daughter’s confidence and mental changed my feelings towards her quickly.
“This is a game to you, isn’t it? Let me keep it real with you. A relationship outside of our daughter is one we will never have. I have given you chance after chance to get your shit straight. A few days ago, I offered you fucking money to speak to your daughter. The same one you pretended to give a fuck about just a minute ago. I’m only going to tell you this once. You keep my daughter out of this fucking game that you like to play. You can do whatever you want to me, but you leave Charlie alone. After tonight, you stay away from her and me. If I see yo’ ass outside of my shop, I’m sending one of the girls out there to beat your ass.”
“Benny, you don’t mean that. I’m trying. I just can’t see her right now,” she cried.
“This is done. Stay away from me and stay the fuck away from Charlie. She deserves better than this.”
I didn’t give her another second to say a word to me as I walked past her to Jordan’s truck. Once I hopped in, I closed my eyes for a minute as a few tears slid down my cheeks. These tears weren’t just for me but for my baby, she deserved more and I had failed her. I sat in the car for what felt like thirty minutes before I turned it on. My tears had dried, and I was ready to get home.
A light tap against my window got my attention. I prayed it wasn’t Tierra’s ass. I looked over to see Willow standing there with her purse in hand, so I rolled down the window.
“I know tonight has been long for you, but do you mind giving me a ride home? I think Jordan took my spot and being a third wheel doesn’t sound too good to me tonight.”
I clicked the locks. “Get in.”