“Amaya!” June snapped, always wanting to be diplomatic. The truth of the matter was that her mother was a dead beat and deserved a foot up her ass for playing with my niece like that, but I kept it as cute as I could.
“Sorry,” I said. rolling my eyes. “Whatever you decide, you know we’ll support you, and either your dad or I would love to take you if that’s something you’re interested in.”
“Thank you… I’ll think about it.” I gave her a quick hug while silently praying she changed her mind because I meant what I said about smacking the fuck out of Kari.
“What about these?” June asked. “We can build you more shelving above your bed to hold all your trophies.”
“Ooh, yes! And while I’m at it, I need a new bed set… be right back!” she said, jogging out of the aisle.
“I just love her,” June said with a big smile.
“Girl, me too,” I smiled. “I keep trying to convince AJ to have another one. We need another baby! He just laughs at me every time. And lord knows we don’teverneed Amari spreading crotch goblins anywhere.”
“Not you tryin’ to convince him to have another baby. I don’t blame him, you do it!” she teased.
“Me?” I asked. “Nah, get somebody else to do it.”
“So you don’t want kids anymore? I only ask because a few years ago, that was all you could talk about,” she said honestly, making me frown in thought. When I hit thirty and got engaged, my biological clock started ticking in overdrive and all I could think about was marrying Malcom and popping out our little chocolate babies. Of course, when things shattered, my baby fever broke with all the rest of my hopes, and I had to pivot. I still wanted at least one child, but not at the risk of being linked to an ain’t-shit-nigga for the rest of my life.
“I mean, I’m not against it if it happens, but I’m too busy tostart over with some man,” I said, choosing my words carefully. Mona was the only one who knew the whole ugly story of why Malcom and I came to such an abrupt end and why I was scared to death of ever opening up like that again. Everyone else thought I caught him being a whore, which was also true, and more than enough to call off an engagement, but how could I tell my people the full truth about the man that I trusted fully without looking like a fool? That’s why I kept my mouth shut.
“You know, you don’t have to have a man to have a baby,” she said. She was right, and I knew I had the means and the support to do it alone, but I didn’t want to. As much of a Daddy’s Girl as I was, I couldn’t see myself purposely having a baby and denying them that relationship.
“Girl, no. I love my niece, and my brother, and I’m so proud of him for doing his thing with Kadence, but I also see his struggles as a single dad. I’m not doing it.”
“It’s true, but at this point, bitch we might have to go half on a baby and just be coparents. Mona sure ain’t tryin’ to give us one and you know Lai and Trent just broke up for the umpteenth time,” she whined. I laughed at the fact that we were all in our thirties and childless, but one thing none of us played about was taking that birth control. We had collectively seen the worst in niggas and weren’t about to get trapped in a 360 deal with the wrong one.
“You stupid,” I laughed.
“I’m for real, shit I would be a better baby daddy to you than these niggas! I swear, it ain’tnothingout here,” she whined.
We rounded the corner and damn near ran right into a light skinned man with tattoos and locs piled on top of his head. He was fine, but the way June’s face immediately frowned up had me reaching for my purse in case we had to fight this nigga. She was mugging him like he had wronged her in her past, present, and future lives.
“What areyoudoing here?” she snarled, her usually bubbly voice laced with disdain.
“It’s the store,” he replied cooly. “What the fuck you think I’m doing here?” He gestured to his basket that was full of shit that looked like he was on the way to build a whole house.
“Smart ass,” she mumbled.
“Glad you know,” he shot back. He looked like he could snatch your soul right out through your coochie. The low eyed gaze he threw her way was enough to havemesqueezing my legs together. It only took me a moment to put two and two together.
“Oh, is this Emerald?” I asked with an amused smile on my face. I had heard all about Tahmir’s friend and June’s apparent nemesis, and the way they argued like a divorced couple anytime they were around each other.
“So you been talkin’ bout me?” he asked June, raising his brow. His light brown eyes sparkled in satisfaction.
“No. Hell no!” she hissed. “Why the fuck would I be talking aboutyouto anybody?” I chuckled. The fact that this nigga had June out here acting like this in public let me know that everything Mona told me about them was true. She wanted himbad, and it pissed her off to no end.
“Sorry, I’m Amaya,” I said, introducing myself once it became obvious that June wouldn’t. “We’re all friends. Mona told me about y’all’s wild night at Rubii’s.”
“Hmph, would have been better if he wasn’t there,” June mumbled, making me laugh.
“Emerald,” he said, making steam come from her ears when he shook my hand. I couldn’t do a thing but laugh harder. He was nice to look at, but I was not about to step on my girl’s toes like that. Whether she admitted it or not, she wanted that dick, and it was pretty damn obvious.
“As if anybody cares,” she said with an eye roll which had me shooting her a look.
“You know if you weren’t so unpleasant, maybe you wouldn’t be having such a hard time finding that nigga you’re so desperately looking for,” he said without missing a beat.
“Who the—” June’s face went sour when she realized that hemust have overheard part of our conversation from before. “Fuck. You.” I reached out and grabbed her arm, because she was seething and looked like she was two seconds from committing vehicular manslaughter with a damn shopping cart. I loved a good crash out, but only when it was warranted. Maiming a nigga because you wanted him in your guts was not a valid reason to get locked up.
