“Everything okay?” I ask, peering down at my boy in Emilio’s arms.
She nods. “Yeah. We ran out of his bottle and he was getting fussy, so I came to find you. Only you were,” she smirks, “busy. So I walked around the halls with him until he fell asleep.”
“Thank you.”
She smiles and the bell rings, doors thrown open and students spill into the hall.
“That would be our cue,” she says, tugging me beside her. “Best to slip out now before everyone else knows what you two were up to.”
SIXTY-EIGHT
Emilio
I’m pissed as fuck that she moved in with Jae and didn’t tell me. That my kid is living with the guy. He’s already comfortable with him, but now, living there…
I lean back in my seat in fourth period, Luis fast asleep on my chest. I don’t like the idea of another guy being around him. I don’t want it confusing him. What if he wants Jae more than me? He’s my kid, but he’s still getting to know me. How is that supposed to happen now?
I try to push my worries away. There isn’t anything I can do about. I understand why she moved out. Hell, I’m glad she did. I just—fuck, I wish it wasn’t there.
Class moves at a snail’s pace and I’m so done with all this shit. I’m ready to graduate. Move on with my life. We have five months left before we can blow this taco stand, and I’m counting down the weeks. Only shit is different and it’s getting more and more complicated as time goes by.
I shift Luis in my arms, slumping lower in my chair to make him more comfortable. I hate not seeing him every day. I hate that I’m not a part of his day-to-day life. We agreed to a visitation agreement, had it submitted to the courthouse and all that shit, but it isn’t enough. Bibiana isn’t keeping him from me, but I want more time. I want every day.
Living with Jae needs to be a temporary situation, which means I need to figure my shit out so we can get a place. I know she wants to take things slow, but slow with that girl just isn’t in my vocabulary. Roman and Allie moved in together, so I don’t see why we can’t. We were all going to stay in the dorms together when we went off to college, but that plan has changed with Roman and Allie being together, so it was going to be just Dominique and me. With Bibiana though— we could do what Roman and Allie are doing. Get our own apartment. Somewhere not too far away.
I consider what I’d need to do to make that work. Income is going to be our biggest obstacle. Allie has a job. And she got a trust fund from her bio dad the day she turned eighteen, so rent has never been an issue. I don’t have that. I’ll need to get a job to support my family, but where will I find the time between classes and football? I can work nights maybe, but juggling a job, school and practice and game days will make spending time with them that much more difficult.
Shit. No matter how I look at this, it’s a fucking mess. My scholarship covers room and board in the dorms, but they’re not co-ed and no way will the university let me waltz my girl and kid in. I suck on my teeth. I need to come up with something. I don’t have any other choice.
* * *
Game day rituals are a must.We all have our things and I stick to mine like a religion, only today I’m off and I know exactly why. Bibiana. Coach goes on about what we’re here to do but I tune most of it out. Since the Devils are the reigning state champs, the game is taking place on our field. This should be a big deal. I promised myself this year would be all about football. But all I can think about is the fact that Bibiana is going out to a party. With Kasey, of all people, which means those girls are going to get into trouble. Even with Allie around no way are they going to be on good behavior. And the last time Bibiana went to a party—that dress…
Dominque slams the locker door beside me jerking me from my thoughts. “Get your head in the game, man.”
I suck on my palerindas and flip my friend off before turning to Rome.
“How are you dealing with this?” I ask him.
He doesn’t bother pretending like he doesn’t know exactly what I’m talking about. “I know my girl isn’t interested in anyone else’s dick. Not much to worry about.” He shrugs. “Besides, I’d be more worried if she were here.”
I nod because yeah, Allie and football games don’t mix. “Any news?” I ask. I’ve been out of the loop and haven’t wanted to bring the matter up with Bibiana.
He nods. “Fucker's days are numbered. He made bail but he is also accepting the deal. He has until next Friday to surrender himself.”
“How long?” The longer the better, as far as I’m concerned.
Roman pushes to his feet, keeping his voice down so Coach doesn’t lose focus. He’s on the whole this-game-can-change-your-lives, so-don’t-fuck-up roll. It’s his shit way of motivating us and scaring the underclassmen.
“He’ll do six years minimum even if he gets parole.” His jaw clenches.
“You’re obviously not happy about that.”
“Would you be?”
I shake my head. “Hell, no. I wouldn’t be happy until the fucker was six feet in the ground if he did that to my girl.”
“Agreed. But he gave up the other guy. He’s looking at three years, so at least Allie will get some time to… fuck. I don’t know. Breathe.”
