Von leaned back in his chair, looking absolutely traumatized.
“Oh, and I didn’t tell you that he tried to square up with me today!”
I blinked. “Say what?”
Von held up both of his hands. “Dead serious! Then… I was changing his diaper,minding my business,and that little boy looked me dead in my eyes like he had beef. Soon as I wiped him, he kicked,on purpose, then balled his fist like we were about to box!”
I covered my mouth, laughing. “I swear you’re so damn dramatic at times.”
Von pointed toward the hallway like he was passing me the baton in a parenting relay.
“Go in there and look at him! He’s sleeping peacefully now, but earlier, that boy had murder in his heart! He’s definitely his daddy’s son!”
I was crying and laughing. “He’s three months, Von!”
“Exactly! Which means he’s just now figuring out his strength! I’m telling you… that boy gon’ start crawling with an attitude!”
“You know, Ikindablameyoufor me getting pregnant that night.” I teased.
Von worked as a bartender. When I told him about my situation, he said,“Come through, boo! Have a drink! Take a breath!”I didn’t know if he meant to help or he just wanted company. Either way, those drinks changed my whole damn life.
Von’s head whipped around so fast the dish towel almost flew off his shoulder.
“Oh,hell no!You’re not about to pin that on me, sis! I left the bar fortwominutes—two—to go grab some limes! When I came back yo’ fast ass was gone! I’m looking around like, ‘Where the hell this girl at?!’ Somebody said you went to the bathroom, so I strolled over there. Lo and behold, Merge’s goons were posted up at the door like the president was inside. I said, “Oh, she’s good,” then I turned around, went back to bar, and sliced some lemons.”
“So, you wouldn’t have fought for me? What if something bad was happening for real?”
“Kyns, did you see his guards? Girl, they looked like they wrestled bears for fun! I did say a prayer for you. I said, ‘Lord, cover my bestie and whatever billionaire bondage is happening in there.’ Sis, again, I love you… I do, but that was above my pay grade. I don’t step between power and bathroom blessings!”
I giggled. “You could’ve taken one for the team, Von.”
“Taken one for the teeeeeeeeeam?!” he exclaimed, incredulously. “Kyns, the only thing I’m taking for the team is a shot… maybebackshotsif the vibe is right, but definitely not ahit from a 300-pound guard with an earpiece, a purpose, and a vein in his forehead!”
I chuckled. “Still, you made the drinks andkeptgiving them to me which is how I ended up drunk.”
“Guilty.I poured the drinks and, yeah,keptpouring to get your mind off that mess you were stressing over. I was trying to help you forget your problems, not your panties! I didn’t tell you to go get baptized in Belvior! Merge ‘Melt-Your-Panties-With-A-Stare’ has his own gravitational pull! So don’t blame the bartender, blame your lack of resistance! The next time I tell somebody to ‘come have a drink,’ I’ma add a disclaimer:bartender not responsible for one-night stands or little Belviors.”
I laughed, shaking my head.
“Now go on and change.” Von shooed me away. “Dinner will be ready in twenty. And stay awake this time. The other day when you came home exhausted and fell asleep on the couch, I almost called animal control because I thought a bear got in the apartment.”
I pursed my lips. “Really, Von?”
“Kyns, I’m not exaggerating! At one point I grabbed a broom for protection, because I just knew there was wildlife involved! I love you, boo, but you snore louder than my grandma’s window unit! Please don’t tell her I said that, though. She’ll probably take me out of her will and leave everything to the church!”
I laughed again as he strutted back toward the stove, humming like nothing in the world could ever bother him.
For all his theatrics, Von had a good heart—the best one, really. He knew when to joke and when to drop a truth bomb that hit harder than he realized.
I leaned back in the chair and went deep into my thoughts.
What’s a girl to do when her back hurts from scrubbing rich folks' filth, her feet feel like they fought in a street brawl, andthe man she had a one-night stand with doesn’t even know her name or that he has a son?
I exhaled, thanked God for friends like Von, and prayed the next day didn’t hit as hard.
Chapter two
"Merge"
