“Almost to that deadline. Six months, or it’s free. I ain’t trying to miss out on no paper,” I said, giving him a pound. “Noel will be in Puerto Rico this weekend, and so will I.”
“A’ight.” He nodded, both of his hooded eyes narrowing into a squint.
“The fuck is wrong witchu?” I asked, face balled up in contempt.
“I guess I don’t have to ask what got you practically gliding along these days,” he implied.
“Nah. You don’t. And I ain’t gotta answer to shit, nigga.” I made sure to square up with him until we were about a foot apart.
“Bitch got you open as fuck. Nigga getting tight about some pussy. Who would’ve ever thought?” Ledge mocked.
My fists had already balled up. “The fuck is ya problem, bruh, huh?”
“You letting her come in and opening your whole life to this bitch, Free! The fuck is that! She shouldn’t even be alive to tell that story. Now you fucking her!” he hissed in disbelief. “Not to mention every-fucking-thing else I found out about her from talking to Kut?—”
“You talking to my father about what the fuck I’m doing, Ledge! That’s how we doing it? You going behind my back?” I interrogated.
Shit was ill to find out that he’d been having conversations about my life with Kut. That man hadn’t gave a damn about me in a long time. I was able to separate myself from him, and he hated relinquishing control. Even with all the trauma he’d put me through with beatings and his so-called fucking “training”, I managed to be a better man than him. I kept my distance because I still thought about killing him regularly. The rest of my family thought I should get over it, forgive him, and let bygonesbe bygones. That “turn the other cheek” shit wasn’t going to work for me.
“I’m just trying to figure out where your head is at.”
“So what did he have to say then?” I folded my arms across my chest and took a couple of steps back.
“He said you needed to stay away from this girl. She’s not the daughter of this Harold Lawson. She’s also the daughter to Halo St. John.” Ledge recited the name, and it didn’t ring any bells.
“Let me help you out. I’ll send you what he sent me. Check it out in your own time and let me know what you think. And enjoy your trip. You are taking her with you, right? Perfect getaway and cover for you.” Ledge smirked while shaking his head.
My phone vibrated as my email alert went off, and I went to check what he sent me before walking out the door. Reading through what he sent me, my stomach tanked then hollowed out from the revelation. Closing the application, I took a deep breath and heard someone come up behind me from the stairs.
“You going somewhere?” Celine asked, noticing my bag parked at the landing.
“Uh, yeah. A trip. Just for a couple of days. We will be back on Monday,” I informed her, running my hand down my beard.
“We?” Celine prodded, cocking one brow questioningly at me.
Pausing, I took a minute to think before I spoke. “Yeah. Harbor is going. It’s business,” I insisted, tucking my phone back into my pocket and bringing my eyes up.
“Oh, really?” Celine muttered, smirking as she bypassed me to the kitchen.
We fell in stride together, stopping at the counter where she paused to pour a cup of coffee before facing me.
“You think you will be okay getting Ivy off to school Monday?”
“Yeah, I think I can manage,” she told me with a half smile. “And boy, I know you don’t think that I am blind, dumb, or deaf,” she accused, bringing her mug to her lips covered in a wine-colored lipstick.
“What you mean?” I frowned and rested my palm on top of the counter.
“What I mean? Hmm, you and Harbor look at each other like you got some kind of hidden communication between the two of you. Can’t hide that kind of shit from anyone that can read people. And I know you better than you know yourself,” she pointed out. “And I have gotten to know her too. Ever since that night of the party, right?”
“How the fuck you know that?” I asked, shocked that she could pinpoint that because I could’ve sworn we were doing good keeping things low key.
“A woman knows, my boy. So… what is this with you two? It’s been months now, and you’re taking her on a trip. Is this turning into something?” Celine questioned.
I couldn’t answer that. I didn’t even fucking know. The one thing I was sure about was I liked being around her. She was addictive. We would talk until she fell asleep most nights. She told me all her ideas and dreams, and I took notes. I knew that dancing was an outlet for her, and she was damn good at it. She was dope at so many things, and her pussy was good. It exceeded physical miles back.
“Nah,” I answered, shaking my head. “We kicking it, keeping shit casual.”
“Does she know that? She’s a young girl, Quency. She’s sensitive and guarded. She let you in. You can’t play with her like that if that’s not what you want.”
