Page 11 of That Fire

“I didn’t say that. I saidmaybeshe’s not the one. There’s only one way to find out. Take another DNA test. The one you did could have been faulty. Call the clinic and set up one. I’m sure Bali or Noni can have it done to where y’all don’t have to go to Houston again. Everybody already know y’all business anyway.”

I huffed. “Maybe I can mention that to Aaliyah when I bring her the rest of her things.” I glanced at him. “I added a nursery in the house. Honestly, when I found out they weren’t mine, I sat in that fucking room and cried, man. Ain’t nobody know that but me, you, and God. I’m telling you because I know you understand me better than anybody.”

He put his hand on my shoulder. “Things always work out the way they are supposed to. I hate you’re going through this. You’re a good person, despite being a ho.”

I twisted my lips to the side as he laughed and picked up his blunt. Taking another long ass pull from mine, I closed my eyes and thought about how I would approach the situation with Aaliyah and whether I would say anything about doing another DNA test at all. Grabbing my phone, I decided to respond to Seven.

We’re not a couple. It was practically a goodbye fuck.

I hovered my thumb over my text thread with Aaliyah. She hadn’t called to come over and get her things yet. I knew there was probably shit in her clutch that she needed for work tomorrow. She didn’t typically do much on Sundays, so I knew she was probably at home. Finally clicking on it, I sent the message.

Hey. You good? I was gonna bring your things, so you don’t have to get out.

I set my phone down and finished off my blunt just as Ashanni walked out on the deck.

“Hey, y’all.”

“Hey, baby girl,” my dad said, then stood and kissed her.

I stood as well and gave her a hug. As much as I loved my niece, I was hoping she didn’t have her with her. I was feeling way too sensitive today.

“What you up to?” Dad asked her.

“Not too much. Mama needed to see her baby, and we were out shopping. So, I told her I would stop by on my way home.”

Shit.

“Oh, let me go clean up, then. I gotta hold my baby.”

He put that blunt out and got up so fast until I got dizzy watching him. I chuckled as Ashanni sat next to me. “You good?”

I just glanced at her without saying a word. Dad told me she’d talked to Aaliyah. Grabbing my hand, she continued. “I don’t know how you feel about the results, but Aaliyah was devastated. I think she wants to be with you. Have y’all talked about being in a relationship?”

I shook my head. “I can’t fathom that right now.”

“I understand.”

“I don’t think you do. Let me make it plain. I started fucking a woman I was physically attracted to . . . been doing this for years actually. The condom broke on us a couple of times, because the shit was just that intense. After hiding it for a couple of months, she tells me she’s pregnant. We discuss doing a DNA test because we both know how we living . . . free as fucking birds. In the meantime, I’m preparing to be a dad . . . to have a family, only to find out I don’t. Then I realize I have to let her go because I know if the babies were mine, I wouldn’t want her fucking other people.”

“So you brokeeverythingoff? Even y’all’s friendship?”

“I can’t be her friend. I know what her pussy feels like.”

I stood from my seat and left her sitting there with her mouth open. I’d never spoken so graphicly to my sister, but my headwas fucked up. I grabbed my keys from the hook by the door and said, “I’ll holla at y’all later.”

“Royal?” my mama called out.

I gave her a tight smile and left anyway. When I got into my Escalade, I drove straight to Aaliyah’s house, although she didn’t text back. I knew the code to get into her garage. If she wasn’t home, I would just leave her shit in there. There were only two bags. I didn’t use garbage bags either. I couldn’t imagine putting her stuff in a garbage bag. I used two designer bags I had on my shelf. She could return them . . . or not. I didn’t even care at this point.

Turning in her driveway, I saw her car brake lights. She was just getting home from somewhere. I parked and got the bags from my back seat and made my way to her garage. She got out, and her eyes were wide as she stared at me. She looked beautiful as usual. No matter what she had on, I could never keep myself from ogling her.

When I approached her with the bags, she said, “Hey. I’m sorry I didn’t respond. I planned to once I got inside.”

“Okay.”

She gave me a slight smile and led the way to her back door. Once she unlocked it, we walked inside, and I set the bags on her couch. My soul was so fucking heavy. I knew I had to get out of here before I found myself fucking up her ovaries. I made my way back to the kitchen where she was.

“I’ll see you around.”