Page 18 of When It’s All Said And Done

“Honestly, I was scared you’d reject her. You’d already thrown me away, and you claimed that you’d never hurt me. I couldn’t risk you hurtin’ her too.”

“Nessa, I had…”

“Hey, it’s fine. You did what you did, and so did I. All we can do is keep movin’ forward.”

“You really tryna move forward with that nigga?”

“I don’t know. I just know he makes me feel safe.”

“Safe, huh? Where that nigga at anyway?”

“He’s comin’ but he wants us to start without him.”

“Nessa, I’m here to meet this nigga that be around my child.”

“I know, Nasir, I know. He’s on the way.”

She walked away and I enjoyed the sway of her hips in the dress. If Nyla was asleep, I would’ve had that shit hiked over her ass and her bent over the dining room table. I’d fuck the shit out of her while waiting on her nigga to walk in and see it. Rejoining them at the table, I sat on the other side of Nyla whileNessa sat between her and an empty chair. Clearly, this nigga was dumb as fuck because if I knew my girl had her baby daddy coming over, it would’ve been no way I’d be running late.

Placing my fork on my empty plate next to my bone, I looked over at the empty seat. My blood boiled at the disrespect this nigga was showing me. The old me would’ve been gotten rid of him like Chance thought, but I was trying to be on my grown man shit. This clear disrespect had me ready to back slide and show this nigga who he’s really fucking with. I shifted my eyes towards Nessa, and she dropped her eyes to avoid my gaze.

“Guess what?” I looked over to Nyla.

“What, Daddy?” She wondered with a tilt of her head.

“I got you and Mommy a gift.”

“You did?!”

“Yep! But I gotta take y’all to it. Come on, let’s go.”

“Let’s go, Mommy!”

“Nas, just take her I’ll stay here,” Nessa declined.

“Nessa, I wasn’t askin’,” I asserted as I picked Nyla up. “We’ll be in the car, and don’t take forever.”

After I strapped Nyla in her car seat, I closed the car door just as Nessa walked outside. I was glad she didn’t try to keep up with that hard girl persona she’d been giving me. Don’t get me wrong, I understood that she wasn’t the same nineteen-year-old I’d left out here. Every time she opened her mouth that showed me just how much she’d grown. We both had grown while apart, but my patience was still short, I just had more control. In that moment, I had no more patience or control. Had she tried to continue to put up a fight, I was going to snatch her ass up.

“This house is so pretty!” Nyla beamed as we pulled into the driveway.

“That’s why it’s for you, pretty girl,” I informed as I turned around in my seat. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree which brought me so much joy. “You wanna go see it?”

“Wait a minute,” Nessa interjected but I ignored her and got Nyla out the car. She sat there for a second before getting out and following me towards the door. “Nas! What do you mean this house is for her?”

“Nessa, I didn’t stutter. This is y’all house.”

“How is that possible?”

“And I mean just y’all house. Can’t no nigga who stood you up live here either. Now I don’t give a damn if he stays in yo’ old spot but here, where I pay bills, just you and my seed. Understood?”

“Nas, I can’t take this from you. Did you get this with illegal money?”

“Listen, I owe you this shit. Remember when you got that loan to bond me out. You told me I’d have to pay you back with a house. Here is that house. I need you to call out tomorrow and go get my daughter stuff for her room, and whatever you want for your room. No other furniture needed. Here goes my card,” I instructed as I handed her my card.

“Are you serious?” She looked at me with disbelief all over her face.

“Let me show you how serious I am. Time to tour your new house.”