Page 46 of Still Yours

“Well, lil’ dude might be mine. He’s deaf, and he has something else I don’t even understand, because this bitch did drugs while she was pregnant. She told me he’s going to be delayed for life. If he’s mine, I’m going to need your help raising him. I don’t know anything about his condition,” he admitted.

“Wow, she’s fucking evil for that. Don’t worry, I got you. I don’t know anything either, but we can educate ourselves if he is yours. So what’s the plan for now?”

“I just took a DNA test. We have to go mail it. I didn’t leave it with her dope head ass to tamper with it. I did a rapid test, so it will be back in three days. For now, we just wait. She wants me to take him instead of becoming a better mom, so I want this to go by fast before shit gets ugly.”

“Well, he’s not going to need her. If he is your son, you have a lot of family to help you. Don’t even sweat it, Dexz. It isn’t like we’re in California anymore. You’re back home. He’s going to be loved… trust.”

“Thank you, ma. I appreciate you, for real.”

“No problem. Let’s get back to my shop, though. Nobody wanted to cancel; they are all there waiting.” She shook her head and hit the push-to-start button.

“You a star out here, baby, and you good at what you do. Of course nobody canceled.” Dexz laughed.

Pretti drove back to her shop and got back to business. She was going to help her best friend no matter what. Even if she had to beat the brakes off Kayla again...

Chapter 24

RESPONSIBLE

Dexz sat on his couch in his condo in deep thought. The last three days had been hard as he waited for the DNA test. He had been up all morning waiting for the delivery man to ring his bell. Ever since he had left Kayla’s room, she had been sending him crazy text messages.

Kayla: You did this to your son! It was your drugs I was taking. If you didn’t put your hands on Trigga for that whore Pretti Ugly, you would’ve been out to be with your son!

He sighed as he watched her next message come in.

Kayla: I hate you for loving her more than me. I hate you for everything. Your young ass ruined my life, exposing me to drugs! I’m going to shoot up all the drugs I got from your hood and just die! You see me crying for help, so answer me! I’m going to kill myself with your baby watching! I hope he resents you for making his mother go over the edge!

He tossed his phone on his coffee table, grabbed his lighter and blunt, and lit it while he walked to the bathroom to shower.

“This bitch is sick. I hope he is my son because he deserves better,” he thought in the mirror as he hit his blunt.

He had been home for three days, trying to get his thoughts together about being a single dad. He knew he would eventually have kids, but he seriously wasn't ready. He was in the streets heavy, and there was no way he could run around with a child, especially one with special needs. He had seen his homeboys with their kids while still running the streets, but he knew it wasn’t safe. That's when he realized he had to get out of the game faster than he thought because if Ethan was his, he had no choice but to grow up.

“I’m going to have to put my plan in motion ASAP.” He stepped into the shower.

After a nice thirty-minute shower, he stepped out. He dressed in something casual and then went back to his living room to wait.

Ding Dong…

He finally heard the bell ring. He opened the door, and the mail lady handed him a manila envelope and walked off. He made his way back into his living room, but this time he stood. He ripped the envelope, and what he already knew came to light.

“99.99999%,” he spoke just above a whisper as he gazed at the paper.

He snapped out of it and grabbed his keys, coat, and results. Without calling, he raced right over to Kayla’s room in the snow. He was ready to remove his son from her care so she could go live her life as a drug addict.

Dexz pulled in front of the building and went straight to her door. He knocked for at least three minutes, but he didn't get an answer. He walked down to the lobby to the receptionist.

“Aye, you seen ol’ girl and her son that been staying in room 106?” he asked anxiously.

“No, I haven’t seen her, but I’ve heard the baby crying. She hasn’t come out of the room since you left the other day,” she replied, remembering him.

“I need you to open that door, ma. Here go a few dollars to do it.” He slid the young receptionist four hundred-dollar bills, and she gave him a key card.

When he walked into the room, it was dark, and it reeked of meth and cigarettes.

“Kayla!” he called out as he walked into the room. He walked near the bed and turned on the light. He looked at the bed and saw his son sitting there. He looked dirty and like he'd been crying.

“Damn, lil’ man, where's your momma?” Dexz asked, then remembered he couldn't hear him.