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“Right…” I nod, and laugh. “You fucked me like a hoe, and now you get to run out. Okay, Zariyanna. I got you.” I walk out of the bedroom and go into the guest bedroom. I take off my robe and climb into bed. I ain’t arguing with her.

***

Later that night, I sit across from Shaneice. Her dorm wasn’t too far from my hotel, so I went and scooped her up.

She’s going on and on about how she got to switch roommates.

People talk in the background, but my mind is in a lot of places. It’s pretty dark in here, but it’s crowded. She picked this place for the crab cakes.

I’m just glad things are better for her. I was nervous about her having a roommate when she didn’t get the single dorm like she wanted.

My daughter is the greatest thing about me. Other than that, I’m just a nigga in the streets. At least that’s how Zari got me feeling. I should blow up her whole spot after the shit she pulled earlier.

Kill that nigga Anthony, honestly, since she wanna play with me.

“Dad, what’s up with you? You’re on your phone.”

I turn my screen over and sigh. “It’s complicated, but don’t worry about it. Glad you got to switch roommates.”

“Nah, what’s going on? It’s a woman, ain’t it? How many kids she got? I told you to stop dating women with kids. You fought the baby daddy this time?”

I laugh at my daughter. She knows me very well. “She don’t have kids, but she gotta man.”

“Ooo, scandalous. Tell me more.”

I shake my head and sip my beer. “She’s off-limits in more ways than one. I should have deaded that shit before it got this far.”

Shaneice reaches into her Gucci purse and grabs her glasses. She puts them on. “You’re attracted to her because you can’t have her. Seems like a common theme in your life.”

I tug at my beard. “Don’t analyze me because you’re taking social psychology.”

She raises her eyebrow. “How do you know that?”

“I pay attention to you. You’re my baby girl.”

“If she got a man, let her go. She’s just going to cheat on you if she picks you.”

“Shit,” I say, processing what she’s saying.

Damn, my baby girl is so smart. I’m definitely getting my money’s worth. “That’s what they teach you in school?”

“It’s her behavior. I’m sure this you ain’t the first nigga she cheated with,” Shaneice says, shrugging.

“You don’t know everything.” She’s right. I ain’t even her first side piece, but she don’t need to know that.

Shit, how does my daughter have me all figured out like this? I chug my beer.

The waiter comes over, and we order our food.

Shit, I can’t just let Zari off the hook like this. I thought maybe she’d just cool off, but the bartender at the jazz club told me she came in for a drink tonight.

She really left and didn’t even text me. Ain’t no way she’s getting off the hook. I need to pull up on her fiancé and tell him everything. I shift in my seat. That ain’t really my style, though. She got me acting out of fucking character. Hell nah.

Shit, is this because I let her fuck my ass? I run my hands through my locs. That shit felt good, and I’ve never come that hard in my life.

Fucking Zariyanna fucking up a nigga’s head.

“Leave her alone, Dad. It ain’t gonna end well.”