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“Because she gives me a certain amount of money for appearances sake. I haven’t had sex with her since you and I got back together.”
“Am I supposed to reward you for that?”
Huffing, Blaze looked at her father briefly. “For the money she’s giving me, I didn’t want the divorce, aight? But my heart has been with you.”
Denali chuckled with a shake of her head. “Yeah, okay. Either way, I want nothing to do with you, so if you want to be in your kids’ lives…”
“If you take me to court, she’s going to divorce me, and I will lose everything. I can’t let that happen.”
Instead of responding right away, Denali weighed her options. She didn’t want to respond with her emotions. Logically, she needed to do what was best for herself and her children.
“Are you willing to sign over your rights and give me full custody to keep whatever the fuck she’s giving you? Because it’s obviously more important to you than your kids.”
Scratching his nostril, Blaze considered her solution, and that alone was enough for Denali. She’d wait for him to actually say the words, though.
“Can I talk to them before you do?”
“Why? So you can blame me or give them some bullshit ass excuse?”
“Just to say goodbye.”
Blaze looked away from her as her eyes watered. This was going to destroy her children, and she hated that. Sure, they’d get over it one day, but still. Sure, they were used to their father’s inconsistency, but this was different. This was him outright removing himself from their lives permanently. For some fucking money? Denali scoffed and shook her head.
“No. If this is what you want to do, I will tell them. I’m not going to let you look them in their eyes and…”
“Let him,” Tim interrupted. “This is his fuck up, his choice. Let him carry that weight. You don’t be the one who gives them that news because they will resent you. Let him say goodbye.”
Nodding, Denali unwillingly agreed. “Fine. You can come over tomorrow after we get back from church and tell them, but if you at any point try to turn this around on me, that’s it.”
“Aight,” Blaze agreed as he stood. “Just let me know when to come through.”
“I hope it’s worth it,” Denali called, freezing his movements.
“You’d never understand.”
“I understand your daddy left you, just like you’re about to do them. I understand you were poor, and your mom struggled to raise you. What? That’s the excuse you’re going to use? That you didn’t have shit as a child and your greedy ass values money over your kids now as an adult? Get the fuck outta here.”
Turning away, Denali completely shut down from the conversation. At that point, there wasn’t anything he could say that she was interested in. She was ready to focus on the next chapter of her life, and she could only pray she was able to provide a life so great that her kids wouldn’t even miss their father’s presence.
twenty-one
Elite
The last twoweeks had been a blur. While giving Denali space, Elite grew closer to his sisters. They loved music and gaming, so he allowed them both to invite a few friends over to his place for a little get together the past weekend.
He’d only seen Denali and the kids once, and that was to take them to a local fair with his sisters. They all had a great time, and Denali was thankful for the distraction. Tonight was the first time Denali asked to see him since everything went down, and Elite didn’t know what to expect. He offered to take her out to dinner, but she declined and said she’d bring something for them to eat when she arrived if he was hungry.
When she arrived, Amir and Kinsley spoke before quickly making their way outside to the pool. Typically, Denali would have gone out immediately to watch them, but she said what they needed to talk about had to be done in private. They went to the living room, and his concern rose even more when she pulled out a CBD joint.
“Okay, what the hell is going on, Denali?”
“Blaze is signing over his rights.”
Her words hit him so hard and quick his body pushed back. “Have you told them yet?” Denali’s head shook. “How do you feel?”
“Grateful, but also really, really bad.” She chuckled and wiped a quick falling tear away. “A part of me is at peace because he’s about to be out of our lives for good, but I feel like that makes me a horrible person.”
“For wanting peace?”
