AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Yup.
The woman lived to go down to bike week in Myrtle Beach. She did not own a motorcycle, but would rent a mobility scooter to go look at men on theirHarley’sfor the entire event. That was the extent of Kelly-Ann Richardson’s life. No matter what my mother-in-law decided to do with her existence, it was hers to decide. I didn’t have Scott’s future worked out now that his mother would be getting released soon. But one thing was for sure.
“I’m going to be with Tobias.”
My therapist blinked successively. I nodded my head in the same fashion to express my confidence.
“So, you’re leaving North Carolina, and moving into his home? Didn’t you mention wanting to leave your job and work in the nail industry?”
My face went tight. I had. It had been a burning desire of mine to effectively secure a chain of Black-owned nail salons along the Eastern border. The idea was broad, more or less in training and management, rather than providing manicures and pedicures myself. But it had been a dream of mine for years. I had very few of them, another being giving this thing between Tobias and me a shot. But packing up my life down here and shipping it to his address in New Jersey? That plan seemed…wrong. I didn’t want to lose my security and independence. Hell, my fantasy was to walk around my empty home ass-naked after work. That could be viewed as an imposition on Tobias’ property. I would never impose on another man or be dependent on him.
My belly churned as I fingered through my hair.
“Nuh—yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Not exactly all of those things in that order.”
A cool smile spread upon her face. “Then we have some work to do, don’t we?”
ChapterEight
Coach L plucked a string on his ax while clutching a burning stogie between his teeth, then went back to polishing it.
“What’s that on there?” Raj, sitting at the small table with us, asked him.
Launz’s face stretched horizontally. “This would be my lil’ Laundria Zo Buggy’s—.”
“That’s drool?” Raj’s face was twisted.
“Drool, food, juice…who knows,” Launz muttered, polishing the wood. “I play to my baby at least once a week when I’m home.”
“Respect.” I saluted him. “How old is she now?”
“Baby girl just turned one last week while I was on the road.”
Raj snorted. “Feels like she was just born.”
“Yup. And now PaPa’s Zo Buggy’s one…and a messy eater.” His scrub was concentrated on a particular spot now. “Her birthday party cost her grandmother a few bricks.” Launz chuckled, wiping down the guitar. “I skipped parenting babies, so I’m all out of the loop with what’s appropriate.”
“I am, too.” Raj snickered. “I’d go crazy if I had a daughter. Word up: I’m so grateful the only female precious to me was delivered as a grown ass woman. She’ll kick my ass if I fuck around too much.”
I found that funny as shit. His wife, Wynter, was no damsel in distress, that was for sure. She checked Raj’s moody ass each time it was needed.Shewas needed. Wynter, a former social worker of sorts, managed her husband’s mercurial episodes like a champ.
“Mauve, Coach?” the bartender on duty at Raj’s club,Checkerboard, called from across the room.
“Coach?” I barked back.
“I know!” Raj chuckled. “Who the hell keep the lights on in this joint? Who’s getting your ‘Coach-happy-ass’ paid every week?”
The guy behind the bar laughed. “MyKingswinning this season is just as important as me eating, boss. You feel me?”
Launz Pierce, also known as Coach L by many, was the head football coach of theConnecticut Kings. He was in the thick of his season, but found a few hours out of his busy schedule to tend to one of his passions: music. He’d been playing for R&B superstar and actor, Ragee McKinnon, for years when not pursuing his career in the professional footballLeague. Launz was a studio guitarist for Raj and not a touring one because of his schedule. This meant Launz created the tunes that his ax-peers would have to follow and reproduce when Raj went out on tours or did spot performances.
I laughed while Raj shook his head, going back down to his device where he was reading lyrics I’d written to a number we were going to expound on tonight, grow them.
“That’ll do, my guy,” Launz replied to the bartender, finding it funny, too. “You do grandiose celebrations for lil’ Elia?”
“I think she’s had her fair share.” I scrolled through the text notifications on my phone. “When she was younger, I let Krista figure all that shit out. Now, she’s eight with a damn appetite for entertainment. She called me last week, talking aboutDisneyfor Christmas.”
“Damn!” Raj groaned, blowing out smoke from his cigar.
