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I scooped Precious up from the floor, then reached out a hand to help Bella up as well. “Why don’t you and Eva take the kids and go find you something to do? The guys are going to cook tonight.”
Eva laughed. “You know what that means, Bella. They’re about to gossip. And you talk about women. Men gossip just as much, if not more, than we do. You just call it ‘shooting the shit.’”
“Ooooh! Swear jar, Mommy!” Armani exclaimed.
“Ugh! I was doing so good! Remind me when we get home, baby girl. Come on, Bella boo. We can let the kids play outside while we sip wine and gossip ourselves.”
“I think I like that idea. Nobody wants to hear their funky little gossip anyway.”
She mushed my head before going into my fridge and grabbing a bottle. After getting two glasses, she and Eva took them out to the back patio with the girls. Just the other week, I bought a playground set for Precious to play on while she was here. She and Armani were sure to work up an appetite.
“Is Malcolm coming?” Chris asked, going into the fridge for a beer.
“He said he’s on the way to pick up the girls now, and they’ll be here shortly.”
“So, did him and ol’ girl make it official?”
I shrugged. “Man, I can’t really tell you what’s going on with that. All I know is he’s waiting around for her to commit.”
“More power to him.” Chris popped the cap on his beer and took a long swig. “So you and Pasha? Is that a thing now?”
“It’s... something I’m not quite sure what, but it’s not what it used to be. She let me kiss her, so I think it’s safe to assume we’re moving in some kind of direction.”
Both of their eyes widened, and Martin was the first to speak.
“How did that even come about?”
“She told me that her friends are convinced that something more is happening between us. I let her know that I’ve been very intentional in the way that I handle her. I didn’t just go for the kill. I asked her if I could kiss her.”
I bit my lip, reminiscing about the number of kisses we shared Friday night. Every kiss was better than the last one, but the one in front of her door was the best. She initiated that one. She took charge and went after what she wanted. How could I not oblige her?
Chris smirked. “Look at him over there thinking about it now.”
“He’s been smiling since we got here,” Martin revealed.
“You know, you are just like your wife... in my business.”
He playfully slapped my back. “It’s all love, bro. If you’re happy, I’m happy. The only time I see you smile like this is with my baby. If someone else can make you feel like that, then I’m all for it.”
“So when is this divorce gonna be final?” Chris asked. “Have you had any more run-ins with the soon-to-be ex-husband?”
“She told me it would be final thirty days after they last went to court. That was about a week and a half ago, so she will be a single woman in two and a half weeks. And, no, we have not had any run-ins with that bastard. Maybe it’s the fact that she let him keep everything that keeps him from calling her on a blocked number like he had been.”
“I don’t even know that man, and I want to put hands on him,” Chris stated. “If Eva and I ever broke up, she could have whatever she wanted. I may bring in the money, but she is the one that makes the household run as smoothly as it does. If something is off with her, something is off with me. You have to take care of your home first in marriage. That’s the problem with a lot of unions. There’s no communication, only expectations.”
“You right about that,” Martin agreed. “Bella and I share everything, no matter how ugly it is. It’s always gonna be us against the world in our house. Ain’t no divorce. You mad? Come talk this shit out, and let’s see how we can work this out together.”
I knew he wasn’t just saying that for my benefit. He loved my sister differently than I did, but with the same intensity. Nobody could ever play in his face about her. I didn’t have many married friends, but these two were the type I’d surround myself with. We shared like-minded views on marriage and relationships. I knew if I were ever on the wrong side of right, they would call me out on my shit and tell me to get myself together. Men held other men accountable for their actions. Clearly, nobody ever held Raymond Sinclaire accountable. But it was cool, though. I had plans to show his soon-to-be ex-wife everything she’d been missing, and then some.
Dinner was well underway with cooking when Malcolm finally showed up with Avyn and Pasha. From my kitchen window, I saw them pull up. Turning my pot down to simmer, I headed out to greet them. When I stepped onto the front porch and saw Pasha get out of the car in that floral jumpsuit, my heart began racing. Her hair was beautiful in its natural, curly state. Her face held a light beat of makeup, and she wore the same necklace and wristwatch I’d been seeing her in lately.
My baby was gorgeous.
When she saw me, she smiled. I made my way down the steps to greet them.
“Nice of you to join us,” I jested with Malcolm.
“My bad, man. I got off work a little later than planned.”
