Page 60 of Another Constant

“How do I look at you?”

“Like I ain’t as fucked up as I know I am.”

“’Cause you aren’t. You are perfect to me.”

“Nah, I’m not but for you I’m shooting to be damn near. Now eat this nasty ass pizza so we can gaze at these stars and I can get you in the house and gaze at that ass.” I winked in her direction.

She cackled. “You are so nasty. And I told you that you have the perfect view back here.”

“Yeah, I hear you.”

As the night spilled over, she found her way into my lap, gazing up at the stars. Baby was corny like that, but because she was mine and I fucked with her the way I did, I was the same.

Chapter14

Harlem

I was at the shop minding my business when OA busted in the door like the damn police. Of course he couldn’t be that but he had the demeanor though. Had he not chosen the path he did, he could have been a cop or even somebody’s sergeant. OA was born with a natural type of authority which, when I was younger, got on my nerves. But as an adult I was somewhat grateful for it.

“When were you gonna tell me Hari’s bitch ass tried to bring somebody to your spot?”

“I wasn’t, because I handled it, O.”

“You cursing his ass out isn’t handling it, Harlem. Me going to put my feet on his ass is.”

“But what would you beating him up solve?”

“He’d learn to stop fucking around with you, that even though y’all share the same sperm donor, you’re my fucking sister and I don’t play that.”

I laughed. “Your sister, huh?”

“You laugh, but as soon as I see his ass I’m stomping his ears onto the same side of his fucking face.”

I laughed and focused on my computer. “In other news, I heard through Mama that your son’s party was cancelled. What are you doing?”

“Hell naw. She was trying to be on some spoiled shit and I wasn’t having it. How the fuck you tryna have his party and an adult hangout at the same time. That doesn’t work for me. If it’s about him, then let it be about him.”

I nodded, listening to him.

“Anyway, when we were little it was none of this. Money and big ass parties didn’t make a birthday. Things were old fashioned, cakes or cupcakes, family, pizza, and the same ass happy birthday song. Money and superficial shit doesn’t mean shit to actually giving your child birthday experiences.”

“True. You remember that year you put my cake in my face and Pops beat your ass?” I asked. I always referred to his father as my own because he treated me as his child and was truly the only father I knew. Joseph wasn’t shit to me but a poor ass excuse of a man who only showed face after I was too old to need anything from him.

“Man, do I? He beat my ass every time he thought about it.”

I laughed, thinking back to moments when things were much less difficult. Before Pops died, everything made sense. Of course OA tried to step up, but it was different. Pops had this way of silently being present. His death was felt, even though we all knew it was coming from the day he refused to fight the cancer looming in his body.

“I’m here, bitch. Now let’s go because the last thing I need is to be late for my fill-in. You know Tanya don’t play around.” Caya’s voice interrupted the moment and alerted us to her presence at the door. “Oh hey, OA, with your fine ass.” She mumbled the last part but I made out what she said clearly.

“Caya,” I said in a scolding manner. She extended her hands like she didn’t know why I was scolding her.

“What’s good, Caya baby?” he greeted, pulling her into his space before she could respond. “You finally gonna gimme a chance or keep playing it cute with my sister?”

“Nah, OA, you know I ain’t like that. You're fine and all but I damn sure ain’t finna get into it with my best friend over your ho ass.” She squirmed out of his embrace, coming over to where I was.

He chuckled. “Damn that’s cold.”

“No hard feelings but I’ll end up busting all your windows and getting into it with Ms. Edna over her son.”

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