Page 41 of A Lapse in Time

We met up at OG's lounge for a bite to eat. Afterward, if we had time, we would go to the cigar room and grab some cigars.I wanted to make sure we did because we were celebrating big things for the night.

"Hey, what's up, old man?" I teased as I hugged him.

He playfully punched me. "I got your old man."

I laughed, then spoke to the guys.

"How are you feeling?" Evander asked.

"I'm good. I should be asking you that. What's going on with ol' girl?"

Evander ran a hand down his face and sucked his teeth. "Man, she still won't let me see my son."

Evander messed around and got the girl pregnant that he brought to my dad's house a while ago. Homegirl gave him hell. It was crazy because she seemed so nice at first. They had a one-year-old son named after Evander, but she didn't let him see him. In the beginning, she was cool, but once Evander said he didn't want a relationship with her, she flipped the script. He hadn't seen his kid in at least three months, but I knew he tried often.

"Sheesh, you might have to take her to court. Maybe talk to her one more time and tell her that if she doesn't get with the program, then you'll have no choice but to get the people involved."

Bobby shook his head as he took a sip of his drink.

"I didn't want to have to do that, but she's leaving me with no choice."

"I told y'all about sticking ya dicks everywhere," my father chimed in.

I put my hands up. "Whoa, not me. My dick only goes in my wife."

"Same here," Bobby added.

Evander rolled his eyes and sucked his teeth again. He knew my father was right. He constantly told us not to have sex withjust anybody and damn sure not to have unprotected sex if we weren't ready for the consequences.

I was grateful for my wife because I couldn't imagine not being able to see my child.

"Enough about me. Are you still planning that surprise for Carsyn tonight?" Evander asked after he took a swig of his liquor.

The corner of my mouth lifted into a smile as I pulled a ring out of my pocket.

"I am. She's looked at pictures and videos, but I wanted her to experience a wedding again. One that she will be able to remember."

I had the idea to propose to Carsyn again. From the proposal to planning a wedding and everything else that went along with it. I wanted her to have that.

"That's what's up," Evander said.

"I know I told you already, but I am really proud of you, son," my father noted.

"Thanks, y'all. And thank each of you for being a safe space for me."

A lot of men didn't have other men to talk to when they couldn't talk to their girls or wives about things. It wasn't that I couldn't talk to Carsyn. It was just some things I experienced as a man that she would never understand.

I looked around at the table, and these guys were my family. Bobby wasn't related by blood, but he was just as much as my family as Evander was. He even came through the gym sometimes.

The gym had been doing well, and I loved working there. I increased my time since Nia was in school and Carsyn had her thing going on. No matter what, if my girls needed me, I was there.

Carsyn and I had date nights twice a month. A lot of times, we did things we'd done in the past to see if it helped her memory, and it didn't. Still, we had plenty of pictures to capture the new memories we made.

"That's what we are all here for," my father said and held up his glass.

The three of us held up ours as well. "To family," I declared, then we all clinked glasses.

By the time I left them, I was anxious about the night. I was excited for Carsyn as well because she put a lot of effort into it.

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