Page 47 of Through Treacherous Weather
Extending his fist for Esco to bump, he produced a small smirk. “You saved her from a bullet. I could never hate on that. I hope your mental health is strong because shorty can be a fuckin’ brat.”
“I get it from my big brother,” Fatima stuck out her tongue at him.
Justice simply stepped forward and hugged her. He had to be getting soft because though he’d already apologized, he still felt bad for how he acted in Miami when she wouldn’t fight Heiress. Fatima was who she was, and that was what he loved about her. He was simply in his feelings and on his best bullshit.
“Who is that man with Simone?” Fatima asked Justice while she watched Simone as she talked to Kadafi and Yaminah. Simone and Fatima had never really had a reason to talk much, but she was aware of the backstory with her, Wise, Chicago, the triplets, and Kadafi.
She heard about the schizophrenia diagnosis and helped her brothers with Serenity the time that Simone left her. Simone looked good. Her hair was cut in a bob and dyed a chocolate brown color. The dress that she wore was long and flowy. She looked fashionable and comfortable. The older man standing beside her was handsome enough.
“That’s her new nigga. I wasn’t sure about her bringing him because he’s a pastor, and you know muhfuckas be judging, but he’s cool though.”
Fatima’s eyes widened. “Oh, he’s a pastor?”
“Yeah. About five months ago, Simone started going to church every Wednesday night and Sunday. Hopefully, this one won’t get her pregnant. At this point, none of us need any more kids.”
“Facts,” Fatima giggled.
They finished conversing and walked over to the bar. While he waited for his drink, Esco was pleasantly surprised to see Grey. Shai’Ann and Star were with his mother, but Shai’Ann would be with Grey in a few days. Despite the changes in her life, Shai’Ann was thriving and doing well.
“What’s going on, man?” Grey gave Esco dap. “You still working with shorty?” Fatima was getting a drink and talking to Shalaine, Ireland, and Ireland’s twin sister, Irish.
“Oh nah. We’re dating.”
“Damn that’s what’s up? I’m dating Trinity, so between that and meeting up to exchange Shai’Ann, I guess we’re going to be seeing quite a bit of each other.”
“I’m not even mad at that. One thing that I’ve peeped is that this is a big ass family, and it’s not toxic as hell. They all love kids. Fatima has already met them, actually. The girls took swim lessons at Wise’s house.”
Grey’s eyes widened a bit. “My sh−,” he caught himself from referring to Shai’Ann as his shorty. “Shorty took swim lessons.”
“She did. My bad man, I didn’t even send you the pictures. I’m still getting used to co-parenting.”
Grey chuckled, and Esco pulled out his phone and showed him the photos.
“That’s what’s up. I’m glad she’s doing good.”
“Y’all ready to turn this bitch up a notch?” the DJ shouted into the microphone.
Of course, the crowd said yes. Doors in the back of the room opened, and six exotic dancers sauntered into the room in a single file line. There were dark-skin strippers and light-skin ones. Some were super thick, and a few of them were slim thick. Esco watched intensely as Wise and Chicago walked over with two bookbags. One was handed to Lauren, and one was handed to Justice. The newly married couple unzipped the bags. They each pulled out a stack of cash and popped the band off. They began making it rain on the strippers, and Wise, Chicago, Natalie, Truce, Kadafi, and Loyal joined in.
“Oh, they get super lit?” Esco looked over at Grey impressed.
“Fuck yeah, they do.”
Grey scanned the room in search of Trinity. He wanted to make sure she was good. She was talking to Winter and her mother with a cup of cranberry juice in hand. She knew if she wasn’t drinking, people would wonder why, so she just discreetly ordered juice. Everyone simply assumed that she had a mixed drink. She was quiet the entire car ride to the party, but he knew she was still in shock.
He was kind of in shock himself. After she took the plan B pill, Trinity told him that her period had been two days late, and it only lasted two days, but she thought it was because of the pill. She had another period after that. Trinity had no clue how far along she was, but she used to have abs. The pudge her belly had wasn’t huge at all, but it damn sure was out of the norm for her. She had to be more than a few weeks. Since it was the weekend, she’d have to wait until Monday to call and make a doctor’s appointment. She was tempted to go to the emergency room and say she was cramping just to see how far along she was, but she didn’t want to lie like that.
If she lied about having complications then really turned around and had them, she’d feel like shit. Grey didn’t know Sophie when she got pregnant either. He respected the fact that she made him aware that he might not be the father. He didn’t want to go through the same thing twice. He and Trinity had never discussed being exclusive. She didn’t know how far along she was. He felt he wouldn’t be wrong to ask for a paternity test once the child was born. He just had to hope that she wouldn’t either burst into tears or gut him like a fish.
Chapter Twenty
A week after the party,Fatima walked into the house and saw Esco taking Star’s braids out. It was the cutest thing. He told her the door would be open when she got there. Since she’d already met the kids during their swimming lesson, Esco didn’t feel the need to keep Fatima from them even if they weren’t exclusive yet. He had never had a woman around Star. Sophie was good all on her own when it came to disappointing and confusing Star. He didn’t want another woman to end up doing it to her, but he was taking a chance.
“Hey Cutie Patootie,” Fatima grinned at Star. “Hey second Cutie Patootie, she greeted Shai’Ann.
“You got more bags in the car?”
“No, this is it.”
