Page 26 of Passion
He shook my hand first and said, “You made it here fast.”
“He just got here a few minutes before you,” Clayton interjected.
He was a hater. That was what it was. While he didn’t seem to want Giselle romantically, it was like he was jealous that she was in a relationship. Now he seemed to be in his feminine feelings because Paul was speaking to me before he spoke to him. Paul glanced at him then looked back at me. “Yeah, about ten minutes ago, if that,” I said.
Paul nodded then greeted the others. He sat between Clayton and me. That was probably for the best. The waitress appeared with my beer and wings and took Paul’s drink order. Once she walked away, Paul said, “Russell got rowdy when we got home, but I gave him that medicine and he was out for the count when I left.”
He chuckled, and I did too. “He probably hasn’t been sleeping well.”
He nodded. We all made random conversation about the weather and sports. As we stated our predictions, tension got high again. “You telling me you from Florida but you predicting Boston to win it all?” Clayton asked.
“Well, based on their current standings, it’s a valid prediction. I didn’t say I was a fan. I’m a realist, and I go by statistics.”
“Hmph. So you don’t go with your gut? Good to know.”
I frowned as everyone stared at him. “There’s no point in involving my gut with something that doesn’t concern me. I don’t give a fuck who win. Ain’t none of them putting money in my pockets. Do I have a favorite team? Yeah, but the Heat ain’t doing shit right now and ain’t really done shit since twenty fourteen, the year after they won the championship. They have as many losses as wins these days.”
“So there’s no loyalty when there’s a losing season, man?”
I stared at Clayton as Paul said to him, “Come on, man. What’chu doing?”
“What’s this really about, Clayton? Like I said, those muthafuckas ain’t putting shit in my pocket. When it comes to things that are important to me or my wife, I’m all in. I feel like you tryna fuck with me right now. I peep shit real easy, and I had a feeling this was gonna be some bullshit. My gut proved to be right.”
I took a fifty-dollar bill from my pocket and threw it on the table. “I don’t stay where I ain’t wanted. My gut is intact on that front.”
I stood from my seat and said, “Use my change for the tip or put it in your pocket. Whatever you see fit to do with it.”
I walked off, and the minute I got in my car, I felt like shit. I knew he would tell Giselle that all this shit was my fault. After cranking my engine and driving off, I called her. She didn’t even say hello. “Oh God. Why are you calling me already?”
“It was all bullshit. Even his boys were looking at him like he was crazy… charging me up about a basketball team. I know it was more about you and the kids though.”
“What the fuck, man?”
“Right. I’m sorry, baby. I left so I wouldn’t get too disrespectful. The old me would have sat right there and continued to go back and forth with his ass. I don’t stay where I ain’t wanted.”
“Okay. I’ll see you when I get home.”
“Okay.”
I ended the call, feeling worse than I felt before I called. I could hear the disappointment in her tone. That irritated me. Hopefully, this shit would blow over, because I was more than sure his boys would get at him, especially Paul.
“Your husband is a smartass.”
“Come on, Clayton. He told me what happened. From what he said, it was like you were fucking with him. Why not just ask the shit you wanna know instead of fucking with him about shit he told you didn’t matter to him?”
“How he responded was telling me what I needed to know without coming out and asking him. But I already know, Kizzie and Dakota won’t be living with him no time soon.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me! So because he didn’t kiss your ass, he’s not good enough to be around my children? You know I can just take them. I’m trying to be respectful to you as their father, but you’re fucking with my tolerance now.”
“G, listen, man. I’m just saying, you don’t know him as well as you think you do. Dude petty as hell. After tonight, I’m gonna definitely need more time.”
I grabbed my purse and keys to head home. While I wanted to fuck him up, I left without another word. I didn’t want to go to court. That process could take even longer. Thankfully, the kids were already in bed when he got home. Kizzie would have been all in our mouths, trying to figure out what was going on.
I was too angry to cry. I already knew Gentry was petty. He told me as much. I wanted an aggressive man. Gentry was not going to willingly allow another nigga to have the upper hand or the last word. I was just hoping that things would go well so I could have my kids back home with me. I was tired as fuck. All the ripping and running, trying to take care of my babies and Gentry with them in two different households was a lot.
At least if we all lived together, I could spend time with them at once. I turned my music up to hear Gentry’s favorite rap artist saying that we would be a’ight. I just didn’t know though. He wasn’t a patient person, and neither was I. That was one of the reasons we’d gone through Arranged Hearts. We lacked patience with the dating process.
When I got home, I could see the light on in the kitchen. Gentry said Clayton had insinuated that I wasn’t cooking for him since he’d ordered wings. That shit made me roll my eyes. While Clayton and I were friends, I’d never seen this side of him. I knew for a fact he didn’t want me, so I wasn’t sure what this shit was about with him.