3 Months Later...

O'shea

San Fernando Valley, CA

"Come on lil mama, please stop throwing that on the floor"

I was trying to watch TV and Affinity would not stop throwing her sippy cup across the floor. Alex is away on vacation supposedly for business and it's been three weeks since she's left. Affinity is so spoiled which is 85% my fault and 15% my parents' fault, so I couldn't even be mad.

"Daddy more juice pweeze" Affinity said as she plopped down in the middle of the floor, right in front of the TV.

I sighed as I looked at my baby girl. She looked so cute with her two big afro puff ponytails and her Minnie Mouse Onesie she had on. Karin should be over today to tackle that head of hers because I think I did justice by putting those two puff balls in her hair.

"No mama. You had three cups already and you aint finish yo breakfast."

"I don't wanna eat eat. I want juice" she whined as she threw herself back on the floor and began to cry.

I shook my head because I knew I was about to give in to her spoiled ass. I tried to be stern wit her, but its daddy's little girl and I fail every time trying to be more tough on her. Affinity had me wrapped and she knew it at such a young age. I was officially a chump when it came to my baby girl.

"A'ight c'mon Bratty butt." I smiled as I got off the couch and swopped baby girl into my arms, causing her to giggle and laugh hard.

I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge to grab one of her Hi-C fruit punch pouches and a pack of animal crackers off the fridge and headed back into the living room. 

Meanwhile, I heard the front door open and few seconds later my brother and sister came walking past with grocery bags from Simply wholesome.

"Sup Reef" I head nodded to my brother.

"What's good bro. heyyy stinky ma" he said with a smile as he stopped and looked at Affinity.

"Hi Uncle" she said with a smile as she tried to climb off the couch.

I helped her down as she ran out the living room and towards the door. I knew any minute my mom and dad gonna be screaming like she aint been here for three weeks already. Three, two, one...

"HEYYY STANKY ASS. There go Grandma's baby!" my mother screamed with excitement. "Let Grandma put these bags in the kitchen, so I can kiss that pretty face of yours!"

I smiled and shook my head as my dad head nodded to me, taking the bags from my mother so she can smother Affinity with kisses. My brother came and sat in the living room while my sister went up stairs to talk on the phone to her punk ass boyfriend.

"Sup Kid" my dad said as he came into the living room with a bottle of water in his hand." Shit" he groaned as he plopped down on the love seat.

"Aint nun pops. See yall went grocery shopping."

"Yeah, ya mother decided we aint have enough food for Affinity so she went food shopping." Pops rolled his eyes.

"Aint no way all that shit is for Affinity. She barely eats now." I shook my head.

"That cause she wanna eat junk food all day. "Reef added as he scrolled through his phone. "But I aint gonna lie, if she cries or make that little face ima give it to her."

"See." I said. "That's the problem now, giving her everything she want."

Shareef and my dad shrugged their shoulders as they focused on ESPN that was currently on the TV. My mom finally entered the living room looking her best as always, her hair in a low ponytail with a Juicy Couture Maroon colored sweat suit and a pair of Givenchy Flip-flops.

"What ya'll in here doin? And I know that aint a juice stain on my damn carpet O'shea." She looked at the carpet then at me.

"I told her to stop throwing the cup on the floor"

Momma looked at Affinity, who was now reachin for her grandpa. "yeah uh huh you lil crumb snatcher, you better go to your grandpa for I tap ya lil ass. I told you about throwing that damn cup across the floor." She handed her to Pops.

"Aww, tell grandma stop being mean. We gonna clean it up aint that right lil mama." Pops smiled before hugging and kissing Affinity cheeks.

"When Alex coming back from Vacation anyway?" Momma asked, sitting down on the arm rest of Pop's chair.

I shrugged, "I don't know. She calls every day though. She gotta face time her every three hours like I don't know what I'm doing."

"That's because you don't" Momma teased before winking at me. "You checked on E'mani"

I jerked my head back. "Was I supposed to?"

"I mean yo lil black ass friend really did a number on my baby girl. I should fuck his ass up. Sleeping with that big-eyed bitch. Aint she on that show.... Chicago?"

"The Chi Ma." Shareef corrected, giggling.

"Well, you know what the fuck I'm talkin bout. Yeah, I can't believe he did that. I mean I can understand Drew."

"Ma" I said.

"I'm just saying but her ass. Please no one want that beagle doggy face girl."

Pops broken out in hilarity. "Aye Baby didn't E used to call you dog face?"

My mother face expression from a mug to a smile as she burst into laughter.

"Yeah his short ass used to call me that shit. He always had something smart to say. I remembered when I called his ass Arsenio Small. Ooooh he was so hot wit my ass"

I loved hearing stories about my uncles and my parents from back in the day. Yeah, I played my pops in the movie, but that shit will never amount to the real memories they've had with one another. I sure do miss Ol Eazy.

He was a real one no matter what the situation was. I miss Shayla too, even though my memories with her are very slight. I have this picture of us when we were at her graduation and she was kissing my cheek and I had her hat on.

Damn, every time I look at that picture I feel some way. Especially because I feel like Mani looks like her mother a lot. I think I should go check on Mani.

"Ya'll argued all the fucking time but I knew yall loved each other so much. I miss my nigga E." Pops said as he pressed his lips together in deep thought. "Shayla too."

"Oh, you know I miss my bitch so much." Momma chimed in, looking down at her flip flops in deep thought. "I really do."

I exchanged looks with my brother before I smiled. "Ma, I'ma go check on E'mani. I mean, she may not expect it and I'm not sure how she may feel but its worth a shot. I just don't need Karin calling and asking me nothing."

"Mhm. I mean if she come by I won't say nun." Momma said before standing up. "Ask Mani to come with Blessing and Mama Nessa. I'm making a big dinner."

"So, you cookin and you want me to invite Mani and Mama Nessa. Where is Karin gonna be in this equation."

Momma looked me up and down, "Who said she was invited?"

"Really ma?!"

"I mean you do what you want, but if Karin cluck yo ass in the head cause you wanna make sexy eyes at Mani, that's yo business." Momma said as she laughed a little.

"I don't even look at Mani like that" I started to get agitated. "She had a baby with my brother. What I look like even wanting to get back with that?"

"I call bullshit" Shareef faked a cough, causing Pops to chuckle.

I hated when they did this shit. I've been with Karin for quite some time, we even been looking at Spots together that we wanted to move into. They knew how to work my damn nerve but it's cool.

"Ya'll gonna watch Affinity?" I said as I stood up to leave the Livingroom.

"Yeah, just make sure you bring me back a ummm Berry-Rita from the store. Matta fact bring me two of em" Momma said as she kissed Pops on the cheek before entering into the kitchen.

"You don't need them nasty ass thot juices!" Pops yelled out to my momma.

"Thot juice" Affinity smiled. "Juice Pop Pop, Juice!" she looked up at Pop's.

"See yall teaching her stuff she don't need to know! And she don't need no more juice, she got an unfinished one on the table." I said before kissing Affinity cheek. "Daddy be back okay?"

"Bye Bye Daddy" she waved bye-bye to me as she rocked back and forth, snuggling in her Pop Pop arms.

That was her safe place. Whenever she got in trouble with my momma, her momma or me she run to my dad and climb right up in his lap. To him, she does no wrong and she cant do no wrong.

I went upstairs to freshen myself up, taking off this shirt that had crayon and maker marks all over it due to Affinity thinking I'm a damn white piece of paper. 

I changed into a Powder blue Polo T-shirt and a pair of beige Khakis and the Blue and white FoamPosites to set off the look. Spraying myself with some Burberry for men cologne, I then Grabbed my hair brush and brushing my hair, making sure every follicle in place I then put on my watch and grabbed the keys to the whip. 

I jetted back down stairs and went into the living room, seeing Pops and Affinity playing on his phone and Shareef was in the kitchen with Momma.

"Aight y'all i'll be back" I called out before walking to the door.

"Aight son, drive safe" Pops said.

"And don't forget my damn Thot Juice either. And yeah, what ya daddy said!" Momma called out as she poked her head out of the kitchen.

I shook my head at my folks before leaving the crib. I started up my Car and pulled off, heading towards Sunset.

 At first, I thought about detouring because I didn't know how E'mani would feel about me pulling up to her crib unannounced and I didn't know how she would feel because she'd probably think I known Jay was doing dirt behind her back.

I just decided to chance it and I did wanna see her baby too. I not once got to spend too much time with her. 

It took me 30 minutes to get to LA and It wasn't that much traffic out here on this Saturday afternoon either, which was surprising. LA traffic was the wickedest, maybe even challenging with New York Traffic.

Entering the neighborhood, I did the speed limit of 25 mph before pulling into E'mani drive way. Her white Range Rover glistened from the Rays of the California sun. Her lawn was freshly manicured, and everything just looked so welcoming.

I turned the engine off and pressed my car alarm before walking up to the door and pressing the doorbell. I looked down at my sneakers as the birds chirped in the background and I squinted my eyes from the sun. two clicks from the door caused me to look up and pay attention to the door that was opening.

"O'shea?" E'mani said with a confused look.

I opened my mouth to speak but was taken back at her appearance. Her long hair she once had was in a short cut, like a bob cut and she had on a Pastel pink bodycon strapless dress with furry sandals that was a rose gold color.

Her skin looked clearer as ever and she looked more toned up. My eyes ogled to her breast that gotten bigger since she gave birth to her daughter. Pregnancy did her body good. She is way thicker, still skinny but slim thick. Jay fucked up bad with this one

"Wow" I managed to get out. "You look...great"

"O'shea" she spoke furrowing her brows. "What are you doing here?"

"Umm. Well I decided to come and check on you and shit cause I haven't heard from you. Well, my momma forced me to come"

"Forced you?"

"Not forced, she just mentioned it, so I came to check on you. You seem to be doing well. You look amazing. I can't even lie to you" I honestly said as I looked her up and down.

"Oh well thank you" E'mani blushed.

She tucked her hair behind her ear as there was awkward silence between us. I looked around before speaking. "Well, uhh I guess- "

"Would you like to come in?"

"I-I umm...sure I guess for a few, I got Affinity at the house."

"How is she doing?" Mani asked as she held the door open for me to come in.

I heard the door close behind me as I entered the living room. It smelled like some type of fragrance from Yankee Candle and I guess my assumption was right because there were two candles burning named Crackling Woodfire and Blue Summer Sky.

Her house was decked out with gorgeous furniture and plush couches in the living room with Lavender and Teal accents. She had a dope ass Samsung surround sound system and a 60-inch flat screen mounted on the wall.

"You've changed somethings since Blessing was born I see."

"Yeah, I did" she called out from the kitchen. "You thirsty, hungry or anything"

"Nah. I'm straight" I called out before sitting on the sectional couch.

E'mani returned with a bottle of Fiji water and an apple in her other hand. The coffee table was covered with school work and text books, index cards, high lighters and her stethoscope.

"You still tryna fill ya momma shoes, aren't you?"

"Thank god. I mean, I had a hell of a time with the board of trustees, that fight I had got to the dean of the medical department at my school and they were threatening to take away my grant for school. It took for me to get a legal aid and all. They were really trying to hinder me from this program. I guess god had other plans for me." She said, sitting down on the couch Indian style.

"Yeah...about that. I promise you Mani I didn't know they were on that type of time. I swear I didn't"

E'mani bit her apple and shook her hand. "You're fine O'shea. I aint even thinking about that. I just let Jason take Blessing on the weekends and that's it."

"So, he officially moved out?"

She nodded. I could see the sadness in her eyes when she nodded. It aint shit that I could do but it is bothersome to see her like that. I know that look all too well. When I told her that I slept with Alex because I thought she slept with Keith.

"Yeah. He gets visitation rights to her on the weekends for now because I use that time to study. Tuesday and Thursdays are my official off days."

"That's good to know." I nodded.

My phone started vibrating and I reached in my pocket to check it, seeing Momma name flash across the screen:

Make sho u don't foget my damn thot juices. Kiss Mani fo me. Haha. JK. No seriously. Kiss ha! Yo momma supports this behavior. <3

This lady is nuts, but I love her. I can't believe some of the things she says sometimes, but one thing I do know about my momma is she always wanted me and Mani to be a thing. Sometimes, I wanted that too, but we were younger and wasn't ready for that.

Just thinking about if Mani and I waited a little while longer and was a little bit smarter, we probably wouldn't be going through none of the shit we've gone through. Mani took a swig of her water and looked at me with a genuine smile.

I shouldn't have come. Seeing her lets me further know that I still love this girl. Which doesn't even matter.

I belong to somebody else.