ANDREW

{SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2020}

"i just... i dunno." venus mumbled lowly as she bit onto her nail. we were currently at the park with mateo. he was giggling around in the baby swing, while venus pushed him. "i don't know how to trust him..." she spoke lowly, her eyes locked on mateo.

i nodded, leaning against the bars of the swing. "i mean if he says he's going to try, just let him try, yeah?" i questioned looking at her.

she nodded, "yeah... hopefully it goes well." she sat down on the larger swing that was next to mateo. "you know my mom egged my house that same night?" she laughed lightly, shaking her head.

"what? your mom?" i asked as i began to push mateo.

"yeah," she cleared her throat, looking around at the park, "she came to my job yesterday and asked me for a couple grand and i denied of course," she looked up at me, i nodded, "i don't have that kind of money."

i shook my head in disgust, "she had the nerve to ask you for money?"

"higher, baz!" mateo giggled, causing me to grin and push him a little higher.

"that's what i'm saying," she sighed, "well, than she said me and mateo were gonna regret it," she chuckled. "that bitch didn't even know his name, i wish she would." she muttered.

"did you tell roni and vince yet?" i asked.

she shook her head, "no, i'm going to roni's tomorrow morning, so i'll let them know."

"can i get off now? i want to play something else?" mateo called out to me.

"of course dude," i stopped him, making a 'whoosh' noise; causing him to giggle, "where you going after this my man?" i asked as i took him out of the swing.

"hmmmmm," he looked around before his eyes lit up, squirming out of my arms, "oooo ooo! monkey bars!" he exclaimed as he began to run to the monkey bars.

me and venus shared a look and laughed lightly before heading over to a bench next to the monkey bars. "so," i began as i sat down. "zion's kinda pissed at me."

"what?" she turned her head to me, "why?"

i sighed, "yeah... well, me and him got in it yesterday, he tripped over me being there for you & mateo and i just blew up on him." i shook my head.

"mommy, can you help me? i can't reach?" mateo came running back over, tugging on venus' shirt.

"of course baby, but first," she grabbed her disinfectant from her large purse and sprayed the monkey bars. she then put the disinfectant back in her bag swapped it out for some germ-ex and mittens. "open your hands boo boo." she bent down to his height as he opened up his hands. once he finished rubbing it in she put his mittens on, than picked him up.

i hadn't realized i had been staring at her the entire time with a grin on my face, until the two of us locked eyes and she shared a small smile with me.

she lifted mateo up to the bars and held onto his legs, before looking at me. "so you guys aren't on speaking terms...?" she trailed off. i nodded slowly. she let out a sigh before shaking her head, looking back at mateo and keeping up with him as he goes, "this is my fault... you two shouldn't be fighting over me... you guys are like brothers."

i shook my head and began to protest, "no, vee. it's wrong what he was doing, the way he's been treating you, the way he's treating mateo... it's just not right," i looked at her, "he needs to change, he needs to be serious this time."

"i know... i just don't want to be the reason for the drama that i see unfolding." she stated as she continued to hold onto mateo.

"and you won't be... zion's been acting some type of way, anyway... everyone see's it." i shrugged.

she shook her head, tucking her hair behind her ear. "he isn't like this. this isn't him. the zion i know loves his family, his brothers... his son." she stared at mateo. "i just hope he changes his ways this time... before it's too late." she scratched her neck, sighing.

"mommy, i'm tired." mateo spoke lowly. venus nodded before stopping and carefully pulling him off the monkey bars, he immediately rested his head on her shoulder, holding onto her. it was a sight that made me fill up with bliss. i couldn't help but have a soft side for these two.

"want me to drop you two back off at home?" i asked her softly. she nodded, re adjusting mateo in her arms before we headed to my car. i opened up the back door where mateo's car seat was and stepped aside so venus can buckle him in. she sat mateo down and quickly buckled him, it wasn't long after that his eyes closed.

venus closed the door as i opened hers. she smiled at me lightly, "thank you." she thanked me lowly.  i smiled lightly and closed her door, hurrying over to my side and hopping in.

i started the car up, turning the radio to a minimum before pulling out the parking lot and heading to venus & mateo's home.

+

VENUS

we pulled up back to my apartment. the sky was slowly falling dark. we had been at the park almost all day. "i had a good time today, i know he did too." i motioned to mateo as i spoke to drew. "thank you for being here through everything the last week... it means a lot to me." i smiled lightly.

he returned the smile and nodded, "of course. mateo's my nephew and i've known you for what? 6 years now?" he pondered.

i nodded as i opened the back door, grabbing mateo, who was knocked out, "yep. almost 7 years..."

he closed the door for me and we both began to walk inside "that's crazy," he shook his head, laughing lightly. "i remember the day i met your little 15 year old ass... you were going off on zion because he didn't give you back a damn pen."

i laughed, "it was my favorite pen and i had just met him!" i shook my head as i grabbed my keys out of my back pocket, unlocking the door and opening it.

"then you started hanging out with us... you never really had a lot of girl friends besides marisol and kimani..." he trailed off as we walked inside. "what ever happened to kimani?"

"she met roni and gilinsky," i mumbled lowly, setting mateo down and then looked at drew.

his mouth parted lightly, "wait she's apart of—."

"yeah." i said lowly again, cutting him off

"shit... i didn't know... i'm sorry." he began apologizing, stepping closer to me.

i shook my head, "its fine, drew, dont apologize. you didn't know." i gave him a soft smile, placing my hand on his arm. his lips slowly curved upwards, looking down at me.

my apple watch dinged causing me to break eye contact with andrew and look at my watch, it was from zion,

from: caleb
i'm omw to get mateo.

"shit," i mumbled.

"huh?"

"zions on the way and i haven't even packed mateo's bag," i began walking to mateo's room, andrew following me.

"hey," andrew grabbed mateo's small book sack as we walked in the room, "i'll get his clothes, get whatever else you need," he glanced at me before going in mateo's closet and beginning to pick out clothes.

that was hot.

i shook my head at myself before heading into the bathroom, grabbing mateo's toothbrush, his toothpaste, his soaps and such.

once i was done i walked in the front room where andrew was at with mateos bag. i shoved the rest of his stuff in and zipped the bag, high fiving andrew, "you're the shit!" i exclaimed, causing him to laugh lightly.

"i think ima head out before zion gets here," he began as he stood up, "i don't wanna cause anything, especially here."

i nodded my head, "well thanks again for today." i grinned at him.

he flashed his smile back at me, slipping his arm around me and pulling me into a side hug. "anytime. i had fun." he pulled away and winked at me, walking to the door, "goodnight, vee. lock this door for me." he called out as he walked out.

"goodnight!" i called back out and closed the door. i locked it and leaned against it, letting out a long exhausted yawn. i don't have work tomorrow and mateo's sleeping at caleb's. best believe i'm sleeping in till at least 2 in the afternoon.

my thoughts were interrupted by the door bell ringing through out my home, startling me and nearly making me shit on my self. i turned around and opened the door; which revealed caleb.

"hey," he smiled softly at me.

"hey." i returned the smile, opening the door wider for him, "come in." i motioned for him to come in. he nodded and wiped his feet off before walking inside. i closed the door behind him and walked into the living room, "he's been asleep for about an hour. if he wakes up i'm sure he'll go back to sleep." i said as i began putting shoes on mateo.

"was that andrew who just left?" caleb asked, causing me to pause for a moment and look at him; which he was already looking at me.

i looked back at mateos shoes and finished tying his last shoe, before nodding, "yeah, that was him."

he let out a long sigh, leaning back on the couch, "do you like him venus?"

"what? no." i stood up, crossing my arms.

"then why is he at your house at 9 o'clock at night?" he stood up as well, also crossing his arms.

"who are you? my father?" i scoffed.

"your baby's father." he muttered, looking down.

i instantly felt shitty. he's right. he's mateos dad, he deserves respect and i shouldn't be playing house with his close potna.

i frowned, walking over to zion and placing my hand on his shoulder, "i'm sorry." i whispered lowly, looking up at him. "i wouldn't do that to you, caleb..."

he looked down at me and sighed once more, "i just can't see you with him, venus..." he looked me in my eyes deeply. "i love you so much. it would kill me to see you with him." he spoke softly as his hand crept up on my face.

i bit the inside of my cheek and quickly pulled away, shaking mateo to wake him up, "wake up my love, daddy's here to pick you up:"  i spoke quickly as i shook him, hoping he would wake up quickly so i wouldn't be left in this awkward ass position.

his eyes slowly fluttered open. he lifted his small body up and looked around, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "mommy's gonna pick you up tomorrow, okay?" i asked him as i passed zion his bag, then picked up mateo. mateo nodded slowly, leaning on my shoulder. "i love you baby." i whispered to him softly, kissing his head.

"i love you more mama."

"impossible." i shook my head smiling, before handing him to zion. "please be safe." i said as i began walking them out.

"we will be, you too. goodnight, vee." he looked at me one more time before opening the door and walking away to his car. mateo waved to me as he walked off.

i smiled and waved back, blowing a kiss, "goodnight guys!"