Page 16 of Ride

“But, Mommy, you said we looking at places to stay,” Kayne blurted out, telling all my business.

“I thought you were staying with your parents or Brett for a few months.” Laikin acted like he was my father and demanded to know everything in my life.

“Laikin, what about dinner?” The woman fussed, reaching for his arm. He moved out of her grip and frowned at her.

“You know we're not like that, Tisha.”

“Well, last night you weren’t saying that when you stuck your d—” She gulped at his harsh gaze as she almost spilled his private business—which the world already knew—about him being a playboy.

“Kayne, come on, baby.” I moved around to leave as Laikin and his little plaything continued to argue.

“Momma, who is Tisha?” Kayne’s curious little eyes scanned mine, and I loved how innocently his mind wondered about the world. I hated the man I had a child with, but I would never regret my baby.

“She’s Laikin’s girlfriend.”

“Oh.”

Kayne and I left and headed to the next listings of townhomes and condos. Everything was either crap or too far away from the daycare that I enrolled him in. We headed back to my brother’s for the rest of the evening, where we ate dinner, then I gave Kayne a bath and relaxed with a glass of wine.

Chapter Five

Laikin

I could’ve had Tisha banned from my building, but she gave the best oral sex. For her to get it in her head we would eventually be more was a joke. My life was complicated and busy with my career. Like right now, I stood on a red carpet of the gala fundraiser event taking pictures with two women by my side—my mother and one of many women I called to hang on my arms. My dad wasn’t into these things, and I understood; it took me a while to get out to places that didn’t entail parties and strippers.

“Laikin, who are you wearing tonight? And we see your momma, but who else is your date?” Gossip tea blogger, Alexandria, stayed in my business and she knew posing a question like that would get a cursing out normally, but with my mom here tonight, I would be on my best behavior.

I never liked her because she would always DM me on social media, trying to holla, and whenever I denied her, she’d post a story about me out with another woman, or some cheating scandal, which was weird since I was single. Heat spread through her cheeks at getting a story about me. “My beautiful mom and friend, Callie, are my dates tonight.”

“Callie, how are you doing with Mr. Laikin Trenton, billionaire race-car driver? Any plans of marriage and babies?” Alexandria interrogated and Callie giggled at the question because she knew our little sex moments would never become serious.

“Happy to be here tonight with Laikin and his mom,” Callie replied, locking eyes with me.

Having had enough of Alexandria’s shady interview, I moved my mom and Callie along the red carpet to take pictures for a few minutes, then walked into the ballroom. Mom squeezed my hand to calm me down and I looked at her, smiled, and kissed her cheek.

“I’m good, my queen.”

“I know, but never let them see you sweat.” Mom picked up a glass of champagne from the server.

“Laikin, where's our table?” Callie peered around the room, remembering Brett was coming tonight as my special guest. I noticed him sitting at a table with a few of my team members and friends. The event was started seven years ago to help support sports, the arts, and underprivileged cities around the country. Sarai, Kash, and Malik created the foundation to give back and I’ve been one of the sponsors. Social media and the public knew me as some playboy who went from woman to woman, but I gave back and worked on helping the next generation to not fall into a trap of gang violence, jail, or death.

I pointed to our table. “Over there with Brett and Sarai.”

“I didn’t know Brett would be here tonight.” Mom loved Brett like he was a second child and spoiled him just as much when he used to come for dinner during our youth. Brett always joked about the limelight, and how I was lucky to get to travel around the world with girls falling at my feet. Sometimes it was fun, but it could get lonely, dealing with the pressure.

As we approached the table, I pulled out my mom’s chair, then Callie’s. I bit my lip to contain my annoyance at seeing Amena with Sarai and her girls. We’d already dealt with each other on set and her showing up at my condo. Now, we were at a big gala together, and Callie was clinging to me, trying to make our closeness out to be more than it was, which would only cause more confusion.

I slapped hands with Brett, then Kash joked about my commercial clips that had been posted online. A few candid moments from behind the scenes got posted and I still had to hear my mother’s mouth about me showing off and getting too bigheaded.

My mom hugged Brett. Callie talked with the server, while I stood, briefly talking with my boys to avoid staring at Amena’s fine ass in her gold off-the-shoulder dress.

“Bro looking sharp tonight,” Brett joked, holding up his hand and pretending it was a camera, taking a photo.

I waved him off. “Man, shut up. Where’s my little homie, Kayne?”

“He’s with my parents. Amena tried to stay home, but I begged her to be my date tonight. Thanks again for the invite,” Brett mentioned, sticking out his hand for a shake.

“Never have to thank me, man. Kayne’s cool. I have to get him to the track one day.”

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