Page 25 of Dali: The Demolisher

“Are you going to get in the front seat?” I checked, finally looking back at her.

“No!”

I started my Range and quickly swerved out of the parking lot. The quicker I got her home, the better. It took about seven minutes to get to her apartment, and she didn’t even bother letting me finish apologizing before she was hopping out of the back seat and slamming the door.

I thought that would be the end of us, but I woke up this morning to a text from her asking if I was still drunk and out of my mind. I decided I’d stop by and officially end things after talking to Germany.

He trudged in and plopped down at the table with dark shades covering his eyes. All I could do was chuckle.

“This shit better be important,” he muttered, gripping my coffee and taking a sip. “I’m tired as fuck.”

“I bet. The shit was supposed to be over at midnight and we didn’t leave until what… three?”

“Hell yeah.” His head shook as he palmed his ears. “And it’s all Kas’s fault. I should’ve known she was going to get us fucked up.”

I chuckled as glimpses of the night flooded my mind. Twila and her people left, and our side of the family kept the party going. When the older people left, we started smoking and playing the rap music they said they didn’t want to hear. I thought things would be weird between me and Kas because I’d confessed my love for her but that wasn’t the case. Around two in the morning, she did a sideways strut in my direction with a wide grin and glossy eyes.

“You take the panty dropper home?” she asked, sitting on my lap.

I laughed as I wrapped my arms around her. “I did. She mad as fuck too.”

Her expression saddened. “Dali, we were wrong.”

“Anything I do with you is always right. I’on give a fuck who it hurts. I did apologize though, but I don’t want you worrying about that.”

Kas gave me a slow nod before cupping my cheek and kissing me tenderly. “I love you too.”

A lazy smile spread my lips as she stood. She shot me a wink before walking barefoot toward Journee and two other cousins of mine. Watching them hug and dance, rap and laugh, further confirmed the place she had in my heart, life, and family. She belonged with them just as much as she belonged with me.

“So what did you want to talk about?” Germany asked after the waitress came and took his order.

I took a deep breath before I began. “I want you to know it’s not my intention to overstep, but like Granny would say, I gotta get this off of me.”

His head bobbed once as he sat back in his seat. “I feel like I know where you’re going with this but let me have it.”

“Are you marrying Twila because she’s pregnant?”

His head tilted. “Yeah.”

“Germany…”

“Look…” His palms opened as his wrists rested against the table. “I wasn’t blessed to grow up with my pops in the house with me like you and Dynasty. I craved that shit and never got it. Regardless of how I feel about Twila, I’m going to give my child what I never got.”

“I respect that, but do you love her? Do you want to be with her?”

“That don’t matter.”

“It does, cuz. I admire you trying to give your child the two-parent household you didn’t have but say… think about the toxicity they will see and experience if you and Twila don’t do right by each other. You ain’t gon’ stop cheating on her. Is that behavior you want your daughter or son to see and think is okay? You can still be a great father without being with Twila, Germany. I just don’t want to see you make a huge fucking mistake.”

Germany released a long sigh. “I appreciate you lookin’ out, but I got this, cuz.”

“Aight.” I rubbed my hands together as if I could physically wash my hands of his situation. As much as I loved and cared about him, I’d have to detach and let him live his own life. I wanted to trust that he knew what he was doing, but my gut said otherwise.

After that conversation shifted into something lighter, we ended up having a good breakfast. I left there and pulled up on Geneva, grateful she was home so I wouldn’t have to wait to have this conversation. Instead of going in, I leaned against my car and told her to come outside. She made her way out dressed comfortably in a two-piece set that was loose fitting and looked soft and comfortable.

“Hey,” she spoke, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Hey. Thanks for coming out. I’ll make this quick.”

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