Page 67 of Truce Of The Matter

“Shit if it wasn’t for Truce agreeing to help with it, it would’ve been a hell no from me too. But Aryel deserves it. All I have to do is buy the sleeping shit, decorations, and food. The rest is all them.”

“How many girls?”

“Five.”

“Aw hell no.”

“Wait till you have a little girl looking up at you with big, pretty eyes. You’ll say yes to damn near anything,” I say and he smiles. “See! You already know it and sis ain’t even pregnant yet.”

“She might be after this naked picnic,” he says before walking to his office door.

“Nigga,” I say while shaking my head.

I follow him out. He walks out to the bay and I head to the front. It’s a Friday afternoon and his shop is humping; the lobby is full. As I check out, Mere pulls Truce’s ride to the side of the shop. When I walk out, he’s pulling the paper mat out.

“I got the cookies out the trunk.”

“Good. What happened with ol’ girl at the nail shop?” I ask.

“She tripping,” he huffs while shaking his head. “I’m just gon’ give you the two-forty.”

“Damn. She stealing cookie money?”

“Exactly! That’s why I’m not fucking with her ass no mo’. You talked to Lyra?” he asks and I shake my head.

“Me either but you know I get my hair braided at the salon. I saw her and we spoke but that’s it. Them chicks talk up there and I think the nigga took heed and got ghost.”

“If he hasn’t, Mere, ion even know,” I admit, stopping before I say how I really feel.

“Trust. I already know.”

We dap it up then I leave. Truce and I are going to game night at her homegirl’s house tonight and she’s at her spot getting ready. This trip to Dax’s Auto Shop wasn’t planned but when I checked out her ride in her parking spot, I noticed the barely-there tread on her front two tires. The back ones weren’t as bad but them shits were bad enough for me to leave my truck at her place and bring her ride in.

I swing by my crib first, shower, and change. When I’m walking out my door, my cell rings in my pocket. As soon as I pull it out and see the name on the screen, I huff in a deep breath.

“Rex,” I answer.

“Aria,” she snaps then laughs. “I know who you are; I called you,” she says, laughing too much actually.

“Listen, I have somewhere to be, so what’s up?”

“I have my flights booked. I’ll be there Friday but there’s a problem with my hotel reservation. The hotel wants a deposit, something about my card being a debit and not a credit card. After the tickets for the plane, ooh…my luggage and the rental, I only have enough for the room not the deposit,” she rambles off.“I’m wondering if you could book the room and I’ll figure out a way to pay you back.”

I just shake my head because what she’s going on and on about makes no damn sense.What about gas for the rental? Her food?I swear Aria always has her damn hands out but I’m not giving her shit. Not a fucking penny.

“If you can’t afford to come, maybe you should stay yo’ ass where you are.”

“Aryel is my child too and I want to see her. How 'bout you send her to me then since you can’t help.”

“How 'bout you get off my line with this bullshit,” I retort, getting angrier by the damn minute. “I don’t even know where the fuck you live, for one. Definitely ain’t sending my child to you and you around God knows who, and finally, Aryel doesn’t fucking know yo’ ass,” I say sternly but calmly. Aria doesn’t even warrant my energy to yell.

“She knows me, and plus, she needs to be with her mother!” she screams.

“I’m hanging up, Aria. If you do come and get your room shit straight, let me know. We can set up a time for you to come here and we’ll actually talk like two fucking adults. Then, if the conversation is straight, you can see Aryel.”

“Conversation straight?” she asks with too much damn incredulity. “You can’t dictate if I see her.”

“I can and will do just that. Like I said, hit me if you actually make it here.”

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