Page 21 of Another Constant

“Damn. That’s why I don’t need any. I’m good. Stay my ass in the uncle lane.”

“I said the same shit. Married with three in and the fourth baking. Shit happens fast. Wouldn’t trade nothing in the world for it though,” he responded, eyes on his son.

“I hear you.”

“Sabastian James. Ms. Johnson will see you now,” the woman at the desk said.

Ol’ boy stood to leave with his son but quickly turned to me. “Primal James. It was cool talking with you.”

“Kinga West.” We shook hands, familiar eyes to one another. We didn’t run in the same circles, but we moved around in the same world.

We both nodded.

About thirty minutes later we got the ball rolling for Aja and school. Then we did some long ass tour of the school while the headmaster mostly spoke to Aja and I played the background. I was cool with that because I half listened anyway. I should have tricked Sora into this shit. Shit, it would be good practice since he was about to be a father.

Chapter6

Harlem

I spent a good amount of time with the puppies, making sure their quarters were clean and that their mama was well taken care of. A large percentage of breeding was making sure the mama was healthy throughout the entire process rather than just focusing on the puppies. If the mama was happy and healthy, so were the puppies. I was spending most of my time today at the shop since I really needed to get some new products out this week and next.

I was doing fine and breaking down bags when I heard the door of my shop open. When I looked up, I was faced with a set of eyes similar to my own. My father, well my biological one, if that’s what they even called them these days. He and I didn’t have the best relationship, because one, I felt like he never wanted any good for me, and two, nothing was ever about anyone else. The only time he came around was when he needed something. Some days that was work for my brother and others to see how much money he could con me out of. I said con because he had long since stopped using words like borrow or lend. He was bolder, like he knew I had it. I always wondered what type of man thought that was okay, but I was quickly reminded that my father wasn’t a man at all, but instead a boy in a man’s body. I mean seriously, what man allowed the child he fathered to be raised and cared for by a man other than himself? Shit, in my eyes, my stepfather was my father and he died three years ago.

“Damn, you can’t greet your daddy, girl?”

My eyes found the ceiling before I was on my feet moving in his direction. “Hey.” I dreaded the thought of calling this man daddy.

“You got somewhere in private we can talk?”

I looked him over before nodding. “Y’all watch the front. I’m going to the back right quick.” There were two associates on the floor so I wasn’t worried. With the small puppy I had decided I was keeping in my arms, I led the way for Joseph to the back. When we entered my office, he immediately glanced down to the pen where the puppies and two mamas lay. Tilly was still pregnant and due at any moment while Tato was the mama of my current litter.

“Those dogs make you a lot of money, huh?” he asked, peering down at them and making me uncomfortable doing so.

“What’s up? What made you stop by?”

“I can’t stop by and see my daughter now?”

My hands found my hips and my eyes found his face. Stopping by to just see me was highly unlikely and we both knew it.

“Your brother called me. Told me you haven’t returned any of his calls. You know he needs the mo?—”

“Let me stop you right here. One, Hari is grown, and two, maybe you ought to put him to work at your shop.”

Of course he shook his head. “He needs a job, Harlem. Some stability before he’s back in jail again.”

“Then give him that because his stability is not mine to find. I had one rule, and he broke that. So, again, I cannot help him.”

“They were just pictures, Harlem!” His voice elevated like he didn’t understand why I was pissed off.

“Yeah, pictures I asked to not be taken. Pictures that could have put not only my livelihood, but also my dogs, in jeopardy. It’s like neither one of you get that.”

The look he gave me was hateful, like saying he didn’t get it was some sort of insult. Maybe it was. Either way I wished he felt offended enough to leave, but he didn’t. He was still standing in my office looking at me like his look would intimidate me into changing my mind.

“I need… uh, something else.”

I knew that statement was coming. “And that is? I don’t have any mon?—”

“I need twenty-five hundred dollars. Few of the barbers are behind in the booth rent, which is putting me behind on the rent.”

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