Page 9 of Another Constant

“The fuck you coming from so late?” he asked, tone just as brash as his attitude.

“Dinner. Why are you here this late?”

“Toya. Thought somebody was about to stay at her people’s house with her so I dipped. The fuck I look like laid out in a twin sized bed?” he grumbled, opening the door for me to enter first.

I laughed. OA was every bit of our mother even though people always told me I was. OA and I shared a mother while Hari and I shared a father. I was naturally closer to OA, because we not only grew up together but my brother was a man. He handled his business and always had my best interests at heart. Every time I looked up Hari was either trying to get over on me or being like his stank ass father.

“Shit pissed me off. You know I don’t be for that arguing shit, so I left. I didn't feel like going home so I came over here. You cooked?”

“No, but I didn’t eat all my food. Barely even touched it.” I set the food carton on my counter and went straight to my fridge.

I heard the carton opening behind me, so I grabbed him a bottle of water while I grabbed one for myself. When I turned around he was already chowing down on my pasta.

“Yo, I saw your stupid ass brother posting pictures of your litter. You knew about that?”

“No I didn’t. How did you see it?”

“Toya. She sent me a picture asking if you knew about it. I told you that you needed to keep that boy and his daddy out of your space. Now look, he’s not only tryna put your life in danger, but your fucking livelihood too.”

I laughed angrily, wondering just how Hari had gotten any pictures of my puppies. He damn sure hadn’t done it in front of me, so nine times out of ten it was when I was up front helping Joy with the influx of customers we’d gotten. That pissed me off because I shouldn’t have had to lock my office in my place of business. The problem was I was being too nice, but I’d rectify that soon, very soon. Anybody who knew me knew I didn’t show my litters on social media. That was a surefire way to get robbed, or worse, killed.

“Don’t trip though. Just keep them out of your circle.”

I nodded, about to respond but my phone vibrated on the counter. Of course it was a message from an unsaved number. When I looked at it, I knew the number. I didn’t mean to memorize his number but I had. I didn’t know if I should save or disregard it, however, he had texted me.

Him:How you tryna sell me a dog but ain’t sent me one picture of it?

I didn’t know why I smiled so hard, but I did.

Me:I haven’t sold him to you yet and if I remember correctly you were supposed to be coming by the shop to see it.

Him:Yeah, when you told me you was there. I’on want nobody else helping me. I want yo’ help sweetheart.

“Who has you smiling at your phone?”

“Nobody,” I answered quickly, knowing OA was about to be all in my business, talking shit like he usually did.

“That big dumb ass smile ain’t a nobody smile. It’s somebody and it better not be ol’ dude who got a baby on the way.”

“Nah, it’s not him.” When I looked up, OA was looking at me like our mother looked at me. It was that look that let me know he was waiting to deliver a lecture.

“I’m serious, O.”

“Be that, but I said what I said. Leave him alone. Don’t make me kill him.”

“Stop. I’m done messing with that man. I can’t anymore. Trust me I won’t.”

My brother gave me one last look before nodding. “Whoever he is, tell him your brother is a shooter and shit will get ugly behind you.”

“Not necessary. Now please.”

“Yeah right.” He waved me off, then turned to go into my living room with the bottle of water and food carton.

I left the living room and moved toward the puppy room. I wasn’t too worried about how it looked or anything because I had situated them before I left. Not only that, but I paid this teenager down the street to check in on them when I wasn’t near. She was trustworthy, and also had a puppy from my earlier litter, so I knew she was capable of taking care of them. If not, then I had a puppy doula/sitter I hired when I needed her.

When I made it in, the puppies were sound asleep and both their mother and her sister who was currently pregnant were asleep as well. I was happy about that, because all I had to do was make sure everything was clean. I’d be puppy free in a few months though, and for a minute, I was looking forward to it.

My phone vibrated in my hand. I glanced down and saw it was reminding me I had received a message from Kinga two minutes ago. I reread it before responding.

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