“I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t understand why you’re here.” Me on the other hand, I couldn’t hold back.

She forced her head into her hands, before shaking her head and sounding panicked. “I don’t know why I’m here either. He told me that you won’t let him see his daughter after everything he’s done.”

“And what has he done? My daughter has received nothing from Don, nor does she even know the man. Then why would I allow him in the same space with her if he told me he’d never claim her? Why would I put my child in that position? Before we go there, I don’t want anything from him either. Adorie is fi?—”

“Wait, so he has never met her?”

“No. I don’t know what he has told you, but the day I saw him at the hospital was the first day in four years I’ve seen him.”

She looked confused by the words that came from my mouth, like for the last few years he had been lying to this woman.

“I feel like a complete fool, coming down here to confront you with nothing but lies over a man who has been cheating on me for the last ten years.”

“I’m so sorr—” She was standing to her feet a few seconds later. “You’re young and much stronger than I could have ever been.”

I was about to respond, but my office door busted open and Adorie came barreling in unaware of anything going on around her.

“Mommy! Untoo Fari coming!” she rushed my legsplayfully screaming as I heard what I assumed was my brother’s footsteps coming down the hall.

Don’s wife glanced down at Adorie, and I could see the tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry I bothered you, please forgive me.” The rest was offered in a mumble as she tried to rush out of the room nearly running into my brother.

In that time Adorie had taken a seat on the floor, playing with her iPad after her little loud greeting to me.

“The fuck was that about?” He walked in immediately taking a seat on the sofa located in the corner my office.

“Don’s wife. Apparently he’s been lying to her about Adorie for the last four years.”

He nodded, “Want me to go see him?”

“Um no, Don isn’t worth it. Also you shouldn’t be going to see anyone, considering.” My eyes left his face and went to his chest covered by the Nike crewneck.

“I’m straight.”

“Mom dropped her off to you?” My eyes swept over to my daughter.

“Nah, I picked her up. Lil’ ma didn’t wanna hang with all those fucking old heads in the bingo room.” He shook his head.

I laughed. “Mama said she liked it.” My phone rang a few seconds later, prompting me to look down at it. When I saw the name that crossed the screen, I declined the call then looked back at Fari. Aylo still hadn’t caught the hint.

“That nigga still calling you?” he asked, face growing serious.

“Yea, bu?—”

“Stay away from that nigga, Vee.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” I held my hands up in surrender. “I don’t have anything to say to him, Fari.”

He nodded. “And you and Trek?”

“You about to tell me to stay away from him too?”

“Nah. I saw how he was about to rush after you in the club. You good, as long as that’s what you want and you know what you’re getting yourself into.” Now it was his turn tothrow his hands up.

“And that means?”

“Trek ain’t no regular blue collar nigga. Hell none of us are, but err’thing ain’t sunshine and leafy meadows. Real shit happens and niggas make real decisions every day.”

I looked at him for a while in attempt to decrypt what he just said, but I couldn’t. Leave it to Fari to be on some riddle mess. “Yeah, whatever all of that means.”