Page 43 of Out of Bounds
I knew the shit was bad. I knew the minute Ashton sent me that picture that my fucking life was over. Hell, that’s the main reason I held off on telling Masai. Honestly, it would have been easier to accept if she and I had somehow grown apart. That wasn’t the case, though. It was my actions that caused this.
Eventually, Deuce let me go. Passing me a paper towel, he said, “I know this shit hurts, bruh, but you gotta think ’bout how hurt Masai is.”
“I think ’bout that shit every fucking day. Dog… this ain’t just the end of my marriage. It’s the end ofus. I’m losing my best friend, bruh. The inside jokes, the routines, the loving glancesthat we give each other across the room. I feel like a fucking failure, bruh… as a husband and as a man. Masai keeps saying she has no identity outside of me, but the truth is… I’on know who the fuck I am without that girl. I fucked up so bad, dog…” I drawled.
“You did, and as yo’ homie, I’m not gon’ continue beating you up ’bout it. I’mma thug it out with ya. Whatever it is that you need, I got ya. Know that.”
“’Preciate that shit, man.”
“You know it’s nothing but love on my end,” Jrue shared.
“Right. We fucked up ’bout it ’cause the crew breaking up, but we got ya back,” Deuce said after patting me on the chest.
“Wanna go have a drink or something? I can’t sit here another minute and watch yo’ ass cry.” Jrue joked.
“Shit, might as well. I gotta get my kids from my mother-in-law first thing in the morning, but I’m down to kick it a lil’ bit.”
“Copper Cove?” Jrue asked, making me and Deuce look at him funny.
“Bruh, fuck no!” I finally retorted. “Did we forget Copper Cove is the reason I’m even in this mess?”
“I mean…” He hiked his shoulder up. “I don’t thinkCopper Covedid anything to you, but I gotcha.”
“Let’s just hit up JR Crickets,” Deuce suggested.
“Now that I can fuck with. Let me go change, and I’ll be ready.”
Walking out of the kitchen, I slumped my shoulders. As a man, it was hard for me to share my feelings. In this moment, I thanked God that Deuce and Jrue were here because had they not been, I don’t know how I would’ve been affected by the news.
Masai was bent on moving forward with the divorce, and the best thing I could do for everybody involved was focus on strengthening my relationship with my kids. If it was meant forus to be together, we would. Until that time came, I had no choice but to wave the white flag and give her what she wanted.
This week began with a devastating loss, and for a few days, I stayed locked up in the crib reviewing film. The closer time got for me to meet Masai so she and I could sign off on our divorce documents, the more my game suffered. I had been fucking up badly on the field, but nobody was taking it personally because at this point, everyone was aware of the changes going on in my life. Had it not been for my promising the girls that we could hang out after school, my ass wouldn’t have left the crib.
Masai was headed out with Koya, so she offered to drop them off at my crib and was planning on picking them up before she headed back home tonight. Initially, when she put my ass out, I decided to find a spot not too far from her for my own selfish reasons. Now, I was grateful that I was only a skip and hop down the road. It really worked out better for everyone’s schedule.
I was sitting on the couch when the doorbell rang, alerting me that my girls had finally made it. Hopping up, I trekked to the foyer and pulled the door open. “Bug, what have you done to your hair?” I quizzed and pulled her into a hug.
“Mommy let me get a silk press.”
“A silk press, huh.” Rubbing my hand through her silky, straight hair, I frowned. “It’s cute, but where is my little girl? Bug, you can’t grow up on your old man.”
“Dad.” She giggled. “I’m only eleven.”
“I know…” I fretted. After kissing her on the temple, I walked out the door and met Masai in the middle of the driveway. “You straightened her hair?”
She rolled her eyes and passed me the Lululemon duffel bag. “Hello to you, too, Kreed.”
“Ain’t no hello, nigga. Why you straighten my baby’s hair?”
“Because she wanted it.”
“Bruh…” I groaned. “You know how I fe?—”
“Let me stop you right there. They’re growing up, Kreed; they’re going to want to explore more and more. I love her natural curls just as much as you do. The only reason I was okay with it was because her ends needed to be trimmed. Once it’s gotten old, I will wash it, and the curls will be back.”
“Aight, Masai. If you say so.”
“Ummhmm. I shouldn’t be out all night. If you’re not back by the time I’m back on this side of town, just drop them off at the house.”
