Page 78 of Out of Bounds
“What you tryna feed me?” I asked and licked my lips. “’Cause the last time I checked…”
“Get yo’ ass outta my house.” She laughed and pointed at the door. “Can’t even be nice because your ass trying to be freaky.”
“I told you, it’s been a minute. I thought you was offering.”
“You thought wrong. I’m sure your baby mamadyingto give you some.”
“Man, I wouldn’t touch that girl if you paid me. Oh, I been meaning to tell you, she said thank you for the recommendation.”
“Um.” Masai snorted.
“Don’t be like that.” I chortled.
KJ’s first birthday was approaching fast as hell, and Ashton had been looking for a place to have his party. I tried to tell her ass he was turning one and wasn’t going to remember all of that shit, but she was dead set on trying to have this extravagant party. I mean, I’ve had five first birthday parties and knew for a fact none of my kids remembered that shit.
Masai was the one who told me to let her do her thing because it was all for social media. Sai even gave me a list of places that she knew would accommodate the party. Ashton was going all out, and I planned to throw something on the grill and let the kids swim. I wanted to do something really simple that I knew KJ would enjoy.
Since the night Masai had slept over the crib, she’d been cool. When we talked, she asked about KJ, and anytime I had him, she FaceTimed me so she could see him. It was almost like she had gotten over it. I don’t know if her new nigga had put shitinto perspective for her or not, but she was a lot more welcoming of him than she was in the beginning. I mean, it shocked me because this was the same woman who straight-up told me,“I’m not raising no other bitch kid.”Now, she wasn’t raising him per se, but she no longer excluded him when she mentioned the kids.
I was grateful because I didn’t want a time to come when one of our kids had an event or something, and I brought him, and she felt uncomfortable. Hell, I was trying to get her comfortable with my ass being around, so having to ease myself and KJ onto her was a task. I was happy she was coming around.
Take now, for example: I did this shit on purpose. When I left the practice facility, I wanted to see my family, so I went and grabbed ice cream. I knew Masai wasn’t going to have an issue with me stopping by, so shit I pulled up. I was intentionally trying to force myself in her face so she would realize how much she missed me and take my ass back. It had been a month of me doing this, and she was still with that nigga, so I needed to step it up a notch.
The bowl being placed in front of me pulled me out of my thoughts. “You want creamy avocado dressing or the chipotle one?”
“Shit…” I hummed and scratched at my stomach. “You can give me a lil’ of both.”
“Okay.” She drizzled both sauces over my food and slid a fork in the bowl. “I think you got a beer from the last time you were over. Want that or water?”
“I’ll take a water. Speaking of… you bringing the girls to the game Sunday?”
“I hadn’t thought about it.” She passed me a bottle of water and fixed the girl’s food while I plotted my next move.
“You should. We’re playing the Saints.”
“I was supposed to do something with Lam.”
“Bring him.” I shrugged.
“Hell nawl!” She retorted.
“Girl, I’mma be on the field. You can bring that man. You know he can’t afford to sit in no suite any other time.”
She laughed. “Stop coming for that man’s pockets. You don’t know what he can afford.”
“Bring him, Masai. KJ will be there with his nanny.”
“Oooh!” she sang while jigging her shoulders. “It is your weekend with him.”
“Yep.”
“I’ll bring the kids. I’ll ask Lamar if he wants to come. If he doesn’t, I’ll still bring them.”
“Bet.” I pointed at the bowl. “This shits good, by the way.”
“Everything I make is good.”
“You right about that. Everything…” I enunciated.
