Page 13 of All This Love
Tatum’s brows bunched when I counted out $500 and handed it to her. “What’s this for?”
“Because you could have been at work taking walk-ins, but you were here with me.”
Tatum bit her bottom lip but that did nothing to conceal her bashful smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
I walked toward the door with her on my heels. When I opened the door, the sight of a figure standing on the other side caught me off guard, but it didn’t take me long to recognize Ivan. With a deep scowl on his face, he looked me up and down before glaring over my shoulder at Tatum. When he saw that she was naked, I could have sworn I saw steam coming out of that nigga’s ears.
“This what we doing now? Where is my daughter? And what the fuck is this nigga doing here?”
“I swear to God on everything I love you better not come over here on that bullshit, Ivan. If I get put out of this apartment because you’re over here starting shit, I won’t rest until I make your life hell. I thought we discussed yesterday that you don’t do shit for your daughter. What I do is none of your business. If you were half a father, you’d knowmydaughter is in school right now.”
Ivan gritted his teeth together and flicked the tip of his nose. “Every time I look up, I see your face now. I’m really starting to think you’re fucking with me on purpose.”
Tatum stood between us. She was facing Ivan, so her back was to me.
“Why would I be doing it on purpose? You know me?” I asked playing dumb.
Ivan glared at me, and Tatum looked over her shoulder at me. I could tell by her slightly parted lips that she was shocked.I was waiting patiently to see what Ivan would say next. All I needed was for him to incriminate himself, and I was on his ass. I could tell he wanted to say something, but he knew what I was trying to do.
“Ivan, can you leave please? I don’t have time for this. I need to take a shower, so I can pick Angel up from school.”
Ivan’s fists clenched at his sides as he glowered at Tatum. He was dividing hate filled glares between the two of us. “But you act like you work damn near nonstop to take care of her. Looks to me like you use the time she’s at school to be a hoe.”
I didn’t like Ivan anyway, and all I was looking for was an excuse to knock him out. “I don’t think the name calling is necessary,” I stated calmly.
“Nigga, fuck you! This my baby mama. I been slutted her ass out. I’ve had that pussy and mouth in all the ways it could be had.”
“Do you want me to call the police?!” Tatum screeched. “Don’t you have a girlfriend? Do I bother you?! If it wasn’t for the fact that I had a child by you I wouldn’t even admit to having ever dealt with your lame ass.”
“Bitc−“
The word wasn’t even out of his mouth fully before I had made my way around Tatum and punched him in the face.
“Noooooo,” I could hear the panic in Tatum’s voice as I hit him a second time.
I had to remember where I was and that I didn’t want to be the cause of her being put out of her apartment. After the third hit, I stepped back. His pussy ass hadn’t even hit me once. I was making the effort to end the dispute, but if he came at me all bets were off.
“You a pussy ass nigga,” Ivan spat.
“I’m a pussy?” I chuckled. “Says the nigga that had to sneak me from the back. Y’all had to come at one nigga four deep. ButI’m the pussy? Yeah, okay.” I was heated because I couldn’t do more.
I could feel Tatum’s glare on me, but I wasn’t taking my eyes off Ivan for a second.
“I didn’t touch you, bitch,” Ivan was livid. “I watched as my lil’ niggas ran your pockets.”
“You won’t even admit to your part in the shit. Even after you did them dirty and didn’t split the money with them.”
Panic flickered in Ivan’s eyes. I was sure he wanted to know who had been talking and how much I knew. Mont’s ass was still missing never to be found.
“What are y’all talking about?” Tatum’s head whipped from me to Ivan.
“My niggas robbed this pussy at the corner store a few weeks back. Now, every time I look up, he’s at the club or something watching me. Like he’s supposed to intimidate me or some shit.”
“You and your flunkies robbed me nigga. Be a man and stand on your shit.”
“I’m calling the police right now,” Tatum announced in an effort to diffuse the situation.
Ivan could talk all he wanted to. I knew he didn’t want it with me and that was the reason why even as mad as he was, he left. The moment he was gone, Tatum stood in front of me. “The hell was that about?”
