Page 16 of Big Poppa

Chapter Seven

Adrian

She’s worried, andI understand. Which is why we came straight to David’s as soon as we crossed the city limits.

We stand in front of his house, ready to tell him about our newfound relationship. Sort of.

Cheyanne was right. Adrianisgoing to fucking kill me. And I’m not quite ready for a physical brawl with my best friend.

By my side, Chy takes a deep breath and steels herself for her dad’s reaction. I reach for her hand. She looks at me, terrified, and glances down at her hand gripped in mine.

“You sure?” she whispers, holding firm.

“One thousand percent.”

I bring her hand to my lips and place a tiny kiss on her knuckles. “Let's go.”

As we walk up David’s driveway, he steps out of the house, ready to greet us. He’s smiling fondly, and rushes up to me, patting me on the back.

“Thank you,” he says in earnest, “for protecting my baby.”

David is casually dressed in a pair of jeans and a gray polo shirt, his hair freshly trimmed and faded on the sides. His neatly trimmed beard is black but peppered with gray. He takes a step back as I tell him assertedly, “Anything for Cheyanne.”

He beams. “That’s right. My baby,” he affirms.

“Hey, Daddy...” Cheyanne greets him, her voice riddled with nerves.

As he leans in to hug her, he pauses, his eyes flitting to her hand gripped in mine. He shoots me a quick glance before his head pivots back to Chy.

“What’s this?” He gestures toward our casual display of affection. His nostrils flair as his black eyes meet mine. We haven’t fought — really fought in over sixteen years. When our pride and arrogance trumped reason, and bravado was more important than logic. Right now, I see the man I’d drunkenly tussled with in my youth whenever I’d done or said anything he deemed out of line. David’s body stiffens as his eyes flicker between me and an increasingly worried Cheyanne.

I have too much respect for him to keep him in the dark. And because I love David too, I take a deep breath and tell him the truth, so Cheyanne won’t have to. I clear my throat.

“I love your daughter,” I blurt. “And she loves me.”

There’s no other way to put it. No other truth to be told.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he asks, his voice tight, laced with disbelief.

Cheyanne steps forward, her hand still clasped in mine. “Daddy, it’s true. Adrian and I...” she trails off, looking up at me.

“Cheyanne... baby...” He holds his hand up as if signaling her to stop. There’s hurt and betrayal etched into David’s face. I take a step forward, ready to explain myself, but he stops me. “I don’t want to hear it,” he says.

“Daddy, please,” Cheyanne pleads, her grip on my hand tightening.

“I know it’s a lot to take in,” I say, remaining calm. “But this is real, David. I care about your daughter more than anything else in this world. I’ll always protect her and make her happy.”

“No,” he says finally. “Never. Not this. Not him.”

“Dad!” Cheyanne yells.

“No,” David clips. “You don’t know him, Cheyanne.” He looks me square in the eye, daring me to speak, but I remain silent. “You spentoneweek with him. And Iguaranteehe willhurtyou.” He glowers at me, his words dripping with contempt. “You are crossing a fucking line,” he warns. “Stay your ass away from my kid,” he grits. “Or I will beat the shit out of you.”

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