by Khadijah J
“I didn’t get the chance to,” I said.
“Well, either you tell him. Or you watch him walk away with the next bitch it’s up to you. But me and my nephew got a situation in his diaper that we’re going to take care of.” She stood up and took him in the room to change him, leaving me in the living room in my thoughts. She was right, but I felt like no matter what I said, it wouldn’t matter anyway. Maybe he was right, maybe we should just co-parent and get ourselves together. Maybe it was what was best. Only time will tell. I just changed the subject.
“Have you and my mother started talking back again?” I asked.
“Hell no, sometimes you just have to accept shit for what it is and move the fuck on Montejha. It is what it is and everything played out exactly how it was supposed to. I’m okay with that. As long as you two relationship is okay, that’s all I ask for my baby’s sake,” she said and started kissing Kato Junior. I just nodded, she was right. Me and my mother’s relationship wasn’t perfect, but she reached out to me every other day almost to check on me and the baby. She’s even been over a few times and I appreciated her for that. We were trying and that’s all we could do, but my father. He was a lost fucking cause and I was okay with that. I prayed for him though, that’s all I could do at this point.
*A YEAR LATER*
KATO | HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Shit has changed man. Me and my family was trying to secure our legit businesses, and the shit was going well. My son was a year today and healthy as can be. I was almost ready to move in my new crib, me and Tejha was doing a good job at this co-parenting thing. But I couldn’t help but to miss my baby momma every time I saw her even with my new chick.
“Dada, dada, dada.” I heard my son running toward me saying. I quickly picked him up and kissed his chubby cheeks. As a newborn, I couldn’t really tell who he looked like, but now, everybody knew this was my damn twin. I thought Tejha had strong genes, but my shit was stronger, and she was salty as fuck about it. I had a new lil main thing Kelsie was a bad bitch, but something was missing. She was good with lil Kato and everything, but we were just kicking it right now. I almost shitted on myself when Tejha dropped him off, and Kelsie had just popped up, and we got a quickie in.
“Hey, oh, you must be his baby mother. Nice to meet you, I’m Kelsie, you can call me Kels,” Kelsie introduced herself at the door. I quickly made my way to the door as Montejha walked in with a sleeping Kato.
“Ummm, hi I guess, wish I had met you prior to,” Montejha snapped and I knew the bullshit was about to start. She walked to the back room and put my son in there taking his coat and stuff off.
“Can I talk to you for a minute.” I heard her say from in the room.
“What’s up?” I stared at her, popping a squat on the toy box.
“What’s up? Did you fall and bump your head? You don’t think I don’t need to know who’s around my son?” she asked.
“I mean it ain’t that big of a deal,” I started.
“Okay, so if I have another nigga around your son without you knowing you wouldn’t trip? Okay, noted,” she snapped.
“I mean if that’s how you wanna end your life and dudes that’s your prerogative,” I told her.
“No, you’re saying I’m tripping, but it’s cool. I just see how we laying it now,” she snapped and went to walk out, but I grabbed her and closed the door.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” she spat.
“Chill the fuck out alright. You right, that’s my bad I apologize,” I told her. and she just stared at me blankly looking so damn good.
“I know you would never put our son in harm’s way, but I think it’s just messed up that you didn’t at least respect me enough to tell me that you had a girlfriend around our child,” she stated.
“She not my girlfriend,” I started.
“Just stop Kato. I’ll see you guys at the birthday party. Don’t forget to pick up your t-shirts today,” she stressed, and I just stared at her.
“Montejha, for real I apologize. I fucked up,” I told her.
“I accept your apology, now move with yo’ big ass,” she stressed.
“Alright, as long as we good,” I told her.
“We gone always be good, now I gotta go. My boo waiting on me outside,” she joked.
“Yeah right, I know you value your life.” I chuckled.
She wasn’t fucking crazy. I knew I told her we were just co-parenting and shit, but I don’t think I’m ready to see her with no other dude honestly. I got my lil man ready for his big birthday bash with our matching outfits. I knew I was looking good and so was my lil man, we were about to be on time, and everything but Kels was taking forever.
“The fuck taking so long?” I asked.
“I’m sorry babe. Had to make sure I was looking good for you.” I know, I shouldn’t have even brought her ass, but shit Kels practically stayed at my old crib with me. I had met her one night we were out at the club, and I saw her fine ass and had to get her number. We kicked it a few times, I fucked, and she was actually cool peoples. I fucked with her heavy. We got in my whip and headed to the Kangaroo palace we were having his first birthday party at. I parked and grabbed him from his car seat. We walked in, and everyone was standing around waiting for us to walk in.
“Happy Birthday Baby Kato,” everyone said.
“Hey, momma’s baby. Happy birthday baby boy.” Montejha smiled as Kato ran up to her and she picked him up.
“Wassup boy.” My pops and cousin’s slapped fives with me.
“Take off your shoes and get ready to jump with your son, because I’m not doing it.” Tejha smiled at me.
“Shit, that’s all you,” I joked with her. Kelsie just stood behind me until Montejha petty ass introduced her to everyone.
“Everyone that’s Kelsie, Kato’s new girlfriend.”
“Oh, girl I was wondering.” I heard Yani said.
“Hello,” everyone dryly said, and I shook my head.
I took off my shoes and got on a few of the bounce houses with the kids, my son was having a ball, but he was trying to keep up with the big kids. I couldn’t wait till he got a little bigger. The doctors were already saying he was longer than what he was supposed to be but shit, I was a fucking giant and so was my pops, uncle and cousins. Hell, my mom was tall too, so he had no hope on my side.
“Can we get a picture of the parents and the baby boy?” the photographer said. I walked to Tejha with my boy in our arms, wrapped my arms around her waist with one arm and held my son with the next, and we smiled and made silly faces. I handed him to her and went to check on Kelsie who was scowling at me the entire time.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“You’re making me very uncomfortable, and I’m ready to go now,” she spat. I frowned at her. This broad must be crazy.
“You need to chill the fuck out like you need to relax this my son first fucking birthday and I’m not leaving. But if you wanna catch a Uber to the crib do you,” I snapped and walked off.
“Alright, it’s time to eat, cut the cake,” Tejha announced, and all the kids ran to her. Tejha was so good with kids and was such a great mom, the shit was a turn on. Me on the other hand, I was alright with them, and I was winging this fatherhood shit only hoping I got it right.
“You gone fix my plate?” I asked Tejha in her ear. She laughed and shook her head. She fixed her plate and sat down with my son sitting right next to her. I fixed me three sloppy joes and grabbed two bags of chips and a water. I sat down next to my son and his mom, and we ate.
“God, did you save some food for the kids Kato?” Tejha joked.
“Shit, they good.” I took a bite of a sloppy joe and started smashing.
“I hope you’re not a piggy like your daddy baby K.” She laughed.
We cut the cake, and I helped my lil’ man blow out his candles while his mom thought it would be funny to push both of our heads in the cake. She played too fucking much, but I made her wipe that shit off and cut me a piece. I went o
ff to holla at my boys.
“What the fuck y’all niggas over here doing?” I asked, taking a bite of the cake.
“Shit, watching old girl to see what she saying to my future wife. Nigga now that they standing next to each other, it’s no way home girl Chelsea is even in sis league.” Zu shook his head. This nigga was always talking about how he would wife, Montejha in a heartbeat.
“What the fuck I tell you about that shit bruh,” I snapped.
“Nigga fuck you. Bruh, y’all out this bitch looking like a happy family and shit. I see what ol girl mad about,” Zu joked.
“Man, y’all niggas bugging out.” I laughed it off and walked away.
The party was coming to an end, and the more I was around Tejha, the more I knew that I had to end this shit with Kelsie whatever it is. I headed out, told Tejha I’d be over tonight to tuck my lil man in, but I had to drop Kels off. When I pulled up to her crib, I parked leaving the car on.
“You not coming in?” she asked.
“No, I won’t be back either. This shit ain’t working whatever it is. I don’t wanna keep fucking with you, I’m sure you want something more permanent, and I can’t give that to you,” I told her.
“I knew it, I knew it. The day she met me, I knew this wasn’t going to work because she’s still got your heart.” She scoffed.
“What you gone do to get back with your baby momma?” she asked.
“That’s not really your business, but take care of yourself Kelsie, it was fun while it lasted,” I told her. She frowned, opened her door to get out and slammed my door. I chuckled pulling off heading to tuck my lil man in.
I walked in Tejha crib, and she had on some shorts and a tank top with no bra, a nigga mouth was watering. I could smell her ass, and she smelled so damn good. After reading my son his bedtime story, I walked back out, and she was watching something on tv.
“You headed out?” She smiled, looking down on her phone.
“Yeah, who the fuck got you smiling on the phone?” I asked her.
“Okay, so there’s this guy. We been cooling, talking or what not getting to know each other,” she admitted, and I frowned.
“Wait what?” I looked at her. She just laughed.
“So, you got you a little boyfriend or something?” I asked.
“No, a friend. And before you ask no, he hasn’t been around or child,” she added.
“Oh, I know you ain’t that crazy,” I told her.
“Yeah, we’re supposed to be going on a date soon. Just a FYI, so I might need a sitter.” She smiled at me. The old me would’ve snapped the fuck off, but I was a work in progress. I was gone tell her to dead that shit with that nigga, I was all she needed, but I thought to myself. Yeah, let’s just see how this all played out. I would let her see that couldn’t no other nigga compare to me.
MONTEJHA | DATE NIGHT
“So, what you think munchkin?” I asked my son, and he just stared at me blankly, looking just like his damn daddy.
“Your daddy must’ve paid you some good money to be acting like this tonight lil’ man, you are acting funny,” I told him as I heard the front door opening. I had been talking to this handsome man Boris for a good month now, but I hadn’t been on a date with him yet because I was scared. Tonight, was the night, I let my hair down literally, I let Yani do me a silk press, and I had a deep right-side part, and my side swoop bang was popping. I had on all black dress, something casual and I had on matching black, red bottoms. We were going out to eat at a fancy restaurant and then we would see where it went from there.
“Damn, you done pressed that nappy bush on top of yo’ head.” Kato came around the corner teasing me.
“Whatever are you taking your son? He’s been mean mugging me all day like he knows I’m going on a date. What did you tell him?” I asked. He burst out laughing looking at lil Kato’s face.
“It’s not funny, you ain’t no good,” I snapped.
“We’ll be waiting on you when you get home. Have fun, you look good.” Kato complimented surprisingly. I was so confused, I thought he would be freaking out, but he wasn’t. He just kept smirking at me like he knew something I didn’t which was weird.
“Okay, well, I’ll be back around one maybe,” I suggested.
“Make it midnight.” He laughed.
“Yes sir,” I joked.
I headed out in my charger to the restaurant and was missing my baby already. I couldn’t understand why Kato’s little sly smirk kept popping up in my head. Why did this man still have my heart after all this time had passed? He’d been doing him, so it was only right I did me right? So why did I feel so guilty when I sat across from this handsome ass man who couldn’t keep his eyes off me and kept complimenting me.
“So, Montejha, tell me a little bit about yourself?” he asked.
“Well, I’m twenty-one, I have a one-year-old and I’m a certified lash tech and microblader. My son is my pride and joy, and I love him to pieces. What about you Boris?” I asked.
“Well, I’m twenty-seven, I have a seven-year-old daughter, and I’m a construction worker. How’s your relationship with your child’s father?” he asked.
“Oh, it’s um… it’s, we um co-parent and we’ve been doing it since I had him you know,” I admitted.
“That’s what’s up? My daughters’ mother and I have a good relationship. She’s married though, and happily so, that helps out a lot on my end,” he joked. I laughed. I enjoyed his conversation and his perspective on a lot of topics I brought up. But I just kept thinking of Kato, my first real genuine love and I felt like shit for sitting here wasting this man’s time knowing my heart was with someone else. The bill came, and he paid. We were walking outside to our cars.
“I enjoyed talking to you Montejha. You’re a beautiful, intellectual woman. I would love to take you on another date. Hopefully, we can continue to work towards something,” he suggested. I stopped right in my tracks to just get this conversation over with.
“I have to be completely honest,” I started.
“What’s up, beautiful?” he asked, helping me to my car.
“I appreciate this date, and you’re a great guy,” I started.
“But you’re still in love with your ex,” he completed my sentence. I stood there in shock.
“I’m sorry,” I said sadly.
“It’s good love. He’s a lucky man, I hope he takes good care of your heart this time around.” He hugged me.
“Thank you, and I’m so sorry,” I told him.
“No apology needed love. I appreciate you being honest with me from jump and call me if that nigga fuck up again,” he told me.
I nodded, and he helped me in my car, and I quickly pulled off. I took my car for a ride since it had been a while because I had to clear my head. He called it right on the nose, I was still in love with Kato, but I didn’t know why I couldn’t get over him. He still had a hold on my heart from day one, I knew he was bad news. But why the fuck couldn’t I move on. Maybe it was meant for us to make it work. I don’t know, but I know I needed to put my big girl panties on and face the music.
I made my way to my house around midnight, and when I walked through, taking off my heels, I kicked them off at the door. Walking in, I checked on my son, and he was sleeping just fine, I bent down to kiss his cheek and walked out. I turned around to go in my room, and I saw Kato in my bed sitting with his back against the headboard watching tv.
“What the hell Kato?” I asked.
“How was your date?” he asked.
“Kato, what the hell are you doing in my bed?” I asked him.
“Hair still in tack, come here, let me see something.” He quickly stood up and was sniffing me.
“Oh, so you not stupid. How was your date?” he asked again.
“It was okay,” I started.
“Oh, yeah?” he asked.
“Yeah. He was a really nice guy,” I paused.
“But,” he added.
“But, he wasn’t you. I had
to be completely honest with him and myself. I don’t know how you feel about us, but I’m still in love with you Kato, probably now more than ever. I should’ve told you sooner, but I’m telling you now. I want to do more than co-parent with you, I want to be back to what we used to be with our baby. Build our family and grow old together. I miss being able to annoy the shit outta you or calling you randomly to tell you about funny shit that only we would find funny. You were not only my boyfriend, you were my best friend, and I miss what we used to be. I want us back, and I’m willing to put in the work for it. I’m not going to be stubborn, hardheaded or none of that. I feel like I’ve learned how to be a better me, now I want to work on being a better team,” I admitted. Kato stood up and quickly walked over to me, towering over me.
“I love everything about you girl. I know a nigga got his hood ways and shit, but I ain’t never felt no way about a woman as strong as I feel about you,” he told me.
“I’m willing to give us a try as long as you willing to give me a second chance. I swear to God I won’t let y’all down,” he stressed.
“You never let us down in the first place,” I told him. He grabbed me by my neck and brought me closer to him.
“You love me?” he asked.
“Of course, I do Kato. I love you so much,” I stressed. This nigga tongued me down with so much passion and lifted me up, I wrapped my legs around his waist. He was sucking on my neck, and I felt his hard dick trying to fight through his boxers. I pulled his boxers down so that his erection was freed and he groaned.
“I missed you so fucking much girl, you don’t understand,” he stressed.
“I missed you more bae.” I sucked his lips as he pulled my dress up, sliding my panties to the side, and inserting his tool inside of me. I howled out, clawing at his back.
“If you wake up my son,” he grunted in my ear.
“Ohh, I’m sorry daddy,” I exclaimed as he closed the door to our room before making love to me like he’s never done before.
EPILOGUE
“Girl, I’m so tired. But this man wants me to get dressed and ready for this big extravagant photo shoot, so I am,” I told Yani.