by Nikki Brown
When he blew his knee his senior year, he knew that football wasn’t in his future, so he put his degree to use. He went through the academy with Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, better known as CMPD and now he was an officer. His plan was get his shield, but he was a couple years out the academy and needed to work his way up.
After running into Kahleno a while back he was offered a job on their payroll. He owed Mega Maler his life and couldn’t turn down the opportunity, so here he was. His love for Karson was strong and he prayed that this wouldn’t affect his business relationship with Kahleno.
“Nigga I know that,” Kahleno said wishing he would get to the point.
“I didn’t know that she was ya babymoms until I saw your son. I ain’t on no disrespectful bullshit but I love Karson and I want to be with her. I just don’t want it to interfere with our shit that we got going on.”
Karson hated that Kahleno had so much power over everything that surrounded her. From Kahlil, to her feelings and now to the man that she was using to get over him. Although she did have love for DeShawn, if Kahleno asked her to come back to him she would do it in a heartbeat. That was just the god’s honest truth.
“It’s cool.” Kahleno shrugged and both DeShawn and Karson looked shocked. “Listen, what me and Sutton got going is amazing, never felt anything like it in this world. I love that woman more than anything outside of my son and my babies she got growing in her stomach.”
“Babies?”
“Yeah, we got twins on the way and I plan to make her my wife before she gives birth.” Kahleno smiled and DeShawn gave him dap.
“Wow congratulations.” Even though she still loved Kahleno, she was genuinely happy for him. She secretly still wished that it was her that he spoke of like that, but she came to grips with the fact that she ruined that. When her eyes met DeShawn’s her heart fluttered, not like when she was with Kahleno, but her heart definitely flutters. She was happy.
“Thanks and congrats to the two of you as well.” Kahleno nodded. “I’m good. As long as you treat my son like’s he’s yours and don’t put your hands on him we good.”
“How you gone say for him to treat him like his own but say he can’t discipline him in the same sentence? Kahlil is bad as hell.”
“Easy.” Kahleno shrugged. “Kahli is my problem and D is a man before anything else, so he knows where I’m coming from.”
“Oh yeah because I would be the same way if someone touched my little man.” He rubbed Karson’s little belly and Kahleno smiled.
Wondering if DeShawn knew that Karson was trying to say that his baby was Kahleno’s all this time. Or if he knew that she tried to fuck him that night? He could seriously burst her bubble, but he decided against it. He wanted her to be happy even If he didn’t truly believe the façade.
“That’s what’s up. I’m praying for a boy and a girl. Then I’m knocking her ass up right after and if it’s another girl we’ll stop.” Kahleno showed all thirty-two teeth.
“Kahleno I heard you talking that bullshit.” Sutton said coming around the corner. She already told him that she wasn’t having a bunch of kids, but he had it in his mind that he was. “Oh hey Karson and…”
“DeShawn Barret.” He nodded. “Nice to finally put a name with a face. This man talks so highly of you.”
“I’ve trained him to keep all the bad things to himself.” Sutton smiled and DeShawn and Karson laughed. Kahleno popped her on the ass and she leaned up and kissed him and walked away.
“We’ll we’re gonna get going. I know Kahlil ain’t trying to come home no time soon so just call me before you bringing him home and tell Siya I said I’m glad she’s feeling better.”
“Aight I will.” Kahleno and DeShawn said a few more words to each other before they parted ways and Kahleno went back to what he was doing.
***
“Mega what are you up to?” Siya asked as they drove down the highway. He had been looking at his phone the entire time since they left the hospital. She had a whole conversation by herself because he was too busy checking his phone.
“Nothing woman, just sit back and enjoy the sunshine.” Mega smiled. They were almost home, and the boys just texted that everything was done, and they were waiting. “I’m glad you’re coming home.”
“I can’t tell, I’ve been asking you forever to bring me home. I almost broke out and came to see if you were living life without me and that’s why you didn’t want me home,” she joked.
“You are my life, my everything. Why when I can’t live without you?” Mega grabbed her thigh and gave it a squeeze.
Things for the Maler family had been hectic to say the least. Mega was a firm believer in everything happens for a reason and he felt like everything that happened to their family made them stronger than ever.
“I love you Mega Maler.”
“I love you too and I’m sorry you had to go through all of this. Just know that I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
Siya knew that his words were true, she hated what her family had been through, but she didn’t blame Mega. There was only one woman to blame and her name was Ziva Whyte, she couldn’t wait to get her hands on her. She hated everything about that woman.
“Where we going baby?”
“Stopping by Kahleno’s house.” Mega glanced from the road for a second and then turned into Kahleno’s long drive way.
“I hope my babies are in here.” Siya reached for her seatbelt and pulled it off. She still had the cast on her leg, but she could get around with it. The doctor had just released her to put weight on it and she had been hobbling along ever since.
The minute they got to the door Siya put her ear up to it and noticed that it was kind of quiet and instantly got upset thinking that Kahlil wasn’t here. When she turned the door knob she realized that it was open.
“SURPRISE!” everyone yelled the minute her face came into view. Tears rushed to her eyes and down her face as she looked at her son’s and the lovely women that they had started to build with. Siya knew that she was blessed, despite everything that she had been through, the woman was blessed.
“I should kick y’all asses.” She cried as she walked the rest of the way into the house. Making her rounds hugging everyone, Mega stood back, and watched while Siya cried tears of joy. She missed her family, even though she saw them when they came to visit it was different. “Where’s my babies?” she fussed.
She had grown to love Isis and Kane like they were her own and she called them as such. They were the first one’s that she wanted to see after been cooped up in the hospital for weeks.
“They’re in that game room.” Sutton pointed down the hall to the game room that Kahleno had built for Kahlil when he first bought the house. Siya nodded her head and headed to the back where the kids where.
The rest of the day they all sat around and enjoyed each other. They talked and laughed, Siya got to know more about the women who had bullied their way into her boys hearts. She was happy to see her family happy.
Communication
“I don’t think I want to do this Cas.” Key whined from the sidelines with Cassidy.
She knew that when he suggested that they go and talk to Saque that she wouldn’t want to go through with it. Even though she had decided to let him be a part of Kane’s life, she still hated him. It was something about the thought of him being in her life again that rubbed her the wrong way.
“Do you trust me?” Cassidy’s answer was simple, but Key knew better than the think that was all it meant.
They had really been getting to know each other and she loved every moment of it. He had a smart mouth but that was one of the things that Key liked about Cassidy. He didn’t bite his tongue and he kept her laughing.
“Yeah but what does that have to do with me not wanting to sit down with Saque and Piper?” Key snarled her nose up.
Even though Cassidy explained to her that nothing happened with him and Piper she still felt a way about it
. Piper gave her a sneaky vibe and from what she had heard from Sutton and Icelynn she wasn’t a really good person. She didn’t trust her and felt like she shouldn’t have been in that close of a proximity of her man.
“Don’t start, I already talked to you about that.” Cassidy smirked and shook his head. Piper was Piper and yes, he had a soft spot for her, and he couldn’t explain it but that’s as far as it went. His attention was on Key and Key alone. “You scared she gone get some of your sweet meat?” Cassidy covered his mouth with his fist and laughed.
“Yeah and I’ll shoot you both, and you know I will.”
“You ain’t gone do shit. But real shit, ain’t no one worried about that girl.” Cassidy shrugged his shoulders and then focused back on the field. Kane’s championship game was today, and he thought that it would be a good idea if Key invited Saque to come see him play. “And this is a good thing. It shows that you’re trying so if he fucks up at least you did your part. This man deserves to build a relationship with his kid until he proves he doesn’t.”
“Listen to you sounding all philosophical and shit.” Key leaned up to kiss him, but he lightly mushed her head away and she giggled. “Stop bae, give me a kiss.” Key laughed and then connected her lips with Cassidy’s.
“Seriously, just give the man a chance. I know y’all been through some shit but y’all created a life together and I think it’s worth it to at least give the man a chance to do right.”
“But what if he doesn’t?” Key was skeptical of the whole wanting to get to know his son. She was sure that Saque had an ulterior motive, she just wanted to see it show.
“Then I’ll beat his ass,” Cassidy said simply.
Cassidy looked on as he watched Kane do a spin move out of a tackle and run until the coach blew the whistle. They were doing warm-ups and he always made it his business to stand on the sidelines and Kane had grown accustomed to seeing him there. When he walked back, Kane smirked and threw his head up and Cassidy followed suit.
Cassidy had grown to love Kane. He was a handful and he had a hand problem with a heap of anger to match, but Cassidy was working hard to steer him in a better direction. The fact that they both love the game of football solidified their bond even more.
“He listens to you.” Key interrupted the thoughts that were flowing through her own head. “You taught him that last night.” The smile that spread on her face brought one to Cassidy’s as he watched Kane do the move that he showed him.
“Kanaan is mature for his age, and I talk to him as such.” Cassidy slipped his hands in his pockets and continued to watch.
When they were done warming up, the coach told them to go and get water. Kane ran right in the direction of Cassidy and his mother. Kane was fond of the man that his mother had chosen to spend time with, and he was happy he was in their lives.
He had never seen his mother this happy before and he appreciated the man for making that happen. Kane also like that fact that he made time for him. If they weren’t playing the game or working on school work, Cassidy had him in the backyard running drills and Kane loved it. Cassidy respected him and that respect was returned ten times fold.
“Yo I broke dudes ankles.” Kane said as he smiled up at Cassidy waiting for his approval.
“I saw that shit but you still bouncing off of your heel, remember what we worked on last night. If you push off of the balls of your feet you get more momentum.” Kane look down and planted the top of his foot into the ground and then pushed off of it like he was about to run. It felt good so he smirked at Cassidy and nodded his head. “I’ll never steer you wrong my dude.” They dapped each other up.
“What the hell he doing here?” Kane snarled his nose up at the man that his mother explained to him was his father. He wasn’t too fond of him because it seemed that every time, he came around it darkened his mother’s mood and he hated that. When his mother hurt, he hurt.
“Kanaan Delaney!” Key scolded. Cassidy chuckled making Key flash a hateful glance his way. “Watch your mouth, he wanted to come and support you. He’s trying to get to know you.”
“I don’t want to know him, I got Cassidy.” Kane looked up at Cassidy right as Saque walked up with Piper who had a smile on her face.
She and Saque had just made love before they left the house which was why they were late. They had been getting along great since everything unfolded. The only thing she couldn’t get was Sutton to forgive her, she was only privy to information about her through her social media and she hated that. She wanted to be there for her through her pregnancy, but Sutton wasn’t having it. She claimed that she couldn’t entertain anything that could possibly disrupt her peace while she was carrying her babies.
Although Piper wanted to object and force Sutton to talk to her, she knew that she didn’t deserve it. After everything unfolded, she had time to think and she realized that she really was a shitty friend and she hated herself for it but all she could do was apologize and move forward, with hopes that Sutton would do the same. She really missed her friend.
“Hey y’all,” Piper spoke softly making Key scoff. She hated that Piper played the innocent roll when she knew that she was anything but. The vibes that she got from her threw her off every time and she could only tolerate her in small segments.
“Hey,” Cassidy said with a head nod.
“What’s up my man?” Saque held his hand out and Kane looked at it with a mug on his little handsome face.
Kane looked up at Cassidy who was trying not to laugh. Saque notice the gesture and it burned him up that his son didn’t know who he was and turned to another man for guidance, a man whose blood didn’t flow through him.
“Come on man, what we talk about?” Cassidy looked down at Kane and a smirk appeared on his face. When he asked Cassidy if he had to meet his father, Cassidy told him to give the man a chance and if he didn’t do right that the two would jump him.
“Can we just skip to the second part?” Key wore a confused look on her face because she had no idea what the two were talking about, but she knew that it wasn’t good by the amused look on both of their faces.
“Yeah ummmm, Kane it’s time to get ready. The game is about to start. I’ll be in the stands.” Key pointed to where they normally sat.
“Okay mom.” Kane grabbed her legs and squeezed. He truly loved his mother and all she did for him and even though he showed his ass more times than not, he still wanted her to know that he appreciated her. “Cassidy, I need help?” Kane asked.
“No the hell you don’t Kane.” Cassidy shook his head and turned to kiss Key. She looked between the two of them and sighed heavily. “I’ll meet you up there, you gone be good?” He asked with raised brows.
“Yeah I’m good.” Key kissed his lips again and Cassidy didn’t miss the sour look on Saque’s face so for good measure Cassidy leaned down and stuck his tongue in Key’s mouth and she accepted.
“Ewwwww!” Kane laughed breaking up the pair. Cassidy chuckled and followed Kane to the field to help with his pads. Key watched as the two walked off, she loved their relationship but the two of them together were trouble and she knew that she had her hands full.
When she turned around to walk off, she was met with Saque’s menacing stare. It was mixed with anger, agitation, annoyance, and envy sat high on the list of things that radiated from his eyes. He never thought that he would be anywhere near the woman who caused him so much pain, let alone be here with her, his son, and her new man.
Saque knew that he didn’t have a leg to stand on so he couldn’t react how he wanted to, so he tried his best to calm down.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Key asked as Piper noticed her man’s change in demeanor.
“Is that what you do in the presence of my son?” he asked incredulously.
“Saque no one wants to hear that.” Key waved her hand in the air dismissively. “We’re here to watch Kane play football, not worry about what I do with my nigga. If you can’t handle it then maybe you shou
ld leave.”
Key was waiting for his shit to show; he had been playing Mr. Cool for too long and she knew that it was only a matter of time before the real him reared his ugly head. He glared at her and she wasn’t in the mood to deal with his shit, so she headed towards the bleachers with him following close behind.
His eyes horned in on the way her ass giggled in the tight black jeans that she wore. He couldn’t help but flash back to the times where he used to watch as his dick slid in and out of her while she arched her back just the way he liked it. He missed their action in the bedroom and the mere thought of her being with anyone else infuriated him. He hated her and loved her at the same time.
Piper cleared her throat when he stopped mid stride, she followed his eyes and they were glued to Key’s ass. Saque looked back and offered up a soft smile but he didn’t get anything in return.
“Chill baby, I’m just pissed that my son don’t even know me. I should be out there helping him get ready for his game. Not some random ass nigga,” Saque fussed turning his attention to the field.
“Yeah and you got all of that from the crack of her ass.” Piper tilted her head. She knew there was history there, but they were supposed to be building a future, so respect was a must whether his baby moms was there or not.
“It wasn’t like that baby, come on.” He reached out and grabbed Piper’s hand and the two walked up to the stairs and sat behind Key.
Saque watched on as envy burned its way through his heart. Cassidy was out there showing Kane something on the football field. The coach even came over and started talking to Cassidy like he was his father.
“He does know that’s not his son, right?” Saque leaned down and said to Key who rolled her eyes and sighed.
“Yes, he’s well aware. He’s the only reason I’ve been in contact with you so some gratitude would be nice.” Key rolled her eyes.
“Gratitude! Gratitude! You have got to be shitting me!” Saque scoffed. “You are the reason that I’m not down there with him. It’s because of you I was in jail and missed out on five years of my son’s life. It’s your fault he doesn’t know who his father is,” Saque said louder than he intended drawing a small audience.