by J Peach
Once again, he managed to shock the both us as we just sat there staring at him.
“Get out the damn way. I’mma be late.” He blew out a breath. Blake rubbed a hand over his head then down his face.
Seeing him do that had me punching Blaze.
“Oh, my God. Why he just do that?” He looked exactly like Blaze.
“What the hell you punch me fah?” Blaze asked, rubbing his arm before looking at his son. “You, get yo little ass back in that seat.”
Blake didn’t move at first just continued to twist the steering wheel.
I knew he heard him because he wasn’t turning the wheel as fast as he was.
“Blake—”
He cut Blaze off with a loud sigh before he snatched his phone then got in the back.
“I’m mad.” He announced, slipping back into his straps then getting on Blaze’s phone.
“You got yo hands full with that one.” I said, shaking my head with a laugh.
“We got our hands full— don’t give me that look. You said we doing this together…” Blaze trailed off ordering the food.
“Get me a large fry, three cookies, an apple pie and a coke. Oh, give me some sweet and sour sauce.” I said while digging in my purse for my wallet. I held out a twenty dollar bill but of course he didn’t take it, so I sat it in the cup holder. Then I went back to the subject. “No, I never said we were doing this together. What came out my mouth was that I’ll help you if you needed it,” I corrected.
He glanced at me but looked away rubbing the back of his neck and I punched him. “Blaze, what are you not telling me?” I knew his ass all too well that I knew when he was hiding something. He always gave a distinctive look or gesture giving himself away when he was. “Blaze?”
“What? Damn! I ain’t did shit?”
Lie. I turned in my seat and watched him, Blaze’s eyes left mine for a second then quickly jumped back to mine and I hit him again.
“B, you’re not a good liar.”
“I am a great liar. I just don’t like lying to you.” The dumbass just admitted to hiding something. “Man, I heard you say we was doing this together.” He repeated before getting the food. “Here, little dude.”
He handed Blake his Happy Meal then gave me my food. While he was putting the drinks in the cup holders something caught his eyes. “Let me move this.” He said, reaching for the big envelope with Blake’s information in it.
If it wasn’t for his sudden need to move it then I wouldn’t have thought nothing of it. The envelope was tucked in between the seat and armrest, so I couldn’t get food on it. Plus, I was eating fries. What damage could they do?
Slapping his hand away, I grabbed the folder. That pissed him off.
“Why the fuck you playing? Give it here. That ain’t got shit to do with you.” Blaze snapped at me.
“Watch yo mouth, dang. Why I can’t look at it, huh?”
“Peaches, give me my shit.” He snapped as he roughly grabbed my arm.
I snatched my arm away, ignoring him before I turned to Blake who was eating his burger. “Is it good?” He nodded his head yes. “Blaze, Toy R Us is right up the street.” I told him while pointing to the big sign on my side of the street.
When he started driving, I opened the envelope and begin looking through the few papers in there, then at his social security card.
It was the birth certificate that had me biting the inside of my bottom lip. I put the papers back in the envelope then inside the glove compartment, making sure I slammed the door shut.
Blaze said nothing and his ass better not had. If it wasn’t for Blake being in this truck, I would’ve been all over his ass.
***
“Blake, get back here!” I yelled at the tiny little boy. Blaze stood behind me laughing as Blake took off running.
I chased after his small frame as he saw something else he wanted. “Blake!” We were in this damn store for a good half hour if not an hour. We had a buggy full of crap and I was literally getting a headache. “I’m so sorry. Is she okay?” I apologized to a woman whose daughter Blake knocked down trying to get to another aisle.
“It’s okay and she’s fine. I have a little boy myself so I understand completely.” With a small laugh, she and her daughter walked off.
“Blake, come here.” Blaze called to the hyper little boy and just like that he stopped running, turned around and went to Blaze.
“You could have been called him? Stupid ass,” I mumbled the last bit so Blake couldn’t hear. I was beyond pissed at Blaze right now and I wasn’t doing well with hiding it at all.
My whole body was tense. If Blaze said one wrong thing to me, I was going to flip the fuck out and beat his ass in front of his son, which wasn’t what I wanted.
But my attitude couldn’t be helped right then. My nerves just had me feeling annoyed. Ugh, I wanted to hit him so freaking bad. “I’ll be back.” I needed some fresh air because I couldn’t breathe around him.
I was getting a headache.
“Peaches,” Blaze called, grabbing my arm.
I jerked away from him. My hands just shook at him. “Blaze, don’t! Not right now. I’ll be back.” I walked away from him and went straight for the door.
Once outside, I leaned against the wall, my fingers massaged deeply into my forehead before running through my hair. Sighing, I opened my purse and grabbed the Aleve bottle. Quickly, I popped two, hoping they would relieve my aching headache fast.
Blaze always did too much but this was beyond crazy. To not even talk to me about it beforehand? His ass just did it. Everything with him had to be stressful. It could never just be normal or boring it always had to be something that caused stress and this is no different.
God, that man was literally going to be the death of me. No matter how hard I tried, I knew that u would never be rid of him. And he did shit to make sure of it.
This is fuckin’ ridiculous.
I didn’t want to go back in there. Every nerve in my body was telling with me to just call a cab and leave but after what I’d just seen, how I could walk away?
That wasn't what I wanted. He didn’t even give me a chance to either agree or disagree. My fuckin’ life wasn't supposed to be surrounded by that fuckin’ psychotic ass nigga.
Stupid ass nigga. God I wanted to fight him.
Peaches, calm down. Breathe deep breaths.
I needed a drink, something hard with quick effect that’ll have me on my ass for the rest of the day into the next morning. I needed a distraction.
I took my phone out and called Jerron to see how he was feeling.
After the second ring he answered. “What’s up, lady?”
I smiled when I heard his voice. My fast breathing slowed down.
“Nothing, I’m just calling to see how you’re feeling.” The sound of ruffling followed by his groan told me he was moving. “Jerron, don’t be trying to sit up.”
“I been sitting up. I was just getting the remote.” He told me and I groaned.
“You shouldn’t be reaching for nothing. I’mma kill yo damn brother. How you feeling? Are you in any pain? Is Khyree still there?”
Jerron laughed. “I’m good. The pain ain’t nothing I can’t handle. The twins just left and before you flip, they left pills for the pain. They had to make a run but they’ll be back, so breathe.” He quickly explained.
Laughing at that, I rolled my eyes.
“Yo brother is still here, though. I’m good so don’t worry about me,” he added.
Nodding, I felt better knowing Ron was okay. “Have you eaten anything?” I asked and the other line got quiet.
“Yeah I just finished eating. How are you feeling?” Only Ron, he was the one shot and hurt but he was still concerned about me.
“Better now since I know you’re okay. You should be resting, so I’ll call you in a few hours to check on you, okay?” Even though I wanted to talk to him I had to get back in the store with Blaze and Blake. Blake was the only reason I hadn’t
called that damn cab.
You don’t have to call to check on me, Peaches. Baby, you worry too much. I’m good, i’ight. Finish handling yo business with dude and I’ll see you later on tonight, okay?” Ron was such an amazing guy. I was starting to wonder if I was right for him.
“How can you not be jealous that I’m with him and not with you right now?” That question had constantly been nagging me since I talked to him the other day in the office with Blaze. After everything, he told me to handle my business and get at him later, just like now.
I was glad he wasn’t jealous because it would’ve only put a strain on whatever we were trying to build. His jealousy would only be a sign that he didn’t trust me.
Then again, I couldn’t really trust myself when it came to Blaze.
“Bae, we’re not together and regardless of what I may think, you’re a grown ass woman and you gon’ do you no matter what. I already know where I stand in yo life just like I know what dude means to you so it’s no need for me to get jealous. Baby, you’re grown and single with no ties to nobody so I ain’t really got a right to tell you what to do. In the end, we still gon’ do our thang until you say otherwise. That’s how I see it.” Sighing, I could hear him moving as well as him clearing his throat. “So, when you get back, you gon’ get naked for me?”
Laughing, I pulled the phone away from my ear to look at it. “Bye, Jerron.”
“N’all, hold on,” he said before his voice got low and he began to whisper into the line. “Shid, since I been awake all I could think about is yo pussy wrapped around my dick.”
Covering my face, I called his name feeling embarrassed. “Jerron, oh, my God. Shut up,” I whined with my face still covered. I couldn’t believe we almost had sex. It was exciting as well as an embarrassingly shy thought because I never had sex with anyone other than Blaze and sex was such an intimate, sacred thing to me. And just last week, I was about to let Jerron invade my sacred place. “Bye, Jerron,” I repeated.
“I’m just saying that’s all I’ve been thinking about. That feeling ain’t going away. My ass sitting here talking then that pops in my head and now big man tenting the covers,” he said, making me laugh.
“I don’t have time for you, bye.” Even though I said that, I didn’t hang up. I held the phone to my ear as my head shook. I continued to laugh softly into the line.
“I’ight, I’mma leave you alone. I bet yo damn face red as hell right now. Damn, my shit just got hard again thinking about that blush,” he commented.
“Bye, Ron. I’m serious. I’ll call yo mannish ass later.”
Laughing, he responded. “Mannish or not you’ll take care of me when you get back,” he said in a low voice.
“We’ll see, Jerron.”
His sexy deep laugh sounded through the phone making me smile. “We’ll see always means yeah to you. Gon’ do yo thang and call me back when you’re done. One of the twins just walked in. Bye, Peaches.”
Even rolling my eyes the smile didn’t leave my face. “Bye, Ron.” I hung up the phone and put it back in my purse. Still leaning against the wall, my head went back as a sigh left my mouth.
Mentally, I shook myself and I went back into Toys R Us.
God I hope I can finish the rest of this day off smoothly.
Chapter 9
Peaches
It took me a minute but I finally found Blaze and Blake by the bikes.
Blake was being loud as he expressed his excitement over the burgundy Cadillac truck he was in.
“Push me, push me.” He yelled excitedly, making me laugh. Hearing me, Blake looked up then got out of the car. He ran to me. I squatted down to his height then picked him up. “I’m sorry I make you mad at me.”
Laughing, I shook my head at that. “I could never be mad at such a handsome little dude like yourself. Baby, you didn’t make me mad, okay?”
Smiling, he nodded. “So, I can still get toys.”
I returned his smile before I laughed. “Yeah, baby, you can still get toys.”
Once I said that, he began wiggling in my arms. I put him down and he ran back to the truck.
“Can I get a bike and truck?” He asked while jerking his body forward as if that was going to get the truck to move.
“What did your dad say?” I asked.
Blake turned to mug Blaze before his face turned sad.
“Him said no.”
That cute pout formed on his face once again melting my heart. “You want this truck?” I asked, walking toward him.
“Yeah,” rubbing the top of his head.
I started pushing him in the truck, making him scream out a laugh as he started turning the wheel every which way. He hit the shelves with the bike helmets and he started laughing more.
“Let’s do it again,” he screamed in anticipation of more fun.
Laughing at his excitement, I pulled the truck back to where it first was before taking Blake out.
“This the one you want? They have it in different colors. You have white, black and burgundy. Which would you like?” I asked, pointing to the three different trucks.
“This one,” Blake said, getting back in the burgundy truck.
“I said he couldn’t get the damn truck.” Blaze spoke for the first time since I walked back in the store.
I waved him off. “Okay, you’re not paying for the damn truck either. I am. Last I checked I can do what I want with my money. Blake wants the truck so he’s getting it. You know what? In fact, you are paying and he still getting it. So, find somebody and ask them to take it to the front while I’m over here helping him find a bike.” My anger from earlier slowly returned, causing the nerves in my hand to start acting up, which had them slightly shaking.
“Yo check that fuckin’ attitude, i’ight. Why the fuck you actin’ stupid about the shit? It’s done. Get over it.” He snapped at me.
No this nigga didn’t!
God I wished I could plug Blake’s eyes and ears to go off on his daddy, better yet hit his ass. Try to knock some fuckin’ sense in that big ass head of his.
“Blaze, please stop talking to me, like for real. Just stop talking to me right now. Go find somebody.”
Grabbing my arm, Blaze pulled me down the aisle a little ways away from Blake. “I did what the fuck I had to.” Blaze whispered tersely.
I jerked away from him. “What you thought you had to do, Blaze, you did it without even telling me. You don’t do shit like that without talking to the person first. You just did it, what made you think this is what I wanted, Blaze? You don’t know because just like always, you don’t fuckin’ ask. You just do—” I caught myself before I went slap off on him. “Look, now ain’t the time to talk about this. Now go find somebody to get the damn truck.”
I snatched away from him once more and went back to Blake who was on a bike way too big for him. “Sweetie, this bike is too big. You can’t even reach the peddles.” Just like with the truck, his foot was on the middle bar of the bike as his little body jerked back and forward. “Come here, baby, try this one.” I helped him down and led him to a small blue bike. But something else had caught his attention.
“Buzz! Buzz!” He yelled, and jumped up and down, pointing to a Buzz Light Year bicycle. With the way he was acting, anyone looking might have thought he had never been to a toy store before.
Recalling what Roz said about Blake’s mom always working and him spending most of his time with the sitter may have explained his reaction. Hell, I didn’t know.
When I looked down at his little handsome self, Blake was still jumping up and down excitedly. “Toy Story, I like Buzz,” he pointed at the cartoon character that was emblazoned on the bike. “You like Buzz?” Blake climbed on the dark grey bike then started bouncing on the seat, and jerking the white handle bars back and forth.
“Yeah, Buzz was cool, but Woody was my boyfriend.” I joked.
Sighing, Blake’s face scrunched up. “Ugh, you nasty.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “That�
�s not nasty. And I didn’t call you nasty when I saw you eating your boogers.” I playfully scrunched up my face.
Blake’s hand went to his nose. “Nuh uh, I don’t have boogers, see?” He tilted his head back and widened his nostrils.
I jumped back. “Ugh, it’s a big spider in there.” Blake’s eyes got wide. “You feel it crawling?” His head shook no. “Oh, my God, it’s big. Move. Get away from me,” I said, acting as if I was scared and that got Blake.
“Get it! Get it out!” He frantically started to bounce.
Jumping away from him, I shook my head.
“No get away from me, I see it. Oh, my God. It’s really big. Its gon’ eat your nose. Blake, you’re bleeding,” I said horrified.
Blake just burst out crying. “Get it out, get it out, please,”
I felt so bad once I saw real tears coming from his eyes. Even so, it was still funny. “Blake, sweetie, I’m was just playing. A spider isn’t in your nose. Come here. I’m so sorry.” Pulling him to me, my cheeks blew up as I tried not to laugh.
“A spider not in my nose?” He asked, showing me his flared nostrils.
I shook my head. “No, I was playing. It’s no spiders in there, see.” Grabbing the small mirror from my purse, he looked into it.
“Why you over here scaring him like that?” Blaze asked from behind.
“I didn’t think he was gon’ cry. We were playing.” I took a wipe out of purse to clean Blake’s face. “I’m sorry, sweetie, I didn’t mean to scare you, okay.” Blake nodded his head as I picked him up. That scare must have worn him out just that fast. Blake wrapped his small arms around my neck and laid his head on my shoulder. Not another word left his lips besides his soft little breathing.
“I feel so bad but the look on his little face was so cute.” Rubbing his back, I pushed him up a little so my arm was tuck securely under his butt.
“Give him here, yo short ass look like you ‘bout to tilt back.” Smacking my lips, I let Blaze take him. Before I could walk away, Blaze grabbed my arm.
“Can you stop grabbing me? Let’s pay for this stuff and go.” I tried to pull my arm away from him but he held it tighter. “Blaze, let me go.”