Guy
It was cool as hell to watch my bro ball out, even if it was just a run-through for tomorrow night’s game. Jaxson couldn’t wait any longer to see his Uncle Lamar after he had flaked on us on our first night in town, so we ventured down to the arena to check him out, only catching the tail end of practice. But that was plenty as far as Jaxson’s attention span was concerned.
Lamar invited us to the locker room to meet his teammates and of course Jaxson talked everyone into taking a picture with him. In fact, the players couldn’t get enough of his witty ass, going back and forth about kid shit like favorite cartoon characters, fruit snacks, and iPad apps. I insisted a few times that they didn’t have to keep talking to him, but they all claimed not to be bothered so I let him have at it.
Less answering questions for me to do.
I waited with Lamar at his locker while keeping a close eye on Jaxson who was clear across the room. Lamar tossed a hand over his shoulder at him with a smile as he said, “Yo, that dude is a character, Guy. What you been doin’ to my nephew?”
Since I sometimes wondered the same thing, I could only shake my head. “I swear I’ve raised ‘em as normal as I can. Nothing none of us weren’t around growing up.”
Smacking his teeth, Lamar’s face was scrunched when he reminded, “Bruh, our dads had us shootin’ craps with they old ass homies and tasting hard liquor at like twelve. I hope you ain’t raising ‘em like that.”
My first extinct was to defend that we still came out alright, but I knew none of that shit was regular. Lamar and I had been introduced to stuff way earlier than reasonable, from alcohol to drugs and gambling, and everything in between. But since my pops didn’t think anything of it, neither did I. I absorbed his knowledge like it was the bible and wanted to be just like him until I grew up and realized how destructive his habits were. So sure, Jax had tagged along with me and the guys back home, and had probably overheard some… non-kiddie conversations. But I did my best to balance it out with educational and life skills, not to mention his mother was on the complete other side of the spectrum when it came to keeping his environment as perfectly stimulating as possible.
“So maybe not exactly like that, but the same general principles. The kid is just… special.”
Lamar laughed, changing out of his practice jersey into a fresh t-shirt as he said, “Nah, the apple just didn’t fall far from the tree. Lil’ dude is crazy just like his blockhead ass daddy.”
I brushed him off. “Bro, come on now. I’m super chill. As chill as they come.”
Sure, between the two of us I had always been considered the wild child growing up. But I wouldn’t exactly categorize myself as crazy. Still, Lamar acted unconvinced, draping his duffle bag over his shoulder as he said, “Yeah, ever since you got on your fatherhood shit you’ve calmed down. But before baby boy came in the picture, that was the real you. The crazy you. The nigga I grew up with. To be honest, I don’t even know who you are right now.”
I held a hand to my chest as I defended, “You don’t know who I am? You’re the one with the key to Miami and shit. Can I have your autograph, superstar? Can a nigga get a selfie or two for the ‘Gram?”
He brushed me off the same way I had done him as we headed to snag Jaxson. “Here you go with that bullshit. You know I’m the same me. Ain’t shit changed but my address, brodie.”
“Yeah, your address and your bank account,” I corrected. Then we laughed together as he pulled me in for a quick bro-hug. “I feel you though, man. You livin’ the dream. Bossed up. I’m proud of you.”
His smile was genuine as he let me go to pick Jaxson up, tossing him over his shoulder and causing him to squeal. “Uncle Lamar, put me downnnnn!!”
“Nah, sucka. I heard you a big boy now. That means I can tickle you like one,” he teased as he continued to attack his ribs.
Jaxson was all laughs as he tried to fight Lamar off, but it was no use. I made myself busy dapping up a few of Lamar’s teammates before we headed out with plans on grabbing a bite to eat, though I honestly wished Nova was at home to cook for us. Surely chicken stir fry wasn’t the only thing she could whip up.
Speaking of Nova…
Once we got settled into Lamar’s car, Jaxson secured in his car seat, I wasted no time asking about her. “So… what’s up with Kaylin’s homegirl?”
I tried not to sound as thirsty as I felt. But from the look on Lamar’s face, he had picked up on that vibe anyway when he asked, “Who, Nova? She’s cool peoples. Her and Kaylin have been best friends since the beginning of time. Matter of fact, I’m pretty sure you met her at least once back in school when you came to see me hoop. Maybe at an after party or somethin’.”
I was waiting for Jaxson to jump in about who had quickly become his favorite person in the world. But when I peeked to the backseat, he had already dozed off, making it even easier for me to answer, “Nah, I would’ve remembered that.”
There was no way in hell I would’ve forgotten an encounter with someone like Nova. She was way too attractive for me to have ever skimmed over no matter how drunk I probably was at the time.
It was college after all.
Then again, it made sense once Lamar explained, “She’s changed a lot in the last couple years. I mean, she didn’t always look like she does now. Used to be a little more on the chubby side, wore a bob instead of the locs she rocks, cleared up her skin with some home remedies and shit. I mean, don’t get me wrong, she was always a dope person, always pretty inside and out. But now she has the… energy to match. Not that I’m checking for my sis like that, but you know what I mean.”
I nodded as I told him, “Yeah I hear you, bro.”
“But you may have to fall back. I’m pretty sure she’s still got a man back home.”
The original disappointment of the news returned, but I acted as if I didn’t know at all when I asked, “Oh word?”
I was hoping Lamar could give me some insight on her ol’ man since Nova had been mostly tight-lipped about him. And since she hadn’t exactly acted like a taken woman the night before outside of the few half-hearted mentions of her dude, I was interested to see how serious things were in his opinion. But it seemed as if he didn’t really know him at all when he shrugged and answered, “Yeah, some little actor dude or somethin’. Kay hates him though so you know I ain’t fuckin’ with him either.”
“Well if y’all don’t like him, I don’t like him either,” I replied matter of factly, siding with my fam. But my words only made Lamar laugh as he turned into the McDonald’s drive-thru.
“Nahhhh you don’t like ‘em cause you checkin’ for Nova and he’s the only thing in the way,” he insisted, practically reading right through me.
And since there was no use in hiding how I felt now, I agreed, “Might be some truth to that.”
“Just be careful, brodie. Nova may seem as tough as they come, but she still has… issues.”
Some of the worst shit possible came to mind as I considered what Lamar could’ve been talking about. Then again, there wasn’t a woman in the world that didn’t come with some sort of catch. But instead of letting my mind wander, once Lamar finished ordering food for all of us I asked, “Issues? What kind of issues?”
“She’s just… I don’t know. You’ll probably see what I mean sooner than later.”
“Nah, nigga. This is crucial info. So what’s the word?” I asked, turning in my seat to let him know I was serious.
He picked up the food from the drive-thru window, pulling off before the workers could recognize him. Then he dug in the bag for a handful of fries, making me wait even longer for an answer as he chewed them down. And after dusting off his salt-covered hands, he finally replied, “You know I’ve been rockin’ with Kay for a minute now, so that means I’ve been rockin’ with Nova too. And I’ve watched her go through some shit. Body issues, self-esteem issues, couple bouts of depression. It’s good to see her like this now, but I know shit like that is always a work in progress. So like I said, just be careful, man. You my bro, but that’s my sis so I’ll ride for her just like I would ride for you, even if it’s you that’s fuckin’ her over.”
“I wouldn’t do her like that, bro. You know me.”
“Nah, that’s exactly the problem. I do know you. And after Mariah, you’ve been kind of reckless in that department so…”
“Uncle Lamar, you know my mama?!”
My eyes flew to the backseat where Jaxson appeared to be wide awake as if he hadn’t just been knocked out five minutes ago. Lamar only laughed as he answered, “Of course I know your mama, punk.”
“My mama so pretty. Just like Miss. Nova,” he gushed randomly, making me shake my head as Lamar started laughing even harder.
“Yoooo… you can’t tell me you haven’t been teachin’ this dude a thing or two.”
I shrugged, smiling proudly back at my baby boy as I told Lamar, “Just raising him to recognize a fine woman when he sees one. Ain’t that right, kid?”
Jaxson nodded his head just as proudly as if he had any idea what I was talking about while Lamar groaned, “Yeah aight, nigga. Don’t let Miss. Nova get you in trouble down here.”
My face scrunched as I defended, “Never that, bruh. I’m just here to have some fun. And if she wants to have some fun too then, shit... it is what it is.”
“This nigga,” he grumbled with a laugh just as he was pulling into the circle drive of the condo, putting the car in park as two attendants rushed to open the doors for us.
I climbed out of the car and went to grab Jaxson as I teased, “Damn, man. They don’t let you lift a finger around here, I see.”
“Shit, we paid enough for this spot. It’s the least they could do.”
“Baller nigga problems,” I muttered as I followed him into the building, letting Jaxson take over the conversation as we rode the elevator up to the top floor we were staying on.
Once we stepped inside the condo, we were hit with the sounds of soft R&B, freaky old school R&B to be exact, playing throughout. And it only took a few more steps to figure out where it was coming from as Nova leaned against the counter with her lips pursed together, staring at her phone intently as if she was reading something serious.
A single creak in the hardwood floor was enough to grab her attention, her eyes lighting up and the scowl washing away once she saw it was us. Well… once she saw it was him.
“Lamar! Oh my God! It’s been way too long!” Nova shouted as she dropped her phone on the counter and leaped into Lamar’s extended arms, the familiarity between the two obvious as he wrapped her in an embrace tight enough to make me jealous.
“Wish she got that happy to see me,” I thought to myself as Lamar said, “Young Casanova. So good to see you, shorty.”
“Who isn’t a shorty to your giraffe ass?” she joked back with a slap to his chest as she let him go, a move that was apparently designed to make more room for Jaxson who was claiming ownership by wrapping his arms tightly around her leg.
“Uncle Lamar, how you know my Miss. Nova?” he asked, his eyebrows furrowed together as if he was really bothered by their hug.
Of course, Lamar only laughed him off. “Ohhhh, now she’s your Miss. Nova? Cas, what did you do to this kid? He was already braggin’ about how pretty you were in the car.”
Nova laughed again, picking Jaxson up and slinging him against her hip. Then she pinched his chubby little cheek causing him to giggle as she replied, “He’s just being the sweetheart that he is. Part of his charm to get more food out of me.”
“Uncle Lamar bought us McDonald’s!” Jaxson shouted excitedly, though I was sure his excitement was rooted more in the toy that came with his happy meal than the actual food.
And it was clear Nova was far from impressed as I sat the bags down on the kitchen table, her nose wrinkling in disgust as she replied, “Well Uncle Lamar might as well have you eating trash straight from the can.”
Lamar was already busy digging in his bag for another handful of fries as he whined, “Come on now, Cas. I know you been on your healthy shit for a minute, but you ain’t gotta do Mickey D’s like that. He’s gotten us through the best and worst of times.”
“Oh whatever,” she said with a laugh as she put Jaxson down and headed towards the refrigerator to grab some of the healthy shit Lamar was talking about. And once she was there, she did me the favor of bending towards the bottom shelf, putting on the show I’d never get tired of. In fact, it seemed like the perfect time to get even closer… I mean, grab the ketchup.
I grabbed the refrigerator door just as she was closing it, an action that caught her eye long enough for me to say, “Hello to you too, Miss. Nova.”
“Oh, hey Guy,” she stated plainly; no warmth, no friendliness, no hint of the good times we had shared the night before. Then again, I shouldn’t have been surprised that she had put her wall back up, the time between our interactions just long enough to refreeze her.
“Damn, it’s like that? Everybody else getting reunion hugs and special attention, and I can’t even get a change in tone?” I asked as I watched her drizzle dressing on top of her salad before putting the top back on to give it a shake, an action that had her titties bouncing every which way as if… yep, braless.
I brought my attention back to her eyes just as she was rolling them. “Heyyyy Guy. Is that better?” she asked sarcastically, sticking her tongue out at me before she went to grab a fork.
Passing her on my way back to the table, I got just close enough to whisper, “Better keep that tongue in your mouth before we make good use, shorty.” Catching the slight gasp she inhaled before releasing an annoyed huff.
Instead of joining us at the table, she stayed at the counter to nibble on her salad as if she was purposely keeping some distance between us when Lamar asked, “So Nova, what you got planned while you here?”
“Whatever your wife drags me to,” she replied before shoving a forkful of leafy greens into her mouth, almost making me feel bad about the quarter pounder with cheese I had waiting on me and the chicken nuggets and fries I was setting up for Jaxson.
Lamar wasn’t fazed at all, damn near swallowing his Big Mac whole and chewing through his response. “Better you than me. I mean, a nigga can only look at so many paint swatches before it all starts to look the same.”
“I’m pretty sure that happens before you even get to the store, Lamar,” Nova replied teasingly, though Lamar was quick to agree.
“Damn right. Blue is blue is blue again,” he insisted, making Nova shake her head as he asked, “Y’all are coming to the game tomorrow though, right?”
“You know we’ll be there, bruh,” I answered for Jaxson and I, unsure of Nova’s plans. For all I knew, she could have a... Skype date scheduled, or whatever it was that long-distance couples did.
When she didn’t say anything at all, I assumed that meant she’d be joining us as Lamar replied, “Alright, bet.” Standing up from the table and continuing on, “But let me get home to my wife before she starts blowing up my phone. I’ll catch y’all after the game.”
I stood up to see him out as I asked, “We still hittin’ the str…” Catching myself as I peeked down to Jaxson who was thankfully busy chomping on his nuggets. “The club after?”
Lamar dapped me up with a knowing smile. “Wouldn’t be right if we didn’t. Gotta welcome my boy to the city properly.”
“Did you run those plans by your wife too?” Nova asked, crossing her arms as she joined us near the elevator.
He wrapped her in a hug as he replied, “Little do you know, Kay and I are practically royalty up there. I can’t tell you how many college tuitions we’ve funded together over the years. Shit, we probably gave a few small business loans too.”
“Philanthropy done right if you ask me,” I chimed in, earning a side eye from Nova.
But that didn’t mean my best friend didn’t agree, pressing the down button to a glow before turning back to dap me up once again as he spouted, “My nigga.”
Nova only rolled her eyes as the elevator chimed with arrival, Lamar shouting, “Later, Jax.” as he stepped inside to leave. And once the doors closed, I turned towards Nova to say, “Well I guess it’s just the two of us now.”
Instead of paying me any real mind, she immediately retreated to the kitchen, tossing over her shoulder, “Three. There’s three of us.”
I brushed her off as I followed her, peeking towards Jaxson who was already drifting to sleep in his chair with a fry still in his hand meaning, “He’ll be ready for bed soon, so he doesn’t really count. And according to this playlist you got ridin’, you must be in the mood for… company.”
The word made her visibly shiver, but she kept her eyes trained on her salad as she used the fork to push around what was left and replied, “Mood or not, it doesn’t concern you, Guy. Must I remind you that I have a boyfriend?”
“The same boyfriend you’re searching on Twitter for updates about?” I asked, nodding towards her phone that was still resting on the counter with the name David Anderson typed in the search bar. Naturally, I wanted to do my own investigation on ol’ boy now that I had a name. But the question must’ve embarrassed her the way she quickly snatched it up and shoved it into her pocket. Though that didn’t mean I was letting up when I continued, “What happened to all that trust shit you were talking last night?”
She whined, “I do trust him. I just… like to see what other people are saying about him too.”
“Because you don’t trust him to tell you everything himself? Have you even talked to him since we’ve been here?” I challenged, not even caring about what boundaries I might’ve been overstepping.
To my surprise, she didn’t back down nor put me in my place when she answered, “Of course. I mean, we’ve texted.”
My eyes rolled instantly. “Technology is way too advanced for y’all to have only texted, Nova. Well, if y’all really fuck with each other like that at least.”
She dropped her fork onto the counter in annoyance as she snapped, “Look, I don’t need you to tell me about my relationship. We are just fine.”
The red flags that debunked her story were visible from a mile away and we hadn’t even known each other long. And after experiencing, surviving, the toxic situation with Mariah, things were even more obvious to me. Still, I held my hands up as I told her, “You ain’t gotta defend it to me. I’m just stating my observations.”
She crossed her arms defensively. “Because you’re, what? Some sort of relationship expert?”
I shook my head. “Never said that. But for the record, you getting so emotional about it isn’t a good look. Especially to a stranger you don’t really give a damn about. If y’all good, y’all good. My opinion shouldn’t even matter.”
“We’re good,” she stated coldly, her eyes tight and her whole energy about it reading otherwise which meant I was far from convinced.
“If you insist…” I muttered as I went to grab sleeping Jaxson from the dinner table.
I was just getting ready to pry the fry he was holding onto for dear life out of his grip when Nova fired back, “See. Now what’s that supposed to mean?”
Tossing Jaxson over my shoulder, I also used it to shrug. “It doesn’t mean anything, Nova. Do your thing. Do what makes you happy. And if he makes you happy, who the fuck am I to judge?”
Outwardly, she seemed satisfied with that response, but I could also read the slight hint of sadness in her eyes as if… he’s definitely not making her happy. Still, it wasn’t my place to insert myself. It was her business, her relationship, and I wasn’t supposed to be sweating her anyway since she was technically a taken woman.
So if she wanted to spend her summer searching for her man on Twitter instead of having some fun with me, then that was her decision.
I was going to have my fun regardless.