Riley's POV
A kid. A fucking kid. You know, at first I wasn't mad because I realized I had three kids but the fact that he didn't tell me overshadowed everything. Isn't kids something you bring up on the first date along with felonies and marriages?!
"Ri you're not even listening to me!" Darrell screamed making me shush him. He had come to my house really late while the kids were sleeping banging on the front door pleading for me to hear him out. Of course I answered so the sound of the loud knocks would end.
"What am I not listening to? Huh? Tell me about the little girl since you failed to do so before--"
"She's not mine!" He cut me off, screaming so loud I'm sure even the neighbors were startled. "I... I take care of her! But she's not mine and I didn't feel like I was obligated to tell you that shit!"
I felt bad. He took care of little Tara. He didn't stick his penis inside of a woman and create her. Plus Tara didn't look any kind of biracial, so he couldn't be lying. "Where is her parents?" I wondered, my anger finally settling.
"Her father is dead and her mom is broke. Can't feed her, can't shelter her. So Tara lives with my mom and I'm like a father to her."
"That's sweet." I replied looking up at him as he stood over me. I could see the creases in forehead, he had to be stressing over me and this situation all night. Maybe that's why he came here so late. I mean I did slap the life out of him in the middle of the park then stomped away leaving him, Tara, Asia, the other park goers and even myself shocked. "Asia has a new friend now." I tried to make light of everything trying to overcome our previous screaming match.
Darrell cracked a smile and sat down beside me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. "Does that mean you're not mad?"
"Are you married? Are you a ex convict? Were you once a woman?" I quizzed jokingly.
"Uh. No." He let out a laugh, his eyebrows raised.
"Then I'm not mad!" I announced, pecking his cheek where his dimple sat.
He turned his face at the same time as me when I tried to kiss his cheek again making me catch his nice lips. We started to kiss slowly until his wandering hands made their way to my hips and the kiss became real heated. "Wanna take this to ya bedroom?" He whispered into my ear then grazed his lips across mine seductively.
Grinning wildly I looked into his eyes, biting his bottom lip and pulling it into my mouth, sucking softly. "Can I ride this tim-?"
"Mommy!" Little footsteps were heard along with the piercing shriek, cutting my sentence off.
One of the Devil kids had awakened making Darrell groan with a low tone in my ear as I just giggled and pulled away from him. Honestly Darrell's sex wasn't that great. I never got off either unless I was on top, taking control. Other than that, he busts quick and then attempts to give me head which just leaves me wet and annoyed.
"Looks like you get to meet one early." I smiled just as Julius came around the corner with his stuffed giraffe held in his arm. "Hey, why are you up?" I asked.
He lifted his arms up for me to place him in my lap which I did. "I heard loud noises." He glanced over at Darrell with his eyebrows scrunched together in perplexity. J looked from the me to the mysterious man then back to me. "Who is this?" He questioned, his fist holding my shirt.
Before I could answer Darell took it upon himself to start the introductions. "Hey little man. I'm Darrell." He grinned which Julius didn't return, a blank look still on his face. "What's your name?"
"Julius." He answered in a soft tone placing his head back on my chest.
"What's up Julius? That game yours?" He jerked his head over to the X-Box consel under the television. Julius nodded his answer, his eyes lit up. "Come on. I got the Lakers."
I watched as they started up a virtual game of basketball. Soon, Julius had warmed up to him and his competitive ways started to make it's way out. It was humoring to listen to Darrell's taunts and Julius's quick smart responses. Makes me think about if Cassius was here and those father-son moments that my boys are missing out on.
"Aw! I could've had that!" Julius shouted over something on the game that I didn't understand. He smacked Darrell's arm playfully before putting on his serious face again and getting back into the game. Darrell looked over at me, shooting a wink when he noticed my intense staring. I guess those daddy moments weren't all the way robbed from them, they had Darrell. I had a feeling Darrell would be around for a long time.
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"We need Popsicles!" Asia boomed as she pushed the shopping cart down the frozen delictable aisle. "And frozen pizza!"
I looked down at her with a frown. "Popsicles? Asia it's snowing boo."
"So? We can eat it inside the house. It's not snowing inside." She explained matter-of-factly.
"Just get it and shut up." Asia jumped for joy before grabbing two boxes of colorful flavors and throwing them into the box. Beside her, Tara was grabbing her favorite kind of frozen pizza and also took it upon herself to throw those in. I didn't say anything because I got decent food stamps and I got paid for having Asia, it wasn't much but it kept us full and secure.
"Riley?!" I heard my name being called making me look back at
"Are we ready to go?"
Asia and Tara peeked into the nearly full basket and nodded their heads in unison. Grinning at the fact that this grocery run went a lot smoother then when I take the boys, I helped push the now heavier cart into a check out line and waited for our turn to pay and leave.
Making it home, I could hear the boys still playing games with Darrell like they had been doing all night and day. Julius had gotten acquainted with him really quickly.. but Caius, it took a little more time and a lot more trying. But soon Cai saw how much fun J was having and let down his walls to join in and actually put a smile on his usually frowning face.
The girls helped me put away all of the groceries when I realized I could call over more people for dinner since I bought enough to feed two whole families for a week. Sending Rochelle and Ahlex both quick text messages, I placed my phone on the counter and ripped open the spaghetti noodle packages and spilled them into the pot of boiling water.
When I had everything in pots or pans, stove or oven, I was content enough to walk away and check on my boys. "Who is winning?" I wondered standing behind Darrell's spot on the couch.
"Me." Darrell answered me before leaning his head back and looking at my face.
Leaning down, I kissed his lips tenderly one time then stood back up. "Staying the night again?"
"I don't know.." He shrugged, pausing the game and cutting the twins away from their trance. "Do you guys want me to stay again?"
"Yes!" Julius was quick to respond, nodding his head excitedly.
"Yeah I don't care.... can we play basketball outside next?" Caius was second, looking between Darrell and I. I knew the video games could only satisfy him for so long when those symptoms of his come out and the lack of concentration kicks in. Now he had to be outside running or doing something before he runs his own little mind crazy.
