"Can I have a minute alone with him?" I asked. Omelly silently confirmed it with Rihmeek before he nodded his head, "Yeah, I'll be at the car." Once he was gone I looked up at Rihmeek to see he was already staring at me.
"This why you didn't want me around?" I asked, cupping his face while rubbing my thumb very carefully over his swollen eye.
He didn't say anything but he didn't need to. I already knew the answer. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you, I'm not like them. You don't have to hide from me." I said while pouting out my lip a little bit. "After the last seven years, I think you should know that anyways." I added. He didn't say anything but his expression softened, letting me know his guard was slowly but surly coming down.
"What if the tables were turned? What if I hid this-" I started but was interrupted, "I would kill any motherfucker who even thinks about laying a finger on you. Don't play that card, Nic." He said through gritted teeth. I dropped my head to hide my reddened cheeks. "That's not the point, Rihmeek. You wouldn't like it if I hid something like this from you so don't hide from me." I said, finding the courage to look him in the eyes again. His small smile caused my heart to skip a beat. "C'mere." He said as he grabbed my forearms and brought me into his embrace. "What happened to you?" I asked. I could hear his heart beat increase once I asked the question. "A disagreement with my dad. Nothing much." He half ass answered. I almost pointed out his eye and lip but just decided to let it go. "Who is that man?" I asked, pointing at the house. "When I ran, I stayed in his shed for a night. When I woke up he had already found me. I explained everything and we had a talk then he decided to let me stay here till I get shit straightened out." The man's act of kindness made me smile, "See! I told you that everyone's not out to get you." I said.
He has always had this real 'I don't give a fuck' attitude. That's one of his qualities that bug me. At times I question if he cares about anything. When I met him, almost eight years ago, he was probably the most bitter person I have ever encountered. With time though I've had the honor to prove his outlook on life and people wrong.
"I never said people were out to get me. I just ain't fuck with anyone. I don't need the disappointment. Already got enough at home." He said. I frowned while shaking my head. Having this argument with him is like talking to a wall-it's pointless! Times like these are hard to be his best friend because I just want to knock his head off his shoulders.
"You don't even give people a chance to disappoint you. How do you know they'll disappoint you when you don't even give them a chance to prove you wrong?" I counter-argued. "What's the point? Just avoid it all together. I'm good on that, really." I unwrapped my arms from around him and crossed them, "You gave me a chance. Have I disappointed you yet?" I asked. I arched my eyebrow and rested me weight on one leg.
"No but-" He began to say but I rudely interrupted, "Exactly! Not everyone will disappoint you, Rihmeek. I'm not saying you have to go out and trust everyone you meet. But being a little less close-minded wouldn't hurt anything." I snapped. I don't mean to sound rude but I'm so tired of this. Every time I get him over his trust issues just a tiny bit, his dad and him have a "disagreement." Then we're back at square one. Hopefully him staying with this man, and away from his parents will work wonders. Speaking of his parents, "Your mother came to my house." I said, changing the subject before one of us gets our feelings hurt. His eye's widened in shock. "Yeah. She was wanting to know where you were. I didn't know so that's what I told her. She was talking out her neck at my momma though." I said. He ran his hand over his mouth before he scratched his chin. "Shit. I'm sorry, Nic." He unnecessarily apologized. "It's not your fault. I just couldn't believe she showed up at my house. She's lucky my daddy wasn't home. He would've called the cops on her ass." I said while tracing my finger over his tattoo's. "What did your mom say about it?" He asked. "Same ole', same ole'. This time I spoke up though. I regret the way I talked to her but I wasn't listening to it again. Shit gets old, ya know?" Meek nodded his head in agreement. I looked back at Omelly's car and sighed, "Speaking of them though, I gotta go. My dad will be home soon." I said.
He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear before pulling me into another hug.
"Thank you for coming to check on me. Let O know I'm not upset. I missed your little ass."
I punched his arm, "I'm not little." I said.
"That's all you heard outta that?" He asked.
I laughed before rolling my eyes, "You're welcome and I missed you too. I'm still not little." He shook his head while laughing, "Aight, Nicki. What ever you say."
I don't want to leave him but my dad will kill me if I'm caught in the car with a guy he doesn't know or "approve" of.
"Keep ice on ya eye and Vaseline on ya lip." I said while wrapping my arms around his neck. "I'll try to come see you tomorrow. You still working?" I asked. He nodded his head while squeezing me back, "Good. You okay staying here?" I questioned. He rolled his eyes before nodding his head. "Okay, okay. I love you, kid." I said before walking towards Omelly's car. "Love you too, Nic."
***
"Someone's at the door. Will you get it? I'm busy." Eric yelled from his office. I rolled my eyes while drying my hands before walking towards the door. "You're always busy." I said under my breath. It doesn't matter if I said it aloud though. He wouldn't pay enough attention to understand what I said.
I opened the door and smiled once I seen Madison, Rich's friend. "Hi, Maddy." I said.
She held a basketball on her hip and a bottle of Gatorade in her other hand. I think I like her so much because she reminds me of myself at her age. "Rich around?" She asked. For a ten year old she is the sassiest little thing. "He's upstairs. Want me to get him?" I asked.
She looked at my like I had two heads. "That's why I'm here." She said.
I walked to the bottom of the stairs, "Rich, Maddy is here." I yelled. Like the speed of lightening he ran down stairs and straight past me. "Rich!" I yelled. He stopped in his tracks and turned around, "Yeah?"
His facial expression reminded me of his father causing a smile to creep onto my face.
"Be good and come check in. Don't leave the court, you hear me?" He rolled his eyes and waved his hand, "Alright mom."
I watched them walk to the ball court and made sure they were okay before walking inside.
Their friendship reminds me so much of Rihmeek and I, that sometimes I feel like it's déjà vu.
Maddy is a sweet girl but she sure does have a mouth on her. She can irk my soul but she is still like the daughter I've never had.
"I'm leaving." Eric said before walking out the door. I rolled my eyes, "Bye to you too."
After I finished cleaning the kitchen I put on sneakers and walked to the court.
"Your dad doesn't like me, does he?" Rich asked.
They hadn't noticed my presence yet so I stayed quiet. "It doesn't matter, Rich. I'm ya friend and they ain't."
Their conversation brought a frown upon my face. Why on earth would her parents have a problem with my son? Maddy is always at my house. They're always together. If they have a problem with him, then why am I watching her all the damn time?
Like it was déjà vu, their conversation reminded me of a similar one I've had myself.
~
I walked up to the basketball court and bounced my basketball. I watched Rihmeek shoot a three and turn around to look at me.
He didn't say anything but he looked like he wanted to. If he isn't going to speak to me then I'm not speaking to him. I just bounced my ball then tried to shoot a three like him but missed. "You need to grow a foot then you might make the goal." He picked. I threw my ball at him and laughed when it hit his stomach, right where I wanted it to. "I made my goal that time." He didn't think that was funny and tried to hit me back but missed.
"Maybe if ya weren't so tall you would have made ya goal." I teased. He rolled his eyes before continuing what he was doing. I'm not sure why but I feel like their is tension between us. Not because of what just happened. He's been acting different all week. Since we ran into him at the grocery store.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, it's really starting to bother me. He's never acted this way towards me before.
"Whatchu talking about?" He asked. I know he knows what I'm talking about. Usually he'd already be on my nerves, talking my ear off. He's barley spoke to me all week.
"You're acting weird." I said bluntly.
He shrugged his shoulders before shooting another basket. "Quit ignoring me. If something is wrong let me know so I can fix it." I watched him pick up his ball and walk over to the bench. He wiped his face off with his towel before taking a drink of his water.
"Your parents don't like me." He accused. I frowned not only because of his accusation but because his accusation wasn't far from the truth. "So." I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly. I don't see the problem. Just because they don't like him doesn't mean we can't be friends. "I'm still ya friend, Rihmeek."
He smiled before pushing me. I think this is the first time I've seen him smile all week.
"Is this what has been bothering you all week?" I asked. He nodded his head, "Yeah. I mean it wasn't really bothering me that much. I just figured you wouldn't want anything to do with me because they didn't like me."
I laughed out loud. This boy is something else.
"I am my own person, silly. What they say about you doesn't really matter to me. They don't even know you so how can they dislike you?" He shrugged his shoulders. I'm glad he finally talked to me. I thought I was going to have to beat it out of him.
"Oh yea, I forgot to give this to you." I said while pulling an envelope out of my bag. I handed it to him and he looked at me puzzled.
"Just open it, Rihmeek."
He did as told, "The big eleven, huh?"
He smiled before closing my birthday party invitation. "So you coming or not?" I asked.
"I wouldn't miss it."
~
"What's wrong?" I asked Rich. He was walking around the house acting like a lost puppy.
"Madison's parents don't like me." He pouted.
"So?" He glared at me before plopping down on the couch. "You don't understand, ma."
I laughed out loud, "So explain it to me."
"If her parents don't like me then she's not going to." He whined. I felt bad for him mostly because I first hand know how this can feel. I hate this for him, especially when knowing what a good boy he is.
"Listen to me okay?" I started, making sure I had his attention. "Some people aren't going to like you. It's not because of you or anything that you've done. It's apart of life. One thing I can promise you is that, no matter what I will always love you and you'll always be my favorite little boy. Okay? I'm sorry that there are people like that in the world. If I could change it I would baby." I said, hoping I could make him feel the slightest bit better.
"It's not fair." He said. I nodded my head in agreement, "It isn't but who are they? With or without their approval you'll still be great."
He wrapped his arms around me and laid his head on my shoulder, "Thank you, mommy."
•••••••••••••••••••••
How do y'all like the story so far?
What do you think about Nicki's marriage so far?
What do you think about the flashbacks?
comment & vote 😘
