𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝟕: 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥
I'm a train wreck in the morning
I'm a bitch in the afternoon
Every now and then without warning
I can be really mean towards you
I'm a puzzle, yes, indeed
Ever-complex in every way
And all the pieces aren't even in the box
And yet you see the picture clear as day
𝐎𝐌𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓
𝐋𝐎𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒, 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀
December 𝟐𝟓𝐭𝐡, 𝟏𝟐:𝟏𝟎 pm
|| So why you ain't trying harder? You want her, get her. Prove it to her. ||
— 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈
ఌ
"You have the best gifts, thank you again." Amerie breathed out, admiring the array of gifts Layton had gotten her. She felt an overwhelming sense of appreciation at the fact she had someone who genuinely did bring her a form of happiness.
She didn't necessarily know how to fully classify her relationship with Layton, or her feelings. They never exchanged the love word, had few encounters with one another's family, and were still getting into the swing of things nearly a year later.
Amerie still struggled to wrap her head around the way the relationship sprouted, considering a brief reconciliation quickly turned into them picking up where they left off. Except this time, Layton didn't waste any time in making Amerie her girlfriend unlike the last. She still held suspicions when Amerie was around Syre, but she never verbalized anything as she never wanted to seem insecure or controlling.
"You're welcome, imma head out though to start helping my mom out with cooking and all that. I'll see you later okay?" She spoke from where she stood already outside of the doorway, her eyes raking up Amerie body that clothed in a silk robe and her bonnet.
Her fresh face and home attire were enough for anyone who was ever romantically involved with her, as she was so naturally beautiful. Even arguably looking better without all the makeup, as some others would deem her to be.
"Okay I'll call you later, tell your family I said hi and I wish I could be there tonight. I'll try and see what I can do, but my daughter's supposed to be coming back to my house tonight so I'll see." She informed Layton who nodded, pulling her girlfriend in for a brief hug and a kiss.
Their goodbye wasn't unnecessarily elongated, as Layton made her way down the hall for Amerie to close the door of her home back. She looked around at the beautiful, high-rise penthouse that was decorated in tons of Christmas decorations and spirit.
She loved Christmas now that she had a baby to splurge on. Growing up, she never cared for any holidays but especially not Christmas because it was a day she watched her "family" bond, while she never got anything. She resented the day and everything that came with it, until she had a child or her own whose eyes lit up the same way for the three Christmas' she experienced so far.
Her child's life couldn't be anything like the one she lived, and she felt blessed that she had the resources to create that change. She had the money, she had the village to help her, she had everything for her child who was happy. Always had been, even when she only got to see her parents for an hour a day.
Malani's life was nothing like hers already, and Amerie planed to keep things that way as did Syre. She was his only child, his princess, and he made her feel that exact way since the day she was born.
"This girl does not clean up." Amerie muttered as she picked up some of Malani's toys that sat along the floors of her living room.
A ring of her doorbell interrupted the slight tidying up she was doing for the expected morning guests at her house. Setting things aside, Amerie made sure her clothes were fixed before making her way to the front door she pulled open, revealing Syre and Xyden.
"Merry Christmassss!" She sang excitedly, pulling Xyden into a hug first. "You look so cute." She pursed her lips.
"Merry Christmas." He smiled back as he engaged in the hug, before the two pulled away from one another.
"Lani's upstairs if you want to go up there." She pointed towards the staircase, and Xyden immediately nodded once taking off. Leaving Amerie with Syre who stared into her face like he was trying to read her.
"You glowing like you got fucked last night." He mentioned once the little boy was away from them, and he was fully inside the house. Closing the door behind him, Amerie rolled her eyes as she led the way back towards the living room.
"I did." She responded once sitting down along the couch, her eyes following Syre whose deep chuckle filled the open walls of them home.
"You enjoying the fuck out yo plastic dicks, good fa you." He nodded towards Amerie whose mouth dropped making him laugh harder, except this time it was a genuine one.
Her eyes rolled hard again, legs crossed over one another with her arms folded along her chest. "It's not even plastic." She mumbled, watching him pull gifts from the big black bag he held.
"My fault, silicone." He raised his hands in surrender, having to bite down on his bottom lip to stop himself from laughing once seeing the look along her face. He didn't understand the problem, she should've been proud of her decisions in his opinion. "You be wearing a strap Amerie-."
"No Syre, oh my God weirdo." She threw the remote at him that he caught, annoying her further.
His tongue swiped along his lips slowly, admiring her attire that was barely anything. As he knew under that robe, she couldn't have on anything more than what was most likely a lace set. "Shit if I can't have you, might as well imagine you and yo bitch. She bad, it ain't-."
"You be fantasizing bout me and my girlfriend?" She twisted her face up, expecting herself but surely not Layton.
"Nah, I fantasize bout you. Not her, Ian attracted to her she ain't my type-."
"I thought you didn't have a type."
Pursing his lips, Syre slowly nodded with his head still focused down into the bag he was emptying. "I don't. But any girl I get serious with got similar characteristics as the other, so I'm sure you could assume the shit that get me going. It's a lil obvious." He shrugged, finally placing the last princess wrapped gift under the tree.
Nodding to herself, Amerie stood to her feet seeing as he seemed to be done. This was the first Christmas they were actually both spending with Malani. Since jail prevented it since he was in solitary confinement for the first year, and the previous year they just weren't seeing eye to eye to the capacity of being together for the holiday.
Syre's eyes followed her body that stretched, making her short robe raise ever so slightly to reveal the skin of her brown upper thighs. She could feel his stare, and felt it stronger once she turned on her heels to walk towards her staircase. Those eyes so shamelessly watching the way everything moved effortlessly with every step she took.
"Damn." He breathed out under his breath, before shaking his head to snap out of it.
Although Amerie still heard him, and couldn't help the small smirk along her face that threatened to creep up. "Lani, Xy, come open your presents!" She called out to the kids whose footsteps she immediately heard.
Yet it was more like Malani's quick patter of running anxiously with Xyden following behind. Amerie watched them both make their way down the stairs, Malani's slow walking clearly annoying Xyden who eventually just picked her up to finish going down the two flights of stairs.
Amerie couldn't help but to laugh at the smile along Malani's face, knowing she got her way any and every time when it came to any male in her life. From her cousins, to her father, to her uncles, and every other person who encountered her.
"You are so ridiculous, but Merry Christmas my sweet honeycomb." She cooed out to Malani who jumped straight into her mother's arms who she seen earlier, but the excitement never dwindled no matter how many times she seen her parents.
"Christ-masss!" She cheered excitedly, shimmying her little body for Amerie to let down so she could go to the tree she hadn't seen yet. The entire thing was empty the night before, allowing Amerie to carry on the theme of Santa coming in the middle of the night to go with the milk and cookies Malani left out, despite the fact they didn't have a chimney.
"Santa done gave you the whole world it seem." Amerie smiled, watching Malani whose little legs raced into the living room. She followed slowly behind her daughter, hearing her dramatic gasp and squeal once seeing who sat in the living room.
"Daddy!" She cheesed, running up to her father who leant down to wrap his arms around her from his seat. His lips imprinted the smallest kiss against her forehead and cheek.
"Merry Christmas princess." He hugged her closer, "you gon open ya presents?" He nodded towards the overflowing Christmas tree that had gifts stacked all under and along the open floor to ceiling windows.
"Xy all of your gifts are in the blue wrapping paper, and Lani yours are in pink. Syre yours are in white, then everyone else's are in whatever other colors." Amerie told them as she sat down on the couch next to Syre to watch the kids open their gifts.
"Yo gifts from me over there Lani." He pointed towards the huge mountain of overflowing gifts that were all wrapped in shades of pink. His mountain of gifts overpowered Amerie's by just a little, but nonetheless their daughter had tons and tons of things to unwrap.
Amerie smiled, watching the kids tend to their own respective presents. It was more like Malani constantly bothering Xyden for help, or just being nosey to what he got, but neither Syre or Amerie stopped it. It was the most personality Xyden had in a while communicating with her, genuinely smiling from the array of gifts he got from Amerie after opening all of the ones from Syre back at his house.
"Where you going?" Syre grabbed the back of Amerie's robe to pull her back once she tried to stand and walk off to the kitchen. "Your shit over there." Amerie smiled seeing him pointing towards an area that had just a little less than those he had for Lani. But hers weren't wrapped, it was just a mountain of all types of designer brand packaging stacked high.
"So what, I ain't good enough for wrapped presents? After I wrapped all your shit?" She raised an eyebrow, gesturing to his mountain of gifts she got him.
"You good enough for the world, I just ain't have time baby. My momma wrapped the gifts, I was still buying half ya shit like yesterday." He smiled to Amerie who couldn't help but to mirror his beautiful smile.
She opened each box and bag, and felt like she was just gushing more and more with every single gift. She felt just like the kids, sitting on the floor and being amazed at every single thing she ripped open.
She didn't know how he still managed to find gifts to give her, after spoiling her so much over the years. But he always did whenever he chose to, and she couldn't be any more appreciative of everything.
"Half this shit ain't even out yet, been collecting the authentic and vintage shit with each trip I been going on. Couple of these purses only one of a few that even exist, make sure nobody rob yo ass I swear to God Amerie." Syre spoke in all seriousness, watching her eyes that widened at the vintage Chanel she held.
She loved vintage items, and love collecting them from brands because it meant few people had it nowadays. It made her feel accomplished to walk around in inventory that was so true to her, and inventory that she admired while she was growing up.
"Look mommy!" Malani held up 3 baby purses that matched 3 of the Chanel, Dior, and LV purses he bought Amerie.
Gasping, Amerie shifted through her opened gifts to hold up her 3 purses that matched. "Syre." Her bottom lip hung at how adorable it was that he got them mommy and me purses somehow, and the fact that they were customized for Malani to have all of the smaller versions authentically.
"You such a crybaby dude, don't start all that shit." He huffed out seeing her eyes begin to water.
The holidays made her so overwhelmingly grateful that she got to receive and provide from her loved ones. It was overwhelming at times, but regardless she was always grateful. This was something she could only dream of when she pictured her life before, and it still felt so surreal.
"Look dad!" Xyden jumped up, showing just a little of the magnitude of gifts Amerie bought him. His PlayStation covers and the diamond glistening rainbow Cuban being two of his favorites so far that he showed Syre.
"You gotta tell her thank you boy." He playfully nudged Xyden's head, making the little boys smiling face turn in Amerie's direction.
"Thank you Merie." He smiled wide, following it with a hug that melted her heart completely. She pressed multiple kisses along his cheek and one against his forehead, before allowing him to continue on opening the gifts.
"You're so welcome sweetheart." She placed her hands to her heart, her focus gradually going to Syre who just sat watching them. "Um open your gifts from me, Lani, and Xy hello!" She urged with a wide smile, pulling Syre's arm so he could join them on the floor.
"Ian tell yo ass I'm tryna be on this damn floor." He smacked his lips, sitting next to the pile of gifts Amerie had for him.
From clothes, to shoes, to colognes, money, underwear, tees- she got him anything a man like him could possible want. But it was the jewelry that got him going the most, as she knew exactly the types he liked and the exact cuts. He was very specific, and she spent time studying how he liked every detail.
"Iced your ass out nigga, I don't play." She smiled, seeing his own smile that spread along his face seeing the custom chain that sat in a sealed box.
"Yo ass doing ya biggest this Christmas, thank you mama." He stole a kiss from her cheek, making her eyes shoot over in his direction although he wasn't paying attention to her. Instead more concerned with his different gifts.
He opened the next huge box that was full of art stuff, something he'd been heavily getting back into as of lately. "The kids picked out all of those." She pointed, as it was a whole bunch of stuff that didn't necessarily go together. But the fact they were from his kids meant enough.
They spent about an hour finishing up with unwrapping and exchanging the crazy amount of gifts. Amerie made brunch and hot chocolate for the four of them, before sending the kids to cleanup the wrapping paper in the kitchen and bring their stuff to their rooms.
Xyden had a room in her house from a while ago, way before Cheyanna died because he spent the night over there constantly to be around his sister. So whatever he could leave there, he brought up to his room and helped Malani bring her stuff up to hers.
"This my newest baby." Syre held the chain up for Amerie to see it read her first name, in replacement to the one he used to wear of her middle name. "It's permanent, I'm serious bout this whole getting you back shit. Call this lil era my prep for getting you to come back home." He smirked to his baby mother who scoffed.
"Come back home? We never lived together, baby I am home." She raised an eyebrow, as it was the same home she been living in for going on three years now.
Dropping his smirk, Syre shot her a deadpanned expression. "You got a smart ass mouth, you know that?"
"I didn't graduate with my bachelors for no reason sweetheart." She smirked, teasing him further because it was fun for her. Knowing she always got her way and he couldn't do anything about it.
"You so fine it don't even make sense, it feel like the older you get the better you look. All mine-."
"All delusional." She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah aight, this just part two of the first time. I ain't new to this playing in my face, waiting game type shit. Youn even like the bitch you with, you the one delusional." He nodded in her direction as his body spun around in her island chair, tossing the mini basketball he held up in the air.
Amerie pursed her lips while keeping her focus down on the stove she was cleaning. "I like Layton a lot-."
"You told her you love her though?"
"No, because we're not at that point-."
"Wild, you knew you loved me 6 months in and we wasn't even together yet. Then you ask me stupid shit like why I think you'd take me back, you still love me ma. But I'll change the subject so youn gotta stress that pretty head." He kissed her forehead before leaning back to dodge the hit he knew was coming.
Flicking him off, she ignored him to finish up in the kitchen and get herself and Malani together. She chose simple with her pink dress and her unusually straightened hair with a cut bang she was thoroughly enjoying, and the constant compliments from her daughter let her know her hair was cute.
She put Malani in a red Christmas dress her daughter picked out, and had been begging to wear. She never thought she would be the parent who obsessed over the pictures and the mini photoshoots on the holidays, but it was every single occasion where she had to have her baby outdo herself.
Syre sat on the couch busying himself with watching the game, until the sound of footsteps sounded through the house. The clacking of Amerie's heels came slower than the kids, although his eyes could only focus in on Amerie who descended down the stairs.
He was forced to take a double take, eyeing his baby mother who looked far beyond good. She didn't change up her hair often but when she did, it felt breathtaking every single time. Then the way her dress hugged at every curve along her body did something to him, and he could feel the effects she had over him from the way his body reacted alone.
"Fuck." He whispered out once she finally stepped down onto the first floor with her black knee-high boot heels.
Her eyes glanced up hearing him, just in time to catch his tongue that slowly swiped over his lips with a lust filled gaze within his glowing eyes. The way he looked at her told her enough about what he wanted to do to her in those very moments, and it sent the coldest chill down her spine once she attempted to move past him, only to be grabbed and pulled close in front of him.
"Ian been on you like this since the first go round, and it happened in like 2 weeks." He sighed, rubbing at his eyes that couldn't help but to look her up and down slowly. "Youn know how bad I want you right now, real shit." He mumbled low enough for the kids to not hear anything.
It was that look in his eyes that used to get him anything he wanted out of her, every single time. "I can see, cause you weren't doing any of this before. It's every second now." She whispered out, not understanding where all this was coming from.
Nodding, he gradually released her although reluctant to. "I got to get you back man- I am gon get you back, this shit don't make sense. You look beautiful." He finally complimented properly for Amerie to crack a small smile.
"Thank you and you look very handsome yourself, but if you're ready we can head out." She told Syre who nodded, turning to just get his things together while Amerie tended to the gifts she was bringing and getting the kids together.
They left out in separate cars, with the kids going with Amerie since Syre drove his two seater low Lamborghini that she couldn't remember the last time he'd driven. She didn't even attempt to keep up with him along their drive to his parents house, because his reckless driving was a heavy no with two children in the car with her.
Malani attempted to try and speak to her brother, although she didn't get much out of him. But it was the ways she tried to make him feel better evidently that warmed Amerie's heart, feeling blessed that she had such a sweet child.
Although long, the drive felt like it took no time at all once they were pulling into Kimberly and Elias' driveway that was packed with cars. They were evidently the last to arrive, as dinner was planned to begin at around 4 and it was going on 6 pm.
"Yo ass diving like youn know how to drive, I been here for 10 minutes nigga." Syre smacked his lips once pulling the back door open to pull Malani out of her car seat.
"Yes cause you drive like you don't understand the rules of the road, you drive terribly." Amerie rolled her eyes as she stepped out of the car, and Xyden got out from the other side of the back.
Syre watched Amerie who strutted off towards the house, one of her new purses in the crook of her arm, and her body held high in posture. He could only shake his head at her confidence that was so attractive, and radiated more and more with every single day that passed.
"Amerie's nice." Xyden's soft voice spoke up to Syre who glanced down from the softness of the words he barely heard.
"She is, don't be acting all shy with her. Don't be scared to talk to her, she a real sweet person." He told his son who nodded his head, now understanding those words to be very true. He always knew Amerie to be nice, but it was different when she was actively going out of her way to show such.
He looked to Malani who stared into his face, making Syre twist his face up. "Weird ass little girl, what you looking at?" He raised an eyebrow, bringing a clueless toothy smile to his daughter.
"I look pretty?" She gestured to the dress she wore, bringing a smile to Syre's face just as they approached the open front door.
"You look gorgeous princess." He mumbled, walking right through where the loud Christmas music immediately hit them and the sound of a crowd full of chatter. His eyes went straight to Amerie who engaged in a tight hug with his mother, whose smile widened to spread all throughout her bright face seeing her son and grandchildren.
"Merry Christmassss, look at my babies!" Kimberly shuffled up to the three of them excitedly, the only people everyone was still waiting for.
And it especially seemed that way from the way they were bombarded and overwhelmed with such a heavy array of greetings.
"Sisterrrr!" Isabelle dragged out as she hugged Amerie who melted into the embrace of her daughter's aunt.
"Sisterrrr!" She dragged back with the same energy, as her and Isabelle rocked from side to side within the tight hug of not seeing one another in a while.
Despite everything with her and Syre, she still had an amazing relationship with Isabelle and that was something that never changed and would never change. Especially because she was never the girl who seen her brother as one who could do no wrong, she always supported Amerie and only called her out when she was wrong.
"You look gorgeous my love, but imma move out the way cause you got the whole house to greet." She shook her head, making Amerie laugh while Isabelle walked off to her brother and her mother who were kid free just that fast. Malani running off to find her cousins, and Xyden following Amerie. "Wassup bitch." She spoke to her brother who stood with Kimberly who immediately turned her head in shock.
"Isabelle, watch your mouth." She pointed to her daughter with Syre sticking his tongue out from behind their mother.
'Ugly' he mouthed, just before Kimberly turned around not catching him at all. As always, he embodied peak younger brother.
"Right ma, I just wanted to greet my beautiful older sister who I haven't seen in a while." He spoke sarcastically, attempting to hug Isabelle who quickly moved away to flick him off making Syre laugh as he followed her deeper into the house.
"Y'all asses always got to be the last people here, why is that?" Elias entered into the living room where his son and the mother of his child greeted everyone in the room. From friends to cousins.
"Fashionably late, duh-."
"Papa!" Malani screamed, interrupting Amerie who she couldn't care less about around her grandfather. She smiled at their relationship as it always warmed her seeing how much of a connection her child had to her family.
Syre walked up to his dad who he greeted out of respect, despite the fact their relationship still wasn't as solid as it should have been. They weren't as close at all and it was evident, but he still did respect his father.
"Wassup, how are you?" Elias checked in with his son who only nodded.
"I'm straight." He mumbled, although Elias could read under those tension filled words. Clearing his throat, he adjusted Malani along his hip who talked his head off.
"I heard bout everything, meet with me sometime this week." Was all he said subtly to his son who once more nodded, knowing his father didn't ask to have formal meetings unless it was something serious. And always happened to be information he was being told.
It was like once they settled in, everyone jumped straight into dinner and exchanging gifts. Hours passed of pure family time until everyone dispersed again, going in whatever direction they wanted which was commonly the men in one area, women in one area. And more specifically, Syre and his cousins in one area and Amerie and her girls in another.
Except today, Xyden cuddled up to Amerie who he'd been clinging to since Cheyanna's death. He was becoming more and more comfortable with her with the more she shown him that she was there and had all of his best interest at heart.
"You okay baby?" She glanced down towards the little boy who only nodded. Her arm wrapped around his body, keeping him close with his head laid against her chest.
It was so unlike him to be so quiet and reserved, especially in the same vicinity of all his cousins. They were all one and moved as one, it was how they were raised, so for one of them to be so distant it caused a small buzz of concern.
Amerie smiled seeing Keoni walking up towards the little boy who he still known as a cousin. He smiled at Xyden with a present in his hand to give.
"They said we aren't cousins by blood anymore, but you'll always be our cousin and Lani's brother. So I still got you a Christmas present. Ion like you sad Xy, so here." He handed his cousin the box that held his present which Keoni clearly wrapped himself.
"Thanks." Xyden spoke softly, and Amerie could feel her nose begin to burn and eyes gloss up at the interaction between the two boys.
And with Keoni coming over, the rest of the kids began to make their way towards Xyden who they could tell was feeling sad. They all took turns giving him hugs, regardless of the fact he wasn't reciprocating the same energy.
"Xyyy, don't want to play?" Kaylen pursed his lips, trying to urge his cousin by a small pull of his arm.
"Mmm mmm." He shook his head, staying by Amerie who looked to the kids.
"How about you guys make something for Xy to feel better, and I'll have him here waiting as soon as y'all are done." She smiled, and they all nodded to run off. Except Malani stayed behind, not liking how sad she'd seen Xyden for the past days.
"Brudda." Malani frowned as she climbed onto the couch with them. Amerie watched as her daughter raised his arm so she could climb under to lay against him. "Sad?" She questioned, looking up towards him.
"No Lani." Amerie mumbled, although Malani didn't pay her mother any mind to try and comfort Xyden. She was so young, but picked up on energy so well.
Amerie had to look away the second her daughter gave a small kiss along his cheek, because she would have ended up bawling her eyes out. Her soft spot was children, and watching the way every single one of the kids tried to make Xyden feel better, it got to her. And said a lot about how they were being raised.
Syre entered the house to grab a beer, seeing Amerie spending her time tending to Xyden. She sat in the living room with Raven and Kimora who were clearly gossiping and would fill Amerie in when she wasn't so preoccupied and when there were no kids around.
He crouched down to be leveled with Xyden who watched him. "Everything gon be straight lil man, aight?" He ran his hand over his short curls, making the little boy nod.
Nodding himself, Syre kissed his forehead then Amerie's, and picked up Malani before continuing on his way to the kitchen. Amerie immediately cut her eyes in the direction of her friends who looked to her knowingly.
"Chile..." Raven crossed her legs over one another with her head propped up. She didn't even need to say anything and wouldn't, they communicated mentally.
And it was up to one of them to shift focus, so Kimora chose to volunteer. "Lord look at this precious baby." She pursed her lips as she sat down next to Amerie who cradled a falling asleep Xyden in her arms.
"I've been so drawn to him, like I have such an urge to love on him a trillion. It warms me so much that he accepts me and feels comfortable with me, it's so comforting that a child can be connected to you from energy alone." She sighed, glancing down towards the little boy who was finally knocked out.
"King came by and told us everything the other day, and the entire situation is so sad but he did the right thing. I Thank God he didn't let that baby go." Raven shook her head, admiring the way he was handling the situation as there weren't many who'd do such.
"I said the same thing, I'm so proud although my heart aches so bad for Xy, such a sweetheart. He doesn't deserve any of this." Amerie sighed, and this was exactly why she did the work she did.
Because it was so common for things like this to be endured by children at such young ages, with no outlets. If she could be that outlet for just a few, she'd do absolutely anything to make sure they were okay and felt comforted.
"He doesn't, and you're doing your big one mama. That nigga gon get on a knee before yall even get back together." Kimora shook her head, bringing a stifled laugh out of Raven and a small giggle from Amerie.
Meanwhile, the boys had their own conversation as they usually did outside. They were usually all together on most occasions, but there were so many relationships divided that the tension was too much. The downsides of dating and having kids within a friend group.
"All you niggas got baby mothers, that shit is crazy. Meanwhile I'm free and kidless." Isaiah smiled, leaning back into his chair. "Y'all all got bm drama."
Syre glanced up from his eyes down at Nariah who he fed a bottle to. "I ain't having shit, me and mine been cool." He immediately shut down.
"Oh we see nigga." Rell nodded, "you been staring at her all night, she bad but-."
"Watch ya fucking mouth." He mumbled, adjusting the baby who was falling asleep on him.
"Nigga, when the fuck you get back on Amerie like this? What happened to the people yall with, and all that other shit?" Isaiah asked the question they were all secretly wondering, since it seemed everything happened so sudden.
"Ion know nothing bout her relationship, but I'm done with whatever I had going on. This lil situation and everything regarding Cheyanna's death was some eye opening shit, made me pay attention to stuff that been there but went without acknowledgement. It started to get too hard to ignore, but regardless ain't nothing going on with me and Amerie. We just in a better space with the co-parenting and all that. Seeing eye to eye." He summed up briefly, leaving out many details.
He didn't have any intention to let anyone in on their business, nor did she. None of their friends or family knew about the fact they slept with each other twice, or the way she'd been his comfort lately, or the kiss they shared- nothing.
Syre couldn't speak for her, but he was simply done allowing in external forces. It was the exact thing that came between them the first time, and while he actively tried to pursue her, he wanted nobody knowing anything. This was him and her, and it started and ended there. And unbeknownst to him, Amerie felt the same way from how she abstained from gossiping with her girls whenever her baby father's name came up.
"Who yall need to be questioning is the nigga who supposed to be getting married." He nodded towards Remi, taking the attention off of him easily.
"You right, fuck been going on with you and yours gang? Yall had yall beautiful little girl and it been rocky, ion get that." Q tilted his head to Remi who only shook his head.
"It's not Riah, it's Brittney who won't go away. The bitch is like a fly who won't shut the fuck up buzzing, ion understand." Frustration was so evident in his voice, which was rare from Remi who was usually always the mellow one who didn't involve himself in drama or anything of the sort.
"How Kimora even know bout her though?"
Running his hand down his face, he mentally contemplated how much he wanted to share until choosing to just let it all out. "Aight, ion even think she told Amerie this so don't do that gossiping shit. Ion tell my fucking business but Ian ever been in no situation like this." He glanced to all his cousins, then his daughter to make sure she was fast asleep.
"Heard you." Syre spoke for them all, giving Remi the green light to release all that'd been pent up.
"Like 3 years ago, we was having a real real rough patch to the point she called it quits. I was going through it, bad, and got drunk at the club one night and shorty was there. We went back to her crib and shit went down, but again Kimora broke up with me. The following week she wanted to talk and she basically took me back, but I didn't feel comfortable going back into our relationship without being honest with her so I told her the truth that I fucked ole girl. She was mad, crying, screaming, all that and wanted to know everything about her and ion lie to my girl so I told her." He revealed to his cousins who nodded.
"So how we get...here?" Mook waved his hand to Remi who continued.
"Cause I told Brittney it ain't nun with us cause I got a girl. She wasn't happy bout that shit, found out who Kimora was cause of her salon, and approached my girl in person-."
"Nigga what?"
"Exactly. She was going on bout the relationship we had and this that and the third man ion know. Ki came home mad as hell, this was before she was pregnant and all that. I handled it, whatever, but we was going through shit. She was mad as hell for months, wasn't fucking me, was barely talking to me, then all that came crashing down when she found out she was pregnant. I handled Brittany again, and shit was cool for months till recently." He huffed out tiredly.
"That bitch been coming around crazy and ion know what for, but she ain't doing shit but causing a strain. Cause Kimora still don't trust me-."
"Leon fucked her up G." Syre shook his head, "We walked in on Harmony giving the nigga head when she was pregnant with Kaylen." He told Remi who sucked his teeth at the information, while the rest of the cousins looked shocked and confused.
"I'm not that bitchass nigga though, and it's like she know that but still don't. She got to heal man, and I try to be patient but shit ain't the same and it's fucked up saying that months before a fucking wedding. Ian calling off nothing if she isn't, but ion know. Ian leaving that girl so she better figure that shit out and I'll figure my shit out with Brittany." He shook his head, finally wrapping up the issues that been plaguing his life for a couple years now.
"You in a tough situation Good sir." Isaiah chuckled, making the rest laugh except Syre who felt everything his cousin was saying.
"Real shit, y'all got to have that talk. It ain't gon be an easy one, but it's gon determine it yall keep trying or not. You got a beautiful family nigga, ion think it's worth giving up on completely cause of external issues. You love her, fight to make that shit work till you can't no more...don't let her slip away, don't let anger in the moment mess up yo future. Cause you gon regret that shit every single day when all that anger washes off and you left wishing you handled shit different." He spoke with his eyes glued through the glass sliding doors that showed full access to the living room.
Raising an eyebrow, Remi listened to his cousins words but it seemed he wasn't just trying to give advice. "So why you ain't trying harder? You want her, get her. Prove it to her." He tapped Syre who looked over in his direction.
"What?"
"You said fight till I can't no more, you sitting here talking to us. You give her that last gift yet?" Remi spoke now just to his cousin, considering the rest were too immature for their conversations it seemed.
Shaking his head no, he stood to his feet without being told to, handing Remi his baby. "Imma hit you later aight?" He dapped up his cousin who nodded, engaging in the handshake.
"Preciate you for them words nigga, go handle ya business." He encouraged Syre who entered back into the house to go straight to Amerie who was in the middle of a conversation. But he ignored Kimora and Raven, keeping his sole attention on her.
"Come, so I can give you your last gift." He mumbled in her ear, before raising back up to walk in the direction of the front door.
Taking a deep breath, Amerie looked to the girls who all eyed her with a certain glint in their eyes as she stood up. "Don't know what's happening, but here for it." Raven mumbled, taking a slow sip from her glass of wine.
Amerie ignored them to follow behind Syre out the front door of the house. She could see the headlights to his started car, letting her know they were leaving briefly considering Malani was still in the house and they hadn't yet said bye to anyone.
Releasing a small breath, she pulled the passenger side door open to release the music that blared loudly as usual. She lowered herself down and pulled her seatbelt over her body, before he pulled out of the long driveway he thankfully wasn't blocked into.
The car ride was silent between them although long, about 30 minutes out and into the city. She didn't have the slightest clue of where they were going, and was scared to say much of anything considering how things went the last time they were alone within the confinements of a car. The tension was slight, felt, but neither of them mentioned anything about the obvious.
"Ain't too many people out tonight." He muttered as he pulled the car into a space along the city streets.
Amerie's eyes trailed up the high rise building they sat inside of, the illuminated lights seemingly beautiful. From the range of office buildings, to apartments, to shopping buildings that all glowed with the city Christmas decorations she admired.
"I know, everyone's with their families." She smiled small, glancing over in his direction. "Are we staying in here?" She questioned Syre who immediately shook his head no.
"Nah, we gon walk down the street towards it. I parked a lil ways away so I can spend a lil time with just you, away from everyone else." He told Amerie who slowly nodded.
Live in the moment, she coached herself.
She sat her body in the car once he got out without words, her eyes following him around the car until he pulled her door open for her. She smiled small, accepting his held out hand for her to grasp onto and raise her body from the low car.
"Thank you." She spoke just above a whisper once stepping onto the sidewalk, allowing him to close her door as he let go of her hand.
His hands shoved into his pockets through the cold of outside in the deep winter of LA. His tongue swiped along the taste of his grillz, feeling the diamonds he switched out his golds for. Only the bottom row held them, while his two canines along his top row of teeth held their own diamond sparkled gems.
She looked to Syre who nodded his head for them to start on walking down the street. She could tell something was on his mind, and he seemed to be contemplating whether he wanted to speak or not. "Say what's on your mind." She whispered out.
Chuckling to himself, Syre's eyes stayed ahead towards all the life happening surrounding them. "These past could weeks been eye opening." He started, looking over to Amerie whose eyes burned into him intently.
She could feel her cheeks that heated up from his gaze that she couldn't turn away from. "What do you mean?"
"What you think I mean?" He looked at her as if she was stupid, "you know what I'm talking bout, Amerie-."
"Syre, please." She breathed out, knowing exactly where this conversation was going. Their slow footsteps never let up to move through the streets of LA, a place they called home although it never felt like that. Not now at least, with the more time they spent living amongst so many who clearly didn't have their best interest.
"I haven't said nun, I can't be in no relationship right now. I got a lot of shit going on, too much going on in my head to be stringing along a bitch ion give a fuck about with Jaileen and I been realizing that which I already told you. I ain't been grieving that bitch death, I been grieving the loss of my son. When you at a point where you crave the touch of another woman in yo weakest moments? That shit don't mean nun.
Again, I'm single, ion give a fuck bout tryna play that respect game right now." He bluntly made clear to Amerie who couldn't even say anything against his words.
"These weeks brought me right back to when I was in jail, and you was the only person I had. You continue to be the only person I got, or that's what it feels like to me. My mind is so fucked up right now, and you the only person who I can speak to casually right now. You the only person getting this many words outta me cause you the only person I feel like gon actually listen. Niggas try and be there and give help, but none of that shit feel like you and I'm just being honest." He just vented, something he seemed to be doing so commonly now.
"And I'm appreciative that you trust me enough, and feel so comfortable to where you can release to me...and use me." She folded her arms just under her boobs that felt and evidently looked swollen.
Nodding, Syre fixed the hat that covered his head lazily. "And imma be transparent as hell cause that's how I always am with you. You know how I fell in love with you the first time, and imma keep it 100...through all this shit I know I'm falling back in love with you-."
"Syre." She breathed out, not prepared for these conversations. It was so fast, everything, all of his emotions and it caught her so off gaurd every single time.
Just a year ago, he claimed hatred whenever he seen her. He was so adamant on how they were over forever, on how he'd never want their relationship back, on how much he looked to her and seen a completely different woman. Yet here he was with a mindset so split and different.
"I ain't ask nothing of you, I'm telling you how I feel. I ain't bout to lie or act like it ain't happening cause it is, for the same exact reasons. I've loved you this entire time, but I fell out of love for a while. I know you ain't in love with me, and I know why, and that's cool but I'm just speaking." He shrugged carelessly, although she knew those last words ate him alive.
"All of this is just happening very fast. I blinked and we went from just cordial coparenting to all this in like 2 weeks, I can't deal with all that." She shook her head, but it was like her words went through one ear then out the other with him.
"It feels like it happened fast cause it did. That girl dying changed a lot for me mentally, immediately. I'm just not bout to keep wasting time when we ain't getting no younger." He paused, finally stopping in his tracks to lean up against a pole with Amerie standing directly in front of him.
"It's pressure-."
"I'm cool with applying pressure, that never scared me. It's been 4 years, and still, it's you. It's not gon be nobody else for me, ever, and that's something these last 2 weeks confirmed for me. I'm tryna start the therapy, I'm leaving my bitch alone, I'm focusing on you- ion know what else you looking for." He shook his head, "Fuck that, I know you ain't looking for nothing else, you just scared and too worried bout other people. Focus on yourself and what the fuck uou want-."
"I keep saying I don't know what I want and you're ignoring it-."
"I'm ignoring it cause it's a bullshit ass excuse you keep using man. You know what you want, but ian tryna argue with you tonight. That ain't why we came out here, we came out here for this." He pointed up to the tall building, making Amerie turn around with her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Merry Christmas baby." He spoke from behind directly into her ear, his body meshed against hers that stood completely stil.
Furrowing her eyebrow, Amerie looked to him in confusion. "What is this?" She slowly took steps forward towards the building that looked almost identical to the one she held a grand opening for weeks ago.
Except this one sat in the middle of the city. The outside front was gorgeous, seeing as though it was on its own property with so much nature and life surrounding it. She felt like she was on some type of campus, seeing a couple more buildings in the distance that stuck out to her.
"When you were building up everything for your therapy stuff, and the rehab lil resort, I was pressing you to get final designs of everything for this. I knew from before you even went through with the idea, that you'd have success niggas can only dream of. I knew you was gon get an overwhelming amount of support and all that, so while that first one was being built, I was having a second one built for you. I wanted to have everything ready by your grand opening so you could announce it, but it just wasn't 100% ready yet. You do whatever you want with this, but yeah."
He nodded, glancing over to Amerie whose body crouched down along the pavement with her head in her hands. "Why you crying mama?" He cracked a small smile, pulling her body up by her arms.
But still, she didn't say anything because she couldn't do anything but release an overflow of tears into his chest that he pulled her into. His eyes stared down into the top of her head, trying his best to make out what he could of her face that she hid away with her trembling hands.
"Nobody has ever believed in me the way you have." She whispered out, using her hands to try and wipe her tears that couldn't stop. She looked to the replica property in so much disbelief, shocked over anything that this was truly in front of her once turning her head over her shoulder to stare again in awe. "Nobody." She blinked quickly, trying to seize herself from her tears again.
"Why would I not believe in you when I know the type of timing you on, look at me Amerie." He turned her head, forcing her glossy eyes on him. "You the best at what you do, fuck anyone else. We bout to go into a new year, ion want to hear all that shit you be talking bout yourself. You deserve all this and more, believing in you is the least I could do you understand me?" He stared down into her eyes that filled with so much emotion he struggled to read.
"I love you so much, I cannot thank you enough for this." She whispered out, not being able to unwrap her arms from around his neck. "Thank you." She sniffled once turning her head back towards the building yet again. Speechlees.
"You welcome beautiful." He kissed right under her ear gently, before allowing her to pull away and just stare at the building.
"You're insane." She breathed out once finally beginning to take advancing steps towards it. He had the power to give her the world, and he did just that.
Syre watched the way she gloated at the building that she had yet to go inside of. "You want to go in, or save that for another day?"
"I want to go in." She smiled, accepting the key he held out for her. She nearly ran to the front to unlock the door of the building that lit up as soon as their feet tapped against the floor, and bodies were sensed to illuminate the advanced technological building.
She didn't even have it in her to go up to every floor and really explore, couldn't handle it right now because she knew her emotions would overwhelm her. Everything was so perfect, and she could see Syre's influence on the twist of interior decor that furnished the entirety of the building. Everything was so gorgeous, modern, and so perfect for her.
His arms wrapped around her from behind as they stood in the middle of everything, his lips pressed into her neck gently. "I love you crazy, I'd do anything to put a smile on this face." He whispered in her ear, and it was then Amerie quickly remembered she never finished giving his gifts.
"Well, I guess this is a good time to give you my big gift." She smiled small, turning her body in his hold to face him as she pulled an envelope from her purse. "Merry Christmas to the most amazing father I could have for my child. You deserve everything, and this is just something small to show my appreciation to you." She watched him nervously as he grabbed the envelope
Furrowing his eyebrows, he peeled open the envelope where he seen a piece of paper that showed a picture of a big three story building in one corner and a bunch of information. He tried to read over it all to make sense of it, but was in so much disbelief that his mind wouldn't allow himself to believe what he looked at was truly what it was.
"What is this?" He looked up to Amerie who smiled brightly.
"Your new three story tattoo parlor and piercing shop customized on Hollywood Boulevard." She smiled, watching Syre's face that exhibited something she'd never seen before.
He looked between her and the paper with so much shock, trying to wrap his mind around the gift she gave him. And in a blink of an eye, she laughed feeling her body be swept up off the ground in the tightest hug as she felt herself being spun around until her feet landed back on the ground. Although his arms never unwrapped from around her.
"Amerie imma fucking marry you, on my kids I am. Ion give a fuck how long it take." He shook his head, "No woman ever...ever." He whispered out, just staring at the paper that looked back at him.
She crossed the price out because she didn't want that to be his focal point, knowing he didn't even like when she spent money on him. Especially not millions which she'd never done before until now.
"This the most thoughtful shit anyone ever done for a nigga man." He shook his head, glancing back up towards Amerie who only smiled from his happiness.
He was in disbelief almost, that someone could care that much. She listened, paid attention, and executed perfectly. She knew everything he wanted in the upgrade of his tattoo parlor, taking one of his passions and one of his goals to combine into a gift for him.
"I went to your shop and took pictures of everything to get an idea of how you'd want things set up. So I bought like all the chairs and equipment and all that, all of the same brands and stuff you have in the parlor now along with some other ones I found that I thought you'd want to try. So everything's set up and bought already, but you can change things up and rearrange the way you want. I know you're probably gonna want to paint it yourself, so I made sure they had all the walls white and ready for you to decorate. But everything's ready for whenever you want to open it." She spoke, and with every word he felt like he was in a dream.
His tongue ran over his lips slowly, nothing but subtle nods. "Thank you, for everything." He glanced up at her, before looking back down at the paper.
"You deserve so much more than this, know I'm not done especially after all this...I love you so much, seriously." She wrapped her arms around him tightly. "I love that both of our big gifts were to help each other achieve our goals. And not only achieve the goals, but to push our success, clientele, income- that says so much Syre." She laid her head up against his chest with her arms never coming from wrapped around him.
And he held her back with the same weight in the hug, his lips imprinting against her forehead gently. "We gon get this shit right, okay? Completely." He whispered down to Amerie who, for the first time, fully reciprocated with a nod to her head. Which was all he needed to seal the moment.
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