Holidaze (9 page)

“Damn, Jeremy. Do you think you’re my daddy or what?”

“All I’m saying is that you can alleviate a lot of the drama in your life by making better choices. That’s what I mean by it being simple.”

“What, are you watching who I hang with now? But that would require you to actually be present at school on a regular basis.” Just because the fool brought me breakfast doesn’t mean he has the right to tell me who I should roll with. “Most people told me that I should have left you alone when we first starting kicking it but I didn’t listen to them then. I’m not listening to you now.”

“Jayd, come on. This is completely different,” Jeremy says, taking the rest of my hash browns from the table and eating them, since I’m obviously done. “I don’t want you making one bad decision after the next. I’m just saying I care about you and your safety.”

“Yeah, you care enough to judge who I choose to associate with. Sounds to me like you have some control issues, Mr. Weiner,” I say, snatching my blanket from under the pillow on my side of the couch and curling up like a cat. Jeremy laughs at my emotional response. He thinks it’s adorable when I get mad, but I’m not feeling cute at all right now. I feel like if I could pick his six-foot ass up I’d throw him off of my mom’s balcony.

“Miss Independent, that’s why I love her.”
Thank God for my cell ringing, because Jeremy’s definitely saved by the bell right now. It’s Rah, and right on time, too.

“Excuse me. I need to take this,” I say, going into the bathroom and shutting the door.

“We’re not through, Lady J,” Jeremy yells back. How did he become such a cocky jackass in a matter of minutes? He’s too much for me to deal with sometimes.

“Hello,” I say, ignoring Jeremy’s response and trying to shield Rah from hearing him. I close and lock the bathroom door to make sure I don’t get a surprise visit from my unexpected guest in the living room.

“I have someone here who wants to say hello to you,” Rah says. I sit on the closed toilet seat waiting for my surprise.

“Hi,” the sweet little voice says through the phone, instantly melting my frustration and making me smile. How is it that babies can make even the worst situation better?

“Hi, Rahima,” I say in my sweetest voice. “How are you, baby girl?”

“Fine,” she says. I can’t believe she’s saying another word. It’s only been a couple of weeks and already her vocabulary has grown. I can see why Rah doesn’t want to miss another moment with her.

“Okay, she’s gone. Elmo’s on and you know you can’t compete with a little red monster,” Rah says, reclaiming the phone from his daughter. His voice sounds happier than it has in a while, and I’m glad for it.

“I know that’s right. So where’s Sandy?” I ask, not that I really care. I’m just glad Rahima’s back safe and sound, her mama be damned.

“She’s in jail,” Rah says. Well, I didn’t literally mean she can be damned but it looks like the universe granted my request anyway.

“Jail? What happened?” I want to laugh out loud, the shit’s so ridiculous, but I know this isn’t the right time for it. Besides, I don’t want Jeremy to overhear my conversation in any way, shape, or form. Who knows what wannabe sage advice he’ll come up with next?

“She got pulled over in Pomona last night while driving a stolen vehicle, that’s what happened. I told the bitch not to mess with me. Now she’s really done it.” And I know how far Rah can go when he gets really pissed.

“Damn, that’s rough. Was Rahima in the car with her?”

“Nah. Rahima was at her great-grandparents’ house. But Sandy did have some nigga in the car who had a warrant and got caught up with her. Oh well.” My sentiments exactly.

“So what happens now?” I hope Rahima doesn’t have to go back to Pomona until this mess is straightened out. Knowing Sandy, she’ll try to drag this out in court as long as possible and in the process find a way to blame it on Rah.

“Well, for now I’ve got my daughter back and that’s all I really care about. I’m sure Sandy’s grandparents will bail her out eventually. And I still have to go get my grandfather’s car from the impound and bring it back down here, but I don’t want to take Rahima with me if I can help it.”

“I’ll keep her if you want,” I say before I can even think about it.

“
Jayd, you’d better not. That isn’t your responsibility,”
my mom says all up in my conversation. Even if I can’t tune her out I can still ignore her.

“I wouldn’t ask you to do that, Jayd. Besides, I know you haven’t been feeling well and I don’t want to put you out like that,” Rah says.

“Exactly. You have enough to deal with and you need to be resting. Ignore me all you want to, little miss, but you know I’m right.”
My mom momentarily gives up on her mission and let’s me finish my conversation.

“You better bring that baby to me,” I say, rising from my seat and glancing at myself in the bathroom mirror. I look a mess, but fortunately Rah has seen me look worse.

“Jayd, are you okay in there? You need a magazine or something?” Jeremy says through the closed door. I almost forgot he was in the living room. I push the mute button on my phone before Rah can hear my guest.

“No, thank you. I’ll be out in a minute,” I say, flushing the toilet for dramatic effect. Thank goodness I’m in drama class, because I can act my ass out of certain situations, especially when trying to throw the two of these dudes off each other’s scent.

“Who was that?” Rah asks. Damn, he heard Jeremy. Does he have canine hearing or something?

“Oh, just my neighbor from downstairs,” I say, trying to cover my tracks.

“What’s he doing there? I thought you couldn’t do anyone’s hair until you were feeling better.”

“Yeah, I just broke the news to him and he’s a bit irritated, but oh well. So are you bringing baby girl over here or what?” I continue. I hate lying to Rah, but I don’t want to hear his mouth about me and Jeremy this morning. It’s bad enough Jeremy’s getting up my ass about the company I keep. I don’t need Rah grilling me, too.

“Are you sure you don’t mind? I feel bad leaving a toddler with you after all you’ve been through.” Yesterday I couldn’t see and today I’m hung over from dramatic dreams, not to mention my sleepwalking episodes. I get his apprehension but I know I can handle this.

“It’s very sweet of you to be concerned, but I think I can handle little mama without breaking down completely.” Now all I have to do is figure out how to get Jeremy out of here before Rah arrives. His house is only ten minutes away from my mom’s apartment, and getting Jeremy out of the way before then won’t be an easy task.

“Alright, we’ll be there in a few minutes. Thanks, baby,” he says before hanging up. I open the door and step into the hallway leading to the living room to see Jeremy comfortably spread across the couch, ready to chill for a while. I’ve got ten minutes and counting to get him up and out.

“Sorry about that. Jack in the Box always runs right through me,” I say, holding my stomach and feigning discomfort. “I think I’m going to lie back down.”

“Okay. You want me to make you some tea or get you some medicine or something?” Oh God, now Jeremy wants to be sweet again, making me feel even guiltier. But he did just pop up on me, like I don’t have a life of my own. He assumed I didn’t have other plans and it’s true, I didn’t at the time. But I still don’t like drop-ins, and I’m sure he’d feel the same way if I did that to him.

“No, I think I just need to rest. Thank you for breakfast and the lively conversation this morning. It’s been real,” I say, gesturing toward the front door while making myself comfortable on the couch again. Maybe if I feign illness he’ll leave without contesting too much.

“You can’t kick me out. I just got here, and I haven’t seen you in days,” Jeremy says, looking genuinely hurt. He rubs my leg affectionately. I glance at the wall clock and notice a minute has already gone by. Nine and counting. “I know you’re not really mad at me because of what I said, are you?” This would be a perfect opportunity to ease my way out of this conversation and use my emotions as an excuse, but that’s not my stylo. Picking a fight is the best way to get rid of someone, but I’m not going out like that.

“Jeremy, I’m just tired and I need to chill alone. That’s all. I’ll call you later if I’m feeling better and we can continue our argument,” I say, patting his very comfortable hand still present on my thigh. “Besides, it’s not fair if one opponent is off her game. It gives the other an advantage and that’s not a good fight.” We both smile at each other’s stubbornness. Jeremy reluctantly rises from his cozy seat, picking me up in a bear hug with him, making me momentarily forget that I’m waiting for Rah and that I haven’t showered yet.

“I don’t want to fight with you. I’ve got nothing but love for you, Jayd. I hope you know that.” I know he thinks that, but I’m not so sure if I’d call Jeremy’s feelings for me love.

“Yeah, whatever.” We both laugh at my mockery of the old school rap song before saying good-bye. Still in his arms, I look down at him as he lowers my feet back to the ground, but not before he kisses my lips gently and I instinctively return the gesture.

“Bye, Lady J. I’ll check in with you later. Call me if you need anything.”

“I will. Bye, Jeremy,” I say, opening the door and handing him his coat from the coatrack.

“How’s that new jacket working out?” he asks, referring to the expensive Christmas gift he laid on me a few weeks ago, which is hanging on the coatrack. It’s hard to believe the holidays have come and gone as they do every year, leaving behind all of the drama they bring with them.

“Lovely,” I say. I caress the soft, pink fabric. This North Face jacket is the warmest one I’ve ever had and I’m grateful for his thoughtfulness. That still doesn’t excuse Jeremy’s daddy-like behavior on the regular.

“Good. By the way, if you don’t already have plans, I’d like to be your date for Valentine’s Day—well, night, really.”

“Really? I thought you don’t do holidays?” I tease as I glance at the second hand on his Tag Heuer wristwatch. Five minutes to go before I hear Rah’s Acura pull up.

“I gave you a Christmas gift, didn’t I? Now, you know I’m not going to the dance, but I could do dinner if you’ll let me take you out.”

“I’ll think about it. Being a racist and all, I don’t know if I should be seen in public with a white dude,” I say sarcastically. Jeremy looks down at me and kisses my nose before heading down the stairs.

“We’re going to work on all of that. I’m praying for you, girl,” he says over his head. I know my nosey neighbors just heard that. I’m surprised Shawntrese didn’t poke her head out to see who I’m talking to.

“Oh, now you believe in God, too? You are full of surprises this morning, aren’t you?”

“I’ll believe in whatever I have to if it’ll get you to have a little more faith in me.” Jeremy turns the corner and takes the last word with him. I shake my head in frustration and pleasure as I think about having an actual date on Valentine’s Day. The last time I celebrated that wack-ass holiday was with Rah two years ago and it was horrible. We were supposed to go to the movies and then have pizza afterward, but as soon as we got to the theater Sandy was there to cause trouble for us. And that was the last time I spoke to him until he found me, via Nigel, at South Bay High. This year will be different, regardless of who I end up spending the day with.

I close the door and check the wall clock. I now have less than five minutes to shower and brush my teeth before Rah and Rahima arrive, and Lord knows I need to do both. I can’t wait to see the little princess. My hair will have to wait until nap time. I’m going to spend the day playing with baby girl, and hopefully her daddy will be able to kick it with us later.

By the time Rah and his daughter arrive, I’m ready for the baby action. I moved the coffee table to the other side of the living room so we can have the couch and floor free to play. There’s not much space in this small apartment, but what little room we have needs to be baby-proofed to keep the potential for accidents down to a minimum.

“Look who’s here,” Rah says, passing Rahima to me. We smile at each other and she jumps from her daddy’s arms into mine, instantly melting my heart. I’ve missed this little girl.

“Hey, sweetie,” I say to her. Both of her chocolate dimples look good enough to eat. She begins to play peekaboo with me, picking up where we left off last time I saw her. Damn Sandy for being such a fool.

“She’s as happy to see you as I am,” Rah says, putting the diaper bag and car seat down on the floor next to the couch and kissing me on the cheek. Man, babies come with a lot of stuff.

“Yes, and most of it isn’t material,”
my mom says, adding her two cents. Will she ever get out of my head?

“Is that right?” I put Rahima on my back and give Rah a hug. Rahima puts her arms around my neck, ready to play horse for a while. “You have someone to ride with you to the impound garage?”

“Yeah, my homie’s waiting in the car now. I’ll check in with you when we’re on our way back.” Since he’s not being specific, I assume his homie must be Trish’s brother, also known as his main supplier. Rah really had no choice since Nigel can’t drive until his shoulder heals and I’m watching baby girl. I think Rah needs to meet some more people, but at least it isn’t Trish escorting him on the hour-and-a-half drive.