Chapter 19

Seven

“Why are you calling me again?” I said to Chris through the phone.

“Calm that ass down. Cam wanted to say something…Hold on.”

“Mommy!”

“Hi baby, you having fun?”

“Yes. Daddy bought me sneakers.”

“What kind?”

“Jordans. I got five mommy.”

“That’s good Cam.” I smiled hearing the excitement in his voice.

“I know, mommy eat with us.”

“Cameron I’m working. I told you and your father that remember.”

“Yes but I wanna see you. PLEASE!” I chuckled shaking my head.

“Fine Cam. Give your father back the phone.”

“Okay love you.”

“Love you too.”

“Yeah.” Chris said once he got on the phone.

“Where are you gonna be at?”

“Um, the Chilli’s not to far from your store.”

“Aight I’ll be there.” I looked at the watch on my wrist and sighed. “Let’s say five.”

“Aight I’ll see you then.”

“Alright.” I hung up just as there was a knock on my door. “Come in.” I said and Roxy walked in.

“Yo there’s some girl out here talking about she has an interview.”

“Who scheduled this Lamont?”

“Yeah, you put him on that job. But she waiting so….”

“Send her in. Bring me her application too.” I said and she nodded walking out. My store was pretty much ready to open. I just had to hire workers and Seven Reasons LA will be on and poppin.

“Aight here, she’s coming in.” Roxy gave me the application and I looked over it. When I saw the name I rolled my eyes. This bitch. “Here she is.” Roxy said and I looked up. When she saw me she looked surprised.

“Wow.” She said. She definetely looked different. Not in a bad way. She actually looked like the years been good to her. But her personality was a hot ass mess so that shit does not matter.

“Sit down.” I said and she took a seat. “Wow long time.” I said and she nodded.

“Yeah I thought you moved to Atlanta.”

“Well I’m back. So you’re here for a job huh?”

“Yeah, but for some reason I don’t think I will be getting hired here.”

“And you think that because?”

“Because I know you don’t like me.”

“That’s right but that won’t mean you can’t work here.” I looked over everything her application said then back at her. “From what I see you’re actually what we need in a worker.”

“So what does that mean?”

“That means you can work here as long as you don’t try any bullshit we good.”

“Wait. You’re actually going to hire me?”

“Yeah, just don’t do any bullshit or I swear I will really hurt you. Not fighting either I mean really fuck you up.”

“Alright Seven I get it. We won’t have a problem.”

“Alright. Bye now. You start next Monday. 10 A.M.”

“Alright.”

“Ay Robyn. Don’t be late and don’t make me regret this.”

“I got it.” She smiled then walked out the door. This bitch better not try me.

Chris

“Where is mommy?” Cameron asked me.

“She’s right there.” I said just as she was walking over. When she sat down she kissed him on the cheek.

“I missed you!” She said kissing all over his face.

“Mommy stop that’s too much.”

“My bad. I forgot you a big boy.”

“Damn I can’t get no love.” I said.

“Hey Chris.” She said dryly making me shake my head. “So what did y’all do today besides buy a whole bunch of stuff he doesn’t even need?”

“We went to the arcade. Then he had me running all over the mall. Trying to go in every toy store possible.”

“Well it’s your money spend it how you please.” She said laughing.

“I will.” I said as the waiter came over.

“What can I get you guys to drink?” He asked.

“I’ll just have a sprite. Do you have apple juice?” She asked.

“Yes, I’m guessing it’s for lil man.” He said.

“Yeah so a sprite and apple juice for us. Chris?”

“Sprite man.” I said and he walked away after writing it down. “So wassup with you. Why you look stressed?”

“Because I’m doing interview after interview. Talking to vendors, just a lot of stuff. But speaking of interview guess who walked in my office.”

“Who?”

“Robyn.” She said and I laughed.

“Robyn? High school Robyn? Bitch with that fuck ass accent Robyn?”

“Yeah and watch your mouth please.”

“My bad but wow. What she come there for?”

“Interview to work there.”

“I’m guessing you threw her ass out.”

“Nah, I gave her a job.” She said. I reached over and put my hand on her forehead.

“Daddy what are you doing?” Cameron asked me.

“I think your mommy is sick.”

“Chris shut up.” Seven said moving my hand off her face.

“I’m just saying. You hired her? Why?”

“Because she had good references, a lot of experience in retail. And I made sure to let her know if she fucked with me she would get fucked up.”

“What’s fuck?” Cameron asked.

“Something you do when you get grown.” I said and Seven sucked her teeth.

“It’s a word you better not ever let out your mouth. Only grown people say that.” She said causing him to nod his head.

I laughed as the waiter came over with our drinks. Once we ordered our food she looked at me.

“So I have one question.”

“What?”

“Did you have him around her?”

“Around who?”

“You know who. Jada.” She said and I cracked up.

“Jael and nah. Why would I?”

“I don’t know. But that’s good. I would have smacked yo ass if you did.”

“I wouldn’t do that without you being alright with it. Just like I don’t expect him to be around no fuck ass nigga.”

“Daddy said the bad word.” Cameron said.

“I’m grown.”

“Look Chris. I know better aight. He’s never been around any man except my father and Lamont.”

“Aight I just was making it known.”

“Whatever light bright.” She winked and we both cracked up.

XXXXXXX

“See what food does to him.” She said when I laid Cam down on his bed.

“Yeah. What time is it?” I asked.

“Uh, 10:15.” I nodded standing up straight. I was basically with them all day. After we ate Cam was buggin us about some damn 3D movie he wanted to see so we just went there then got something to eat again afterwards.

It was good being around them though, Sev and I didn’t argue or bicker. It reminded me of how we used to be before she moved. This the Seven I missed.

She took his clothes off and put a pair of pajamas on him. When she was done she pulled the covers over him then grabbed my hand pulling me out of the room.

“Aight I think I should get going now.” I said looking at her.

“Alright, you don’t have to. I mean if you want to stay for a little while I don’t mind.”

“Aight I’ll stay.” We went downstairs and I sat next to her on the couch.

“So what’s been new with you Chris? I never did get to ask.”

“Oh I’m good. As you can see.”

“So where you work?”

“I own a tattoo shop.”

“For real?”

“Yeah, I’m doing good business.”

“Obviously, you driving a damn Lambo. You always said you were gonna get one.”

“Yeah and I was right. Getting my money out here.”

“That’s good. You aint got shit on me but you good.” She said and we cracked up.

“Whatever man. But wassup with you? Why you being nice to me.”

“I don’t know. I just didn’t feel like it. Besides we got Cam so it aint like I can just avoid your ass. Might as well not hold a grudge any longer.”

“I feel you.”

“Yeah, but you know what. Just for old times sake guess what we about to do.”

‘What?”

“Watch-“

“Oh hell no. I’m not sitting through that shit.”

“If you wanna be back on my good side you are.”

“Sev we what? 21, and 22 now. You are too damn old to be watching Mulan.” She would always make me watch this shit with her. Against my damn will.

“Shut up and do not judge me.”

“No I’m definitely gon judge you. You too old for this.”

“Chris, your mouth. Close it.” She got up and put the DVD in.

“You really about to make me watch this shit?”

“Pretty much.” She sat back down while I shrugged and put my head in her lap. “Excuse you.”

“What? You said just like old times. If my memory serves me correct I would always do this. So yeah get to work on my scalp girl.” I said and she laughed.

“What? You mean like this?” She ran her hands through my hair.

“Yeah pretty much.”

“Alright then. This a onetime only thing nigga. Now shut up.” She picked up the remote and pressed play. I laughed again closing my eyes. She need to keep her ass just like this. This is the girl I fell in love with.