Chapter 5

“I have to be at Zuri’s school in the next 5 min.”

“No, Safaree is being stupid as fuck because Karen wants to take the kids to London.”

“I didn’t say he couldn’t I just told him I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea since Zuri isn’t acting right in school.”

“Mom, you know I’m not…”

“Wow, okay.”

Nicki hung up with Safaree’s mother and grabbed her purse. She had to go to a parent meeting with Zuri’s teacher because she pushed a girl off a swing and bit a boys finger. Nicki pulled out the drive way and raced down a few blocks to the school. LJ stood outside the school with his friend Iris.

“LJ I’ll be back.”

“Where you going?”

“Zuri’s class.”

“What she do this time?”

He asked walking with her to the classroom. She shook her head and walked onto the hall way and saw Zuri crying. She sped up as Zuri ran down the hall to her. She hugged her and combed her fingers through her hair. Zuri sniffled then looked up at Nic.

“What’s wrong babe?”

“I whooped her ass.”

Nicki looked up to see Safaree. He pulled his belt back on and snapped his fingers at LJ. LJ turned on his heels and took the keys from his mom. Safaree shrugged and pulled Zuri away from her.

“Zay’more.”

“Um huh.”

“Words?”

“Yes.”

“You know I love you, right?”

“No.”

“What?”

“You don’t love me. You whooped me, Big Meany!”

Zuri pulled away from him and ran out the building. Nicki looked at the sad look on his face and grabbed it.

“She’ll be fine, Faree don’t stress it.”

~~~~~~

Zuri walked down to the park and laid across the bench under the tree. I hate him, mommy never hit me like that! She continued to cry until she felt a hand on her back. She looked up to see LJ standing over her. He held out his arms and she jumped up in them.

“Zuri, we need to talk.”

“About….?”

“Family.”

“Yeah!”

“Even though Dad whooped you, he still loves you. I thought the same way when I got my first whooping. All you have to do is not get in trouble for what you got a whooping for.”

“So don’t curse the teacher again?”

“If that’s what you got a whooping for, DUH!”

She laughed sliding around on his back. She loved her big brother and wouldn’t let anyone mess with him cause she knew he’d always have her back. He raced down the street with her on his back then flipped her off when they got near the house. She did two back flips and pushed open the door to Safaree and Nicki sitting on the sofa.

~~~~~~

Safaree smiled ear to ear holding her in his lap. She smirked as the kids came around to see what had them so happy and close. Nicki held a piece of paper in her hand and smiled then smirked a little.

“What’s going on?”

“Yeah!”

Zuri shouted becoming more excited. Both her parents were excited and smiling ear to ear.

“OMG it’s a paper like from the doctor….”

“Another BROTHER!"

Nicki laughed hard while holding the papers. She stood up pulling the kids to the bedroom. She opened her closet and moved to the side, so they could see.

“Yo? Is this real?”

“I’m so happy!”

“For how long doe?”

“Yeah I don’t want to get too excited.”

“OH.”

She gave LJ the papers and sat on the bed. LJ laughed then told Zuri what it basically said. She ran into the living room, but SB wasn’t there. She slowly walked back to Nic’s room with her head low.

“I thought he was staying?”

“Baby he is, why you say that?”

“He isn’t in the living room…”

“What? I’m suppose to stay in the living room?”

Zuri spun around and jumped into his arms. She smiled just like Nic which made him smirk. Zuri laid her head on his shoulder and stared at Nic. LJ laid his head in Nic’s lap and looked up at her smile matching Zuri’s.

“Daddy you’re stay with us, so no more Karen?”

“Just for a few more weeks. She wants to take you guys to London.”

“Why does she want to do that though?”

“Surprise.”

“Are you going with them?”

Nicki asked as her smile disappeared. LJ sat up looking at his Dad as he laid Zuri down next to Nic. Nicki looked at him waiting for an answer.

“I’m going and so are you.”

“What? No, I have to run the boutique.”

“You can take off and have….”

“She already did it for a month for me.”

“And she can do it another week.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“Nic she planned this before the divorce it’s the least that can be done.”

“For what?”

Nicki asked becoming frustrated. LJ picked up Zuri and walked out the room, so they could talk. SB walked to the edge of the bed and pulled Nic towards him. She sat up on her knees with her arms pressed against his body and staring into his face.

“I gave her the divorce papers when I left, she didn’t want to work it out, she needed someone to be there for her. She cheated on me with several people and got AIDs…”

“And you fucked her? Then…”

“Shh.. Let me fucking talk!”

“Me and Karen haven’t fucked in over 6, plus years. That night we made LJ, I haven’t been able to get up with her. That box you got wasn’t my condom. She just sent that to make you mad.”

“The pictures though?”

“Those were old. Did you not see my ugly cut?”

She laughed seeing his face screw up. He handed her a piece of paper and watched as she silently read it. What?

“She knew about LJ?”

“Yeah and the night I went to see you.”

“You came to see me?”

“Like the day after we met up, but I didn’t see you at your boutique.”

“You was looking for the kid?”

“She gave me this note after she asked me to forgive her and to at least come to London with her before she dies.”

“Wow, but why am I going?”

“Guess it’s her way of apologizing.”

“Hmmm.”

“So you’re going.”

“Safaree….”

SB picked her up and threw her across the bed then climb over her. She pushed him over and straddled him. He gripped her ass and looked up at her face screwing up.

“I’ll go… If we have our own hotel. I don’t think I can stand to look at her.”

“Okay.”

“And we don’t ride the same plane.”

“Okay.”

“And we’re going to get tested, still.”

“What?”

Nicki crawled off his body and walked out the room to get the kids up for dinner.