Every Kind of Way

31.

"Oh, that's coming up. So is Asha's graduation. What should I get her?" he made sure to whisper the latter to keep her from being overheard from where she sat, "I was thinking a lil money but that ain't really thoughtful."

"I don't think she'd mind money and a card. If you really don't want to do that get her a gift card from Zara or Ulta. She shops there the most."

"What you get her?"

"I wanted to take her to Seaworld since she wanted to go back in June but I know I can't. She don't really care for gifts, she likes going places. I did get the tickets tho with hopes she'd take one of her friends instead. I got her a charm bracelet too."

"Where you get all that money from?" Ruben playfully squinted.

"What you think I was doing with that money when I was coming and picking up something eat from you every night? I was putting it off to the side."

"Once you in the league you can take her where you want. Spring and summer will be much different than this."

His eyes went to Asha and he sighed, "Let's hope so."

"What's that?" Ruben quickly took note of the look on his son's face and turned the pots to low. He gestured for Sanchez to follow him out to the backyard, "Wassup?"

"I think she's getting ready to leave me in the dust," Sanchez admitted his fear as he stood with his arms folded. Ruben stared at him for him to explain, "You remember Nai from my senior year? The girl that—"

"Crashed into my damn mailbox, yeah."

Sanchez lightly chuckled, "Yeah, well, her and I ran into each other back and we cool again but Asha ain't feeling it. I can admit to entertaining a conversation that didn't need to be had which made Asha want everything to be cut. I didn't cut it tho. Nai's running my social media right now and so far she's doing well. It helped me get that brand deal I'm negotiating right now."

"Mm, that's how all this came about."

"Yeah, and I said something to D and Zeek about her that Asha got ahold to and it hurt her. She wanted to break up. I promised her that nothing's going on cause it's the truth but she's been wishy washy with me like she's checking out. I guess I done made one mistake too many."

"She doesn't look like she doesn't want to be here to me," Ruben glanced inside the house to see the women now at the table, laughing.

"Because she's talking to Kahdija and not me. She wouldn't even look at me in the car. She didn't smile until we got here. I didn't want to fuck this up yet here I am. I ain't think me and Nai being cool was a problem."

"After having a conversation that you said didn't need to be had and saying something abut the next woman that hurt her feelings? C'mon Noo. She knows you and Nai are doing business together or that y'all even still talking?"

"I never told her we weren't going to stop talking. I just let her know I'm not going there with Nai. I wouldn't cheat on Asha, Da. She should trust that I wouldn't."

"Maybe for her to do that she needs Nai out the picture. I ain't sayin you should have to cut ya friend now business partner off but obviously you and her made Bug uncomfortable. That's on you, Noo, meaning you gotta fix that. You don't ever let the next person make your woman feel like you can be taken from her. I know you wouldn't want some nigga that got you uneasy still around. I damn sholl wouldn't. That nigga woulda had to go or some heavy boundaries would have to be set."

"That's the thing tho, she's never even been around Nai. It's all messages so even if the boundary was set she wouldn't see it so how can she trust what I tell her if she not already?"