Lost One

56

❝TAE❞

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 was Azoni's birthday and phone's were completely shut off. Once the three-part episode of six for his wife's documentary was released, all their family could do was hug her because watching and having a conversation about it they felt would be too much for her in one night, and his wife genuinely appreciated it.

However, his wife did have a conversation with their kids after and the only ones that understood—Romeo, Cru, and Ken—only had one question for their Mother: "Are you okay now?"

Watching those first three episodes of UNCUT sent Tae's mind to back in the day. Those past two summers that Shantey didn't come to Long Beach as normal did have him questioning Anissa on why, but even Anissa didn't have the answer. Around that time Tae was sixteen, seventeen and didn't have a choice but to go back to his life, thinking Shantey's mother just wasn't allowing her to visit the west coast anymore.

Then once her career came around Shantey was brilliant with hiding her emotions, especially from Tae. While she was dealing with things with her former management company, Tae was active in the NBA league and often on the road with games and endorsements and they were strictly co-parenting. He was also in a public—also private—two year relationship with a shoe designer and his main focus was on being a father and a boyfriend to his own woman.

However, once things was getting icy with Shantey in the media, Tavon tried to check in with her. But when he did, he was responded with, "Everything's fine" and he didn't push because around the time he wasn't her boyfriend to do that. Dave was.

The overdose in that led Shantey into rehab, she confessed to Tae that she had an addiction to pills but didn't back down how long she was suffering with that. When it came to telling him though, Shantey only done that cause she had to. That was broadcasted all over the media, so she couldn't hide it from him like normal and they had a child together.

In between time, Tae was also dealing with his own issues that had to do with losing another brother to the prison system—his trainer, his support system. And although it might've felt selfish, what Shantey was going through couldn't fit at the top of his list after he tried to be there, but wasn't allowed by Shantey herself. He focused on him, but supported her from a distance.

Shantey was a hard nut that wasn't easy to break.

               Thinking on the past has Tae leaning on the doorpost in a clean fitting tank shirt and Tuff Crowd Holographic Dog Print shorts, watching his wife style her recently silk pressed hair into a low sleek bun. She was standing in a unlined demi bra and dipped front, high cut fit thong. His gaze trailed her figure and stopped, zeroing in on the tattoo on her hip making him breathe deeply.

"Healing is far from easy and doesn't have a timeframe; but I am getting better and becoming a better me for myself and y'all." Tae repeating her last night's answer to their kids out loud captures the attention of his wife.

               "That's what you told the kids last night," He continued, staring at her steadily. "And I believe it. I can see it. But then, I look down and I see that tattoo."

               Glancing down, his wife placed her eyeballs on the tattoo that branded her at just fourteen. It was small scorpion in red ink on her right hip.