TEACH ME NOT 2 HATE LOVE

49

🧑Nik Anthony POV🧑

"Judging from how happy you look, I assume something interesting happened again with Tajea." That's what McCarty greeted me with as I entered his home.

Is it that obvious?

And he was smiling like a damn buffoon too, causing me to do the same.

"What makes you say that?" I asked, taking a seat next to him on the couch. My thirty-two were exposed for the whole world to see. My Glad bag exploded. "You made it seem as if I couldn't have a good day without her."

"I know it! Something is up! Did you kiss her? Or better, have sex with her?" He carried on like an immature teen, smacking my left shoulder. "Hurry up and tell your brother everything that happened. You know you want to."

He was right about me wanting to tell him about what made me so ecstatic and so overjoyed today. All the words in the dictionary that mean happy. And I did. And I left out nothing. The kiss and the sexual tension were building up between Tajea and me. Everything.

And of course, I know I'd regret telling him this. The guy started to behave more outrageously. Make fun of me, even.

'Nik and Tajea are up in a tree. K.I.S.S.I.N.G.'

Over and over, he sings. Scoffed. How childish of him.

Now he's just making me feel a bit embarrassed, mostly overjoyed, and filling my head with hot air like a balloon. Someone, please pop my head with a pin.

"So enough about me. How was yesterday with the kids?" I inquired.

McCarty saw how I was with little Nik, being the best father I could be to him, and got a little jealous. Therefore, he spontaneously decided he wanted to bond with his kids. He called up his baby mothers and set the date for yesterday to be with all those kids. The poor soul didn't know the shithole he dived into at the time. But I'm sure he knows now.

"My friend." He took a deep breath before he started complaining. "It was too damn exhausting. And that's the last time I will do something that stupid again."

I doubt that. Well, the part about him not doing anything stupid again. And ha ha. I wish I was there to see the well-deserved agony those kids put him through.

I mean, he's crazy for doing something that insane in the first place. It is so tough to handle one kid, much less twenty-three. Damn jackass. Ha ha.

I couldn't contain my laughter. "Then stop getting random women pregnant."

"Well, you should have given me that advice a few weeks ago," McCarty said. "And now, because of you, Trina, Abigail, and Tanya are pregnant. Days apart. And before you go dad mode on me, I did use protection, like you always told me. But they burst almost every time. And I can't just stop myself when I'm in the middle of having a good time. Now can I?"

"Those poor kids." I nod my head in pity. McCarty is my friend, my brother, whom I love very much. However, he's just not ready to be a father. At least not right now. And honestly, I don't think he will ever be. He's just not suitable for the father role.

"So, I saw your mom yesterday. She looked a bit down." He switched the conversation.

Now my mood is ruined. "I don't want to talk about her."

Alright, that's a lie.

"Did she tell you what she did?" I asked angrily.

"No. She didn't. I just know you two had a disagreement. And she's really sorry about it. So forgive her already," McCarty said. "Not for her, but for yourself and your peace of mind."

"I hear you, bro. But every time I forgive her for one thing, she just does something worse."

"I feel you, bro. I really do," he said. "But wouldn't you do the same thing she's doing if it were, little Nik? What if he turned out to be as messed up as those two bastards? God forbid. If he should find himself in a tough situation, you wouldn't hesitate to do all you can to help him, right?"

He has a point. I would indeed do anything for my kid, no matter what. The same as my mother had done for my brothers over and over again.

"Parents like you and your mom will do anything and everything for their kids' happiness. No matter how bad they turned out, you can't help yourself," he continued. "Just look at my parents and me. I'm a shitty son, and they still support me two hundred percent, if not more. So cut your mom some slack, will you?"

"Yeah. I guess you're right." I took a deep breath before saying. "But still, it infuriates me so much that she allows them to manipulate and use her like that."

"It's sad. But it is what it is, my brother. And besides, we all get used in one way or another. Such is life. Get over it."

"Yeah, yeah. Smart ass. If only you were so smart when it comes to parenting," I stated rudely and a bit playfully to crack up the tense atmosphere.

"Well, I can't be good at everything." He shrugged, not the least bit offended. "No one is perfect, Nik."

"Speaking of your parents. How are they?" I asked. "It has been a long time since I met with them."

"They are alright," McCarty replied. "They've been asking about you. The perfect son they wished they had."

"You sound jealous." I mess around.

"Of you?" He looked at me as if I were crazy. Snorted even. "Never. You are my brother for life. No matter how bright you shine, I will always be happy for you."

"I know that fool," I laughed. We laughed.

"So, are you going to talk about your dad's visit? What was that all about?" McCarty interrogated.

"Do we really have to talk about it?" I felt a bit annoyed by his questions.

"If it's a problem for you, then yes. So talk," he insisted.

"Aw, you are so adorable when you care about someone beside yourself," I taunted.

He scoffed. "Just to be clear, I'm only being nice to you so that when I die, I have at least one person aside from my parents who can say something good about me at my funeral."

"Then be a good father to your kids. And start respecting your women," I argued with him. Nothing serious, though.

"I really tried hard to be a good dad," McCarty said. "But let's be honest, that role just ain't for me. As for respecting my women, when they start respecting themselves more, maybe guys like me will learn to respect them. Besides, these women nowadays don't want respect. They want—"

"OK," I shut him down before he says what I already know he's going to say.

"So, your dad, what did he want?" He continued to pester me.

"According to him, he's here to make amends with me," I responded. "But then there was this whole money drama between him and Mother. And that just made me question his motives."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don't buy his making amends crap for a second, either. However, he's your dad, and I know some parts of you still love the man. So, if there is a small possibility that he's trying to start a better relationship between you two, then I think you should give it a try." McCarty advised.

"And what if it's a trick or worse?" I voiced my worry.

"Well, you won't know until you know." He maintained a positive attitude to cheer me up.

"You're right," I said after a few seconds of thought. "I'll find out what he's up to."

"Alright, enough boring talk. Let's go play some games." I didn't even get a chance to agree; McCarty hauled me off with him to the game room. Damn game freak.