Erik glances into the cold grey expansive sky. The weather is nasty marked by random light showers of rain. Sleeping alone doesn't sound so good. It's the day of the baby shower. T'challa doesn't come around that much and he doesn't sleep in his bed at times.
Erik is sick even thinking about his whereabouts. Kali drops a brush at Erik's foot interrupting his depressive thoughts. He's in the recliner chair taking his morning coffee. He snaps his fingers and Kali joins him. She lays her head on his lap. He brushes her fur, she purrs in pleasure.
At 1000 hrs Erik picks up Shuri, they leave for the baby shower. They arrive at 1100 hrs. Erik finds parking, they check in with the hostess. They get gold tag on their wrists. They walk in both dressed in all white. A waiter offers them a glass of champagne. Erik declines.
' Please don't leave me with these old nosey broods. '
' We not here for long. '
' What is the dynamic at work like ? I imagine it to be like a rom-com. ' Erik sighs at the uncomfortable subject.
' T'challa should be focused on being a good baby daddy. '
' If you want to humble T'challa ask him to spell prosecco. '
' I feel like a mess. '
Shuri gives up. Nothing is going to work. They head for the photo booth. Her worst fears come true. The hostess comes over to explain a few things. Apparently the men and women have their own separate section. She gives Erik a sour look as she's led away. Rules are rules. Erik feels a hard slap on his back. He turns around to see...
' Jabari Chief. '
' The elephant of the west. '
' It's good to see you. '
M'baku looks good when he's not wearing fur and leather. Erik is stunned that this is the same person. M'baku grabs them both a cold beer. Erik hates beer. Poor man's champagne. Gross tasting. Only good for making people pee. M'baku tells Erik the lore of Luanda Magere.
' He died over a hoe ? '
' The small wife. '
' Disgraceful. '
' Love makes people do crazy things. '
' You'll never catch me slipping. '
' Never say never. '
' I had a bad week. Thanks for the laughs. '
' You think you had it bad ? Wait till your idiot brother causes an avalanche looking for the peanut wine. '
' You and Mandla are always into something. '
Erik hears some clapping and cheering. Nakia has joined them in her gold sequined gown looking like a goddess. They gather for a short speech. The luncheon commences. Erik is first in line with M'baku. This is something they can actually be good at.
There's a small competition for the mommies. The fastest to bathe and cloth their child will win a prize, from 1st place to 3rd place. The babies are as young as 7 months to a year. Erik has never seen a plastic tub in the longest. That keeps the crowd occupied for the rest of the afternoon.
Erik wants to talk to Nakia but he probably wouldn't know what to say. He can't bullshit his way through this.
T'challa didn't show up. Nakia asked for diapers. Gifts were optional. Erik brought both. Erik signals for Shuri. It's time to leave.
It's 1500 hrs. Just in time to beat the traffic. Well most traffic is going to the city not from. The highway is mostly empty.
' Those old broods poked at my stomach looking for a fetus. '
' I saw that. Rude AF. '
' I can't eat red beans now. That's my favorite. '
' Grown folks parties always be stale AF. '
Erik drops Shuri off at her apartment.
' Come over for a movie and popcorn. '
' Nah. There's somewhere I got to be. '
Shuri looks like she wants to tell Erik something but she swallows it down.
' Drive safely. '
He watches her disappear into her house as he texts to check in with somebody before driving off.
_°_°_°_°_
Erik hasn't been nervous for a long time. Driving to Tumi's. The first time for a lot of things suck. He feels rude just dropping by out of the blue. The pin leads him to a gated community. Erik finds the tiny small red cottage at the end of the road. He parks his off white Lamborghini next to Tumi's cherry red beetle.
Tumi stands at the door akwardly. He looks different. Last time Erik saw him he had locs, now he cut them off. He looks different, younger.
' I wasn't sure that you were coming. '
' Me neither. '
' I was scared that you were going to get lost. '
' How was your day ? '
' Good. Today was my day off. '
' Oh. '
' I wasn't planning on going anywhere. '
' Did I wake you up ? '
' Sort of. That's why I didn't want to hug you. '
Tumi leads him into the house. He gets cleaned up as Erik browses the place. It feels small compared to what he is used to. He almost fills up the small brown leather couch with his knees next to the glass coffee table. A flat screen on the wall. Erik goes to the kitchen counter to inspect the fridge. Not much to go on for a bachelor.
Tumi is back in a red and black Versace robe. Erik found episodes of Samurai x on the TV's drive. One of his childhood favorites.
' You already ordered. '
' Yeah. '
Tumi ravishes his box of takeout. Orange chicken/lo mein noodles. Erik has nodded off. Tumi wakes Erik up for bed time, he leads Erik to his tiny bedroom. He hands him a tee and shorts from when he was a chubby kid. The clothes are snug, like a second skin on Erik. He rolls to his side. The bed is small it forces them to cuddle.
In the morning Erik wakes up to cartoon sounds. He feels funny. He could swear he thought he heard something land on the roof. He peers through the blinds looking for suspicious activity. Nothing. Erik won't let his paranoia ruin his weekend.
Tumi walks into the room to pick up something.
' Morning. '
' You up already ? '
' Yeah. '
' Slept good ? ' Erik nods.
' You can join me for breakfast at your own time. '
Erik takes a shower in Tumi's tiny cubicle. This place is ridiculous small. He finds his clothes laundered and pressed by the door.
Erik finds out that Tumi has this weird food issue. Erik feels a way about stepping out on the weekend. Getting mad is pretty pointless. Erik needs a spot to hole up over the weekends. He grabs his car keys.
' Let's bounce. '
On the drive to the seven Eleven Erik feels like they are being tailed but he brushes it off. In twenty minutes Erik is picks up a cart and starts filling it up with cereal, sugar, milk. He turns back to Tumi.
' I never asked what you like. '
' I'll eat anything. '
Erik adds a box of XXL condoms and lube. He feels gross for getting with a twenty four year old. Erik just wants companionship. They can have that occasional maintenance sex at times.
They order a breakfast burrito/coffee for two to go. They head back. They have a conversation.
' Baby, are you mad ? '
' Why ? '
' I'm just so embarrassed. '
' Cause of what ? '
' I wasn't prepared. '
' Honestly, If I lived alone I'd probably be the same way. Hibernating on the weekends. '
Eriks engine goes off. He pulls the car off the highway. Parks it on the dirt road sleeve. Tumi is too silent. Erik jabs at his shoulder and his limp body slumps forward.
' WTF ? '
Before Erik can put two and two together he feels something slice through the air and pinch his neck.
' Ouch ! '
Erik plucks a dart from his neck. His body goes limp, he feels the lights go out.
