Seasons of Change

26

Churning jealousy filled his stomach as he sat with Fernando, half listening to the men talking around him, half trying to hear what that fucking boyfriend of Angelina was telling his wife that was so fucking funny.

Jealousy and possessiveness had been an issue for Krist in his younger years and something that he'd thought was behind him but there it was, rearing his ugly head again. Apparently, Atira knew this mother fucker because they had hugged but he did not like the way she was leaning in and laughing like he was just the funniest man ever.

It didn't matter that dude had his arm around Angelina or that he had no reason to distrust his wife. Jealousy wasn't rational of course and when he felt jealous, it was hard to talk himself out of it or rationalize that how he perceived the situation wasn't how it truly was.

Fernando's uncle Frankie was quick to pick up on Krist's vibe, commenting "I wouldn't be cool with no man talking to my wife like that either, homes."

Krist hadn't said anything but his body language gave him away, he was always known for being someone who wore his emotions on his sleeve, and hearing Frankie confirm how he saw things validated this feeling he had.

Fernando had been picking meat out his teeth and stopped, clicking his teeth haughtily, "Frankie, you tripping, don't be tryna put shit in his head that ain't even there. Atira just a friendly person and that dude ain't doing nothing but talking, sheeeit."

Frankie tossed back a shot, "I'd be checking my lady too, she don't need to be entertaining nobody but me, you know?"

Krist's jaw tightened, "So this ain't just in my head, right?"

"C'mon, don't be listening to fuckin' Frankie, dawg, that mother fucker trips when his wife fuckin' smiles at the kid working down at the market or makes eye contact with a fool too long. 'Oh I know she tryna flirt right in front of me, I know she tryna fuck on him', when his wife loyal as fuck to him," Fernando told him.

Logically, Krist knew what Fernando was saying was true but emotionally was another story.

"You don't think that sitting there like that talking to another man is disrespectful to your husband?" Frankie countered.

"Never bothered me none," Fernando shrugged and that was the truth. Angelina had even kissed a mother fucker back when they were kids but still had trusted her afterward, if she wanted to talk to some man, he didn't stress it. He knew she was down for him...until she wasn't and even then she'd waited til they weren't together no more to get with her new dude. Atira never put off hoe vibes neither and Fernando could smell a hoe a mile away.

Cisco sat up stiffly in his chair, "Stop trying to cause problems that aren't there. Just because you fuck around in your marriage don't make everyone else like you, pops."

Fernando clicked his tongue against his teeth, "Shit, even I fucked around on my wife and knew better than to think that," he muttered, turning his attention back to Krist, "You good, she good. Just smoke a fattie, it gonna be good homie."

****

Rocco had pleaded to stay the night at his grandma's so he could hang out with his cousins. It had been some time since the kids had all been together and Krist felt guilty that he'd caused his son to miss out on family time because he'd fucked around because he had fucked around with Nina.

Even though, he was able to maintain composure throughout the afternoon but still couldn't ignore how he felt on the ride home, especially when Atira spent the entire twenty-minute drive talking about how the Jermaine dude was so amazing, such a good friend, the "safe" guy friend all the girls trusted. Sounded like some bullshit to him.