Concept : a girl and her daughter against the world with her toxic baby daddy, but she ends up finding someone who can take care of her and her daughter. He is a tall chipotle bag with dreads. She didn't know if she could trust him but she gave him...
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After the encounter with Jabari, I led Namiko to the food court, hoping to take her mind off things with a treat. We found a table and settled in, ordering her favorite—chicken nuggets and fries. As we waited for our food, Namiko chatted away about the new clothes she wanted, her excitement infectious despite the earlier tension.
When our food arrived, I handed Namiko her meal and took a sip of my iced coffee, trying to relax. Watching her eat with such enthusiasm always brought a smile to my face. For a moment, it felt like it was just the two of us in our own little world.
"Mommy, can we get ice cream after this?" Namiko asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.
"We'll see, mama's," I replied, ruffling her hair. "Finish your food first."
As we continued our meal, I noticed a man walking towards us. He was tall, with a confident stride and a friendly smile. I recognized him—Hakeem, a guy I'd seen around the neighborhood a few times. He always seemed polite and friendly, but I was caught off guard by his sudden approach.
"Hey, Amara," Hakeem greeted, his smile widening as he reached our table. "How's it going?"
"Hi, Hakeem," I replied, offering a polite smile in return. "We're good, just having a bite to eat."
He glanced at Namiko, who was busy dipping her fries in ketchup. "Hey there, little one. You enjoying your food?"
Namiko nodded vigorously, her mouth full of fries. "Uh-huh!"
Hakeem chuckled, then turned his attention back to me. "Listen, Amara, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to grab a coffee sometime. Just the two of us?"
I appreciated his confidence and interest, but I shook my head gently. "Thanks, Hakeem, but I'm with Namiko right now. It's just not a good time."
He seemed a bit disappointed but quickly recovered. "I understand. Maybe another time, then?"
"Maybe," I replied noncommittally. "Thanks for asking, though."
"Alright," he said, giving a nod. "You two enjoy your meal. It was nice seeing you, Amara. And nice to meet you, Namiko."
"Bye!" Namiko chirped, waving a fry at him.
As Hakeem walked away, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. It was flattering to be noticed and asked out, but my focus was on Namiko. She was my priority, and any potential relationship would have to wait. For now, I was content with our little family, even with its challenges.
"Mommy, can we get ice cream now?" Namiko asked, pulling me back to the present.
I smiled and nodded. "Yes, mama's, let's go get some ice cream."
As we walked hand in hand to the ice cream kiosk, I felt a sense of peace. Namiko was my whole world, and that was enough for me.
