Undead

15; compromise

Jermaine
"You gonna have to get that done, Sonny," I mumbled into the speaker of my earbuds, wanting this conversation to be over with so I could return to the task at hand. Melissa wasn't amused at my sudden phone call, but it was business so she understood - to a certain extent. "We already behind on this shit! Mark has to finish up the paint job and Ty has to finish the upholstery. I don't wanna have to move the deadline back. This shoulda been taken care of."

We were short one guy this week because one of our engineers came up missing. Marcus was a great guy, dedicated worker, but he was childish and obnoxious. He was careless when it came to certain things, and just since I got the new position as manager I'd already threatened to fire him at least three times. Nevertheless, we still showed our support to his family during this difficult time.

"Aight man, I'll be back tomorrow. I appreciate it. Peace." Melissa leaned forward and pulled the buds outta my ears and tossed them away, narrowing her eyes at me. "Oh it's like that?"

"I don't remember this date being between the three of us, Jermaine." She rolled her eyes, wiped the sweat from her brow.

"It's business, Lis," I grumbled with a deep sigh, and I smoothed my palm over my face. "I had to talk to him right quick."

"Did it have to be now?"

"It ain't my fault Marcus is missing, Melissa. We're short handed at the shop, and as the manager I gotta figure out how to put the missing pieces together to get our project done."

Her eyes rolled yet again and I reached around her for my bottled water. This picnic date started out great; it was a beautiful day outside and we found shade under a tree in the center of the park. It was just me and her, people watching, eating our meal of Olive Garden that we picked up along the way. I chose to lay down on my side and she opted to sit with her back against my stomach with my right palm on her protruding belly. Almost five months - almost done with this shit.

All we really did was argue about unimportant shit. I was crabby when I got home from work, and add in her pregnancy hormones and it was a disaster. Don't hold your breath on us having sex because we hadn't in months. We were both sexually frustrated but too stubborn to kiss and makeup.

If we weren't arguing about me getting her some rocky road ice cream at two in the morning, it was what color to paint the baby's room. I didn't know the gender, and she was keeping it a surprise so I really had no say in the matter.

I really hate to say this, but she wasn't ruining my excitement for being a father.

"All I'm saying is you didn't have to handle it right now while we're on our date."

"This is my reputation we're talking about, Melissa! If we don't get this car done by the end of the week, our image is tainted. I can't just not handle this shit for the sake of this date. You act like I was on the phone for the entire time - it was five minutes. Relax."

She scoffed and threw her hands up in defeat. She struggled to her feet with her hand on the bottom of her belly and looked down at me. "Can you take me home?"

So what did I do? I took her home. The ride was silent, and I was okay with that. I left her alone with her thoughts. I dropped her off at the house and reversed out of the driveway, on the way to my next destination. A place I knew I could express myself.
/\/\/\
"Jermaine!" My step sister threw her arms around me with glee, and I started to feel better already. "Mom and Dad are in the kitchen."

"Wassup Aaliyah?" I chuckled, closing the door behind me. I kicked off my timberlands and followed her to where my mom and stepdad were washing fruit. "Yo yo yo, your favorite kid has arrived!"