Forever My Lady: The Ballad of Iman and Adonis

Chapter Twenty-Six: Disrespectful

ADONIS POV

Ah! Barbados has been great to me, but I miss the States, especially my baby girl. Me and her mother aren't seeing eye to eye on things, which has me bugging. Every time I ask her about her love life, she gets all defensive. I haven't been dating anyone because work is in the way, but damn. I got home in time to see Aviv and Ma sitting on the porch swing together. I noticed she got new shoes, Pumas to be exact. Aviv got off the swing and ran so fast to me! I scooped her up in my arms. When the world comes down, I know my daughter will always be there.

Me: Hey baby!!!
Aviv: Hi daddy!
Me: You miss me!?
Aviv: Yeah!
Me: I love your shoes baby. Mommy get them for you, huh?
Aviv: No....Daddy Ricky did!

I looked at her, then at my Ma.

Mary Anne: Who baby?
Aviv: My other daddy. He has blue eyes! I never see no man with blue eyes like Ricky before! He a special daddy. 
Me: Baby girl, you don't have another daddy. I'm your father, understand me?

She started to cry. I held her.
Me: It's okay.
Aviv: Do I have to get new shoes? I like these!
Me: No baby.

I got up and went inside. Ain't even touched down in the country 4 hours and shit already going left!!! I texted Iman and told her that we needed to meet up. I asked Aviv a lot of questions about this Ricky dude, and the more she talked, the more I was able to deduce his identity! Ricky was my best friend during all the times we spent in juvie and foster care. We did everything together: rob, steal, joy ride, pull pranks, etc. One night, Ricky and I were broke and needed something to eat. We decided to rob a 7/11 and in the process, the owner's son came out, and there was a big tussle between me, the son (whose jaw I broke halfway off), Ricky and the owner. Ricky was initially the more confident of us two, but he lost his edge. The owner pulled out a gun, missing me by two inches, but getting Ricky in the abdomen. He told me to run before the cops got there and I did. Ricky ain't tell the cops shit, and he ended up taking the fall for me. 

He got six years, and I got off scot-free. I never saw him again after that night....but I often thought about Ricky. Wanted to find him, tell him I'm sorry I robbed him of his freedom, and that I wanted for us to be tight again. But life got complicated. Ricky may have a bad rep (partially because of me), but he's a good guy underneath everything. I don't believe for ten seconds Ricky is dating Iman out of revenge, he's smarter than that. It was bad enough I lost Iman over my own selfish decisions, but to watch her with my former best friend is just something that I can't digest. 

I have to tell her before he does! 

THE NEXT AFTERNOON...

We met up at the same Jamba Juice where I asked her out. I got here first this time, and Iman got here 5 minutes after me. She was looking slim thick in an olive colored dress. What was I thinking letting her ass go????

Iman: I'm here, how are things with you, Donnie?

Me: I'm good. You?

Iman: I'm happy. 

Me: That's kinda what I wanted to talk to you about.

She rolled her eyes, just as I knew she would.

Me: What?

Iman: You can't stand to see me with anyone else but you. You are pathologically miserable!

Me: First of all, I don't even know what the fuck that means. Second, I need to know why Aviv is calling Ricky her "new Daddy." I'm not cool with that in the least, Iman. Ricky didn't help you make this baby, I DID!

Iman: Ricky didn't swab her mouth for a DNA test either!

Me: Why you bringing up old shit?

Iman: I did my research on Ricky. He has a record, but he's a changed man. He may not be balling like you, but at least he cares enough to invest in a child that isn't his! An impressive thing considering that the man who is the father of the child is gone and doesn't send a damn dime!

Me: Hold up! I'm a professional athlete. I'm working to give my daughter everything I never had growing up. You know I'm paying child support, so you can miss me with that bullshit too. I don't give a fuck how many niggas ran up in you after me, but when you go out shopping for a new daddy for her, I do give a fuck. 

People were looking at us because we were making a real scene, but I didn't care. Iman was fucking irritating my goddamn soul with this bullshit she was pulling from her ass. 

Iman: I've never held her over your head like that. You're the one who wanted to play the "Make the baby suffer because the mother left me" game. What did you motherfucking expect, D? That I was going to wait for you to get your act together!? Boy bye. 

Me: Are you SERIOUS!!? I've never done you that dirty, Iman. I'm here to talk about Aviv! I want more time with my baby. She's my baby too!

Iman: Okay! I've never had a problem with that at all. I've been pressing this issue for the last five months, Adonis! You can have as much time with her as you can! You are her father, and that's just what it is! I'm glad you want it. Too bad the threat of another man in your place gave you the motivation to do so. 

Me: You got me fucked up. And you really have your head in the clouds if you think Ricky is Prince Charming!

Iman: I'm done having this conversation. You want Aviv? Come get her more often. Done deal, finito, that's it, that's all. 

Me: Are you finished or are you done?

Iman took her mango smoothie and threw it at me, storming off and leaving me embarrassed. 

If we're going to co-parent, we have to communicate better than what we did just now. 

GODDAMNIT!!!