She's my way out.

Chapter Thirty Five

Sometimes. I just look at him and think. Rah, this that actually my baby? Its been four months since Ive had Mackenzie back and Ive loved every second of it. Even the vomits, and the stingy dribbles and the really really bad smelling nappies, he was my baby boy and I'd do anything for him. I watched as Dami and Rashad threw him to each other  and he loved it. Squealing every time he was in the air, despite doing it for a while now. "Kenzie, I'm tired." Rashai signed.
"Your a baby man." Said Dami.
"Give him here." I say, walking over to them "Don't want you  to get sick." I take Mackenzie from them- he positions his legs around my hips, and rests his head on my chest. "See he's tired."
"Aunty just said to tell you two she's  doing a night shift." Rashai declares, looking at his phone.
"So there's no food?" Dami signs as she sinks into the chair
"That's all you can think about. Not even, aghh mums working night shifts again- that's hard on her."
"Like I said-  if you lot want me to me to start bringing money in then-"
"No," I cut him short "All we care about is you doing well In school and all of that, you did some of GCSE already in year ten and if you said you did cool, then we'll know if you truly listened. Because Rashai, everyone's trapping now- even girls. Do something different. Besides your family now"
"yeah bro." Dami shouts throwing a cushion at him- sparking an argument.
"IF YOU TWO START FIGHTING ITS ONLY ME AND MACKENZIE GOING NANDOS!" I announce.
"Nooooo."  They both whine

***
They arrived at Nandos at 6:25. Upon their arrival, Naomi got a text from Rashad reminding her that he would be picking up Makenzie today, she text him back saying that they were at  Lewisham Nandos so he should come  and there and get him "What?" Rashai asked after hearing Naomi sign. "Rashad's coming to get Mackenzie."
"Where from here?"
"Well I guess so. Its his day remember."
"This is fucked up."
"Tell me about it." Naomi agreed. She hated giving Makcenzie over- she didn't want him to leave her side ever "But- there's nothing I can do." They order their food over getting over the fact that Makcenzie wouldn't be with them  tonight, he brought so much joy that when he left for a week things didn't feel the same. He sat in a high chair and Naomi would often look his way with a smile. "I'm at Nandos" She explained to Asia  on the phone. Rashai asked Dami "Who's Asia?" Since living with Naomi and the family he had grown this urge to protect them- even If him and Dami disagreed sometimes, her too. He was so grateful for them opening their doors to him that he wanted to owe them in any way he could even if Naomi constantly told him it was okay. "She's  her friend." Dami explained vaguely- she was too indulged in her phone, the latest message from Nathan had her thinking. "What you grinning for?"
"Nothing." 
"Better be nothing."
"Urmm, I'm older than you,  how many times do I have to tell you this."
Naomi loved how their relationship had blossomed in a course of a month or so, Rashai and Dami acted as if they didn't like each other but they both did- and it was cute how he had automatically became a 'bro'  she thought.

Rashad

"So, are you going to get him?" asked Trudy.
"Yes." I replied bluntly, uno them ones when your just not in the mood to tark.  The only reason why she was back here was because she was pregnant with my baby. "Rashad" she snapped,
"who the fuck are you talking too? Didn't I just tell you what you wanted to hear?"
"Why you moving like this now huh?" She raises her voice, standing up trying to size me but I just push her back onto the sofa "Don't ever in your life. Raise your voice to me like that, do you hear me?"
she's quiet now.
"I SAID DO YOU FUCKING HEAR ME!"
"Yes!" she shouts and then walks away, storms up the stairs in a fit. I had no time for her, her being pregnant with my baby was so irrelevant right at this time, so what if I got her pregnant,  I told her I was about to buss and she wanted to be a bad b and keep riding, lucky I'm not gonna let her be a single mother.

When I arrive at Nandos, I'm immediately welcomed by the warm smell of the chicken- enticing me to buy some although my original plan was to get Mackenzie and leave. Naomi's laugh, leads me to their table. I see her, Dami and YR and Mackenzie in the high chair all sitting down with a plate of food opposite them. Except Mackenzie, Naomi was in the process of spooning his baby food into his mouth before she saw me. "Hi" she said
"You alright."
"Yeah." I could tell this was awkward.
"What you saying." I nod at Dami, and YR
"I really never know what to say to that" goes Dami.
I laugh a little with a smile and catch Naomi looking at me but she turns away once  my eyes met with hers. "You might aswell stay and eat." YR tells me
"Yeah, I might aswell."

**
The waiter comes over to attended to Rashad, seen as he was the only one on the table without a plate of food. "So that's a half chicken."
"Yeah"
"Large chips with some coleslaw on the side"
"Yeah"
"And a chicken wrap with extra tomatoes?"
"No tomatoes." Him and Naomi both say, weirdly.
"He doesn't like tomatoes." stated Naomi.
"Okay- and your refill cup will be with you."
"Thanks."
"Why aren't these two not together?" Dami whispered into Rashai's ear
"Word." He agreed.
"You remembered?" Rashad asked Naomi.
"I'll always remember the small things about you." she shrugs, like it wasn't a big deal but it was to her. Rashad watches how Naomi attends to Mackeznie as he cries and askes himself why he ever doubted her being a mother. She takes him out of the highchair and kisses his forehead "Oh my days Rashad you know he does that lip thing that you do." Naomi laughs
"Say swear."
"Swear. He did it last night. Ask  Rashai."
"Yeah he did." Rashai adds before taking a big bite into his chicken.
"I was thinking of, putting his hair into a  bun aswell. Look, it will fully suit him"
"Nah man Nay. Don't make my son turn gay, I aint into all of that."
"Its just  bun!" She giggles "He's hardly gonna turn gay because a bit of plastic is holding his hair together. Besides, I'll love my baby no matter what he is."
"Nahh Naomi." Rashad Shakes his head "That's why I don't tell him, you cant be whatever you want to be. Bun that inspirational talk, he cant be a girl and be like, daddy you said I can be whatever I wanted to be! Nah, none of that."
Everyone was laughing hysterically- "Your still the same old Rashad aren't you."
"And your still the same Naomi, except your fucking with my friends now."
"You had to spoil it Rashad." she rolls her eyes "I was enjoying your company until then. Dami notices the tension and taps Rashai, "Naomi were going to the corner shop quickly. Can we take Mackenzie." said Dami
"We?" Said Rasai, he was enjoying there was no we in this he thought.
Dami tuts at Rashai and looks back at Naomi.
"Corner shop why?"
"Because we want an Icecream."
"I can buy guys some here."
"I know what your trying to do. Tying to get us alone." Rashad said.
"Oh." says Naomi in acknowledgement.
"Gwarn then, here." Rashad takes a twenty pound note out of his pocket and passes it over to Dami.
"Thanks."
Rashai walks over and picks up Mackenzie from highchair  Naomi "Be nice." He whispers
"I'll try."