I listened to my customer talk while I continued to color the butterfly tattoo in. She wanted a purple butterfly on her thigh. She wanted it so big, I'd been working on it for over an hour.
"Girl my baby daddy been trying to get back with me for a while." She continued. I learned that her name was Tanika. She'd been talking about her babydaddyfor the past thirty minutes. "I ain't got time for his dog ass. If it ain't got nothing to do with our daughter, we don't need to communicate."
I nodded my head, agreeing with her. "I know that's real."
Just as I was finishing her tattoo, the bells on the door sounded, letting me know that someone had walked in. I looked up and saw my favorite cousin, Jamal.
"Thank you Leslie." Tanika said before handing me the one hundred dollar bill.
Jamal turned around and stared at her butt as she walked out of the door. "Damn, she bad. Put me on cousin."
"You need to be worried about that baby you got on the way." I threw the used needle away and put away my materials.
My cousin is one handsome young man. He stands six foot even with light brown skin and brown eyes. He has black dread locs that hang down to the middle of his back. His mustache and beard stay freshly cut and trimmed.
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"Baby moms be tripping." Jamal sat down in the chair. "She found out today that she's having a boy."
"Awe." I smiled. "You got what you wanted. When is she due?"
"February the fifth." He ran his hands through his dreads. "I'm ready for my lil' man."
"My little cousin growing up." I kissed his cheek.
Jamal smacked his lips. "Last time I checked, I was older than you."
"Whatever." I playfully mushed his head. "Let's go get something to eat."
"Or you can cook some of that good ass lasagna." He licked his lips, rubbing his hands together.
"Lucky I like you. Let's go."
I told Giovanni that I would see him tomorrow, a guy that works in the shop. Jamal and I stopped by the grocery store before going to my house. I changed into a T-shirt and a pair of sweat pants.
"You dating anybody yet?" Jamal asked. He sat down at the island.
"Nope." I removed the groceries from the bags.
"I told you to let me put you on."
"I don't want any of your dog friends. They probably just like you."
"Dude ain't like that though." He defended his friend. "And what you mean like me?"
I laughed, not saying a word. He knew exactly what I meant. Jamal still had females fighting over him. Even with a baby on the way. That didn't stop him at all. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had three babies on the way by three different women. Back in high school, every one called Jamal 'Pimp Jay.'
