Thug Love

1

My son said he wanted wings so we went over to Who Dat on Canal St. It was a typical Saturday. Hot. Everybody and they mama was out there. So many people that they looked like ants on the side walk. As I turned the corner, I couldn't help but notice her. She was one of the most beautiful species that I had ever seen. Looked like she had just left the gym with her yoga pants and oversized tank top with her sports bra showing.

Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was wearing a red baseball cap with what looked like an autograph on the side. Her backpack almost fell off her arm as she reached to pick up her daughter who couldn't have been no more than two years old. She was equally as beautiful as her mother, with long jet black hair that was braided with bright colored beads on it. She had the cutest freckles on her cheeks, with dimples that showed when she smiled. It looked like they had just left the ice cream shop since she was holding a waffle cone in her hand.

The closer I got to her the more familiar she looked, I just couldn't remember where I knew her from. As I passed her I got a glimpse of her left hand and that's when I knew exactly who she was. I almost crashed my car trying to turn around to get back to her. What was she doing in New Orleans though? It had been almost twenty years since I had seen her. I hit the block and came back around and she was nowhere to be found. My son was getting agitated in the back seat so I let it go and went on to the wing spot like I had promised him. I couldn't get her out of my head. She was all that I could think about. While my son was eating his wings, I called my little sister and asked her when the last time she had talked to or seen her. She said she saw her on Facebook a few times but hadn't talked to her.

I didn't even know what name she went by but I knew I had to find her. Lil Reesee. I hadn't seen her since our high school graduation. My mama shipped my ass right back to New Orleans because she said I was too much for her to handle. I sat there the entire time trying to find her and when I finally did, my baby mama walked up on us. Shit. I forgot all about her. We just had a conversation the night before about us trying to be a family and make it work. But man, that was Reesee though. I hit her inbox right before my baby mama sat down. Maybe it wasn't her. But I sure as hell hoped so.

Tara asked for her food but hell, I was so caught up that I forgot she was coming. I went back up to the counter and gave the man my order. While I was standing at the counter waiting, I saw a little girl run around the corner laughing as her mother chased behind her. Her beads almost seemed to float in the wind. It was her. We made eye contact and she smiled as if to say hi and stood behind me waiting for her order. She didn't even notice who I was.

"You can go ahead", I said to her. "I already placed my order".

"Oh, thank you". She replied, "I already ordered, just waiting".

"I see you tried to cover that scar on your hand there".

"Huh". She looked at me confused, "Mel", she laughed. "It's been a long time. How are you"?

"I'm making it baby, you know how I do. Ain't much changed. I see you got your daughter wit ya. She just as beautiful as her mama".

"Well thank you. I wondered what happened to you after graduation with your bad ass".

"My mama couldn't wait to send me back here", I laughed, "and I wasn't bad. I was a good guy".

"Yeah whatever", she said as the man handed her food from behind the counter, "it was good seeing you. Stay good; guy".

And just like that she was gone just as fast as she came. I saw her getting into a black Mercedes G-wagon. I didn't see a ring on her finger so I figured I had a chance.