Wistful

Chapter 22 - Yeah, Since When Is N.K. Pierce Paranoid?

(Nixon's POV)

"What do you mean you got evicted?" Kadynce was upset that this was able to happen. "Why didn't you tell me or Enzo, Candy? We would have helped you."

"I was embarrassed." Candy cried.

Kadynce's face fell in understanding. "We wouldn't have judged you." She told her best friend. "You don't have anyone but us. We would have taken care of it."

Candy just shook her head. "Enzo is going to be so mad at me." She wailed.

I should call Enzo and tell on her.

"So, where have you been all day?" I asked her, genuinely curious. There are not many places that she can go and hang out for long periods of time.

She shrugged, wiping her cheeks. "Parks, libraries, restaurants..." Candy trailed off, running a hand through her hair; she was worn out and stressed out. She looked like she was in dire need of a hot shower and a nice soft bed.

I felt bad for Candy.

"Gosh, Candice." Kadynce sighed.

She doesn't have anyone to help her out with Lola; her baby daddy left, and her parents wrote her off. Kadynce and Enzo agreed to help her any way that she needs, but you cannot help anyone that doesn't ask for it when they need it.

I can see why Kadynce is so upset with her.

"Candy, you can use my man-cave bathroom to clean up." I suggested. "If you want..." I trailed off. "Down that hall to the left." I instructed her.

Candy nodded, wiping her face once more, crying softly as she calmed herself down. "Thanks." She mumbled, getting up and grabbing her duffel bag.

As soon as I heard the bathroom door close, Lola began to whine, but that whine turned into a full-blown cry. Her cry was so small yet so loud, loud enough to possibly disturb the kids. Reaching for her pacifier, Kadynce slipped it into her mouth, quieting her down.

Kadynce checked out the diaper bag before looking up at me. "Hold her, I need to make her a bottle."

"Sure." Handing her over, I held her close to me and began rocking her to soothe her a bit. She was sucking on the pacifier like she was waiting for milk to come out; she was hungry. I know because Fallon used to do the same thing.

Kadynce grabbed her milk container and a bottle before heading to the kitchen, so I followed her. She was already heading to the pantry to grab a water bottle. "Can you believe this?" I asked Kadynce. "I mean, how did she even get in my gate and passed security."

"I have no clue." Kadynce shook her head, measuring the water into the bottle before scooping the powdered milk in. "I wish she would have told Enzo or me what was going on. We would have helped her, no questions asked."

I shrugged. "That shit is embarrassing to admit, babe." I sympathized with Candy, admitting that you have no money to pay your rent is embarrassing.

Especially now, since she has a kid to think about.

I would never want to have to do it, even if I had someone like Enzo and Kadynce to help me out. It sucks to feel like a burden to someone, an annoyance.

"But still..." Kadynce complained, closing and shaking the bottle. "She shouldn't want Lola to go without. When you have kids, it's no longer just about you, it's about them too." She looked at me. "If she's not gonna do it for herself then she should at least do it for Lola."

Kadynce is right.

I nodded. "You make a good point."

"I know." She smirked, handing the bottle to me. "Feed her, Daddy."