Loving you broken

I decided to call Sherri to get information on where Anthony’s mom stayed. She seemed happy to hear from me, but I kept the conversation short and got straight to the point. She told me exactly where his mother stayed and I was on my way. His mom stayed in a nice neighborhood. It made me wonder why her kids were in the hood, but that was none of my business. I didn’t see any cars parked but I decided to knock on the door anyway. Thankfully I did because his mother was home. She was about 50 years old, but she didn’t have any grey hair. Hardly any wrinkles and I could tell she was a looker back in the day. “May I help you son?” “I sure hope so ma’am. It’s sort of a weird situation and I don’t want to put you in between anything but I need help.” “You might have to call on Jesus for that son cause I’m no miracle worker” “I understand. I am actually only wanting to know what time Raven come to pick up Imani.” “You know Raven?” “Yes ma’am I do. I was her boyfriend. I need to see her but I know she won’t answer any of my calls.” “Raven gets here around 5.” “Do you mind if I wait in the driveway until she gets here?” “No I don’t mind” just as he was about to close the door I heard little footsteps open it back. There was Imani. She was so cute. She looked just like her momma and she also looked like Sherri’s son. Dude must have some strong genes. She also had hazel eyes and all her teeth already. “Hi” she said as she looked at me. “Hi Imani” “hey. How do you know my name?” “Because your mommy told me.” “You know my mommy?” “I do. Hopefully we can be friends again.” The little girl laughed and ran back to the couch. I saw the grandma smile. “She doesn’t even laugh like that when my son is around.” “How old is she?” “She’s three” “Wow. Well I don’t mean to bother you. I’ll be waiting in the driveway. “If Raven told me about you I would have let you in sweetheart. Shell take this baby real quick if anything goes wrong. Would you at least like something to eat?” “No ma’am I’m alright.” “Alright then. Have a nice one” I waited 4 hours in that woman driveway. I fell asleep a few times but I kept waking up worried that I would miss Raven. Finally and 5:15 I saw her car pull up. She looked sexy. A long sundress with flip flops and her hair pressed again with a sunhat on. I started to get nervous. I couldn’t open the door for some reason. I couldn’t move. I started replaying everything hurtful I had said to her and I just couldn’t face her anymore. I drove off. I went home and threw myself on the couch. I felt so stupid. I waited all that time to just run away. I went to the lady’s house the next day but she said she doesn’t watch Imani on any other day besides Fridays and Mondays. I had to wait three days to try again. I was getting impatient but I knew that it wasn’t nobody’s fault but mine. Friday finally came and I was ready for 5. I went up to the Lady’s house, but her son answered the door this time. I had finally put a face to the name. Anthony. He was about 5’8 with gold in his mouth. He had tattoos all over his body and was pretty built. It looked like he was in shape. About 26 years old with no facial hair but he had long dreads with red tips. Dude looked like he needed a bath, but I didn’t say anything. This was a test for myself. “Wassup patnah” “What’s good. Is Raven here” he looked at me weird and then said “who the hell are you?” “That don’t answer my question.” “I can care less about your damn question. Answer mine G. Who are you?” “I’m somebody that’s looking for your ex. Is she here or not?” Just then his mother came to the door with a smile on her face “Ma what the hell you smiling for? Who is this?” “He’s a friend of Ravens” “aye man don’t be disrespectful. Your problem is with me.” Anthony looked at his mom and then back at me. I could tell he was about to try to swing and he did. I had already ducked and it made him almost fall off the porch. He got mad and tried to swing again but I punched him in the face. He was about to swing back but Imani came to the door screaming. We both stopped. We kept staring at each other and he lifted his shirt to show me he had a gun. I guess he thought that was supposed to do something. I had two Berettas in my trunk. I’ve had a gun since I was 18 years old. Used it three times and I didn’t have a problem using it a fourth. I wasn’t a killer or nothing, but my sisters watched enough snapped so I was sure how to get away with one. It didn’t even have to come to that. All dude had to do was answer my question. He was trippin! Just then Anthony and I both looked back when we heard screeching tires. It was Raven. She looked pissed! She walked passed the both of us and went straight for Imani. She grabbed her and put her in the car. Then she slammed the door and walked towards us. She looked at me and there was a look in her eyes that I had never seen before. I just didn’t know what is was. I saw her stop and put her hands on her hip when she was only a few inches away from our faces. “What the hell is wrong with y’all? Anthony do you or do you NOT want to be around your daughter? Cause like I said before if you act stupid she won’t see you or your family again and I have no problem with that. I doubt she would either” Anthony looked pissed and said “what! You gone have her around this clown?” he pointed at me. She glanced at me and I finally realized what I was seeing in her eyes. Disappointment. “No. He won’t be around her. I don’t even know why he’s here. But for your sake Anthony I hope you get your stuff together because the next time I come over here and you are acting crazy with Imani in the house that’s it!” “I got you man” Raven turned around to her car and Anthony walked to his moms place. I didn’t want her to leave but I didn’t know if there was anything I could do to make her stay. “Raven, can we talk?” she kept walking and acted as if she didn’t hear me. I kept yelling for her name but she got in her car and slammed the door. I decided to follow her. I stayed three cars behind her so she never knew I was there. It was about a 20 minute drive to her place. Her townhome. She had the ideal white picket fence with it to and I could see a playground in the backyard. I stared at her place and watched her silhouette through the glass window. I could tell she was laying down on the couch. I drove home and decided that I was going to do anything I needed to get her back. Or at least get her to talk to me. On Monday I sent her an I’m sorry card. On Tuesday I sent her chocolates. Wednesday I sent her flowers, Thursday I sent her some heels Ashely picked out and Friday I sent her a dress Cori picked out along with a letter than told her I wouldn’t stop sending her stuff so she was better off just meeting me at our spot, the open mic, and after she heard what I had to say she would never have to deal with me again if she didn’t want to and my sisters would love to watch Imani if she needed a sitter. I wanted her to meet me at the open mic at 6 that Friday night. I had planned to stay all night if I needed to. I didn’t even get up to go pee because I was afraid she would think I was playing and didn’t show and would end up leaving. Thankfully she arrived at 6:30. She didn’t have on anything that I had sent her, but it was okay because she was .. she was just gorgeous. She had her hair in a curly fro and a light brown dress. She had on gold jewelry and a nice brown Michael Kors purse. She wasn’t even looking around for me. she went straight to the bar. I watched her for a good two minutes. More than five guys had already walked up to her and I saw her smile. Her body was shaped perfectly in that dress! I couldn’t even tell if she had any panties on or not. Everything looked so smooth. Her skin was glowing. She looked so beautiful. I started getting nervous again. I started thinking maybe she was better off without me. Then I saw another guy walk to her and I could tell he asked for a dance because she put her drink down and he grabbed her hand and guided her on the floor. She looked like she was having fun. Jazz music was playing and she was rubbing all up against dude. He was grabbing her waste and they were swaying to the music. I can’t even lie I was getting jealous. I’m not sure if she ever had that much fun with me before. I had to think of something and something quick! I decided to be the next act. A short black guy walked on stage and the music got lower as he spoke. “Hope everyone is having a good time tonight! Our next act doesn’t have a name he wants to go by, but the title of his poem is I wonder. Let’s show him some love. ”Everyone began to snap except Raven. I guess she knew it was me. Her standing there made me nervous but I decided to free style something for her