Page 27 of Gang of Roses: Rebel

I grabbed Sebastian’s hand and walked toward my truck while his mother and her two sisters followed behind us like a pack of hyenas looking for a fresh meal. My baby boy was so used to the bullshit that he didn’t even react anymore. He climbed into the back without being told and buckled himself in. I shut the door behind him before making my way to the driver’s side. Before I could open the door, Shameka stepped in front of me with her arms folded across her chest.

“Nigga, I’m gonna need you to run me some more money since you got a new truck and messing with your little man-looking friend,” Shameka said, popping her lips.

“I just gave you four stacks last week. Now get out my way.”

“And?” Shameka asked, popping her lips again.

“And what the fuck you mean, and? Where did it go?” I asked through gritted teeth.

That hoe rolled her eyes like I was the one being unreasonable. She really thought my ass was an ATM and somehow forgot she was capable of working too.

“Bills. Clothes. Food. Shit adds up,” Shameka pursed her lips.”

“Four thousand dollars shouldn’t disappear in two days unless you’re spending it on pointless shit.”

Before Shameka could answer, her loud-mouthed sister Rita jumped into the conversation. She had the nerve to point one of her long-ass nails in my face.

“Why you always questioning her? That’s your child.”

“And he is. So step up,” Latasha chimed in.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a slow breath. Every conversation with these three felt like I was voluntarily walking into a migraine. I had a child with one of them, but all three always had something to say, acting like I was responsible for every problem in their lives. Half the time they talked to me like I was all their baby daddies rolled into one person.

“I ain’t giving you nothing,” I said.

Shameka sucked her teeth and placed a hand on her hip. “Oh, you better, or I’m taking you for child support. I know that shop of yours is making money.”

I let out a dry laugh. “Man, you a scandalous-ass bitch.”

The second those words left my mouth, all three of them started talking at once. These bitches stayed teaming up on my ass.

“What you call her?” Rita asked, cracking her neck.

“You heard what he said,” Latasha said, her eyes getting big.

“That’s why your ass ain’t shit now.”

I held my hand up, already tired of the noise. “Here y’all go. Every damn conversation turns into a circus.”

“A circus?” Rita snapped. “You got money for trucks and taking out hoes, but when it comes to your son, suddenly you broke.”

My jaw tightened as I went off on all three of them. “Ain’t nobody said I was broke. I take care of my son. The difference is I ain’t financing every dumb decision y’all make.”

My baby mama snaked her neck. “So now I’m irresponsible?”

I scowled. “I didn’t say that. But if four thousand dollars disappeared in less than a week, somebody needs to explain where the hell it went.”

The look on her face told me everything I needed to know. That money wasn’t all spent on Sebastian. And that was exactly why she couldn’t answer the question. The three of them kept talking, running their mouths even after the argument was over, but I was done listening. I climbed into my truck and slammed the door hard enough to shake the windows. Leaning my head back against the seat, I released a deep breath in frustration.

“Daddy?”

My head turned toward the backseat. Sebastian was looking at me with concern written all over his little face.

“Sorry, Daddy. Mommy gave you a headache.”

The tension immediately left my shoulders. “Nah, buddy. I’m fine.”

His face brightened instantly. “Let’s go to Funland.”