Page 57 of Love At Close Range

“Okay, Daddy!” Lennyn hugged him before she left. “I love you.”

“I love you too, baby girl,” Lennox said as he kissed her forehead. “I’ll call you later.”

She ran toward the stairs, and I waited until I heard her bedroom door close before I looked back at him. Lennox hadn’t stepped inside. He was still standing on the other side of the doorway, and the look on his face told me he didn’t plan to make this some friendly drop-off.

“I thought I told you I didn’t want my daughter around that bitch,” I seethed.

“And I thought I told you that you didn’t dictate shit when it came to my kids. You already did enough of that,” he countered with a grimace.

I rolled my eyes and waited to see what else he had to say because I know he did.

“What happened yesterday ain’t happening again,” he stated with authority in his voice.

“You need to tell that bitch that,” I snarled.

“I did and now I’m telling you. Whatever the fuck y’all got going on better not reach my kids again and I mean that shit,” he ordered.

“So, I guess it’s all my fault, huh?” I folded my arms under my breast and waited for him to give me an answer.

“Kree, I’m not doing this shit with you, man,” Lennox said as he shook his head. “Y’all fought and all I’m saying is that the shit better not happen around the kids again.”

That was all he said before he walked back to truck and pulled away without saying anything else. I shut the door before walking toward the kitchen. My nerves were still on edge, and it wasn’t just because Lennox had pissed me off.

I thought my actions from seven years ago would put me in a better place with Lennox but now it seems like it put me in the farthest part of his mind and now I had nobody to blame but myself… and Reiana. I hated that bitch.

20

Reiana

some time later…

Ihad been home a little over an hour before I finally decided I was going to cook. I wasn’t really in the mood for it, but I had already taken chicken out, and Rhyse would be hungry when he got home from camp. I had just started pulling everything together when I heard the front door open, followed by Rhyse yelling like he always did when he walked in.

“Ma, we’re home,” Rhyse called as he came around the corner with his backpack hanging off one shoulder. I looked over at him while I reached for the seasoning on the counter and asked how camp was. “It was good,” he answered as he dropped his backpack beside one of the chairs. “We played basketball, and I made two threes. Malik said I fouled him, but I didn’t.”

I watched as Lennox swaggered in after him dressed in all black like a sniper. He gave me a smoldering look that made me reminisce on our night together. He leaned down and kissed me making Rhyse gag.

“Y’all nasty.” He frowned. “Ma, what you cooking?” He asked as Lennox laughed.

“Don’t be a hater, son.” Lennox smirked before putting his attention back on me. “Put that stuff up,” Lennox said as he reached for the ground beef. I frowned and asked why, and he opened the refrigerator before answering. “Because I’m taking y’all to dinner. You can cook this tomorrow.”

“You could’ve told me that before y’all got here,” I fussed.

“You gone stand there and complain or go get ready so I can take y’all out?” Lennox asked as he closed the refrigerator. Instead of arguing, I did as he asked as Rhyse did the same.

I headed upstairs with Lennox following close behind. When we reached my room, he turned me toward him and kissed me again.

“You aight?” He asked as he peered down at me.

“I’m fine,” I sighed. “I’ve just been thinking about everything. Things are different now and it’s just taking some getting used to that’s all,” I admitted.

“You want me to back off some?” Lennox asked, and I shook my head.

“No… no, that’s not what I’m saying,” I told him. “I’m used to doing everything with Rhyse by myself. Even when Dorian was around, he wasn’t doing what you’re doing. I handled whatever he needed unless I asked Mona, Quentin or Tay. Now I look up and you’re getting him from camp, telling him to go take a bath, and it’s just… different,” I spoke honestly.

“I hope it’s different in a good way. I mean, I’on wanna overstep but I also want to do my part. I’ve always been active with Lennyn, and I want the same for Rhyse,” he confessed.

“I get it, and I appreciate it and love the relationship y’all have. Sometimes I never thought it would ever happen,” I mentioned.