Page 48 of A Hood Wife And A Rich Goon 2

“It’s not the same,” she pouted. “And you’re not there to eat it with either.”

“What you want to eat?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Lotus huffed. “I’ll just go home and figure something out.”

“I gotta run by the gallery and handle some things. I’ll hit you in a few.” Eazy got an alert on his phone and frowned at the unknown number.

“Whatever.”

“Don’t start popping yo’ shit now, Lo. Speak your mind, baby,” he encouraged, still showing signs of slight anger toward her.

“You don’t want to hear what I have to say, Eazy.” She hopped into the driver’s seat. “You’d rather waste time being mad at me. It’s just an excuse so you can do what you want to do.”

“And what the fuck you think I’m out here doing, Lo? Working. Trying to make sure our future is straight, cause anything else you just making up in yo’ head ’cause you feel fucking guilty.”

“Bye, Eazy.” She slammed the door shut, started her car, and pulled off.

“And buckle yo’ fucking seat belt!” he yelled at her car as she sped away.

His man, Chopper, whipped his black Suburban out behind Lotus. With his window partially down, he nodded to Eazy out the window and trailed her to her next destination. When Eazy’s phone went off again, it was the same number, so he swiped to answer.

“Who is this?”

“Well, hello to you too.” Eazy never thought she’d be calling him again.

Even knowing she was alive was still an adjustment, so hearing Niva’s voice threw him off.

“How you get this number?”

“I’m at your grandparent’s house visiting. Taci invited me. I was with Essence the other day, and she said she wanted to see me. Don’t worry, Midas is nowhere in sight.”

“Why you calling me?” Eazy asked, pausing at his driver’s door and pulling it open.

“Eazy, we’ve known each other since high school. We really can’t even be friends anymore?”

“I’ll let you know, Niva.” Ending the call, Eazy set his phone in the cupholder and prepared to drive across town.

CHAPTER 9

BRONX’S TALE

“Ezekiel, what you doing here?” Taci questioned when he stepped through the back door, gripping the fob to his whip with his house keys attached.

He’d planned on heading over to the house and setting up a few things he’d ordered for the baby’s nursery. Prematurely, he’d bought all kinds of boy related baby items for it, including a crib he was anxious to put together himself. When Lotus arrived later this week, he wanted everything to be perfect for her. She might drive him crazy, and he still had a slight beef with her over the whole Evren situation, but he knew it was only a matter of time before they were living under the same roof. Right now, he needed time and space to get everything ready for them to do that.

“You didn’t mention you’d be stopping by now.” Niva leaned back in her chair, and Essence stared at him over the rim of her glass as she sipped her lemonade.

Taci sat across from them at the kitchen table while Summit stood at the counter, making himself a sandwich. He took one glance at his grandson and knew he was with the shit tonight.

“What’s this?” Eazy asked, motioning with his hands.

“What are you talking about?” Essence swallowed her drink and set the glass on the table. “We’re visiting. That’s it. It’s not some big conspiracy against you⁠—”

“I wasn’t fucking talking to you.” Eazy glared in her direction.

“Ezekiel!” Taci hissed, thick salt and pepper brows drawing together as she looked him up and down. “Show some respect! I don’t care how mad you are. That’s still your sister.”

“Tell you what, Taci, you want to entertain this bullshit, that’s on you, and them.” Eazy nodded across the table at Niva and Essence. “I don’t have to. As far as I’m concerned, as long as Essence is married to that nigga, she’s as dead to me as our fucking mama.”