Chapter Thirty-one
Lucinda
I was completely swamped with claims and coursework. At times, I wanted to throw in the towel because being a fiancée, mother, and student were all full-time jobs within themselves. If I could figure out how to get paid to do all of them, then it wouldn’t be so bad. On top of that, tonight was one of those nights where Nadia was being extra clingy, extra needy, and extra aggravating. I really needed a break.
Aldris’ time had been split somewhat lately. His job had him stretched thin, and then trying to balance home and Jessica with the time that he did have left was taking a toll on him. It was still a bit of an adjustment for all of us. I tried to remain understanding and supportive. I didn’t want him to think I was being selfish when it came to his child. It really wasn’t that at all. I just had to get used to it. I’d never been in a relationship with a man who really put forth an effort to take care of his outside children, so I admired and struggled with it at the same time for two totally different reasons.
“Hey, baby.” I answered the phone excitedly.
“Hey, mami,” Aldris said. “I was calling because I have a meeting that is gonna run later than expected, so I should be home around 6:30 or 7:00.”
“Aldris, I really needed you home tonight. Nadia is in one of those little baby moods, and I am just swamped with trying to submit this paper and homework, and my claims at work are off the chain.”
“I understand, baby, I do, but I don’t have a choice. If I did, you know I’d much rather be at home helping you than here.”
Rubbing my forehead in frustration, I threw out, “I know.”
“Did you cook?”
I looked at the phone as if he were crazy. “Cook? Please, Aldris.”
“It was just a question. I’ll bring something home for us.”
“All right. I guess I’ll see you later on.”
“Yes, baby. I love you.”
“Love you,” I said before hanging up.
“Mami.” Nadia came running into the kitchen. “Can I have some cookies?”
“You haven’t eaten dinner. You have to eat first.”
“Well, you haven’t cooked,” Nadia said smartly.
My mommytude took full effect as I turned to her, and I had to catch myself. She was trying my patience. “I know that, little girl. I’ll make you a sandwich. Then I want you to sit and study your vocabulary words while I do some work.”
“I want pizza,” she whined.
“You’ll get what I’m giving you,” I fussed, turning to open the refrigerator door.
Just then, the doorbell rang. “Oh, good grief. Who could this be?”
Closing the refrigerator, I trotted to the front door. Peeping out, I was surprised by who I saw standing there. “Mike?” I asked as I looked out of the peephole.
“Yeah, Lucinda. It’s me,” he answered before I opened the door.
I waved for him to come inside. “Hey. Come on in.” I shut the door behind him. “You have to excuse my appearance. I wasn’t expecting company,” I apologized, staring down at my cotton jogging pants, spaghetti-strapped tank, and flip flops, with my hair in a messy ponytail.
“If that’s a bad look, then you ain’t never hurtin’,” he joked.
Folding my arms, I giggled. “You so crazy. What brings you by?”
“Aldris. He told me to meet him here because he and I were supposed to go and shoot some hoops. Is he at home?”
“He must’ve forgotten. He’s actually still at work. He had a late meeting and won’t be home until about 6:30 or 7:00.”
“Mami. Mami,” Nadia shrieked, running into the family room. “I want my sandwich. I’m hungry.”
I blew the strand of hair that fell in my face in frustration. “I’m sorry, Mike,” I said, turning to Nadia. “Rudeness. I am speaking to Mr. Mike. I will make your sandwich in a bit. Now, go in your room and go study. That’s the last time I’m going to tell you that.”
Nadia huffed and walked off. “You better tighten up,” I yelled after her.
Sensing my tension, Mike patted me on the arm. “I have three. I’ve been there. You look like you could use a break.”
Exhaling, I let out a frustrated scoff. “Oooh. Can you tell? Aldris was supposed to come home so I could finish up my coursework before I signed into work, but that’s not going to happen, and Nadia—as you can see—is being a little unruly.”
“She’s just being a kid and getting on Mommy’s nerves. I think they have radar that signals them to act foolish when their parents are stressed,” Mike joked.
“They probably do. As much as my mom said we got on hers, I can believe it.”
“I’ll tell you what. If you don’t mind, I’ll call in some pizza for you guys and pick it up. If you need me to, I’ll watch Nadia for you until Aldris gets home. It seems we won’t be playing hoops tonight, and I don’t have shit else to do.”
“You don’t have to do that.” I shook my head even though I really wanted to jump at his offer.
He eyed me. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
Considering the night I was having, I decided, what the hell?
“Okay, you’ve twisted my arm.” I laughed. “Umm, we like Pizza Hut meat lovers.”
“You want some wings?” he asked.
“Cool with me.”
“What is Nadia working on?”
“Her vocabulary, spelling, and subtraction.”
“Cool. I can handle that.”
I called Nadia in the room and explained that Mr. Mike was going to help her. Mike called in the food, and I sat in the breakfast area in the kitchen with my laptop, finishing up my research paper. I ain’t gonna lie. Mike’s help with Nadia was a huge relief. He even took her with him when he went to pick up the food. By the time they returned, I had submitted my paper and my homework. I made everyone’s plate, and then we sat in the family room to watch television and eat.
“Thank you so much for your help, Mike. I really appreciate it. You just don’t know,” I said gratefully then bit a piece of my pizza.
“Ain’t no thang. You know we play cousins,” he joked. “So, did you get anything accomplished?”
“Yep, I finished my research paper and my homework.”
“All right now, miss lady. Give me some. Plow-dow,” he boomed with a fist bump to me. “Nadia knows all of her spelling words, and she’s got to practice on three vocabulary meanings, but she’ll get it.”
“Yep.” Nadia giggled. “Mami, Mr. Mike told me that I’m the best and nothing less,” Nadia quoted.
“That’s right, little lady, and how do you get to be the best?” he asked her.
“By studying for the test,” Nadia shouted with exuberance as they fist-bumped.
I laughed. “Wow, I think you missed your calling. You should’ve been a teacher.”
“Hey, there’s always time to go back,” he said, and I nodded, shocked by his assessment.
“Mami, can I go in the back and watch Nickelodeon?” Nadia asked.
“Sure. Just make sure to bring your plate back to the trash can, and it’s after six, so no more juices, only water.”
“Okay, Mami. See you later, Mr. Mike,” she said as she grabbed her plate and her remaining juice and headed to the back.
“Good. Now I can get my real drink.” I picked up the empty soda can. “You want a beer?” I asked Mike.
He shook his head. “No. I know Aldris only drinks that damn Coors Light. I can’t stand it.”
I put my hand on my hip. “Oh, hell no, he doesn’t. I stopped that shit. Coors Light is not my cup of tea either, so I got him hooked up on that Bud Light.”
Mike laughed. “Are you serious? Oh, man. I love Bud Light. In that case, bring me one.”
I returned with two bottles and handed him one. “Here’s some real beer for you,” I joked.
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” He popped the top. “And you drink the bottles too?”
“Hell yeah. Never the can,” I said, after taking mine to the head.
“And with no cup? You are some kinda girl.”
Shrugging, I confirmed, “Uh, yeah. You ain’t messing with no little prim and prissy chick with me. I am a beer-bottle-drinking, pizza-and-wing-eatin’, Sunday-night-football kinda chick.”
“Stop it. You like football?” he asked, amazed.
It was my turn to stare at him as if he had horns growing out of his head. “Do I like the best sport in America? Hell yeah. I’m a fan of several teams, but you know I’m gonna always go with the home team dirty birds as my favorite.”
“I’m a home team fan too. Aldris is such a traitor. He likes—”
“The Baltimore Ravens.” I finished his sentence. “I mean, I ain’t gonna lie, they had some legends. Ed Reed was a straight beast, and Ray Lewis will always be the man. I have much respect for their game, but Aldris is rootin’ for the wrong birds.”
Sharing in the laughter, he quipped, “Damn. You really do follow football.”
“Hell yeah. I made Aldris sign up for the Sunday Ticket just to have access to all the games on Sundays. I’m telling you, all day Sunday, Monday, and sometimes Thursday nights, I am unavailable.”
“Aldris is a bigger basketball fan. That’s why he’s rooting for the wrong team. I like basketball, but it ain’t really my thing. I like to play it more than I like to watch it.”
“Yeah, I’m with you on that. I follow it more now because of Aldris, but I’m all football. I live on CBS, NBC, ESPN, and FOX during the season. And you know I have to make sure I have the NFL network and Showtime so I can see—”
“Inside the NFL,” Mike shouted with me as he jumped up and down in his seat. “Me too. Get the fuck outta here,” he hollered in sheer amazement.
“Man who? Phil Simms and Boomer have me freakin’ rolling,” I joked as Mike sat back down, looking at me in wonderment. “I like to watch ShoBox too. I was intrigued with the whole Marquez versus Vasquez matchups.”
He looked at the bottle. “Are you sure you’re saying this, or is it just the bottle? I love boxing too. Do you watch MMA?”
I drank a swig of my beer and set it down. “What? All day. UFC, Pride, and Strikeforce are in constant rotation on Saturday nights.”
“We’ve gotta plan some fight nights. Man, Aldris didn’t tell me his lady was such a down-ass chick. You like one of the damn fellas. I ain’t never met a woman who actually liked watching MMA or boxing, and it ain’t too many that I know who truly like football. Most of them just like seeing the men in their uniforms.”
Beer almost spewed from my lips as I laughed. “Well, now that is an added bonus.”
He pointed at me, giving me the side-eye with his lip pursed. “Aht. Look at you now.”
“Shit, Aldris knows. He’s my papi, but I have to give credit when I see a nice-looking man in some football tights now. He ain’t trippin’ as much as he fawns over Keri Hilson and Rosalyn Sanchez.”
He nodded. “Yeah, those are two bad chicks there,” he recalled, looking up as if he were daydreaming. “And you said Ms. Sanchez’s name just like she does. I think it’s the accent that gets the men,” he joked.
“It’s all part of the Latin charm for men and women.” I giggled, turning the television station.
“Must be.”
“You finished?” I asked. After he nodded, I threw our plates away then came back and grabbed a guitar. “There’s nothing on the tube, so I guess I can play one round of Guitar Hero on the Wii before I sign on to my job, if you don’t mind.”
“You play Guitar Hero too?” he asked, shocked.
“Yeah. It’s usually just me and Nadia because Aldris hates it. He’d rather play NBA Live or Call of Duty on the PS4. That’s cool, but of course, if it’s sports, I’d rather play Madden or boxing. But my favorite is this damn Guitar Hero.”
Mike stood up. “Well, prepare to battle. I am the Guitar Hero master,” he challenged me as he grabbed the other guitar.
I pointed at him. “Are you challenging me, Bruce Leroy?”
He laughed loudly. “Oh, you’ll see who the last dragon is once I’m through with you. Strap up, lady.”
“Ay, chico. You better bring it.” I turned on the Wii and set up the game. I looked over at Mike, who was smiling at me. “What?” I asked.
“I’m just in shock. It is so true that you cannot judge a book by the cover. Lucinda, you’re all right.” He nodded, resolving that he’d misjudged me.
It was the first time I saw Mike through different eyes. We were actually more alike than we thought, and I realized I’d misjudged him as well. “Aww, thanks, Mike. So are you,” I said as the game started. “But I’m still gonna whip that ass.”
We stood there playing Guitar Hero for what had to be thirty minutes. Nadia had come back and sat on the sofa, watching us play, and we were all laughing it up and having a good time when Aldris floated into the family room with two boxes of pizza.
“Hey!” Aldris had to yell loudly to us over the noise.
I paused the game, and we all calmed down with the laughter and talking.
“Hey, baby,” I greeted, smiling at him.
“Hey,” he said, looking back and forth between Mike and me. “Mike?” he asked, puzzled.
Mike snapped his fingers. “Oh, man, I came over to scoop you up. Remember, you were going to shoot hoops with me?”
Aldris sighed and snapped his fingers. “Oh, yeah, man. I totally forgot. My bad,” he said to him as they slapped hands together.
“Oh, no worries. Lucinda’s been a great hostess.” Mike smiled back at me.
I fanned him off. “He’s the one that’s been a big help.”
“Yep, Papi, he helped me study, and he and Mami have been battling on Guitar Hero,” she said and then whispered, “But Mami’s winning.”
“I heard that.” Mike nudged Nadia playfully. “Sheer luck,” Mike hollered.
Aldris nodded. “Oh, okay. Wow. Well, I appreciate it man. Lu, I called you to find out what you all wanted to eat. I see now that you were occupied by the Wii. I settled for pizza.”
Gasping with a balled fist to my mouth, I apologized. “Oooh. I shoulda called you. Mike bought Nadia and me pizza already, but at least we have a meal for tomorrow.”
He set the pizzas down on the coffee table. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Well, did you manage to get any work done?”
“Yeah, I did. Thanks to ol’ Mike here.” I play-boxed with Mike. “He watched Nadia for me while I finished my paper and homework. Speaking of work, I have to sign on—although I was thoroughly enjoying kicking your tail,” I joked with Mike as he moved into one of my play punches. “Stick and move.”
He laughed, fist-bumping me, and then he pulled the guitar off. “Until next time. You won the last dragon this time,” he teased as I did a little victory dance and he laughed.
“Y’all are just bosom buddies now, huh?” Aldris commented.
“Man, Lu is a trip. I told her we have to plan fight nights and some tailgate parties when the football season starts,” Mike said excitedly.
“Yeah, in that regard, you and Lucinda have a lot in common,” Aldris admitted with a shrug.
“Yeah, we know,” Mike and I said at the same time, then looked at each other and pointed. “Jinx. Double jinx. Triple jinx,” we rattled off together, howling.
“Jinxy twins.” Aldris put his hands up. “I’m pretty tired. I’d love to chop it up with you, man, but I need to eat and chill, and you know, spend a little time with my family.”
Mike and he slapped hands. “A’ight, dude. I feel you. Holla at you later.” He grabbed his wallet and keys.
I walked him to the door. “Thanks again. Whenever you’re free again we have to get up on that Wii or PS4. You know, to even the score,” I said sarcastically.
He fist-bumped me. “Oh, most definitely. Bud Light’s on me. I’ll holla at you, Lu. Be easy, mama,” he said as he walked out, and I waved at him.
I turned around, and Aldris picked up the pizza boxes. “Seems like you and Mike are fast friends. The best of buddies.”
“He’s real cool. We’re cool.” I shrugged.
“I’m glad you all are getting along. After I eat, I’ll battle you on the Wii.”
“No thanks. I know you hate it. Plus, I have to work. Enjoy your dinner,” I said to him and walked back to my office area.
A few minutes later, Aldris walked in and kissed me. “I didn’t get a kiss or nothing. Just thought I’d give you one.”
“My bad,” I apologized, then began working again. I looked up and noticed Aldris staring at me. “What?” I giggled.
He shook his head. “Nothing. I’ll leave you alone,” he said and walked out.
I just shook my head and wondered what the heck he was acting all strange and weird about. I didn’t have time to delve into it, though. It was time for work. As I got logged in, I giggled aloud as one of the songs from Guitar Hero came on my iTunes. Mike was a straight clown. Who knew he and I would end up being friends?