“I felt it was a need-to-know thing, and you didn’t need to know. Shit, I just wanted to get rid of the nightmare and go on with my life.” He paused and then added, “Which I did. Yvonnè and I both did. All of that studying paid off for her. I hear she’s some big-time journalist in L.A. now.”
Geren was stunned, but he figured Dvontè and Yvonnè had a mutual agreement about terminating her pregnancy. Yvonnè didn’t strike him as the type that would be willing to admit an unplanned teenage pregnancy to her parents. “So you think that since things went your way the first time, they will again? Janessa’s not a teenager. She’s a grown woman, and you’re a grown man. This isn’t hardly the same situation.”
“I don’t know what’ll happen, but I do know this. If Janessa insists on having that baby, she’s raising it by her damn self, because I have better things to do.”
Geren’s fists tightened even more. “You bastard!”
“Whatever, man!” Dvontè said indignantly, picking up the remote and flicking through the channels until he got to ESPN. “I do like the honie, but not enough to play house with her. She should’ve protected herself, and this shit would’ve never happened.”
“You sound like one of those ignorant brothas on talk shows. She didn’t get pregnant all by herself. Where the hell was your protection? You can buy condoms just as easily as she can.”
Dvontè leered at Geren out the corner of his eye and slightly chuckled. “Look, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times. I don’t do rubbers! I’m sick of your judgmental ass getting in my business. If you got a woman knocked up you didn’t want to be bothered with, you’d drive her ass straight to the abortion clinic. Don’t even front! You’ve just lucked out all of these years.”
Geren had to admit to himself that he had been lucky. There had been rare occasions when he’d bedded down women he wasn’t romantically interested in. “That’s where you’re wrong. If I did accidentally get a sistah pregnant, I would see it for the blessing that it is and cherish my son or daughter.”
“Yeah, right! Maybe if it was Tempest. It’s obvious your ass is pussy-whipped, but if it was one of the sistahs you used to have casual sex with, things would be different.”
“Not really!” Geren insisted. “Even if I wasn’t in love with the person, I would still love and take care of my child. You don’t have to marry Janessa or shack up with her, but you damn sure better be there for the baby if she has one.”
“Damn, did I stu-stu-stu-stutter the first time? I’m not taking care of jack! My daddy never did shit for me, and as far as I’m concerned, turnabout is fair play.”
Geren lowered his eyes to the carpet. He couldn’t even stand the sight of Dvontè right at that moment. “Your mother would turn over in her grave if she heard you say that.”
“My mother was a damn fool for having me!” Dvontè yelled, getting up off the couch and going out on his third-floor balcony. “She had to give up everything to raise me! She could’ve been a famous singer, but she went to the grave a nobody instead! You heard her sing, man! She could blow!”
Geren joined him on the balcony, watching the kids swimming in the apartment complex outdoor pool. “Yes, she did have a beautiful voice. No argument here about that.”
They shared a moment of silence while both of them ran favorite memories of her through their minds.
“I’m not making the same mistake, Geren. Things are going well for me at work. I’m hoping to make systems analyst in a few more months.”
“That’s wonderful news, man!” Geren slapped him lightly on the back. “That means you’ll get a raise and can help Janessa out with the baby.”
Dvontè shook his head. “I’m going to live out all of my dreams, and none of them include changing dirty diapers.”
“It’s not like you have any options about the money. If she has the baby, the courts will make you pay child support. Your best bet is to arrange it between the two of you and keep the legal system out of it.”
“Her ass better not try to haul my ass into court,” Dvontè said angrily. “I’ll just tell everyone what a big hoe she is and deny the child is mine. For all I know, it might not even be my baby in the first damn place. After all, she did fuck me after the first date.”
Geren had heard enough. Men who spoke such ignorance enraged him. He never thought Dvontè would stoop so low. His mother had raised him alone, and Dvontè should’ve been chomping at the bit to make sure his child didn’t have to live through the same pain. “In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve never once felt the urge to hit you, but right now I want to beat the living daylights out of your pathetic ass.”
Dvontè bent over the railing in laughter. “You aren’t man enough to hit me. Besides, if you’re willing to let some pussy come between us, then we’re better off going our separate ways.” He dreaded losing the only real brother he’d ever had, but claiming a child just wasn’t in the cards. “Maybe you should just leave, Geren. I’m sure Miss High and Mighty is waiting for your return.”
“You’re right! I should leave, but I fully intend to pick this up later. Neither of us is in the right frame of mind for this discussion.” Geren headed back into the living room to get his keys off the coffee table. “Now you’ve resorted to talking about Tempest, and only bad things can come from continuing this.”
“Damn right, I’m talking about Tempest. I know she sent your ass over here. I must say, you’re obeying her like a good little puppy.” Dvontè plopped back down on the couch. “Hell, you have the imprints of her ass cheeks blistered on your lips!”
That did it! Geren punched Dvontè in the nose, sending him hurling over the back side of the couch.
It took a second for it all to register with Dvontè. Once it did, Geren was halfway to the door. Dvontè jumped up off the floor and rammed into Geren’s back, causing him to slam headfirst into the door frame.
“I can’t believe you hit me, man!” Dvontè exclaimed, still in shock. “Over a bitch?”
“I’ve got your bitch!” Geren swung around and landed a fist on Dvontè’s rib cage, knocking the air out of him.
They went at it for a full five minutes, scrambling around on the floor like a couple of WWF wrestlers and practically destroying the apartment.