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I was pulling up in my moms driveway. I hopped out the car and knocked on the door. She snatched door open while mugging. "Stop pounding on my damn door" she told me. "My bad ma" I told her laughing.

I closed the door as I walked into the house. "MERIE YOUR DADS HERE" she yelled while walking into the kitchen. I could hear her tiny footsteps running down the stairs. "DADDYY" she yelled while running into my arms hugging me. "Hey fat" I told her while picking her up placing a kiss on her forehead.

"What you was up there doing" I asked her while I picked a piece of lint out of her hair. She was still rocking the hairstyle Lyric had done it was still looking like she just got it done even tho it's been two weeks since she got it done. "I was brushing my teeth" she told me while playing with my chains. "Let me smell" I told her. She opened her mouth to let me smell.

"Ewww fat you need to go brush your teeth again" I told her joking. "Uhhh uhh daddy you smelling your top lip" she told me frowning her face up. I laughed at her while mushing her head. "Go get your stuff together so you can come stay with me" I told her while putting her down. I watched as she ran off. I looked up to see my mom cutting her eyes at me.

"What ma" I asked her while going to look in the fridge. "Don't what ma me you already know what i'm about to say" she told me. I sighed knowing where she was going with this. I grabbed a water out the fridge then sat down at the counter. "I'm not going to keep saying the samething over and over again but I thought losing Dolph would have taught you a lesson" she said lecturing me. Shanice knew he was doing his best to stop but she just didn't want to have to bury her son next. Just the mention of his name made me feel a sharp pain in my chest.

I smacked my lips. "Ma I ain't in the streets no moe" I said lying before taking a sip of my water. "I'm focusing on getting my rap shit together" I told her while pulling out my phone. I know lying to her was the worst thing to do but it was the only shit I knew since I was thirteen. I looked at my phone seeing Lyric had texted me. She had sent me a random picture of her making me smile from ear to ear.

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"Who got you smiling" she asked me. She knew it had to be someone special because he only showed this side to her and Amerie. She couldn't wait until her son settle down with someone that loves him for him and not what he can offer. I put my phone down on the counter before looking up at her. "Mann ma wasn't nobody even smiling" I told her while standing up. "Mhmm" she mumbled while walking away to go get Merie.

Once I seen that she went up stairs I took this as the chance to call Lyric. It's been three days since I last seen her and I was missing her like crazy. "Hello" she said once she answered. "Wassup ma" I told her while propping the phone up on the paper towel holder. "Get that mutt out the camera" I told her seeing Coco cuddled up with her. She frowned her face up before saying "don't talk about my damn child like that i'll beat yo ass bout dis one". "Yo ass can't fight" I told her.

"Come try it then hoe" she told me. "I ain't going to keep telling you too many times to watch yo damn mouth imma have to show yo ass" I told her while pointing at her. She looked away from the camera blushing. "You busy today" I asked her. "I'm going wi-" she started to say but I cut her off by saying "I don't care be ready in an hour" then I hung up the phone.

I walked into the living room seeing my mom sitting on the couch watching tv while fat was on her ipad. I sat down sitting next to my mom. She looked over to me sighing before she said "she asked me about her Markeyvius". I looked over at her confused at what she was talking about. "What ya talking bout" I asked her. "She asked about her mother" she told me whispering lowly. I clenched my teeth together hating the fact I had to have a baby by someone that was so selfish. I may regret who I had a baby with but I don't regret Merie. She my whole world but I knew that she was getting older and was going to start asking questions.

I just didn't know it would be this soon. I definitely didn't have the answers to the questions she may ask because hell I needed answers from her my damn self. Me and Brielle (Merie's mom) dated for five years on and off. When she got pregnant with Merie our relationship was at rock bottom. Me and her both knew it was time to just go apart. Once we broke things off it's like she changed.

When she called me to tell me her water had broke I dropped everything and went to be there. Once she got done pushing Merie out and the nurses put Merie on top of her so she can hold her. She looked down at her like she was disgusted with her. But I brushed it off thinking she didn't have much energy because she just pushed out a whole baby.

The next day I had left to go get us some food. Then when I came back I seen the nurses standing in the room hold Merie. I asked them where was Brielle assuming the worst had happened. When in all honesty the impossible happened. They told me how she rushed out and left her rights all too me. "Daddy look" fat told me while pointing to something on her tablet causing me to snap back into reality.

"I see it mamas" I told her. "What you told her when she asked" I asked my mom. "I didn't tell her nothing I changed the subject by asking her did she want ice cream. I didn't have the words to say. And I know soon she's probably going to ask again. So i'm letting you know to be prepared." she told me. I nodded my head at her understanding what she was saying.

"Ightt ma we finna head out" I told her standing up hugging her. "Come on fat" I told Amerie as I grabbed her bag. "Tell gigi bye first" I told her. She ran up and hugged my mom and told her she love her. I opened the door stepping outside. I started walking towards the car until I hear "wait daddy take my picture" I turnt back around to see fat coming outside the house with some pink shades and a pink purse.

"Girl what the hell" I said. "I'm a material girl like Lyric daddy" she told me while smiling. Imma beat Lyric ass got my daughter sounding like her. "Who's Lyric" my mom asked while leaning on the door. She kept mumbling to herself saying that the name sounded familiar. I ignored her and pulled out my phone to take fat pictures. "She's my bestie gigi" fat told my ma while I recorded a video of her.

"I thought I was your bestie" my mom told Merie. "I have two besties" she said. "And she did my hair too gigi" she said while pointing at her hair. Damn little kids make sure they tell every damn thing. Shanice eyes got wide when she remembered where she heard do that name from. It was because she was the one to book the appointment. She was indeed a pretty girl that had a good head on her shoulders Shanice thought.

But knowing that son of her's wasn't shit she told him "don't go breaking that girl heart". She knew it had to be her he was texting earlier. "I won't ma" I told her. "Stand still girl" I told Merie.

"Daddy take one of me with me without my shades and jacket" fat told me while handing the jacket and shades to me. "Okay last one" I told her.

Once we were in the car I pulled out the driveway to head towards Lyric's place. "Fat you wanna see Lyric" I asked Merie who was sitting in her car seat eating a blow pop. "YESSSS" she shouted excitedly. I chuckled while looking at her through the mirror. Merie had gotten attached to her as much as I had did.

Twenty minutes later I pulled up in Lyrics parking garage. Once I found a parking spot to park I got out the car and went to the back to unbuckle Merie. She hopped out and grabbed a hold of my hand. I walked towards the building so we can get on the elevator. Once we were in I was about to press Lyrics floor number until fat said " daddy I want to press it". "Okay press three" I told her.

"Daddy pick me up i'm tired of walking" Merie told me. "Fat you ain't even walked no where we bout here" I told her while walking down the hall to Lyrics apartment. She stomped her feet being a brat.

"Cut it out" I told her in a stern voice. I knocked on Lyrics door hearing her say "who is it". "Me ma" I told her. Once she opened the door up she seen Merie and yelled "BESTIEEE" while picking her up and spinning her around causing fat to laugh.

"Well damn can I get sum love" I told her while frowning. She walked over towards me with her arms open to hug me. "OUUU DOGGY" fat yelled seeing Coco walking towards her. Since she was distracted I took this as the time to kiss Lyric. "Damn I missed yo ass" I told her while licking my lips. "What's not to miss about me" she said while doing a 360. I looked her up and down while licking over my lips seeing she was wearing a tan two piece set with her gucci slides.

"Talk yo shit ma" I told her. "Daddy can we keep her" fat asked walking in holding Coco in here arms. "Hell na-" I was about to say until Lyric smacked my arm. "Stop cussing" she told me. "We can bring her with us toot" she told Merie. I looked at her crazy. "Lyric that damn dog ain't getting in my damn car" I told her. "Key ain't nobody worried about what you saying" she told me waving me off while heading up the stairs. A nigga deadass dealing with two brats.

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I held the door open so Lyric and Amerie could walk in front of me. "What kind you want fat" I asked Merie as we got in line. "I want strawberry and vanilla" she told me. "What you getting ma" I asked Lyric while putting my arms around her waist. "I think I want to try they new milkshake ouu- no I want sherbert and chocolate" she said. I laughed at her because she was more excited than Merie. "What you getting papa" she asked me. "Chocolate" I told her causing her to smack her lips. "That's so plain" she told me.

Lyric ordered for us. When I looked back up to give the cashier my card I seen her handing Lyric a receipt. "Really Lyric" I told her while mugging her. "That paying for shit dead ma when ya with me" I told her before going to pick up the ice cream from the counter.

I walked over to where Lyric and fat was sitting to put the ice cream down. "Thanks daddy" fat told me while smiling ear to ear. "You welcome" I told her while pulling out the chair so I can sit down. I look up seeing Lyric pick up a napkin to wipe off ice cream from Merie's face causing me to smile at the two out of three people that has been keeping me sane.

Once we was done we left the ice cream shop. "Let's walk to the park" Lyric said while pointing to the playground that was like a two minute walk from where we were. I watched as she pulled Coco out her dog purse to put her on a leash. "Can I walk her" Merie asked her. "Yeahh just make sure you hold on to it tight toot" she told her.

We started to walk over the bridge that led us to the park. "Take my picture babe" she told me. "Yo ass gone take my picture ass to death" I told her while smacking my lips. "Shutup" she told me while giving me the middle finger.

"You need to work on your picture taking skills a lil more but they still cute" she told me before kissing my cheek. When we made it to the park Lyric took the dog off the leash to let her run around.

An hour an a half later we was on our way back to the car. We was walking back across the bridge fat was in the middle of me and Lyric holding our hands. Occasionally we would swing her and she would laugh like it was the funniest thing in the world. This shit right here is what I loved for. I wanted Merie to experience a two parent household. Even tho Lyric wasn't her mother I could see it in her eyes that she looked up to her.

"Are you my dad's girlfriend or are you guys just friends" Merie asked Lyric while looking up at her. The look on Lyric's face could tell you she wasn't expecting her to ask that hell I wasn't but I knew my answer tho. "Yeah she my gi-" I started to tell fat until Lyric spoke up saying "We just friends toot" while forcing a smile on her face. I scrunched up my face confused ass fuck.

"Here fat walk Coco" I told her while handing her the leash. I watched as she skipped in front us walking the dog. "So wym we just friends" I asked Lyric. "Key it's only b-" she started to say but I cut her off saying "nahh Lyric I feel like you playing with my feelings. You think i'm spending all this time with you just because. I enjoy your time and company. I thought we was heading to something serious but it just seem like it's all one sided. I been giving you my all this whole time showing you i'm serious. When you going to realize that shit dawg."

She looked up at me looking like she was ready to cry. Of course I wanted to just hug her but a nigga feelings was being played with. I had to let her know what it is. I stared at her waiting for her to tell me that I was tripping. But she couldn't even do that she gave me straight silence making me nod my head. I walked away catching up with Merie.

She turnt around seeing that we was ahead of Lyric. "Come on slow poke" she told Lyric while giggling. Once we was in the car the only thing that could be heard was Amerie singling along with the radio. I just felt stupid that I went this long chasing after somebody that in all honesty didn't want it. The whole ride to her crib I was in my head.

Once I pulled up in her parking garage she rushed out the car. My heart felt a tug cause she still couldn't speak up and tell me wassup so I started to believe that what I was saying in my head was true. She opened the back door to get Coco out and to kiss a sleeping Merie on her forehead.

I pulled out the parking garage speeding off. I started to feel anger that I let her get close to my daughter without knowing she wasn't going to be here that long.

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I fiddled with my keys trying to unlock the door. My vision was covered by tears streaming down my face that wouldn't stop. I threw the keys down kicking the door while sliding down on the ground breaking down into tears.

I was angry with myself for not answering his questions when in all reality I had all the answers to the questions. It was like my mouth was stuck. While my heart was calling out for him. I felt Coco come lick my toes causing me to calm down so I can wipe my face off. I stood up and picked up my keys to unlock the door.

Once I got the door unlocked I immediately texted Lani telling her to come over that it was an emergency an to bring a bottle. I kicked off my shoes and walked into the kitchen to look in the cabinet for any alcohol. I seen I had a half of bottle of Hennessy.