"I want to meet him." Julia, in her Cashmere pajamas, plopped on our bed in between Adira and I.

About eight hours ago, my plane landed coming from game three in Milwaukee. Ju and Diri were sleeping. I eased my way in and went straight to bed.

It's been four days since we told Ju about me not being her biological father.

"I'll reach out to him. No promises." I pulled the covers off to get out of bed, Diri did the same.

"Ok." Ju followed behind us to the bathroom. She's been extra clingy. Even when I was away, she called and sent me plenty of handsfree texts the entire time.

This is the first she's speaking on the subject again since. We were going to ask her about it today if she didn't bring it up.

"Go brush your teeth. I'll be out to check them thoroughly after I shower." I turned her toward the door. "Go."

"How did everything go?" I asked Diri, seeing Julia closed the door leaving out. She had a play date with two friends from school yesterday.

"They had a tea party, talked about her birthday coming up. She seemed to have had a good time."

"I'll try contacting Nelson after I get out of here." I turned on the shower. Diri nodded brushing her teeth.

We moved around each other to get ourselves ready for the day. Diri left out to make breakfast and to check to make sure Ju brushed her teeth properly. That's one part she always tries to rush through.

Seated on the bed, I pulled out my phone and got on my messenger. I noticed Nelson was active.

Nelson, this is Kenzo reaching out to see if we can have a conversation. If you could message me back when you're available, that would be great. ~

I placed my phone on the nightstand to finish getting dress. After tieing my shoe, I heard my phone buzz.

Would love that. Here's my contact. Call whenever you're ready. (555) 555 6657 I can be reached anytime from this number.

I leaned back against the headboard, debating on if I should dial the number now or wait. My daughter's words played in my head. 'I want to meet him.'

I called the number.

"Nelson Carter, speaking." He picked it up on the second ring.

"Yeah, this is Kenzo, and I don't want to hold you up. I was wondering if we could meet up, have a drink?" I quickly asked.

"Uh yeah. Sure, just tell me when."

"I'm back in LA, so if you're free later today around six, that's a good time for me." I wanted to get this over with.

"That'll work. Send me the address. I'll meet you."

"Cool, see you then," I stated before hanging up.

Before getting up, I made a call to a bar owner Diri, and I visited a while back. I told him I was coming in today. He said he would set me up in the back in my usual spot. SoI we could have some privacy.

Ju raced in the room, almost tripping over at the door. "Food's ready, daddy." She ran back out and darted for the stairs.

Seated for breakfast, I said the grace. Then we wasted no time diving into the Belgian waffles, topped with glazed strawberries and whipped cream.

"Slow down Ju before you choke." I shook my head, watching her skipping out on chewing her food thoroughly.

She slowed down.

"I'll be home around five-thirty today. I'm working in the doctors' office, doing consultations in plastics today." Diri forked some strawberries smearing it in whipped topping.

"Perfect. I have that meeting at six. I'm taking Ju to the beach in the meantime." I opened my mouth so she could feed me those delicious-looking strawberries on her fork.

"So greedy." She leaned across the table to feed me. Ju forked some of her waffle off of her plate so she could feed me as well. I gladly accepted it. "And spoiled."

I chuckled, finishing off my plate.

After cleaning the kitchen, I heard the doorbell sound off. I stood up to get it. Ju followed behind.

"It's Uncle Bo and Uncle Ben." She announced before we could answer it.

"You sure?" I said before opening it.

"Seeeee. I told you." She raised her arms out to Ben as they made their way in. "Hey uncle Bo, and Uncle Ben."

"What up, Ju Ju?" My guard Bo roughed her hair a little before Ben picked her up.

Diri ran upstairs to get her white coat, purse, and keys.

"Ju go get your shoes so we can get mommy to work."

She hopped out of Ben's arms and ran for the stairs.

"What's the plan for today?" Bo clasped his hands together, peering over me. I knew he wanted to know how everything went with the talk.

"Dropping Di off, taking Ju to the beach, then later today I'm meeting with Nelson." I turned to make sure Ju was out of sight. "She wants to meet him, but I need to speak to him face to face first."

"Understandably so. I'm glad she's taking it ok." Ben added, and Bo agreed.

"I don't think it set in yet. Once she starts asking the real questions like, where have you been? Why aren't you in my life, or what happened?" I tilted my head side to side. "Which might not even happen right now. We'll see."

"Ju's smart and very inquisitive. I'm sure she'll have questions. With her sassy self." Bo stated while laughing.

"Especially since he has kids," I spoke low, hearing tiny footsteps coming down the stairs.

Adira and Ju came down the stairs, ready to go.

"Let's hit it." I opened the door. "See if Tyson could meet us at the beach." I was referring to my other guard.

****

Arriving at the familiar bar Diri and I had our second date. The day we stopped here after she went to my game for their chicken sandwiches.

I spotted Nelson seated in the back at my usual table. I waved to the owner then walked over to the table. "What's up, man?"

He stood to shake my hand. "Nothing much, what's up?"

I gestured for us to sit down. We did, then he rubbed his hands together, waiting for me to speak.

The owner brought us some water and two baskets of fries.

"Look man. I asked you here because we recently told our daughter that I wasn't her birth father. We wanted her to hear it from us. She's almost six and very curious. It was only a matter of time before she found out."

He nodded, understanding.

"She took it hard. She's still processing it. We gave her a few days to think it over."

He nodded his head again. "Now she wants to meet me, and that's why you're here. To vet me?"

I glanced in his direction before laughing. He did the same. "Pretty much. That's the short of it."

"Nah, I get it. Besides, I don't really have the best track record." He sat up before speaking again. "Ask away."

"Ok, what's new? It's been almost six years. Last time we talked, it wasn't pleasant." I sat up as well, taking a sip of my water.

He breathed out. "I'm honestly taking things one day at a time. I regret not being apart of my daughter's life. That's something I think about all the time. But I'm grateful to you and Adira."

He ran his hand across his mouth, trying to figure out how to word his thoughts. "I'm married. I have three kids and one on the way. My wife wanted to live closer to her family in Indiana. I couldn't do it. Not with knowing I still have a daughter here."

He cleared his throat and continued. "Just knowing I was still in the same city as Julia was enough for me. At least I made it enough. —I've disrupted and damaged so much already. I didn't want to bother reaching out, ever. I knew she was happy and well taken care of with you."

"She is." I agreed respectfully. He seemed genuine enough.

"Now, I'll speak on the big elephant in the room." He switched gears as he ate some fries. I gave him the floor to speak openly.

This was the type of energy I was hoping for when I pulled him aside at Diris baby shower. So I was more than ready to speak on this big elephant.

"Me hitting Adira." He stared down at the table, wiping his hands in a napkin. I could tell this was still a sore spot for him.

"You mean punching my wife in the face?" I raised my brows, staring daggers into him.

He held up his hands, surrendering. "Yes, that's exactly what I mean."

I took another sip of my water, waiting for him to finish.

"That's something I have to live with for the rest of my life. A conversation I would have to have with my children."

"What happened? —Diri told me the story, but I want to hear it from you." I shifted. "What could possibly piss you off that much to punch her in the face?"

He ran his hand across his face again, taking himself back to that night. "Adira and I were at my place. She would stay there sometimes. —I always felt like I could lose her. She had her own plans and dreams. —I didn't. I just wanted us to be just us. I had the money all I needed was for her to give in and let me take care of her."

He sat back. "That was my selfish way of thinking. She wouldn't have it. So any little thing we talked about would rattle me. I manipulated her into isolating her family and friends. I even had a say on how she'd look. When I had that power, I felt like she wouldn't leave me if I could make her do what I wanted. She was hooked in. —That was my mindset."

"That day we were arguing about some food she wanted to make, and I didn't want it. As I said, we argued over everything I didn't agree with. That argument over food lead to us arguing about all the things I tried to control in her life. She was ready to leave me." He shook his head, breathing out roughly.

"So then you punched her?" I asked curtly, needing him to stay focused. I wanted to hear about this from him, the uncut version.

"Yes. We were calling each other out of our names. The last thing I remember her calling me was a narcissistic, egotistical little bitch. —I snapped and swung on her near her eye." He looked away, taking a breath. "There's nothing I regret more in my life."

"Hmph." I nodded, agreeing.

"Next thing I knew, I was staring at her on the floor, holding her eye. I stood over her horrified at what I'd done, but not for long. —She got up and charged after me. Kicked me in my balls. I fell to the floor; she came up behind me, continuously punching and kicking."

He folded his hands together on the table. "From there, she ended up in my bedroom, bleaching busting holes through everything in sight."

I was mentally laughing at him at this part of the story. I recall Diri telling me about this. She tore his ass up and made sure all of his stuff was trashed.

"Why did you allow her to come back to you? If you regret hitting her. You should've just let her go. —I'm not complaining because then I wouldn't have my daughter." I asked curiously.

"I wanted to make things right, but I was going about it the wrong way. I saw a way back into her life when she came knocking on my door, almost a year later." He paused. "Not to make excuses, but I was dealing with depression. Adira came to my door. She said she didn't want to talk she just wanted to... You know."

I held up my hand, stopping him."Yeah, I know the rest."

"That's the story." He completed, taking a sip of his water.

I thought hearing him speak on this would help give me more perspectives all around. There's no way I could ever sympathize with this man on his past decisions.

"Julia told me she wants to meet you. Is that something we can make happen?" I asked.

"Whenever you want to set it up, I'm down. I would love that." He placed his cup back on the table.

"Ok, but I have a few rules. We can discuss them now."

"I'm open." He gestured for me to continue.

"You don't get alone time with Julia. She will refer to you as whatever she's comfortable with, don't expect anything. Also, please refrain from the details of the past for right now. She won't understand it. —Hell, I still don't." I took a second, making sure he understood, "don't speak to my wife unless she's talking to you. Also, don't even think about bringing your family around to meet my daughter without fully getting to know her first."

"This meet is about Julia, not your other kids. So don't start randomly bringing them up every time you get the chance. If she asks about them, then speak on it."

He respectfully nodded.

"Last thing, I will allow you around my family for the sake of my daughter only. —I can't forgive you for punching my wife. I can't forgive you for the mental abuse you caused. I can't forgive you for putting that type of fear in her. And I also cannot forgive for all the hell you caused during her pregnancy and even after." I stared at him with ice in my eyes.

He had no opposing argument.

"This will never be a Kumbaya happily ever after story where we hang out and forget about the past. You've damaged Adira. I won't let you do the same to my daughter." I made sure I emphasized the word my.

He nodded, implying he was ok with my terms. "I'm not trying to step on any toes. If Julia's curious about me, then I'll see her with you, as her dad, present. No problems here."

"Glad we could come to this agreement." I sat back, brushing the wrinkles formed out of my shirt.

An awkward silence came.

"What's she like?" Nelson asked out of the blue with a little smile he tried to hide.

"Advanced for her age. She loves people. She's fun and passionate." I smiled to myself. "But you'll be able to see for yourself."

"Is she handling the fame stuff ok?" He asked, trying to make further conversation.

"It has pros and cons. We try to keep it away from her. She knows that I'm well known and everything, but we try our best to keep her from getting overwhelmed by it. —And I hope I don't have to say this, but please keep this away from the media."

"Absolutely."

I signaled for the Bo who sat at the bar beside my other guard Tyson. They gave me a nod, letting me know they were ready.

"Alright, I'll let you know when." I stood, he followed. "Thanks for taking the time out to meet with me."

"Thanks for having me." He pushed in his chair.

No other words were exchanged. Both of us left a tip at the table then made our way over to Bo and Tyson.

Nelson left out, waving them off.

"He agreed to meet her." I informed them.

The owner walked over to us. "How's it going, Zo?"

I dapped him up. "Not too much."

"That was a close game." He raised his brow smiling hard.

"Milwaukee's a tough team. One more lost, we're out. We're trying everything to stay in it. —How's business?" I looked around at the place. I noticed a few people spotting me.

"All's well my man." He dapped me again this time I made sure it was loaded. "You didn't have to do—"

"Don't mention it," I said before heading over to snap a few pics with the bystanders.

More people began making their way in after hearing I was here.

"Aight Zo let's hit it." Tyson stood beside me.

"I appreciate the love man for real," I spoke to all the people before following Bo and Tyson's lead to Ben outside.

Arriving home, my two girls greeted me. My wife with a lollypop in her mouth, sporting her chill wear. Beautiful

My daughter was busy sliding in her onesie, waiting for me to pick her up.

I stood in the doorway, pulling them toward me, squeezing tight. "I missed you both."

Diri smiled, pulling away. "We missed you too."

"I made tacos," Julia yelled, trying to hop in my arms.

"It's not even Tuesday." I joked.

We made our way to the kitchen.

While eating dinner, we discussed a date we all agreed on to meet Nelson.

Tomorrow it is.

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