TAKASHI, BRAELYN, BRIELLE, LAURA and Braelyn's parents sat at the table for dinner. They were at Laura's house, the kitchen table crowded with food. Laura and Braelyn's mother Carmen had done the cooking and everything was fresh and hot.

The table was mostly silent since everyone wanted to practice their table etiquette and not seem rude by talking while eating. But Braelyn knew that wasn't going to last long. She saw the look on her father's face and she could see the fury in them as he glanced over at Takashi every once in a while.

Taking the pastor's advice, Braelyn ended up telling her father about his son in law's temperament. After Takashi had made his nasty and hurtful remark two weeks ago to her for not wanting to give him oral sex, they hadn't really spoken to each other anyway. But Braelyn didn't want to leave the issue just because he was mellow for now. She knew somewhere down the line he would blow up again and it needed to be addressed. For her and her daughter's safety.

Braelyn told her father how Takashi behaved and talked to her when he got mad; but she made sure to keep their sexual problems to herself. That was way too embarrassing of a conversation to have with her father.

Everybody seemed to notice the tension circling around the table except for Takashi. Everyone kept glancing around at each other to see if they could feel where the negative energy was coming from.

Takashi was the only one who ate silently with his head down in his plate, oblivious to everything going on around him.

He sat in the middle of Brielle and Laura. Braelyn and her parents sat across from them with Braelyn's father Henry sitting in the middle so he was directly across from Takashi.

"Last week's service was great wasn't it?" Laura asked, trying to break the silence.

Takashi knew Braelyn had spoken to pastor Rowind again. He knew because the same service Laura just mentioned that happened last week seemed to be addressed directly to him. The pastor talked about one of the male members who attended the church, who degraded his wife for not wanting the sexual experiences he did and constantly treating her badly. Plus the pastor had even glanced at him several times while giving his sermon. Takashi hadn't really said anything to Braelyn after that because if he did this time he would blow up on her for real.

"It was amazing!" Carmen, Braelyn's mother said. "I love how he addressed these young kids these days. They really need guidance."

Takashi pulled out his phone. He was honestly tired of these people. He needed to know where Toryn was. She had left the house knowing his wife and her family was coming over, and didn't want to impose on his family time. Takashi begged her to stay but she insisted she would be uncomfortable. But she was really with Samir.

Takashi: Where are u? 7:03PM

Takashi was surprised when he got an immediate text back.

Toryn: Uh boy, bye! Are you my dad? 7:03PM

"Takashi? You answer your phone at the table?" Carmen asked perplexed.

"Yeah, honey please put your phone away." Laura smiled nervously, just giving him a look that said 'please listen.'

"It's important." Takashi said back to Carmen. He caught Braelyn looking at him. She quickly looked away when she saw him looking back. He went back to his phone, typing vigorously.

Takashi: Tee stop playing, where are you? I don't want to come looking for you. You don't have that luxury to be playing around. Just tell me where you are because you know my mother knows your location already so I'll just pull up. 7:08PM

Henry glared at his son in law. He was a clean cut, handsome young man. When he was a teenager he was very respectful and well mannered. The things Braelyn told him about Takashi now though were horrible.

Toryn: Taka I'm fine, please stop acting crazy. I'm hanging out with my friend. It's a girl my age I met in a shoe store. We've been hanging out for a while. I'm fine. 😶 7:10PM

Takashi: Cut it out with the attitude. I'm just trying to make sure you're okay. 7:10PM

Toryn wasn't ready to tell him about Samir because she needed him to cool down. Her and Samir were really close but she knew Takashi would be fuming if he knew who she was talking too. She didn't tell Laura about Samir either knowing she would tell her son. So she gave Laura the same story she gave Takashi.

"Takashi, I need to ask you something." Henry announced. Braelyn tensed knowing what was coming.

Carmen and Laura were clueless.

Takashi barely glanced up at the man before going right back to his phone when another text came through. Henry was surprised because Takashi wouldn't do something like that. It was clear he was in a bad mood, but Henry didn't care.

"I'm listening." Takashi mumbled to Henry.

Toryn: Are you home now? 7:14PM

Takashi: Nah, still at the dinner. I'm not really talking to anybody and I'm still ignoring Braelyn Mowgli from Jungle Book built ass 😒😒 7:14PM

Toryn: Lmaoooo, woow you are so mean. Taka stawppp that's your wife!!! 😂😂😂😭😭😭💀💀✌️✌ 7:15PM

"Takashi I'm speaking to you." Henry said, his deep voice being felt throughout the room. "Can you please put the phone down."

Takashi could tell from the bass in his voice something was off. He didn't really care though, but to have some respect he put his phone down and put his attention on his father in law with a blank face. Carmen and Laura now seemed to become concerned, not knowing what was going on.

Henry wasn't going to speak to him one on one like a man because he didn't deserve that. He deserved to be exposed. "Have you ever put your hands on my daughter?" He asked.

Carmen and Laura gasped. Carmen more shocked and Laura becoming a little defensive over her son wondering where the random question came from, but neither of the women said anything.

"Daddy he never hit me." Braelyn whispered.

"Be quiet Braelyn." Henry commanded. He wanted to hear it out of Takashi's mouth. "Have you ever put your hands on my daughter."

Takashi's eyes slowly raked up and down Henry's stature. He started off slightly narrow on the top and became bulgy and big on the bottom. He was still built like one of his daughter's tears. So Takashi wondered who he thought he was scaring. Takashi ignored him, focusing on his metal fork. He ate a piece of the stew beef off of it purposefully ignoring his father in law's stare.

"What the hell is going on?" Laura asked.

"Your son hits my daughter!"

"Takashi is not a woman beater." Laura defended. She knew his temper was horrible but he's never hit a woman. Not to her knowledge.

"He must be! He isn't answering!"

"Nobody puts their hands on your daughter." Takashi said calmly.

"Well I hear how you behave. Cursing at her, throwing things. Calling her out of her name?! How dare you!" Henry shouted.

A big smile was on Takashi's face as he just stared.

Henry was shouting and pointing at him as Braelyn and her mother was trying to calm him down. Brielle got scared and crawled onto Takashi's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. She never saw her grandpa yelling before and she didn't like him yelling at her daddy.

"She told me you threw her food at the wall? Are you crazy?!" Henry shouted. "Does that make you feel like a man? To intimidate my daughter?! How would you feel if a man treated Brielle like that?!"

Takashi's eyes followed Henry's every movement. His K-nine teeth still sharp and on display with the rest of his teeth.

"My daughter is a beautiful woman on the inside and out. And if you think you will ever take advantage of her because of that, you are sadly mistaken. If I ever hear that you call my daughter out of her name again or lose your mind around her I will personally come to that house and bury you."

Takashi chuckled.

"Daddy no." Braelyn said, she didn't want him to speak like that. She had tears in her eyes because she could see how upset he was.

"What's going on here?" Carmen asked, taken aback by the whole exchange.

Takashi kissed Brielle's cheek before handing her over to Laura. He then cleared his throat and dusted imaginary lint off his pants. After he was done, he looked directly at Henry deciding to address his father in law. Takashi leaned back comfortably in his seat, looking like he didn't have a care in the world.

"I understand why you're angry and to be honest Henry, you have every right to be. You're mad because we're both Braelyn's daddies now. Your her daddy in the daytime and I'm her daddy at night. Of course your mad, but it's a role we share now and you have to get over it. I know she use to be your princess and you use to put her to bed with a night time story. But she's my princess now and I put her to bed with raw dick."

Henry leaped over the table causing Braelyn and Carmen to scream. Takashi got up right in time, missing Henry grabbing him by his neck within a split second. Takashi laughed the entire time on his way out the door. He wasn't gonna pop on an old man. He barely got off last time after that restaurant incident. He wasn't tryna catch a charge this time.

He walked out the door while everybody held Henry back from killing him.

******

IT WAS TWELVE O' CLOCK when Takashi pulled his Lexus into the driveway. He cut the engine off, watching Toryn munching on her McDonald french fries. She had been craving it for hours for some odd reason.

Since Takashi left the dinner early, he had nothing to do. He texted Toryn about the disaster that happened and Toryn like a true best friend, cancelled the rest of her night with Samir. She left his house and called Takashi to pick her up from a different location and they spent the rest of the day together.

Now deciding to retire for the night, he and Toryn were gonna crash at his second home. Takashi let his mother know Toryn was with him so she wouldn't worry. Once inside the house, Toryn immediately sat on top of the kitchen table, digging in her brown paper bag.

Takashi took his jacket off, dumping it anywhere before he went over to his thermostat to check the heat. He turned it on before he took his shirt and shoes off. "I'm going in the shower." He told her.

Toryn nodded her head and he disappeared upstairs. Shortly after the shower turned on and Toryn began texting Samir.

Toryn: Night babe, sweet dreams. 💤💤 12:08AM

They weren't officially together, but Toryn just felt special calling him that. It made her feel extra close to him.

Samir: Everything okay with your people's? You just left outta here kinda fast earlier today. 12:16AM

Toryn: Yeah, you know Taka and his 😡😡 issues. Some little incident but nothing major. 12:16AM

Toryn knew exactly what happened but she wasn't gonna divulge all of that information to Samir.

Samir: Of course.🙄 That kid be wildin' yo'. He always into it with somebody. 12:18AM

Toryn heard the shower from upstairs turn off. She sighed, low key feeling some kind of way about Samir talking about Takashi.

Toryn: He's not a bad person, he's actually really nice if you get to know him. Yeah we have our ups and downs but he's helped me out. And I think I'm gonna tell him about us. I don't wanna keep being sneaky. Even though I'm not part of the beef you guys have I just feel weird keeping me and you from him. 12:19AM

Samir: Do what you want. Just as long as he don't wild out because I'm tired of him. 12:20AM

Toryn huffed and finally put the phone down. She dug into the bag and pulled out some fries. When she felt something latch onto the three fries in her hand, her eyes bulged and the wind was knocked out of her body as she nearly had a on-the-spot heart attack.

Takashi stood between her legs with a towel around his waist. Water dripping down his toned stomach. He collected the fries with just his mouth. He chewed for two seconds before picking her hand up to suck the salt off her fingertips. They made eye contact and the look in his eyes threw Toryn for a loop. She had never seen that look before.

Just as fast as it came, it was gone as he suddenly scrounged his face up. "Ew, these fries cold as hell." He said. Toryn watched him walk away, her heart like Congo drums in her chest. She was sure he could hear it.

Trying to keep her composure she quickly cleared her throat, hoping the shakiness wasn't present in her voice. "Stop Taka you already ate."

"Yeah whatever."

It got quiet as she watched him looking in a little square shaped mirror that was hung up on the wall. She was feeling a little awkward so she decided to speak, "Sooo...what caused this guy to nearly kill you?"

"I let him know he's just mad his daughter not a baby no more and I have his little church girl on my bed, trying not to moan while she take dick."

Toryn's mouth fell open as a hand flew up to her mouth. "Taka noooo you did not say that. Are you serious?"

"Dead serious."

Toryn knew he was disrespectful and had a reckless mouth, but not this bad. She groaned, now beginning to second guess telling him about her and Samir.

"Did you at least call your wife and apologize? I understand you were trying to get her dad mad but that was really rude to her."

"Fuck Braelyn."

Toryn didn't know what to say.

"I'm really getting tired of everybody. All she does is tell our business so she has no respect for me either. So now she can stay by herself."

"So she has no clue where you are right now? You can at least tell her where you are. You can't just not call or not go home Tee. Come on. I know your mad but that's wrong. Your still married."

Takashi smiled and walked up to her, Toryn tensed when he came between her legs again. Before she could blink his towel was off and over her head. "Don't look," He said hoarsely.

Again Toryn's heart palpitated because she knew what he was doing. She could hear the elastic on his boxers as he seemed to be putting them on. Within seconds he took the towel off her head and was now standing in a pair of black boxers. Wherever he got them from she didn't even notice. His boldness just had her shook.

"Why you sounding like a marriage consultant?" He said, amused.

"Because wrong is wrong whether we're friends or not Taka." She said. She felt like telling him about her and Samir before he got super nice to her because she knew that was about to change, "And while we're on the subject, I have a boyfriend."

"Funny."

"No I'm serious. Earlier I lied to you when I said I met some girl at a grocery store or whatever it was I said. It was my boyfriend."

Takashi just stared at her, "Boyfriend? Toryn you can't be serious. You can't have no boyfriend."

"Takashi yes I can."

He glared at her, the click in his jaws a sign of his anger building. But Toryn was not going to back down. She furrowed her eyebrows, matching his stare.

"Takashi I could have a boyfriend stop it. This is what I'm talking about with you. You can't tell me what to do. You're not my father! This is what I mean when I say your trying to keep me from the outside world."

"So what if I am." He said, "what's wrong with just being with me?"

Toryn looked at him like he was crazy. But then she softened her face after a moment because she could tell he was serious. She spoke softly, "Taka I'm not about to do this with you..."

He turned her face toward him, his brown eyes filled with so much emotion it was hard to tell what they were. "What's wrong with just being with me Toryn? I'm not good enough for you?"

"We're friends Takashi."

"Okay?" He said.

"There's only so much you can do for me as my friend. I'm a human, I still have needs. I need a lover."

He quickly let go of her face and sucked his teeth. "Toryn get the fuck outta here. Do you hear yourself?"

"Yes I do. It's human emotion to want a romantic relationship. Why is that so bad?"

"No that's not human emotion, that's society's bullshit. You let society tell you, you need to fall in love to be happy or be happy with yourself?"

"No I never said that."

"Okay then. So you don't need anybody in that way. Use a vibrator."

Toryn's cheeks got a little red, "Takashi be quiet. This is funny coming from the same person who has a wife. A wife you probably have sex with every night."

Takashi scoffed, going to slide his fingers in her silky ponytail only for Toryn to lightly smack his hand down. Tonight he was a little too close for comfort for some reason. He scoffed. "Please...I haven't touched Braelyn in almost three weeks."

"But you will again eventually."

They made eye contact but Toryn looked away first. She figured now was as good a time as any to bring up the person. "It's Samir."

Takashi pulled his lips in and drummed his fingers on the counter. He didn't even feel like doing the back and forth with her at this point because just by looking at her face he could see she was serious. Just like the night she got into his bed just to tell him she lost her virginity to another man.

Toryn held one of his hands and frowned, squeezing softly. But Takashi jerked his hand away and began walking away to head up the stairs.

"Tee don't be mad you attacked him! Okay you guys got into a little fight but nobody hates anybody and there was no death involved it's not that serious." Toryn said. She sighed and followed him up the stairs.

She walked into his room to see him getting dressed. "Wow Takashi are you serious? Life can't go your way so you just leave."

"Samir." He said, "the same fucking dude that—aight Toryn whatever I'm done. I don't even care anymore. Do what you want. When he fucks you over, don't call my phone."

Toryn shook her head. "He won't. We've been spending a lot of time together. I even remember things about him...sometimes I get little dreams or flashbacks." Toryn smiled because it excited her when that happened. She hoped one day she could remember him fully.

When Takashi heard that he slowed down buttoning up his denim jacket, before looking over at her. She was remembering Samir? How was that possible? He's known her since she was five and not once has anything about them ever came up.

"Yeah I hope you remember when he threw you in that whorehouse and fed you to the wolves." Takashi said walking toward the door.