by A'zayler
“Where you going?” that was obviously loudmouth Danna.
Vonetta looked at him as she bit the inside of her cheek.
“I’m about to run up on Cannon really quick. I’ll be right back.”
“Alright now, we’re leaving in a little while. Don’t be over there all day.” Vonetta warned.
“I won’t.”
“If she’s going with us, bring her back with you, so we don’t have to go all the way back over there to pick her up when we leave.”
Ezra told her he would before kissing her cheek and heading out of the door. He was halfway down the driveway when he noticed his father’s gold Cadillac pulling in. A part of him wanted to ignore him, and the other half was hoping he was there to accompany him on his visit. But with Echo being who he was, it wouldn’t take Ezra long to find out what his impromptu visit was for.
“Where you headed?” Echo yelled to Ezra as he stood halfway out of his car.
“To see my girl before I leave.”
Ezra watched his father’s eyes dart away at the mention of him leaving. Clearly, he knew about the visit, but had no intent to join.
“Cool, well make sure you strap up. You’re going somewhere, you don’t want to make the same mistakes I did.”
His father’s words felt like a blow to his chest as he stood there, assuming he and Danna were the mistakes that his father spoke of. Nuke and Vonnie had their own daddies, and didn’t give a fuck about Echo’s ass. Had Ezra not been so young and naïve, he probably wouldn’t have felt the same way, but he was, so he did. He’d been trying to find the good in his father for so many years that he had yet to face the fact that he really wasn’t shit.
“I’ll make sure I do that.” Ezra cleared his throat and hit the locks to his truck before hopping in.
He cranked up and backed out of his driveway before Echo could say anything else to ruin his mood. With tears in his eyes, Ezra sniffed hard and wiped at his eyes trying to rid himself of the liquid pain that was threatening to cloud his vision. With one foot on the gas and the other on the steering wheel, Ezra sped until he reached Cannon’s house.
With God looking out for him, he made it there in twenty, going above the speed limit and no ticket. Once he parked, he checked his eyes in the rearview mirror and hopped out. His long legs got him to her doorstep and knocking in no time. When the door opened, Cannon stood there in nothing but a large t-shirt and panties.
Though Ezra couldn’t see her panties, he knew they were there. With one hand, she held Yara over her shoulder, with the other, she pushed her screen door open for him to walk in. Ezra closed the door behind him as soon as he was all the way in, and just stood there. With his back pressed to the door, he crossed his legs at the ankle and gave her his attention.
“What’s wrong, Ezra?” Cannon walked closer to him.
“How you know something wrong with me?”
Cannon’s head tilted as she gave him a sympathetic smile. “Because the lights behind your eyes are out.”
Why her words weighed so heavily on his emotional state at that moment, he had no idea, but the moment he heard her speak about his eyes, they watered again. He did his best to wipe the tears away, but they kept coming. Cannon turned away from him quickly and went into the living room. When she came back, she no longer had Yara.
Ezra’s eyes searched for her until they landed on her little bassinet. She was in it, sound asleep, and not thinking about his crybaby ass. Cannon on the other hand was a totally different story. Her arms went around him the moment she was back in his space. As much as Ezra wanted to cry and just let out his feelings, he didn’t want to do it in front of Cannon like that.
He sniffed his tears back as much as he could while hugging her. Her thick body was always so soft and welcoming. Her curves filled his arms with little to no effort.
“Tell me what’s the matter.” Cannon’s hand rubbed up and down his back as she urged a confession.
“Nothing, just my deadbeat daddy.”
“Aww, Ezzy, it’s okay. He’s going to regret not being here for you.”
Ezra nodded against her shoulder because he’d heard that before from his mother and believed it just as much when she’d said it.
“What’d he do?” Cannon questioned.
Ezra pulled away from Cannon and grabbed her hand without saying anything. He pulled her into the living room where he picked Yara up and cradled her to his chest. He placed kisses all over her head and rocked her close to his chest. Her small body squirmed in his grasp for a few seconds until she released a loud yawn and relaxed.
Ezra closed his eyes as he lay his head against hers. Even though Yara wasn’t his baby he’d grown so attached to her that she might as well be his. The way she made him feel was beyond words. He’d loved his nieces and nephews for years and the one thing that stood out amongst them all was how peaceful he felt when he was in their presence. Babies were a blessing.
“I don’t know how my daddy is okay with being the way he is. Like, how do you have kids and not want to be there for them? That’s crazy as hell to me. I ain’t gon’ ever do that when I have mine.”
Cannon stood fidgeting with the hem of her t-shirt and nodding. “I know you’re not.”
Ezra’s eyes found hers and held their gaze for a little while before they traveled down the front of her body. Braless, Cannon had his mind bouncing from one thing to another. Before he could stop himself, a small chuckle came.
“What you laughing at?”
Ezra ran one hand over his face. “Man, I need some help, baby.”
Cannon’s face showed how perplexed his change in attitude had her. “Uh, yeah, you do.” She looked away before taking a seat on the sofa, making his thoughts go even deeper.
“I was sitting here on the verge of crying but then I looked at you and I can see your nipples through your shirt and it made me want to suck ’em.”
Cannon palmed her forehead and shook her head simultaneously. “Oh my god, Ezra. You’re terrible.”
Ezra burst into laughter. “I know man, that’s what I was saying.” He took a seat on the sofa across from her still rocking Yara. “Then you sat down and your thighs spread out on the sofa and it made me think about how I be kissing on them when I be eating you out.”
“Oh Lord, Ezra please stop.” Cannon pulled her shirt down as much as she could, trying her best to cover her exposed legs.
“You’d might as well stop. You already know you can’t hide from me.”
“Clearly, pervert.”
Ezra’s laughter flicked the light in his eyes back on. He was laughing so hard, he almost missed Cannon staring at him.
“What? You thinking about sex now too?”
“No, nigga. I’m thinking about how your lights came back on. Sex shouldn’t make you that happy. You need to be ashamed of yourself.”
“It’s not just sex, it’s sex with you.” Ezra leaned over and lay Yara down on the sofa cushion. “I be feeling like I’m married to you when we have sex. You make me feel like a grown man.”
“What?”
Ezra smiled and nodded at Cannon. “For real. Anytime I’m with you I be feeling like I’m your husband.”
Cannon’s laughter took the place of Ezra’s as she tried to cover her smile. “How I make you feel like that?”
Ezra shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s your body or the way you be working it. Whatever it is makes me feel like a grown man in the pussy.”
Cannon’s face turned bright red as she hid her face with both of her hands. Ezra’s smile was big as he watched her blush from his words. It was still so comical to him how he easily he made her blush.
“When we graduate and leave Columbus, you’re not going to be with another man are you?”
Cannon removed her hands and looked at him with a straight face. “No, but I bet you’re going to have other girls. You’re too cute not to. Then you’re going to be an athlete. You’re going to have women everywhere.”
“That’s what you’re saying now, but I know once we’re not together anymore that’s going to change.”
“You don’t know that, so don’t say it.”
“I’m not crazy, Ezra. I already know you’re going to cheat then eventually break up with me. I’m just waiting on it.”
Ezra could hear their conversation taking a turn for the worse, so he moved from the sofa and kneeled in front of her. He kissed both of her knees before replacing his lips with his open palms.
“We’re going to be together forever. Watch and see. You’re going to be my wife.”
Cannon smiled but he could still see the doubt in her eyes. Ezra wanted to do whatever he could to reassure her that he would be there, but words would probably fail him, so instead he kissed her. They kissed and touched until she felt better, and it was time for him to go. He begged and pleaded for her to go on his visit with him, but she continuously refused so he stayed a little while longer before leaving. Whether she believed him or not, Cannon would indeed be his wife one day.
Two months later . . .
“So, you want me to bring her to you?” Cannon asked for the third time to be sure she’d heard her mother right.
“Yes, Cannon.” Karina snickered. “I know how to take care of my own baby, girl.”
Cannon laughed too. “I’m just checking because I can take her with me.”
“No, you go shop with your friend. I’ll keep her. Thank you though, Cannon ball. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll be there in a few.”
Karina blew her air kisses before hanging up the phone. Cannon tossed the phone onto her bed and continued putting Yara’s diapers and wipes into her baby bag. It was the last week of school and she, Ezra, and Danna were about to go to the mall to get their clothes for their graduation party. Cannon hadn’t been too concerned with her graduation attire, but between Karina and Vonetta, she’d practically been forced into it.
Somehow, the two of them had conspired to have her and Ezra’s graduation party together, and the pressure had been on ever since. From combines and training camps, to prom, to signing day, the two of them had done it together. Danna only came around when she wasn’t off somewhere with whoever she spent all her time with.
Cannon and Ezra had concluded that she had to have a secret boyfriend somewhere that no one knew about. She spent so much time acting as if she didn’t love niggas, but Cannon was sure she was lying. Only a man would keep you ducked off the way Danna always was. She could tell that single lie to Vonetta and Ezra all she wanted, Cannon knew better.
“Okay, I got all your stuff together for Karina, can you please just behave yourself today?” Cannon cooed to Yara.
She was lying on the bed biting on her fists and staring at Cannon as she moved around the room getting them both ready to leave. It took her a little over ten more minutes before they were out of the house and heading to the hair salon where Karina was. It took Cannon no time to drop her off and get to Ezra’s house. She’d parked and was pulling the screen door open when Ezra grabbed her.
His face was bright with a smile as he hugged her to his tall body. Since in his arms was her favorite place to be, she went willingly.
“You must have saw me pull up?”
“Nah, I heard your music. I already told you to stop playing it so loud, hard-headed ass girl.”
Cannon was all smiles as she stared at the handsome young king that had stolen her heart. “I’m always something when it comes to you.”
“You’re always my baby, how about that?” Ezra’s mouth found hers as his hands pulled her to him tighter.
“Here we go,” Danna’s voice broke their kiss. “Y’all always up on each other. Can y’all not do that in front of me today? I honestly don’t want to see it.”
They both laughed, but remained entangled in their embrace.
“You ain’t got to worry about it, I ain’t going with y’all today.”
Cannon looked up at Ezra quickly. “What? Why not?”
“Why you ain’t?”
Both women got into his business immediately.
“I got some stuff to handle, y’all go head. I’ll catch back up with you later, baby.” Ezra looked at Cannon as he finished talking.
Cannon’s mood changed as soon as she found out he was no longer going with her. As unhealthy as it sounded, she wanted to spend all her time with him, so for him to be trying to dip on her made her wonder. With her face frowned in confusion, Cannon watched Ezra for any sign of disloyalty. She found none. Instead, she was rewarded with a smile that brought about one of her own.
“What, Cannon?”
“Nothing, I’m just trying to figure out what you got going on.”
Danna walked up and grabbed Cannon’s arm. “Girl, come on. His dusty ass ain’t finna’ do nothing.”
Cannon was reluctant to let Danna pull her away, but she went anyway. Her eyes stayed on Ezra until she was wrapped back in his arms. He was behind her walking her to the car. His lips kissed the side of her face repeatedly as she held on to her attitude.
“Stop pouting. I just need to go do something really quick. I’ll be here when you get back.”
Cannon still didn’t say anything.
“I already told you I’ma come spend the night with you tonight. Why you acting so mad?”
Cannon was doing her best to relax, but it was hard. She wanted to be with him. She enjoyed hanging out with Danna, but being with Ezra was better.
“Chile, get away from this nigga for a minute.” Danna encouraged. “He wasn’t gon’ do nothing but cock block all day anyway.”
Ezra chuckled at his sister before turning Cannon around so that he could see her face. He pecked her forehead once before squeezing her in a tight hug.
“You gon’ let me get some later?” He whispered in her ear before sticking his tongue in it.
Cannon’s whole body jumped as she shied away. “Yeah,” her smile was wide as she felt herself getting hot.
Ezra’s eyes shined down on her as he bit his bottom lip while staring at her. His hair was pulled back in a long braid showing his whole face. He was so chocolatey and handsome.
“I can’t wait. I been thinking about you all day.”
“Well why you ain’t coming with me then?”
Ezra pecked her mouth again. “Because I have something to do. Just go with my sister and have fun. I’ll be here when you get back.”
Cannon crossed her arms and continued to pout until Ezra pecked her lips.
“Just text me while you’re gone. I’ll talk to you all day.”
Oddly, that made her feel better, so she agreed. They hugged and kissed once more before she joined Danna in her Altima and pulled off. Cannon didn’t know what Ezra had going on, but she’d let him do his thing. They literally spent every minute together since they were about to leave for school, so maybe he just wanted to hang out with some of his friends for a change. Either way, she was missing him already.
“I’m gon’ die when I move to Atlanta for grad school and I don’t have your brother,” Cannon vented dramatically.
Danna looked at her with her nose turned up. “Bitch, you need to get a grip. Ezra cute and all, but that nigga ain’t all that.”
Cannon burst out laughing. Danna was so raw.
“You need to let your secret man out of hiding and fall in love.”
“Why, so I can be like you? No, thank you. I ain’t got time for that sucker shit. I’m too playa for that.”
“You can keep telling yourself that, but I know you’re lying. You’ve got a man somewhere around here. You always sneaking off, or hanging out by yourself. Ain’t that much alone time in the world, hoe. You can fool your mama and brother, but I ain’t buying that shit. Somebody’s got your behind out here running.” Cannon looked at Danna with a smirk on her face. “I’ll meet him soon enough.”
Danna was smiling and
laughing uncontrollably. “Girl, gone.”
“Nah, you gone. You love to come for me and my boo like you ain’t on the same mess. I know better. I be watching you. You think you’re slick.”
More laughs came from Danna. Further proving Cannon right.
“Guilty ass.” Cannon laughed with her.
“Listen, don’t watch me. Watch yourself. I’m good over here.”
“I just bet you are, Mrs. Sneaky.”
“Whatever nosey ass girl.”
Cannon shook her head. “You and your brother kill me always talking like that.”
Danna and Cannon shared more laughs all the way to the mall. The more Cannon relaxed, the more she realized hanging with Danna without Ezra was in fact a good time. They were free to laugh and talk about stuff that would never fly if Ezra was around. Maybe she would be alright when school started. Especially since she and Danna had gotten close like best friends. Now she had somebody to talk to and hang out with outside of Ezra. Hopefully she wouldn’t have Cannon doing too much, but then again, maybe a change of pace wouldn’t be too bad.
15
That’s what friends are for
Cannon’s eyes darted over to Danna again for the thousandth time within the last couple of minutes. She looked her up and down again before stopping on her face. She was holding her phone to her ear and looking crazy but hadn’t said anything. The look on her face warned Cannon that there was clearly something wrong with her, but she didn’t know what it could have been because Danna was quiet as a church mouse.
She’d considered asking her what was wrong, or taking the phone to see what she was listening to, but she didn’t. Invading Danna’s personal business wasn’t the first thing on Cannon’s to-do list, but it wasn’t scratched off either. If she kept following behind her looking like a lost puppy, Cannon was about to do some digging. Especially, since sadness was the one thing that hadn’t been in Danna’s character since Cannon’s first time meeting her.
“You ready to go?” Cannon mouthed to Danna as they neared the exit of the mall.
