Page 9 of Senior

“They do. It’s nothing for those boys to stop by my house in the middle of the day and raid my fridge. I’m gonna start putting laxatives in my food. Every time I think I have leftovers, one of them has cleaned me out like they don’t have their own mothers to terrorize.”

“Trust me, they make their rounds and come to my house too. Once upon a time it was four, now it’s six. These days, you’d think Quaid and Titan came from me too.”

“Well, you love adopting other people’s kids as your own, Senior.”

“I mean, they kinda adopt me first. I can’t help that everybody loves me, woman. I’m kind of a big deal.”

She gave a hard roll of the eyes as she set the last plate on the table. With a giggle, she mushed my head as she walked past me.

“Whatever, Stanley.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I followed her back into the kitchen. I did have a shit load of kids, biological and otherwise. Truth be told, I didn’t mind. Everybody needed love and somebody to take care of them at times. I learned a long time ago that my purpose on this earth was to protect and serve.

Retirement had me looking crazy some days. Sometimes, I was itching to get back to the action. Then I remembered I left my organization in the most capable hands. My kids were the reason I could sit back and finally enjoy life for what it was. The problem was, I wasn’t sure I was really enjoying this shit.

It wasn’t the lack of action.

I imagined spending my retirement with a someone special at my side, preferably a wife. Contrary to belief, I wanted to settle down. Shit, I wanted that a long time ago, but life knew how to fuck up your plans. I stared at the very woman I’d wanted that life with once upon a time.

People thought I wasn’t a one woman man, including my kids. Truth is, I was searching for something I was missing in every other woman after Stephanie. Sometimes I thought I found it… hence the reason I had six kids. Other times I knew off the bat they weren’t her. I felt like I was gonna spend a lifetime looking for the parts of her I loved most in other women. In reality, pieces of her were never going to be enough.

I needed the whole thing.

A nigga could only wish.

“You sure you’re good, Steph?” Tavia asked as she walked me out front.

Dinner was over, and I was heading out. I hadn’t even planned to stay and eat. I stopped by after my photoshoot to see Kalia since she was home for the weekend, and it had been a while since I’d seen my girl. As usual, Tavia and I got to talking then wine was poured. Before I knew it, I’d been there for five hours, and she was telling me to stay for dinner.

That was usually how it went whenever I visited her or Allison, especially these days.

“I’m fine, Tay. You don’t have to worry about me.”

She grabbed my hands. “But I do. You’re my sister, Steph. I can always tell when something is off with you.”

“I’m just a little tired.”

She frowned. “You taking care of yourself?”

“Yes. I just haven’t gotten much sleep this week. My mind has just been a little restless.”

“Anything you want to talk about?”

I shook my head. “No. Small things to a giant.”

She eyed me skeptically. “You call me if you ever need to vent. Me and Allison will come right over with wine. I can leave these kids with their daddy and come right over. We are overdue for a girl’s night, anyway.”

“We are.”

She smirked at me. “I guess you’ll have to make do with our baby daddy until then.”

Senior left about ten minutes ago, letting me know he would see me soon. Of course, she heard that shit.

“Don’t start, Tavia,” I warned.

She giggled. “I’m just saying. That man goes out of his way to ensure you’re okay.”

“He does that for all of us.”