3.4

Kain stopped infront of Charmaine building. He put the car in park.
"Come on "she looked back at Malani.
"I know it's getting really hot. Your more than welcome to come in "
He thought about it for a second but he decided to go cause he had to take a leak so he thought he might as well went in.


He killed the engine following Charmaine up to her building. He noticed it wasn't the building he dropped her off at previously. It was one two buildings down


"Smart"He chuckled.


"Charmaine"the landlord smiled showing his yellow and gappy teeth.
He was a nice guy at first but then he just became a creep. He was always starring at her or waiting by her door on her way out.
"Hi"she said. She hated to be rude so the least she could do was say hi.
"Got yourself a sugar daddy?"obviously he was drunk,and out of it. His question caught both Charmaine and Kain off guard.


"Just...come on"Charmaine sighed shaking her head. She let Malani up the stairs before her. The whole time going up to her apartment he was talking shit and rambling on


"You like it here?"Kain scrunched up his face.
"It works for now. Maybe my next year I will be able to upgrade you know?"Charmaine pushed her door in letting them in but Kain insisted she go before him. Just a 'gentlemen gesture'


"Bathroom?"
"Lani go get changed. Come on"Kain followed behind her to the bathroom. She walked him down to the bathroom at the end of the hall. When she turned around she had to take a step back. Kain was closer than what she thought. He was literally on her heels.


She noticed the scratches on his forearm. Nothing serious but they looked like they at least stung. 
She left him to handle his business and she went to check on Malani.
"Can I wear my Moana shirt?"
"Go ahead" Charmaine  pulled a new pair of capris from her closet.
"When Kain get out the bathroom go wipe your self down before you put your clothes on. "Charmaine told Malani. She nodded her head understanding the task her mother had given her. She walked out to her living room seeing Kain comfortable on the couch.


"She should be out soon" Kain nodded his head shoving his phone back into his pocket.


"How you like it out here?"
"It's better than where I was before"she sighed flipping her curly hair over her shoulder. Kain starred at her realizing that's what he noticed. Normally Charmaine hair was done in a updo or straight.


"That's your real hair?"Kain pointed. Charmaine twisted up her face in confusion "Yeah"
Kain nodded his head folding his lips.


Malani came sprinting down the hall.
"Done!"she shouted as if her mom or Kain wasn't right infront of her.


"Why you so loud?"Kain said tickling her. Malani fell out laughing while Charmaine watched in awe. Malani made it seem as if  Kain was her best friend in the whole wide world.


"Again"she jumped up after Kain put her down.
"You still want to grab food?"Kain asked Charmaine. He was going to get his self food regardless.
"Yeah we can go"She said.


Charmaine helped Malani put her shoes on then tie them before they were on their way out.
"You want to go to that soul food
Place? I told you about a while back."Kain asked her.
"Doesn't matter to me"She grabbed Malani's booster seat out the closet.





"So if you don't mind me asking when you turn nineteen?"
"Two months"Charmaine told him. He nodded his head doing the math trying to figure out  when Charmaine had Malani.


"When's your birthday?"Charmaine asked
"May fourth "he shrugged
"That's in two days"Charmaine looked at him upside the head
"No shit"he said sarcastically laughing.
After a few seconds Charmaine joined him.
"What do you plan on doing?"
"Nothing. I might sit at the club for a little bit"
Charmaine nodded her head folding his lips. "You trying to kick it with a real nigga for the one time."Kain said. He wasn't being cocky he was just being himself.  He had no shame in pulling females or in the female category at all for that matter.


Women flocked to kain and he didn't mind it.


Charmaine lifted her eyebrows looking at him upside the head.
"Who ever said that?"
"I mean-"
"Listen you may be good looking...Charming,or whatever. However don't flatter yourself thinking I like you. Your-"
"Girl bye"
"Bye?"Charmaine repeated with a chuckle. "All the females like me okay?"he popped his fake collar.
Charmaine rolled her eyes changing the subject. "Do you have any nieces or nephews? "
"One... why?"
"Cause I see your really good with kids. I don't know what it is but Malani is attached to you. Everywhere we go she's talking about you. " She looked back then back at him


"Really?"Kain smiled looking back at Malani. Charmaine admired his smile then looked back at Malani who laughed trying to deny it.


"Not all the time"Malani said back.
Kain parked the car and helped Malani out then Charmaine.
"Thank you"
"It's cool" he held the door open for them and they all walked in.
"It's cold as hell in here"Charmaine whispered wrapping her arms around Kain.  strong arm trying to stay warm.
It was innocent on her end Kain wanted to snatch his arm away cause it was making things seem like something it wasn't but,he had a sudden change of mind when he noticed it was innocent.


"You barley got a damn shirt on"
She looked down at her clothes.
"I barley have a shirt on? It just doesn't have sleeves, It's a cammy. "


"And two sizes two small?"
"Crop top. Heard of it before?"
"What you say? Thot top?"Kain teased. Charmaine rolled her eyes laughing.
"Mommy can I have a quarter?" Malani asked holding her hand out
Charmaine  went in her back pocket giving her all the loose change she had in her pocket.
"It smell good"Kain said more so to himself.
"Who you telling"Charmaine looked up at him then back at the menu board,
"What you want?"Kain asked her.
"She looked up at the menu trying to think of something.
"You like Macaroni? "
"Ew no"she scrunched up her face while Kain looked at her like she was out of her balls
"Weird as shit. You eat-"
"I'll just get baked chicken with mash potatoes,corn and a roll"
"Kain nodded his head
"What she gonna eat?"Kain nodded his head to Malani
"Chicken and Macaroni "
"That's it?"
"Yea that's the only stuff on here I know she will actually eat."


"Y'all boring as shit. You just ain't ever had no good soul food. This shit here will really change your life."he boasted
"Well get me what you eat and I'll be the judge of that"
Kain kissed his teeth waving her off.


"You ain't ever gon taste no food as good as this your hear me. Not even your momma,grandmomma, great great grand mother."He went on. Charmaine pushed him away rolling her eyes.


Normally Kain didn't like people invading his personal space,but he didn't mind Charmaine so close. He would be lieing to say he wasn't feeling her by now.
Charmaine impressed him with the the things she been through and how she handled them.


He stepped up and ordered their food while Charmaine kept an eye on Malani from a distance.


She interacted with other kids who were playing in the arcade and she blended right in with them.
S


he was finally enjoying the life she wanted.

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