Page 7 of Furthest From Perfect

Collaboration Inquiry: Galaxy x Koi Morgan Co.

I completely forgot about Han’some as I quickly opened the email to read the contents. “Oh my God,” I mumbled, seeing my dream opportunity sitting right in my inbox. “Oh my God!” I screamed once I read through the details.

“What? What is it?” Han’some asked after I yelled out like a maniac.

I couldn’t contain my smile or excitement. “Galaxy wants to work with me.”

A genuine smile spread across his face as he wiped his mouth with a paper towel to get rid of the crumbs left over from the sandwich. “That’s dope as fuck, Adora. Congratulations, baby. You fucking deserve that. Ain’t no bitch flyer than you, and I mean that.” After another gulp of the liquid IV, he asked, “Are you going to take the job? You know that means you’ll have to be out all night, right?”

My eyes skimmed over more of the details, and that was when reality set in. My smile fell from my face because one thing was certain. If I remained living at home with my parents, I would never be able to commit to working for Galaxy. Her schedule would mimic Han’some’s, and while he was understanding of the hours I could and couldn’t work, I knew it wouldn’t be an option with Galaxy.

I massaged my neck as my head fell backward. I had been waiting for an opportunity like this my whole life. Could I really pass it up because I wasn’t allowed to be out later than sunset? Or was it time to spread my wings and take a risk? I allowed my eyes to float over to Han’some and thought about what he’d said. At this point, he might be the only way for me to even have a chance at accepting this job.

“I fucking hate this bitch,” I vented with flared nostrils and an erratic pulse. Removing the phone from my ear, I ended the call because Tana’s voicemail came on again. Instead of throwing the phone across the room, I tightened my grip on it, wishing it was Tana’s neck.

All a nigga wanted to do was check on his daughter, and she was making things difficult for no reason. It had only been a day since her live, and I’d gone to purchase a seashell nightlight for my baby so she wouldn’t have to sleep in the dark. Alayshia walked closer with a shake of her head and an empathetic expression. As my manager, she knew everything that was going on behind the scenes of my life. I wasn’t even trying to start trouble right now; I genuinely just wanted to lay eyes on my baby to make sure she was good and give her the nightlight.

Tears pricked at the corner of my eyes because I regretted the day I ever thought fucking with Fontana was a good idea. “I know you have a lot going on, but you cannot have any more public spats with Fontana. It’s tainting your image,” she advised.

I knew her advice came from a genuine place, but I wasn’t trying to hear that positivity bullshit right now. I needed a real solution to my problem, or else things were going to get worse—online and in real life.

“Lay, with all due respect, I’m going to need you to stop talking unless you’re suggesting a solution on how to help me. When it comes to my daughter, it’s fuck this career and an image. I want to be in my daughter’s life, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to make that happen.” I ran a hand down my face then slid deeper into the couch.

We were in my living room, going over my schedule for the week, but I couldn’t even think clearly right now. I was worried about my daughter, and nobody seemed to notice how bad this battle with her mama was impacting me. I knew my image might suggest there was nothing I cared about in this world, but my daughter was my world. Without her, life wasn’t even worth living, because she was all the family I had.

Lay sighed before she sat beside me. “I’ll go drop the light off for you and talk to Fontana about allowing you to see Skye, but I think it might be time for you to take things to court. I can start looking for lawyers if that’s something you want to do.”

I tapped my fingers on the couch, considering the option. The last thing I wanted was to get the system involved in this, but Fontana had me between a rock and a hard place. If this was the only way to ensure I got to see my daughter the way I wanted, then I would have to do it.

“I feel like this way you can protect yourself, and you have proof of her lifestyle. Not saying yours is much better . . .” Her voice trailed off because we both knew I could get a little wild.

“What if I got married and cut off all bullshit?” I blurted before my mind fully processed what I was saying.

Lay slowly turned to look at me. “Married? Huh?”

I licked my dry lips and leaned forward to rest my elbows on my knees. “What if I clean up my online image by getting married and settling into a calmer lifestyle? Would that strengthen my case for custody of Nyari?”

Although she was still looking at me as if I’d grown a second head, she nodded slowly. “I mean, yeah, that would help, but you’ve never been a one-woman kind of man. And you think you’re just going to find a wife by tomorrow?”

I rubbed my hands together while my mind raced a mile a minute. “Don’t worry about all of that. Just find me the best family lawyer there is. I am going to do whatever it takes to see my baby how I want to.”

I paced the living room trying to think about how I could bring the conversation up to Koi. She was on her way over to style me for a brand event tonight. I didn’t have time to waste, and I knew she wanted to take that job with Galaxy. By marrying me, we could both get what we wanted. I was desperate, and it wasn’t like she wasn’t a great option. Her beautiful face appeared in my mind, and I was smiling before I could control myself.

Koi was a delicious, mocha complexion with soft facial features. I could see her bouncy, luxurious weave framing her face. Her large, almond-shaped eyes had a way of drawing me in, even though that wasn’t her intent when she looked at me. She loved to wear lash extensions, but they were never over-the-top or too much for her. I was dying to hold her oval face in my hands while I kissed her full lips or down the length of her slender nose. Her lips were always glossy and looked soft as fuck. My dick got hard just imagining what they tasted like.

I loved that she was tall and curvy. She commanded any room she walked into because her confidence came from within. Her style was very eclectic, and I loved that she always wore some kind of print with every outfit, whether it be her clothes, shoes, purse, or accessories; she always found a way to incorporate print into her outfits. In any crowd, I’d be able to spot that girl.

“What are you over there smiling at, boy?” I heard her ask from behind me.

I spun around quickly to find her standing there with her cow print purse hanging limply by her side. I didn’t even try to wipe my smile away as I shook my head. “Nothing . . . You look pretty,” I complimented her. My eyes outlined her silhouette in the jean romper she wore. Koi always looked good enough to fucking eat.

She squinted at me, and I knew that meant she was suspicious. “Thank you . . . Are you ready to get dressed?”

“We have a little time before I need to. I was wondering if I could talk to you about something.”

She set her purse on the couch and nodded. “Uh, yeah. Sure.”

Even though I was nervous as hell, I still smiled at her. “Aight, come on. I got you some wings because I know you probably haven’t eaten yet.”