Never Again, No More 2

by Untamed

  Chapter Two

  Trinity

  Guilty pleasures. That’s what I was experiencing nowadays. I wished in all sincerity that I could say Pooch was the source of the pep in my step and the glide in my stride, but that honor went to my baby, Terrence. Ever since our night of lovemaking in Suwanee, I’d been high as a kite, and he was making damn sure I wasn’t coming down. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t jump in full-fledged at first. In fact, that next weekend when I dropped the kids off at Terrence’s house, I told him that it would be safer for us to be cool and remain friends, but he wasn’t even trying to hear that shit. That nigga talked a good game about waiting for me and shit, but ever since the moment I gave his ass the green light, he had been no holds barred. I didn’t even want to admit it, but that conversation ended with the best fucking oral sex of my damn life! And I ain’t just talking about receiving it either, you know.

  Since that moment, it’d been on like fucking popcorn! I’d been sneaking like a thief in the fucking night. Between hiding classes and fucking Terrence, I was surprised I hadn’t had a heart attack. I was scared shitless of getting caught, but I was addicted to fulfilling my dreams, and I damn sure was addicted to Terrence’s love and dick.

  Terrence’s loving had gotten so good to me that fucking Pooch felt like a chore. The key was not to act like it was a chore. Whenever that nigga told me to bend over, I was on all fours in an instant and screaming like it was the best thing I’d ever felt in my life. No need to change the routine. At one point, those screams were for real, and even though now they were just a facade, I wasn’t about to let that nigga think I wasn’t enjoying it. While I was fully aware that I was playing with fire, I was being damn sure careful not to get burned.

  The question remained, why was I even still with Pooch? I wish I had a straight answer for that, but really I didn’t. It was a combination of a lot of things. For one, probably the most important one: fear. I was scared for Terrence’s life and mine if I told Pooch I was leaving him for Terrence. Hell, even if I just left him and he later found out I was with Terrence made me nervous like a muthasucka. Then, of course, it was guilt. Okay, I knew Pooch was a hustla and his attitude fucking sucked, but deep down, I honestly felt like that nigga was true to me. That was rare for a nigga in general, but especially for a street nigga with money as long as Pooch’s.

  Bitches were hatin’ on me big time. They wanted what I had—security—which was another reason I was still here. But if you think I had to deal with hoes running up on me, catching Pooch dippin’ and slippin’, or the ever-famous baby-mama drama, you can think again. Outside of the expected hatin’, I’d never had a bitch who had said, “Yeah, I fucked your man.” To me, that was a clear sign that he wasn’t fucking around on me. Either that or he was paying them hoes off for real, but knowing Pooch, I truly doubted that. Like I said, I felt guilty that I was doing him dirty, but not guilty enough to stop.

  Shit, if you want to be real with it, I felt in some ways he brought it on himself. I would never have given Terrence a second thought if Pooch truly valued me as a person. True, he respected me as his woman, but to him, that’s all I was: his woman, the operative word being “his.” I was just as much his property as his businesses, his drugs, and his money. He ran me like he ran them, the way he fucking wanted, and that was it. So guess what? I found somebody who gave me what I needed while Pooch continued to give me what I wanted. It was a fair trade. Problem was, the more I got what I needed from Terrence, the less I wanted anything Pooch had to offer me. In the end, what I needed and what I really wanted were all wrapped up in the same package: Terrence.

  “Trinity!” Pooch yelled, startling me.

  I jumped and rolled over on the bed. “What? You scared the shit out of me.”

  He came and sat on the bed. “What the fuck you so jumpy about? I’ve been calling your ass for at least five minutes.”

  “I was just reading the magazine. I didn’t hear you,” I lied. I closed up the magazine that I was pretending to read and sat up next to Pooch. “What’s up?”

  “I swear I don’t know where your mind be at,” he said, shaking his head. “But check it. I have to get ready to go out of town tomorrow.”

  I frowned. “For what?”

  He rubbed his hands together. “I’m tryin’a expand my empire, and I gotta get up with Tot about venturing into it with me. I need more product to service my customers.”

  “Why would you want to expand? Everything is kosher. Why rock the boat tryin’a be greedy?” I asked.

  “It’s cool, but every business needs to expand to survive.”

  “This kind of business should stay small to survive.”

  He sucked his teeth. “I ain’t come to you for you to be my consultant and shit. I’m just letting you know I ain’t gon’ be here this weekend. Don’t you worry about the streets. I got this shit on lock. This is what I do. Shit,” he said with irritation.

  “I’m just concerned about you, baby,” I said, but honestly, I just didn’t want no heat around us.

  He kissed me. “I know, baby, but you know this is who I am. This is what I do. I got this. Let me handle these streets. You just keep yourself looking pretty and being my lady. A’ight?”

  I nodded and stood up. “A’ight. When are you leaving and coming back?”

  He stood up and pulled me to him. “I leave tomorrow around noon, and I’ll be back at about six Sunday night.”

  “Cool. Listen, speaking of looking pretty, I want to go get my nails done. Can you watch the kids for me while I go do that?”

  “Yeah, I got ’em.”

  I looked confused. “Huh?”

  “I said I got ’em. You sure you don’t need your fuckin’ hearing checked?” he asked me with the most serious expression on his face.

  I laughed. “No, I heard you. I just can’t believe your answer. You actually said yes.”

  “What the fuck was I supposed to say?”

  I shrugged. “A lot of times I ask, and you be like no because of this, that, and the third. I’m just shocked.”

  “Shit, that’s because a lot of times I have this, that, and the third to do,” he replied, irritated. “Why the hell you even ask me if you feel like I’m gon’ say no?”

  “Asking never hurts. I’m just saying usually your answer is no.”

  “A nigga try to help, and I’m gettin’ slack. Ain’t this a bitch?” He shook his head in disbelief.

  “I’m not giving you slack. I’m just shocked. That’s all I’m saying,” I said with a slight attitude.

  “Whatever. While you wasting time being shocked and shit, you better get to going before something do come up and you be draggin’ they asses to the nail salon with you.”

  I shook my head as I stuck my feet in my flip-flops. I could always count on Pooch to spoil a sincere moment between us. Like I said, his attitude fucking sucked.

  “I’m ’bout to go. If you need me, you know where to hit me,” I said, grabbing my cell phone and waving it as I got my purse.

  “A’ight,” he said and pulled me to him for a kiss. “Damn. When you get back, I’m gon’ have to hit that shit right quick. It’s been a couple of days. You being stingy on a nigga and shit.”

  “No, I ain’t. You ain’t asked,” I said to him.

  “Since when I gotta ask?” He looked at me crazy.

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m just saying you ain’t made no moves.”

  “Well, I’ma make a move when you get home,” he said, kissing me on my neck. “Fuck! I can already feel that pussy slidin’ on my dick,” he said, grabbing his crotch. “Hurry back.”

  I giggled. “A’ight baby.” I walked to the door.

  “Oh, and get red polish on the toes this time.”

  “Red?” I asked, turning around in my tracks.

  “Yeah, red. It’s a color like blue, white, and green,” he quipped.

  I rolled my eyes. “I know that. Why you want me to get red?”

  “You used to get re
d all the time, and I thought it was hella sexy. Now you keep getting this damn orange or peach-looking color. It’s cute, but I like red,” he said.

  “It’s called Jasmine, and I happen to like it,” I said with an attitude. And so does Terrence.

  “Yeah, well, get red this time. You can go back to your Jasmine next time,” he said nonchalantly. “Besides, it ain’t like you paying for it,” he commented arrogantly.

  “Oh, so now you throwing up your money in my face?” I asked.

  “Nah, babe, I’m not throwing it up. I’m just lettin’ you know since you seem to have such a fuckin’ attitude about it. I don’t know what the fuck is up with that lately, either. You need to check that shit.”

  “Red it is,” I said, throwing up my deuces. “I’m out,” I added before I cussed his ass out for real. My patience was short as hell with him lately, but like I said twice before, his attitude sucked.

  “Trinity,” he called out as he walked out behind me.

  “Yeah,” I said, not even bothering to turn around.

  “I love you. Remember—”

  “I know. Remember that shit. I do,” I interrupted and walked to my car.

  Once I was down the road, my cell phone buzzed. I swore if it was Pooch texting me to start some shit, I was going to fucking flip for real. I picked up my cell when I got to the stop sign, and I read the message. It was from Terrence asking me to call him, so I hit number one on my speed dial. Yep, he was numero uno.

  “Hello?” his deep baritone voice floated through my phone. It was like music to my ears. All of my tension instantly eased away.

  “Hey, baby,” I cooed.

  “Hey, you. That was quick. Pooch must not be around.”

  “No, he’s actually watching the kids while I go get my nails done if you can believe that,” I giggled. “I was so shocked.”

  He chuckled. “I’m not. It’s his territorial senses going off on him. He can’t pinpoint it yet, but a nigga knows when someone is moving in on his territory.”

  “Please don’t say that. I’m nervous enough,” I said with exasperation.

  “Let me quit messing with you before I give you a heart attack,” he said. “Are you getting my favorite color?”

  “Hell no. This fucking asshole wants me to get red. Talking about that’s what he wants. He is so fucking aggravating.”

  “Then leave,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “Terrence,” I warned.

  “I won’t go there,” he said, giving up. “Am I going to get to see you this weekend?”

  I smiled. “Actually, you will. Pooch is heading out of town tomorrow. He’s trying to expand his business.”

  “Oh, really? He just bold with it, huh?”

  “Yeah, I told his ass, but you know what? Fuck it.”

  “He’s a grown man. He can handle it. So fuck him and let me handle you,” he said seductively.

  “Oh, baby, and you definitely handle it very well.”

  He laughed loudly. “Hell, I know, but it’s nice to hear it. I’m more than happy to oblige.”

  I shook my head. “You so fucking cocky.”

  “And I don’t have a reason to be?”

  “Yeah, you do with your arrogant ass.”

  “Damn. I miss you and my babies. I wish you all were over here,” he said sweetly to me. “I want to do a family day with you and the kids this Sunday. Let’s have a picnic in the park.”

  “Well, Pooch will still be out of town, so I will have Princess too,” I said, thinking out loud. “I don’t know, Terrence. You know how Pooch hates us to be around each other.”

  “You just said that nigga is gon’ be out of town. Plus, you know I love Princess, so what’s the problem?”

  “I guess nothing really. I’m just being paranoid.”

  “I would say that you wouldn’t have to be paranoid if you would leave him, but you don’t want to hear that,” Terrence said sarcastically.

  “I know. Listen, I just pulled up at the nail salon, so let me go.”

  “A’ight. Get all jazzy for me. I suck red toes too.”

  I burst into laughter. “You’s a fool!” I shouted into the phone.

  “A fool in love,” he said sweetly.

  I sat back, blown away by his sentiment. “Aww, I love you too.”

  “Go. Go get jazzy. I’ll holla at you,” he said, obviously choked up.

  “A’ight. Bye, baby.” I blew a kiss into the phone.

  I didn’t know what the hell I was gonna do about my situation with Pooch. One thing was becoming very apparent to me. Both Terrence and my feelings were getting way too deep to keep putting off what we really wanted. Case in point, the last damn thing I wanted to do was leave this damn nail salon and go back to Pooch. I wanted to go be with my Terrence. I loved him.

  Chapter Three

  Trinity

  “‘I’m easy like Sunday morning.’” I sang a very bad rendition of Lionel Richie’s song as I floated around, finishing my house cleaning. I couldn’t help but smile.

  Pooch had been gone since Friday, and I had been thoroughly enjoying myself with Terrence. It was our first time spending the night together since before we broke up. I wasn’t crazy now. I knew Pooch would be on the lookout, especially after what happened the last time he left town. To this day, I still trembled over the fact that Terrence and I could’ve gotten caught by Pooch or his people when we were sneaking around with each other when I was supposed to be out partying with my girls. Had it not been for Terrence’s quick thinking and my girl Lucinda’s willingness to lie for me, we would’ve been. Needless to say, after that incident, I was cautious.

  On Friday night, I’d had Terrence pick up the kids and had my mom pick me up and drop me off at a hotel where Terrence had rented adjoining rooms for us and the kids. That way, my car stayed put all damn night. Pooch called me a couple of times and was content that I was chilling at the house, so once he was all squared away, Terrence and I got down to business! And oh yes, he did suck red toes too.

  Besides the lovemaking, we talked about life, school, his job, and marriage. Yes, marriage. We both wanted to get married one day, and of course he kept insisting that he wanted to marry me, but I didn’t get my hopes up. I was just enjoying the simple pleasures he gave me that I never got from Pooch, such as being held and caressed and feeling so appreciated, so loved, so respected. Before daybreak the next morning, a cab picked up Princess and me, and I was in my bed before anyone could blink their eyes. Thug niggas usually slept until midmorning anyway. While Terrence had our two that Saturday, I used my time to do my coursework and the majority of my cleaning. However, we were on the phone all night having phone sex. Without even fucking touching me, that man made me cum harder than Pooch did. Now that was some shit.

  The one thought that kept coming to mind was that I wished Terrence had never broken up with me. When he had to do his bid, if he’d only told me that he’d broken up with me because he felt he’d be holding me back, I would’ve fought for him, for us. I could’ve explained that I was with him. I’d would’ve done the time with him instead of feeling like he didn’t want me and the kids anymore. It’s not that I didn’t appreciate Pooch for stepping up to the plate as my man, and there was no way I regretted our daughter. My kids were my world, and I loved Princess, I truly did, but it would’ve been so much better if Terrence was her daddy and I’d never hooked up with Pooch. With Terrence, it was as if time stood still and we picked up right where we left off. I wanted to be free to love him and be the woman for him he so desperately wanted, but I was bound to Pooch. Like I said before, once you were in that circle, you were in it, and by having Pooch’s child, I was in it beyond waist deep.

  I was so excited to meet Terrence at the park for our picnic. On point as usual, I had on my ankle-length olive green and cream cotton sundress that dipped low, exposing some cleavage, with matching flip-flops. With my classy ponytail pulled back neatly with a regal effect, my MAC makeup poppin’, and my Opulence perfume
dabbed in my key areas, I knew that I looked and smelled scrumptious. Terrence smiled when he saw us approaching. He ran over and grabbed Princess. He looked good with his jean shorts and short-sleeved striped Polo shirt, and Brittany and Terry were cute in their Polo outfits as well. We were so fucking fly that we should’ve taken a family picture. Yeah, the same one Pooch forbade me to take.

  “How are two of my favorite women doing?” Terrence asked as he kissed Princess on the cheek. We walked to join the kids.

  “We’re great. I’m a lot better now that I’m with you.”

  He smiled. “It could be like this all the time.”

  “You never miss an opportunity to express that to me, do you?”

  “Nah, not at all,” he said and laughed.

  We sat down on the blanket and enjoyed our sandwiches, chips, and drinks while having a great time with each other and our kids. After we ate, the kids played on the playground equipment. We put Princess in the baby center so she could play as we sat on the bench and watched her.

  “Thank you for this. I miss this,” Terrence said, looking over to check on Brittany and Terry.

  “I miss it too, Dreads,” I agreed, playfully pulling one of his dreadlocks.

  “You love running them fingers through this hair,” he joked. “But you’d chop mine off if I touched yours.”

  “I can’t mess up yours, but God knows you could mess up mine.”

  He turned to face me. “I wish you would really consider leaving him and marrying me. Let’s be a family, Trinity. We don’t have to stay in Atlanta. We could leave, us and the kids. Start over. Start fresh.”

  “What about your job and my coursework?” I asked him.

  “Fuck that. I got that. You know I got y’all no matter what. Just trust me enough to let me be that man for you. You’re scared of Pooch and maybe even a little scared to put your trust back in me. I fucked up when I got locked up and shit. I regret every fucking moment of leaving you and my seeds out here to fend for yourselves. If I could do it all over again…” he said, his voice trailing off. “Just let me do it over again, please.”