by Tanya Cole
I’m pulling out my keys getting ready to unlock the door; when I feel something hit me in the back of the head. Then, a sheet or blanket is placed over my head. I feel about four different hands placing punches to my head. With no way of defending myself, I pass out. When I finally wake up, the doctor and the police are in my face asking a thousand questions. I’ve dogged out and plotted on so many schemes against so many folks that I don’t know where to start. The doctor explains to me that I’m going to be okay, but I’m considered high risk.
“High risk for what?” I ask confused.
“You’re eight weeks pregnant.” She says.
“No, that can’t be right! You got to check that again!” I say.
“We checked it several times. We did blood work and urine samples. We have you scheduled to do another ultrasound in about thirty minutes.” She says talking about this pregnancy as if I’m happy or care about it.
Thirty minutes later, I’m looking at the doctor perform an ultrasound on me. So, this is for real. Of course, I don’t know who the dad is again. The only thing I do know is that it ain’t Free’s. I ask for my conception date because maybe that will give me a clue. It’s just my luck that it’s one of the days that I slept with Mark and Champ. As she is checking the baby’s vitals out, Free walks in the door.
“Oh, shit,” he says looking at the monitor.
Now, I really can’t hide it.
Free
I’ve been following Tia around for a few days, but I still haven’t figured out where she lives. The normal schedule she follows is no longer valid. It’s like she glowed up without me. I’m creeping around with Moet’s friend Fatima because she is good in bed. She’s cool and all, but after Tia and Shayla tossed me to the curb; I’m solo like a loose Newport. I’m doing my usual routine of following Tia when I notice that she is going to her doctor’s office. Now, she just got a checkup about eight months ago. I know because I took her myself. Plus, her PH balance was off and she wanted me there in case she had an STD or STI. I was deep in prayer the whole time. The first time I knew he was real. Hey, what can I say? I’m a dog ass nigga and it’s my world. After sitting in the parking lot for two hours, I was getting ready to give up. Then, I spot this nigga holding the door open for her. They walk to the car together and he wraps his arms around her. She pushes him away. He grabs her face on some movie scene ass shit. He places his hands on her stomach and she stares at him. He bends down and kisses her belly. I’m two muthafucking seconds from flipping out. This bitch better not be pregnant by this nigga. I begged her to have my muthafucking seed, but she refused. She swore up and down that she wanted to be married with a degree and a career before having kids. Now, she’s pregnant by this nigga! I got her ass! I pray that I’m tripping and just seeing shit. She walks away and he pulls off. I follow her to Trinity’s crib until I get a call from Mac Low. Since I ain’t got no money like that, I’m charging my homies for rides and to borrow my vehicle when they want to use it. So, as soon as I start following Tia around to see where she lives; one of my broke ass friends call me. I need the gas money so I have to go. I pick him up and take him over his baby momma house. Of course, he takes two hours to fuck her. By the time, I get back to Trinity’s house, she is gone. I text Trinity and ask her if she wants to smoke with me. She’s a true weed head and I knew she was going to say yes. I crush up an ecstasy pill and sprinkle it into the blunt. I light the blunt and she’s feening so bad that she didn’t notice the difference in the smell. We smoke until all the weed is gone. She puts her kids on the daycare bus and we head out to the casino. Her second favorite habit. I use the last of my money to wine and dine her. Then, I ask if she would spend the night with me. She says no at first. I start spitting game to her telling her that she’s all I think about and I can’t get the love we made out of my mind. I also ask if we can have one night of lovemaking without any restrictions. She will just be her and I’ll be me. No Tia standing in our way. She bought that bullshit and after winning four hundred dollars, she got us a room. After the second round, it was aight. I made us some bootleg mixed drinks with some Kinky, cranberry juice, and some X. After I gave her some much- needed attention and cuddling, she opens up. She starts telling me that Tia and Jason broke up because of his baby momma. I ask her if she’s pregnant and she says yes. It takes everything in me not to break down and cry. I jump up, make an excuse to leave, and call my partner to get me some blow. When I return six hours later, Trinity is asleep. I wake her up for some more sex before we check out. She’s sober now and don’t want to do it. As soon as we get started, a text comes to both of our phones. We look at each other before we answer it. I mean what are the odds of both of us getting a text at the same time without it being connected. We click the message and its pictures of us going into the room together. Plus, whoever it is wants money to keep this shit a secret. Trinity agrees to pay it because she don’t want to hurt Tia. I don’t give a fuck about her knowing. I mean she did just break my fucking heart in a thousand little pieces. So, I told her I don’t give a fuck about none of that. We argue and I take my frustrations out on her. She agrees to pay the hush money for both of us. I drop her off and head back over to Mark’s crib to get some sleep. The phone rings and it’s the police saying that Moet is in the hospital after the assault. Out of curiosity, I show up to see who finally beat her ass. I end up seeing more than I bargained for. I walk in on her getting an ultrasound. I panic because I know that I have been fucking her too even though I use a rubber every time. When the doctor says the conception date, I want to shout. I’m not the pappy of that baby. In other words, that baby won’t look like me. By the look on her face, she don’t know who the daddy is either. I stay with her until she is discharged. I blow Mark’s phone up to let him know that his girlfriend needs him. Of course, he reads the messages and ignores them. He responds when I send him the ultrasound with her name on it. The doctor gives her some papers, instructions, and prescriptions. For the first time since I met this bitch, she is quiet. Not a word, syllable, or phase. She gives me the key to the mailbox and asks me to go and check it. I check it and it’s a letter from the doctor’s office for Tia. I know I shouldn’t open it, but I do. I walk in the house, sit on the couch, and drop the mail to the floor. Moet picks up the ultrasound.
“So, Tia’s having a boy. Emmm.” She says as she laughs and walks off.
I run out of the apartment, jump in my truck, and pull off. I park in an abandoned house and cry. As I’m punching the steering wheel, I think about the fact that Tia played me. I called my partner Johnnie and ask him what’s up.
“Aye, Free. What’s popping?” Johnnie asks.
“I need a gun. I need it clean with no bodies.”
“You banging again?” he asks.
“Nawl, but a muthafucka finna feel me,” I say ready for war.
To be continued……