So Many Tears 2

by Nicole Jackson

“Whatever,” she lightly tittered.

  “But yeah, like I said,” he licked his lips. “Kim got a man at home, huh?”

  Her smile brightened. “Yep. Only I haven’t met your mama, yet. Hopefully, I’ll get that opportunity one day.”

  He tucked his lips into his mouth, as he felt his heart travel down to his stomach with the mentioning of his mama. “Yeah. You never know. That might happen.” He scooped up his son. “In the meantime, me and lil’ man gon let yall ladies have this. We’ll be in the back.”

  Giddily, Kim nodded. “Okay, love you,” she found herself telling him, although she didn’t know why. However, he was her man, her love, and that was all the reason she needed to express her feelings, so she didn’t regret it.

  Chills instantly shot up Rashad’s spine. Although he already knew this to be true, he didn’t know until he’d heard the words leave her mouth that he needed to hear that, right then. Somehow like always, she knew exactly what to say, exactly at the right time. “I love you too. And like I said…we’ll be in the back.”

  “Okay,” Kim puckered up, before blowing him a kiss.

  Laughing to himself, Rashad ascended the stairs, while Zoe’s voice echoed in his head. Kimberly did indeed offer priceless balance to his life. While the world was cold and harsh, she provided the warmth he so desperately needed. He was grateful for that and he vowed to try to remain conscious of never taking what she provided for granted.

  Less than an hour later, Kim slid into the bed with both of her Rashads as they were now sound asleep. Big Rashad lightly snored, and she couldn’t resist stealing a kiss on his lips, causing him to stir a bit. Eventually, he opened his eyes.

  “What’s up, C-girl?” he yawned. “You tired yourself out from all the singing?”

  She giggled. “Not really.”

  “Then why you in here laying down?” he wanted to know.

  “Because you are, and I wanted to be near you,” she confessed, before scooting her body next to his, leaving absolutely no space in between.

  He eased an arm around her, snuggling in. “You know…since your mama been back, you’ve been one cheerful ass person. I can’t even front, and I love to see that shit. It makes me feel better to see you in good spirits like this.”

  Kim smirked. “Yeah, honestly, now I feel complete. Everything is falling right into place for me, you know?”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yep. I have my mama. The kids. And my man. What can be better than that?”

  He lightly chuckled. “Ion know, you tell me.”

  “Nothing, that’s what. Absolutely nothing. I’m wishing on a star,” she sang out of the blue, while rolling her hips. “That you never go too far.”

  “Man, watch out,” he snickered. “That aint even how that song goes.”

  “So, but you get the point, though.”

  “Yeah,” he yawned again. “I got you.”

  She rested her head on a pillow. “Then that’s all that matters.” Her eyes slowly closed.

  Not too long after, Kim had fallen asleep, leaving Rashad alone with his thoughts. He found himself thinking of his mama. He toyed with the notion of her actually being clean. The little boy in him held out hope that he’d somehow get his mama back. He could only pray that she was truly ready to walk away from that dope, while readily expecting her to fuck up, once again.

  Chapter 9

  “Aye, aye,” Rashad called out, as he wandered through Connie’s apartment. He knew that someone was home, although no one was in the living room. Therefore, he traveled to Kass’ room and found her posted up behind a chair, braiding Reeah’s hair.

  Surprisingly, his mama had seemingly picked up a few pounds since the last time he’d laid eyes on her. Admittedly, she looked fantastic, and Kass was doing a stellar job with installing the long neat box braids.

  Glancing up, Reeah gently smiled. “Hey, baby.”

  Rashad stood in the doorway. “Hey. What’s going on?”

  Reeah’s heart skipped a beat, grateful that he was finally willing to at least hold a conversation with her. “Oh, nothing much. Just trying to look halfway decent.”

  “Well, that’s a given. You’re naturally beautiful,” he complimented.

  “Aww, thank you,” she gushed.

  Kass smirked. “And she got some job interviews lined up too, Rashad. Don’t leave that part out, Ms. Reeah.”

  Rashad’s eyes unknowingly brightened with surprise. “Oh, yeah?”

  Reeah nodded. “Yep. I’m trying to get myself together. Slowly but surely.”

  Rashad nodded. “That’s what’s up.”

  Kass stepped around Reeah’s chair, bringing attention to her fat ass, and booty shorts. “It sure is, and I’m rooting for you every step of the way,” she claimed, as she bent over to grab a bag of braiding hair off the floor.

  Although Rashad wasn’t going out of his way to look at any broad, he saw Kass. He always did, and she knew that. Hell, he was a man. Therefore, it was no surprise that she made him have to readjust himself in his jeans. This also didn’t go unnoticed by his mama, as she leered.

  “I see my baby is still a sucker for a big butt and a smile,” Reeah called him out, while Kass resumed braiding her hair.

  “Huh?” Rashad furrowed his brows.

  “Boy, I’m your mama. Don’t ever forget that. I know what you like, and I know your type. You come over here for a few reasons, honey. But play crazy. That’s what you’re best at.”

  Kass giggled. “Nah, Ms. Reeah. He got lil’ Ms. Perfect at home with them babies. Kimberly is his woman, and my booty aint got nothing on hers. Clearly, that’s where his heart is at, cause she gets five star treatment. She don’t have to lift a finger to do nothing. She don’t have to work. She got a nanny. She runs the streets with her friends. And spends plenty of his money. Baby, she got it made in the shade, while I’m over here thugging it.”

  Reeah frowned. “Wait, she doesn’t work, but has a nanny?”

  Kass pursed her lips. “That’s the same thing I said.”

  Reeah shook her head. “Son, I hope you didn’t go out and find some gold-digging girl, who’s mooching off you, because you know I taught you better than that. You watched me get up off my ass and work for everything we had. And why does she have some stranger taking care of my grandbabies? And when can I meet them?”

  “Excuse me, baby,” Connie whispered, before squeezing past Rashad, and waltzing into the room. “Now, Reeah, you know better than to sit here and listen to Kass’ jealous ass. We all know that her and Rashad got this weird shit going on, but that’s between them. Kim is all good by me, and as far as I know she’s taking care of those babies. She’s a good girl, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about in that department.”

  Kass sucked her teeth. “Ms. Reeah, if I was you, I’d try to find out for myself. Don’t take my anty’s word. She haven’t even met the girl in person. They just talk on the phone here and there, plus Rashad met the girl through Zoe. He was talking to her first,” she snitched, as her eyes scanned over Rashad and Connie’s faces. “Yall please don’t leave that part out.”

  Reeah’s head jerked back. “Say what now?”

  “You heard me right. Rashad BM was with Zoe first.”

  Reeah arched a brow, as she eyed her son. “Is that right?”

  Rashad scratched the side of his face. “It’s a long story.”

  Connie smirked, seeing a perfect opportunity. “Well, let’s go have lunch, Rashad. That way you can break it down, and she can have a better understanding of what’s been going on with you for the past few years.”

  Licking his lips, Rashad mulled it over. “Okay, cool. That sounds like a plan.”

  Connie smiled from ear to ear, glad that she could have a hand in mending a broken mother/son relationship. It may have been too late for her and Zoe, however, there was still hope for Rashad and Reeah.

  ***

  The line was literally wrapped around the building at the Turkey Leg Hut, so
Rashad was extra grateful for his recent connections. Linking with Taz was like receiving keys to the city. Taz knew all the right people in the right places, so after one phone call, his acquaintances were now Rashad’s. Therefore, he and the crew, which consisted of Connie, Reeah, Kass, and Bogus were comfortably seated without waiting.

  To say that Reeah was astonished with the way people treated her son was an understatement. She was far from naive, and was fully aware of his illegal endeavors, however, she was beginning to believe that she’d greatly underestimated the heights he’d climbed in the game.

  Clad in Ferragamo casually with a glistening wrist, Rashad looked and smelled like a bag of money. It was evident at this point that he was used to fine dining, as he ordered several items off the menu. Reeah was literally in awe, as she studied him, witnessing the man he’d grown into.

  Kass sat next to Rashad, leaving virtually no space between them. To any onlookers, it would be a natural assumption that they were a couple, and she was perfectly fine with that. Him by her side was definitely a good look. Everybody on the west knew that Rashad was on his shit, therefore, any bitch with half a brain wanted to be down.

  “Aye, yall order whatever yall want,” Rashad urged. “Everything is on me.”

  Of course, all the women smiled graciously.

  “Say, look,” Bogus tapped Rashad’s shoulder. “The waiter is sitting ya gal’s people right next to us.”

  Rashad turned to his left, and noticed Rye, Anya, Taraj, Jhyrah, and Mya being seated at the table right next to them.

  Cutting her eyes to the left, Kass gasped. “Oh, my God. It’s Mya. I was just jamming her and Gwuap on the way here.”

  Reeah tittered. “Who’s Gwuap?”

  “One of the biggest rappers in the city,” Kass explained enthusiastically.

  “Oh, wow.”

  “Yeah,” Bogus nodded. “Our people introduced us to him. He’s cool people.”

  “Who Gwuap?” Kass questioned excitedly.

  “Yeah,” Bogus answered. “Ask Rashad. That nigga be going over his house with Kim sometimes.”

  Kass cut her eyes at Rashad. “Oh, for real? He never told us that.”

  Rashad nonchalantly shrugged. “It never came up.”

  “Yeah, whatever.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Uh, Rashad,” someone called out from the other table, causing everyone to lift their heads.

  “Huh?” he furrowed his brows.

  “You can’t speak?” Rye questioned. “I know you see us over here.”

  “Aww, come on, Rye, you know it even like that. What’s up, ladies?”

  “Hey,” all the women spoke simultaneously.

  Taraj squinted. “Where’s Kim?”

  Rashad licked his lips. “I guess she’s at home.”

  “Oh, okay,” Anya spoke up. “I’m about to call her and see what she’s up to.”

  He chuckled, as he shook his head. “Yeah, a’ight.”

  Just then, the waiter stepped over with their food, distracting him. He placed a turkey leg drenched in crawfish in front of Rashad, causing his mouth to water.

  Bogus studied his boy, before clearing his throat. “Say, homeboy.”

  Rashad lifted his head, giving him an inquisitively glance.

  “You don’t think that you should clear the air?”

  Rashad scowled. “Clear the air with who?”

  “With those messy ass women. You don’t think that they’ll call and fill up Kim’s head with the wrong ideas about this situation?”

  Rashad sucked his teeth. “Nigga, it aint that serious. Me and Kim are good. Please believe me. When I get home, I’ll let her know what’s what, but I aint finna break my neck to call her like I’m guilty or some shit. That aint how we get down.”

  “Yeah, Bogus, get you some business. He got this,” Connie added, before sliding some food into her mouth. “Kim aint tripping off the dumb shit.”

  “Oh, God,” Kass sighed, rolling her eyes. “There she goes with the dry dick riding.”

  Bogus shrugged. “Aye, I’ma leave it alone. If he say he got it, then he got it. It’s your world, playboy.”

  “Exactly, nigga,” Rashad stuffed his mouth with turkey. “I got this shit. Remember that.”

  ***

  Feeling lifted from the blunt he’d just smoked, Rashad moseyed through his house. It was pretty late, therefore, he headed directly to his bedroom, expecting to find Kim there. As usual, his dick was hard, and he had every intention of falling off in some wet tight pussy, before dozing off to sleep. Unfortunately, his plans were halted when he stumbled upon an empty bed.

  “Where this muthafucka at?” he mumbled to himself. Holding his dick through his jeans, he was highly irritated, as he stomped around the house, searching for her. “Kim!” he wandered around, checking room after room, until he reached Kay’s. There he found the kids, Kay, and Kim all piled up in one bed, sleeping hard. “Man,” he sucked his teeth, as he stomped over to where she lied. “Bae,” he tried whispering, while shaking her shoulder. “Come get in the bed.”

  Gradually, Kim’s eyes opened. “Huh?”

  “Come lay down in the room,” he reiterated.

  “Uh uh.”

  “Huh?” he frowned. “Girl, stop playing and bring your ass to bed.”

  She shook her head. “I said no.”

  “No?”

  “Yeah, you heard me.”

  “Man,” he drawled, as he massaged his temple. “It’s late as fuck and this girl wanna play with me. She knows that I can’t go to sleep without fucking her. She knows this, but she wanna lay here, like it’s a game. Kim, man, get your ass up, for real, before I stick my tongue in your booty, while you laying there.”

  “And when you do, I’ma fart on it too,” she threatened. “Leave me the hell alone.”

  “Okay, come on. I’m nasty. I likes all that shit. Every inch of that body is mine. You know I’m with all that shit.”

  “Uh, I know one damn thang,” Kay spoke up. “Yall gone get out of here with this nasty talk. Go to your own damn room with this. Messing with yall, I’ma have nightmares.”

  “That’s your daughter,” Rashad claimed. “Tell her to get out of your bed, and go to her own room, like a woman. She in here laying down with you, when she got her own bed, right down the hall.”

  “Rashad, you’re gonna wake up the kids,” Kim whined. “Just go to the room. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “Alright, man,” he sighed, finally relenting. Retreating, he headed back to his room.

  He waited and waited, but there was no Kim. After a few hours of going back and forth to Kay’s room, Rashad eventually fell asleep on Kay’s floor, beside her bed. The following morning, he woke up with a crook in his neck, along with a bitter taste in his mouth, after realizing that Kim had played games all night long. She never did get out of Kay’s bed, and she was now awake, switching around the house, acting as if he didn’t exist. Like always, there were several things out in the streets that Rashad needed to handle, however, he couldn’t go anywhere with her tripping like this.

  By the afternoon, Kim, Kay, Glenda, and the kids were all sitting in the living room, when Rashad came and sat next to Kim. Childishly, she tried to move to the other side of the sectional, only for him to follow her.

  “Uh, can you find you something to do?” she snapped.

  Although she was pissed, Rashad was glad that she’d finally opened her mouth to say anything, since she’d been giving him the silent treatment. “Can we go in the room and talk for a minute?” he asked her calmly.

  “No,” she twisted her neck with a full-blown attitude.

  “Come on, Kim. I know why you tripping, and I promise that it aint what you think.”

  Kim focused on the TV. “Ion know what you talking about.”

  Kay glanced over at her daughter. “Kim.”

  Kim glanced at her mama. “Huh?”

  “Why don’t you go up to your room and talk to Rashad in private? We don�
��t need to hear yall business.”

  “But I don’t have anything to say to him.”

  “But I think you do,” Kay insisted.

  Kim rolled her eyes, as she stood up. Like a big kid, she stomped through the house, and up the stairs with Rashad following closely behind her. Together they ambled into their bedroom and closed the door behind them.

  Noticing the disdain on her face, he shook his head. “You determined to stay mad at a nigga, huh?”

  Annoyed, she folded her arms across her breasts. “So, I shouldn’t be?”

  He regarded her carefully. “I don’t know. I got mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I feel where you coming from, but on the other, you should know your nigga. Have I given you one reason to doubt me?”

  Slowly, Kim shook her head.

  “Exactly. So, you should always give me the benefit of the doubt, right?”

  She nodded. “But who was the bitch sitting next to you, though? She might as well had been sitting in your lap.”

  “What?” he narrowed his eyes.

  “I was sent some pictures,” she revealed. “It was a few hoes there that I didn’t recognize.”

  “Watch out, man,” Rashad licked his lips, as he stroked his goatee. “You talking real reckless, right now. But I’ma let it slide, cause you’on know what you saying.”

  “I’m talking reckless?” Kim scowled. “You in your feelings because I’m talking about your hoe?”

  “Nah, I’m telling you to chill out, cause you talking about my people. I was having lunch with Connie, her niece, and my mama, man.”

  Kim’s eyes bucked. “Your mama? I know how Connie looks, so are you trying to tell me that one of those other two girls was your mama?”

  He nodded. “The one with the braids.”

  Her jaw dropped. “No. I thought that she was there messing with Bogus or something. She looks so young and pretty. I can’t believe she’s your mama. I don’t know why I pictured her completely different in my head.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s her.”

  “Oh, wow. So, wait a minute, is she clean?”

  Rashad nodded. “That’s what she’s saying.”

  Kim grimaced. “And let me get this straight. Your mama is clean. You leave here and mention none of this to me. You then go to lunch with Connie and this niece that I don’t know, and have lunch with your sober mama? The same mama that has yet to meet me or our kids?”