She Gave Her All to the Hood's Finest 5

by Shvonne Latrice

  I parked in the driveway and then got the key so I could let myself in. My mouth fell agape, seeing the house, because it looked so clean and nice. Even though it was in the hood, I knew we’d be able to sell this place for a great price. My mama would be mad she didn’t have a house to stay in if she was released from jail in fifteen years, but I didn’t care about that bitch’s feelings or thoughts.

  It took me about half an hour to look at the entire house, but once bad memories started to resurface, I decided to leave.

  “Fine ass Camarih,” I heard a man say as I locked the screen door we’d added to the home.

  Looking over my shoulder, I saw Marcel. Marcel was Driz’s best and only true friend he trusted. He and I never did talk much because Driz kept me away from his lifestyle as much as possible, which included his hood ass homies. He always told me the same niggas smiling in your face would be the same ones trying to smash your girl. Not that he thought Marcel was shady in particular; he was just explaining his reasonings for keeping me distant from his small circle.

  I only knew of Marcel because, on a couple occasions, I’d seen him with Driz when Driz brought me lunch at work or when he was dropping some money off to me. But hanging out? Never. However, I knew he was close with Driz because he’d told me so, and because he allowed Marcel to even be in my presence, if you will, although for a short time.

  Seeing Marcel was a bit of a shock to me at the moment, because I’d pushed that part of my life with Driz to the back of my head.

  “Marcel?” I acted as if I didn’t remember him all the way. He looked the same, but his baby face was covered in facial hair.

  “Yeah, of course.” He came into my mother’s yard as I descended the porch steps. “Damn, okay.” He laughed because when he tried to hug me, I stuck my arm out for a handshake instead.

  “No offense. I just don’t think a hug is appropriate.” I chuckled to ease the tension.

  “No worries. I know we was never cool or close like that.”

  “Yeah. What are you doing over here in Leimert Park?” I frowned. He and Driz seemed to never leave Watts.

  “I just got out of jail and needed a familiar face, so I started looking for you. A few people told me ya moms lived here.”

  “Oh. Well it was nice seeing you.” I half smiled and turned to walk to my car.

  “Damn, this you?” He pointed to my Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

  “It is.” I put my purse in the passenger seat, which he took notice of, along with my watch and clothes. His eyes squinted as he focused back on me, looking me over like he was trying to recognize me.

  “Oh shit, you with that Wacko nigga.” He pointed.

  “Married him.” I showed the ring on my finger.

  “Uh huh.” He ran his tongue over his molars. “Anyway, I was thinking we could get something to eat, you know, catch up. I feel like you the only other person who knew Driz like that and—”

  “Look, Marcel, it was nice running into you, but I can’t go to lunch. I’m sorry.”

  “Why not? You don’t eat with jail birds?”

  “Umm, no, I don’t, actually, but that’s not why. I have a man, and I can’t go eat with you.”

  “Damn. I heard that nigga was psycho, but he that crazy to where you can’t eat with another nigga platonically?”

  “Yes, yes he is.” By the look on Marcel’s face, I could tell he didn’t expect me to say ‘yes’. “And plus, I don’t know you like that, so it’s not really a need for us to catch up. We were never friends. I was Driz’s girlfriend, and you were his homie, co-worker, or whatever.”

  “Damn. That nigga must be beating yo’ ass.”

  “Do I look like I’m getting my ass whooped, or do I look well taken care of?” I cocked my head, and Marcel opened his mouth, but no sound followed. “Thought so. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Marcel. Keep Driz’s memory alive.” I rounded my truck to get in on the driver’s side.

  “Oh, I will, since you moved on so quickly.”

  Pausing, I turned to face him.

  “Excuse me? I waited a long ass time after Driz was dead and gone to date someone else. And who I’m with now wasn’t even—you know what, why am I explaining to you? I don’t even know you like that. And if I was so grimy to the point where I moved on so quickly, why the fuck were you looking for me and trying to have lunch?”

  “I—”

  “Exactly. Pick a lane, negro, and stay in it.” I got in my car and slammed the door.

  I heard him apologizing and trying to make me stop reversing, but I kept on, speeding off to get home.

  When I got to my house, I found Jilly and Houston in his bedroom playing. I went to sit down on the mat with him while he matched the shapes with the corresponding openings incorrectly, but it was cute how determined he seemed.

  “He’s calm now.” Jilly sighed, kissing his fat cheek. He paid her nor me any mind while he continued to play.

  Jilly and I talked for a little bit, then I gave her some money for watching him and for emotional suffering, before she left.

  My baby still gave me no attention, but twenty minutes after Jilly was gone, he turned to me, standing up and placing his small hands on my thigh for a little balance.

  “No, I’m not picking you up. You only want my attention when you’re hungry, sleepy, or want to be cuddled. When you wanna play, you like to be alone or with Daddy.” Just looking at me, he began frowning, digging his soft nails into my thigh. His hands were so tiny that it didn’t hurt in the slightest—it only tickled. “You’re just like your daddy, trying to scare somebody, but nobody is scared of you, because you’re little.” I used one of my fingers to shove him lightly, making him fall into the sitting position.

  He stared at me and then started to cry. He was so adorable that I almost cracked.

  “Mama!” He cried like his little life was over.

  “What did you say?” I scooped him up to kiss his face.

  His cries immediately stopped as he lied on my shoulder while I cuddled him. He was so ridiculous, but I was just happy he called me ‘mama’.

  I gave him some food, a warm bath, then snuggled with him until he passed out. He looked so innocent and sweet in his crib; however, I was still going to look into some baby behavioral classes.

  I checked my iPhone because I was about to take a long, hot bubble bath and would not be available for a minute. My heart dropped seeing Mac had spam liked damn near all of my photos, excluding ones with Tony or solely of Tony. I quickly blocked him, heart thumping in my chest while I did it, hoping Tony nor one of them messy ass blogs hadn’t witnessed this.

  I was trying to save this man’s life, but it was clear he wanted to die.

  I’d gone to Jamba Juice off Slauson, getting something for both Tony and I, so now I wanted to deliver it to him. We both loved Jamba Juice, but really I wanted an excuse to see him. I didn’t necessarily need an excuse, but if he knew I showed up just because, he would brag about how much I loved him, and I didn’t want to hear it.

  I put my baby into his fancy stroller gently, not wanting to wake him up. He’d finally gone to sleep, just before I got the smoothies, and I wanted him to stay that way. Once he woke up, he’d either be clinging to me, which I loved, or restless, which I hated, especially now that he could walk and stand.

  I didn’t even know his ass could walk, until one day when I put him on the couch so I could clean up a mess he made. I saw him moving out of the corner of my eye, and when I looked over, he was getting down off the couch and starting toward me. He did fall, but got right back up, astonishing the hell out of me.

  “Oh, hi.” Nala spoke to me when I entered the studio room.

  No one was in here but her. However, I knew Tony had either been here or was close by because only he, Eitan, and I had the key.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked. Nala was never rude to me, but after I beat her ass some time ago, she acted as if I was the Queen of England.

  “I just finished a song
, so I’m waiting for Hou—Tony to listen to it and give me his thoughts.”

  “You don’t need to be here for that. He can listen on his own and give you his thoughts at another time,” I stated strictly. I caught that she almost called him Houston, irritating me.

  It pissed me off that I couldn’t stop her from being in love with Tony. Even if he never saw her or worked with her again, she would still love him. Killing her would be the only thing that would help, but she wasn’t worth me going to jail over. And knowing her, she’d still love him from the grave.

  “Yeah, true, but we were both here already, so I figured—”

  “Buttascotch.” Tony appeared in the doorway, hugging me from behind and kissing my neck.

  “I was letting Nala here know that she can go home and you’d email your thoughts on her song later.” I looked back and up at him.

  He pecked me, letting me go as he responded, “She already here though, so it’s no point in me wasting extra time.” He sat at the mixer, readying the song for playback. When I turned to leave, he asked, “Aye, where the fuck you going?”

  “I’m leaving, since clearly you’d much rather spend time with this hoe.”

  “Camarih, sit yo’ ass down. This muthafuckin song is three minutes and some change. Once the shit is over, her ass is gon’ bounce.”

  “Eh, I’ll pass.” I pushed the stroller out, making sure the tray of smoothies in the lower compartment didn’t fall.

  “Camarih, don’t fuck with me,” was all he said in an authoritative tone, and it was enough to make me turn around. Tony was unpredictable, so I didn’t want to chance it. Nala’s ass looked afraid for me.

  I went to sit down and sipped my smoothie until this whole debacle was over. When Nala finally left, Tony turned in his swivel chair to stare at me. He looked angry, so I was kind of scared but couldn’t show it.

  “What?” I finally asked.

  “What I tell you about acting stupid over these hoes?” He stared at me, waiting on an answer. Why was he so intimidating? At the same time, it made me feel hot all over.

  “I told you to pull back on the time you spend with her, and you said you would. So why is it that y’all are here alone, boo’d up?”

  He laughed angrily, showing he was frustrated.

  “For starters, don’t nobody tell me what the fuck to do. You my wife, so I respect ya input, but I’m gon’ do whatever the fuck it is that I need and want to do, especially when it’s about my money. Secondly, wasn’t nobody boo’d the fuck up. I don’t even know what that stupid shit means. Sounds like some gay shit, and if it is, I’m gon’ pop you in ya muthafuckin mouth.”

  “Like y’all are each other’s boo!”

  “How the fuck am I her boo when you my wife!”

  “Ugh!” I growled at men’s stupidity in general. “And I wish you would pop me in my mouth, nigga!” I barked, having a delayed reaction.

  Tony got over to me at lightening speed, hovering over and almost pressing his nose to mine.

  Snatching my Jamba from me, he asked, “If I make that wish come true, what the fuck you gon’ do about it?”

  “Give me back my drink!”

  “I’ll pour this shit over yo’ fucking head right now.”

  “You bet not!” I growled. “Ahhh!” I screeched, feeling the ice-cold smoothie shower over me. Tony even shook the Styrofoam cup to be sure it was completely ridden of its contents. “You asshole! You dumped that over your pregnant wife! I hate you!” I swung on him, but he caught my arms, laughing.

  Pinning me across the couch so that I was lying on my back, he kissed me slowly.

  “I’m sorry, baby.” He snickered in between pecks. I was trying to wiggle from his embrace, but he was too strong. “You was talking too much shit. It was either slap you the fuck up or douse you.”

  “Let me go so I can clean up!” I whined, about to cry.

  He let me go, so I ascended slowly.

  “Camarih! Camarih!” he shouted, because as fast as I could, I grabbed his untouched smoothie, snatched the top off, and threw that shit right into his face.

  When his jaw dropped, I doubled over in laughter. Leisurely, he started getting up off the couch, so I ran, but his crazy ass chased me.

  “Stop, Houston, you started this!” I screamed, running down the hall of the studio. When he caught me before I could exit altogether, I felt like a victim being captured by a serial killer.

  He picked me up, pinned me to the wall with my legs around him, and then we started to kiss passionately. The smoothies were all over us, including on our lips, as we tongued one another down.

  “You fucking crazy. That’s why I’m in love with you,” he said.

  Same reason I was in love with him…

  15

  Shanece

  Currently, I was sweating bullets waiting for my doctor to come into the exam room. She’d ran some tests at my last appointment and was now about to have a talk with me about the results.

  “Please God, don’t let there be anything wrong with me. Amen.” I prayed out loud, symbolizing a cross using my fingers when I was done.

  Suddenly, I heard a knock, and the nurse peeked in with a smile. It wasn’t a good news type of smile, more like a ‘this is my job’ type.

  “Hello, Mrs. Bias. Dr. Jennis will see you in her office now.”

  “Oh… okay. I just assumed she would come back in here.”

  “Nope. For these types of consultations, she always speaks to her patients in her office. I can show you the way.”

  “No, I haven’t forgotten where it is. Thank you.”

  I climbed down off the table and grabbed my Dior bag sitting in the seat. I checked my phone to see I had a few missed calls from Paul’s mother, and then some flirty texts from my husband that made me smile softly. He deserved a woman who could have his children.

  I left the examination room, went down the hall, and made a quick right until I saw Dr. Jennis’s name on the door. I knocked lightly, then waited for her to say ‘come in’.

  “Oh, Mrs. Bias, good. I was afraid someone else was knocking.” She rose from her seat and gestured for me to sit down across from her.

  “Nope, just little old me.” I chuckled nervously, descending into the comfy magenta chair, hugging my purse.

  “Alright.” She opened my folder and studied the contents for a few seconds as I swallowed lump after lump. “So, per usual, everything looks great. I’m sure you already knew this. You’ve stopped taking birth control a while ago, so that’s wonderful. You don’t really want to try to have a baby right after you stop because your body may not respond well. So that’s not something you have to worry about. You are in perfectly great shape to have a baby.” She smiled after closing the folder.

  “Okay, so why hasn’t it happened?”

  “You’ve been actively trying with no luck?”

  “Yes, Dr. Jennis, that—” I remembered I didn’t explain to her my troubles when I got tested. I kept it somewhat discreet, saying I just wanted to be sure everything was alright. “That’s the reason I even came to get these tests. You see, my new husband and I are trying to get pregnant and haven’t been successful. I haven’t even had a miscarriage.”

  “Really?” Her lids lowered as she rested her chin on the top of her balled fists. “Well like I said, Mrs. Bias, your body is in perfectly good health. You shouldn’t be having any issues getting pregnant nor carrying the baby to full term.”

  “Then what the hell is going on? We don’t have much time.”

  Chuckling, Dr. Jennis replied, “Sweetheart, you’re still in your twenties, and in this day and age, women are having babies even in their forties, so I wouldn’t worry about time. And men can have children until they’re old as dirt.”

  “I know, but I want them now. His ex wife didn’t have any kids with him, and I know it’s why they’re broken up.”

  “I think we should have your husband come in so we can run some tests on him. It could be that his sperm cou
nt is very low or very inactive. If we have a test done, we can see what’s going on with it.”

  “Oh, alright. Well I will let him know and then give you a call to see what time is best. But do you honestly think it could be him?”

  “It’s possible. And his ex wife never got pregnant, did she?”

  “Nope, not even once.”

  Dr. Jennis shrugged one shoulder. “So it surely could be him.”

  “But she didn’t want them, so maybe she was just taking the right steps to prevent it.”

  “Could be, but I didn’t want kids either; however, I somehow have four of them.” She pointed to her family photo before we both shared a laugh.

  “Wow, how do you have four of them and not even want one?”

  “Child, I wish I knew. And I was doing everything to prevent it. I’m a damn doctor, and I still couldn’t pull it off. I guess God and my husband had other plans for me.”

  I giggled, nodding.

  I finished up with Dr. Jennis and headed home, stopping for a green juice on the way. When I arrived, I smelled an aroma of barbecue, so I knew Cheri was in the kitchen cooking. I rolled my eyes but definitely took my ass in there to see what she was whipping up. I was starved.

  “Oh, hello.” Cheri turned to look at me.

  “Hi, what’s that?” I sat at the bar.

  “Making short ribs, mashed potatoes, corn, and string beans. I also have some sweet bread on the side.”

  Damn!

  “Oh… sounds cool.” I pretended not to be amazed. “Thanks for cooking again. You can slow up though because I have some recipes I want Wade and I to try.”

  “Of course, anytime. And sure thing, Shanece. I will stay out of your kitchen.”

  I gave her a fake closed mouth smile then left out. Once in my room, I took a hot bubble bath, and by the time I was spreading some lotion on, I heard Wade in the bedroom on the phone. It was obviously a boring business call, so I took my time until I heard him end it.