Upside Down In Love

by Dominique Thomas

“Momma chill out with all that. No matter what Novah gone be a part of this family and you know that. She knows I’m with Mel and that ain’t ever changing. Let me holla at Novah real quick though. Everything’s all good,” he said with a shit eating grin on his face and attempted to turn his mother around.

  Mrs. Peterson nodded while giving Novah a stern look. Novah stared at Carter’s mom wondering why she’d never liked her from the start but had instantly taken a liking to his wife Mel. The only answer she could come up with was that even though their age gap was huge his mom was jealous of her. It was like Normani had told her on numerous occasions.

  Old bitches hate too.

  “Remember that he’s married now. Twins or not you are not his wife,” Mrs. Peterson told Novah before walking off.

  Novah’s small hands clenched into fists as she watched Carter lead his mother back into the home. For as long as she could remember she’d taken Mrs. Petersons verbal lashings, but it had gotten old. Mrs. Peterson knew why she wasn’t with Carter and she also knew the truth. If Novah wanted to she could be Carters wife and the woman carrying his next child. However, she didn’t and that was why he was with his backup plan instead. Bench warmer, seat filler, bed warmer. There were many ways to call Mel a fool but it all boiled down to her being the one woman that was willing to take all the shit Carter threw her way just so she could call him her man.

  The one dumb ass woman that was stupid enough to stick around.

  “I’ma end up hurting that old bitch,” Novah grumbled wishing she could push her niceness to the side to let Mrs. Peterson know about herself.

  Carter jogged back over to the truck as Novah frowned. Still crossed about his mother’s hateful, ignorant, and clueless words Novah glared up at him.

  “What do you need to talk to me about? I didn’t come over here for this bullshit.”

  Carter caressed her cheek tenderly before rubbing her arm. His actions was one of a lover but Novah knew better. She pushed his hand away and he cleared his throat. He seemed to be upset with her, like she’d been the one to wrong him in some way.

  “Stop doing that shit and you know how she gets at times. She’s upset that we didn’t work out. Hell, I am too but it’s like this. I got hit with some suspensions because I tested dirty for coke. I’m not addicted to crack or nothing crazy like that. A nigga had a good night and they caught me slipping. I been paying fines all year and shit is getting tight now that Melanie is pregnant. I wanna see if we can cut down the child support and to help you out, I will start keeping them half the week,” Carter replied talking quickly.

  Something he often did when he was lying or nervous.

  Novah shook her head not having to think about his question. Melanie hated her and her twins. Novah hated that they had to go over there for the two days on the weekend that they did. There was no way in hell she was going to allow for him to keep her babies for half the week. So far Melanie hadn’t done anything spiteful to them but Novah didn’t want to chance it.

  She knew that a bitter heart could lead a person to do unspeakable things. Carter was the prime example of that. He’d gone from treating her like his queen and proclaiming his love for her to calling her every degrading name imaginable while bashing her character.

  “I’m sorry but I can’t. They come over on the weekend and that’s enough. I can’t see me giving you half a week because of your issues with work. The answer is no Carter. Sorry.”

  She offered him half a shrug as he stared down at her. Novah turned to get in her truck and Carter grabbed her arm jerking her back.

  “Damn so you can’t even work with a nigga? Your gold-digging ass is about to piss me the fuck off,” he snapped angrily.

  The growl in his deep voice alerted Novah to his displeasure with her answer still she couldn’t bulge. It wasn’t about the money. She preferred to have her sons in her care. Carter was rarely home, and she didn’t feel comfortable with a woman that didn’t like her raising her kids.

  “Melanie hates me and our sons. In case you didn’t know that, she does Carter. I’m not agreeing to that and let’s be real you are far from broke. You was just in Europe last week and you bought Melanie that new house out in Troy. If money is tight for you then I suggest you downgrade. Maybe even sell some of the things you have to catch up on bills. My sons are already getting the bare minimum from you.”

  Carter’s nostrils flared as he glared down at Novah. His hands balled into fists and he slowly nodded. Of course, to him she was once again the bad guy, but she didn’t care. He’d been the one to drop dirty. Why should she have to pay for it? Carter made millions from the NFL and somehow, he’d managed to give her only $12,000 in child support per child. She knew women that got three times that amount, yet she never complained. To keep the peace, she made do with the money and often paid for extra things out of her own account. Novah couldn’t see herself taking less than that when the man before her spent money like it was going out of style.

  Her kids wouldn’t suffer because he’d fucked up.

  “Damn it’s like that?” he asked breaking the silence.

  Novah sighed wishing she’d never had to see him that day. Any interaction with him was a fucking headache.

  “Carter you messed up now deal with it. Yes, I own that spa, but I still have bills to pay. I can’t take a loss because of you. Your sons deserve a good life as well. Don’t they?”

  Carter took a step towards Novah that made her back up into her truck. The cold menacing stare he gave her was making her heart race. He’d never struck her before, but it was something that she wouldn’t put pass him.

  His head cocked to the side as he stared down at her.

  “Didn’t I just fucking say I would take them for half of the week? You pretty as shit but you need to be smart as well. You sounding real fucking dumb right now. Mel would never hurt our kids. I would break her fucking neck if she ever did some shit like that. I need you to do this for me. Come on Novah,” he pleaded.

  Novah broke his gaze and slowly shook her head. If she didn’t stand for something, Carter would try to make her fall for anything. When it came to her sons and their wellbeing she would never budge.

  “Carter the answer is no. Can you move?”

  Carter’s enraged eyes bored into Novah as he nodded slowly. He bit down so hard on his bottom lip that Novah wondered if he would puncture it with his teeth. She watched him mumble something inaudible before swallowing hard.

  “Fuck you then bitch. You’ll be seeing me in court with your trashy ass. Once they see how you hoe around instead of raising our sons, they’ll grant me split custody,” he spat venomously.

  Novah ignored his spiteful words and quickly climbed into her truck. As she switched gears Carter began to kick her door. Novah glanced into the backseat at her sons before glaring over at Carter. His thick brows were pulled together as he kicked the truck one last time.

  It was enough to make the expensive ride shake.

  “I hate him. I fucking hate him,” she murmured quietly feeling her eyes water with tears.

  Novah shared a staring match with Carter until he cracked a smile. He chuckled as he walked away. Novah watched him reverse out of his mother’s driveway and speed at an alarming rate down the residential street. Her eyes shot to the back of the truck once more and she noticed Karter was still asleep. King however wasn’t and the stare he placed on her was enough to make a tear drop from her hooded eyes.

  “It’s okay baby,” she said soothingly.

  King nodded and gradually his eyes lowered. Sleep overcame him as she reversed out of the driveway and headed home.

  The colonial style cottage house smelled of soul food mixed with her mother’s favorite candles for the moment. Her sons jetted off in the large home in search of their play room as she stepped out of her leather designer slides. Novah sat her keys on the ring like she was still a member of the house before heading towards the kitchen.

  “Ugh! Why the hell did you and your greedy so
ns come over? Maybe I wanted my momma to myself for once,” Normani quipped stepping out of the family room.

  Novah rolled her eyes as she flipped her baby sister off. She was two days shy of seeing Carter and was still in a funk. Not to mention she’d woken up with a deep ache in her sex that only a thick penis could satisfy. It also didn’t help that she had another money request from her sister.

  “Stop it. I was her first born so I will always be a regular in this home. Me and momma have a bond that your spoiled ass just won’t understand. It’s no secret that you were the oops baby Normani. You’re simply here by luck sugar. I’m guessing it was one of those drunk nights when daddy had too much Hennessey and forgot to strap up,” Novah jested.

  Normani’s jaw fell slack at Novah’s words as she trailed behind her. Much like she did when they were younger.

  “Ouch. No lie that was rude as hell of you to say and I see you in a mood today. Did you get my money request and if so, why didn’t you accept it, Grinch?”

  Novah snorted before she stopped walking to turn to her sister. The woman that stared back at her looked pretty per usual. Whereas Novah was naturally thick with mahogany shaded skin Normani was slim thick with a rich chocolate brown skin tone. Normani possessed a natural shine to her flawless skin and was always sporting a bright smile. Even when she was upset, she found a reason to show off her sunken in dimples and Novah admired that about her younger sister.

  Novah inspected her sister quickly admiring her pastel pink pleated high waisted shorts that she’d paired with a blue collard top and the matching shorts jacket. Normani was the perfect example of not judging a book by the cover because her style was opposite of her looks. Like Novah she could star in any video or clothing campaign but Normani was insanely smart and dressed like she belonged on the set of The Big Bang Theory. Novah was worried her sister would get bullied at a younger age for her unique style but instead people embraced it and Novah was grateful for that. She’d certainly beat anyone’s ass for ragging on her baby sister.

  She sighed as she stared into Normani’s hazel eyes. Normani was so much more than just a mother and Novah wished that she could see that.

  “If you would have stayed in school you would be in your fourth year Normani. Close as hell to getting your degree and not worrying about money. You do know that if you don’t work you don’t eat right?” Novah questioned with raised brows.

  Normani stared at Novah with pursed lips.

  “I don’t have time for school right now because if I did, I would be there. I have a job and that’s being a mother. The hardest job on the planet might I add. Things with Tru have been all over the place lately. I caught him talking to this negligible ass singer and I lost it. I can admit I took things too far by showing up at the studio and attacking him, but I knew in my heart that he was flirting with that bitch. I know Tru and his friendly ass was doing the most so I had to show him that it wouldn’t be tolerated.”

  Novah nodded wanting her sister to get to the point. Unfortunately, this was a story she was used to hearing from her. Tru started out as the ideal man for Normani but Novah had always had a bad feeling about him. It was all in the sneaky ass grin he wore on his face.

  “Okay and you did what after jumping on him because we all know you like to go crazy when you’re mad?”

  Normani sighed. Regret flashed briefly across her face, but it only made Novah roll her eyes. Normani had more than a few screws missing when it came to how she reacted to Tru’s sneaky ways.

  Normani smoothed out the few wrinkles in her shorts as she cleared her throat.

  “I put his phone in River’s soiled diaper. I then wiped the rest of the feces across some of his clothing. He’s full of shit so I assumed he would like to smell like it as well,” Normani replied calmly.

  Novah smiled as she turned back around.

  “And let me guess he went ghost on you with the money again? His way of teaching you a lesson, huh?”

  “Yep and now she thinks I’m supposed to give her some of mine. I keep telling that child of mine to go back to school. I worked hard for my money. Went to college for over eight years. Put my blood sweat and tears into becoming who I am. I won’t hand out money to my grown ass daughter simply because she can’t go work for her own,” Diana said as they entered into the large kitchen.

  Normani groaned as Novah made her way over to her mom. Diana was everything Novah felt a mother should be. Strong, beautiful, and kind hearted. Diana owned her own doctor’s office that specialized in women gynecology. Diana was accredited and widely known as one of the best doctors in Michigan. She’d also given birth to her grandchildren. She didn’t trust anyone else with her lovebugs that she affectionately called them, but her.

  “I know that’s right ma. Let your lazy daughter know,” Novah retorted and Normani discreetly flipped her off. “And she’s sticking her middle finger up at me and everything,” she snitched.

  Normani rolled her eyes at Novah as Diana glanced over at her.

  “Oh really? Don’t wanna work and you have bad manners. Who raised you?”

  Normani and Novah laughed at their mother’s playfulness. Diana carried her age well and always told her girls it was because of the way she took care of her body. She drunk plenty of water, worked out weekly and loved the Lord. Diana said with that regimen you couldn’t go wrong.

  “You did! You raised me doctor Diana. It’s because of you and daddy that I’m like this and I have a job. I’m a mother. Why is it that you all keep saying that like its nugatory?” Normani asked.

  Diana waved her off while Novah snickered.

  “Well I don’t even know what that means so mom you can answer that question for the both of us.”

  Novah’s mom laughed at her response.

  “Just another way to say unimportant. And nobody is downplaying you being a mom Normani. I had two kids and I still went to college. Your father and I worked hard and gave you all what we didn’t have but now our work is done. If you were really down and out than momma would be there for you. Hell lets be real for any reason I will be there for you, but I also have to give you tough love when its needed. You’re twenty-one with a child. Do something with your life Normani because what you’re doing isn’t working. Your whole life you’ve been above average, yet you’ve allowed for Tru’s nappy headed ass to bring you down to this regular level and I have to say it doesn’t look good on you sweetie.”

  Diana stopped talking to smile at Normani.

  “I want to see you walk across that stage. You told me it was your dream to be a software engineer and you were on your way to becoming that. With your smarts I know you can finish early. All you have to do is go back and I won’t let up on you until you do. River is a blessing but that shouldn’t stop you from getting your degree. You should use that even more as motivation to finish school.”

  “You all just don’t understand,” Normani shook her head with a frown marring her pretty face.

  “It’s not about us not understanding. You’re in love and we get it. I promise you baby we’ve both felt those feelings. You’re invested in your family and that’s great but is he invested in you? He spoon feeds you money and is constantly being caught in a lie. You’ve changed your whole life for him. I’ve watched you help him chase his dreams while pushing back your own and I’m supposed to welcome that negro into my home? I can’t and I won’t. You don’t even put Normani first so why should he?” their mom asked Normani.

  Normani shrugged with sad eyes and Diana sighed.

  “Its fine baby, the Lord will get you together. Since you’ve left school, I’ve been praying that you find your way back and you will. It might not even be college, but you’ll find your purpose. I believe it,” she said in a sweeter voice making Normani smile.

  Novah nodded agreeing with her mother whole heartedly while looking over a blogpost that her cousin had just sent to her. Novah’s breathing grew ragged as she read the headline for the article.

  NFL star C
arter Wilson is soon to be in court for split custody of his twins! Word has it his baby momma ex-video model turned spa owner Novah Royale is asking for more money!

  Novah’s hand shook as she scrolled down to the bottom of the page to read the comments.

  Sheacutered81: she a gold digger anyway that fucked all the rappers. I heard she was Kasam’s side bitch for years.

  Lilmam02: she cute but I know he regret hitting that shit raw now.

  RandyMK: she bad, I’d still hit that.

  Lina: these niggas gone get enough of fucking these plastic body bitches. Now he gotta pay up and I don’t feel bad for him. She ain’t all that anyway.

  Novah swallowed hard as she sat her phone down. It was one thing to have people speak on you that knew but for people that didn’t know a thing about you, talk down on you like you was nothing was the worst. Novah briefly considered replying before shaking it off. Seconds later her sister picked the device up and read over the short article. The crazy thing was it was only a few short words but everything the writer said was facts. Carter was taking her to court, but it wasn’t for money. It was for his own selfish gain.

  A true characteristic of a fuck nigga.

  “Wow, who keeps sending them your damn business? It has to be someone from his family,” Normani mumbled reading the article for a second time.

  “Mouth Normani. I am not one of your girls and forget those blogs Novah if that’s what that mess is. You did the right thing by saying no. That negro is making good money. Don’t let his woe is me story get to you,” Diana said to Novah.

  Novah nodded with low tinted eyes. She placed her elbows onto the countertop and her head hung low. Her sad disposition was enough for Normani to soothingly rub her back. Novah didn’t want to cry but couldn’t help it.

  She was so fucking tired of fighting with Carter.

  “I’m just over it momma. The pipes at my spa busted so I have to get them fixed. My roof at my house is messed up so it’s looking like I will have to replace that soon and I’m starting to get overwhelmed. I’m so tired of doing all of this by myself then to have to use energy I don’t have to fight him is killing me. Sometimes I just want to give up,” Novah shamefully admitted.