Upside Down In Love

by Dominique Thomas

  “No, you can’t. Right there on them steps is fine, or you can go back to your outdated ass car,” she quipped rudely.

  Mrs. Peterson’s jaw fell slack. Her head snapped back, and her eyes grew wide. She smiled as she nodded.

  “I get it. You’re upset but you have no right to be. He is an amazing father and that’s something you can’t take away from him. The way you and those boys live is all because of my son. He has always paid his child support and has never let you or those kids go without. If you speak to me like that again I will be forced to tell him about it,” she warned Novah.

  Novah laughed lightly. She ran her small hand through her inky black wavy hair and sighed.

  “So, he can do exactly what to me? I’m not his wife and I’m done with the shits. Grace you will never be allowed inside of my home again. This house belongs to me and me alone. I had money before your son, and I’ll have money when he’s long gone. I’m only going to ask you once to back the hell up out of my doorway,” Novah replied.

  Mrs. Petersons mouth tightened. She curtly nodded and backed out of the doorway. She held onto her purse tightly as she waited on the porch. Novah glared at her for a moment before looking to her boys. While Karter was on his tablet oblivious to the turmoil happening around him, King looked up at Novah intently.

  The sadness in his eyes made Novah regret acting in such a way but Carter and his family were difficult. They didn’t appreciate her when she was being nice. They didn’t respect her then so now she would demand that shit. If they weren’t coming at her the right way, then they wouldn’t be able to come at her at all.

  Novah was done with the bullshit.

  “Mommy loves you so much baby. Me and your daddy both does. You two have fun,” she told them.

  Novah kissed her son’s goodbye before leading them to the door. Mrs. Peterson looked at Novah and cleared her throat.

  “Novah,” she said quietly.

  Novah shut the door in her face refusing to say anything else to the mean ass old lady. The second the door hit her back she slid down it. Minutes later her tears fell from her face.

  I'm lookin' in the mirror

  At this woman down and out

  She's internally dyin'

  I know this was not what love's about

  I don't wanna be this woman

  The second time around

  Five hours later Novah gazed out onto her large backyard. Her first Thursday night without her twins had her vexed. Anger, sadness, and emptiness moved through her being. She hugged her body as she experienced a mild migraine.

  First trimester woes were upon her. She’d taken four more tests before finally caving in and visiting her doctor’s office. Novah was indeed with child and to receive that news right after learning she now shared custody with Carter was another blow to her chest.

  Back to back she was receiving life changing news.

  She was still shocked at how she’d lost her case to Carter over what she felt was privilege and biasness. Carter was a well-known NFL player that had won two championships. She was merely a video model with two kids by him that didn’t know when to stop partying. Novah knew she was much more than that but in the eyes of social media she knew that was all she was known for.

  Her cell vibrated on the glass table making her eyes shift its way. She watched her sisters name slide across the screen and she shook her head. Novah didn’t want a shoulder to cry on. She didn’t even want a listening ear.

  At the moment she only wanted to pretend it didn’t happen.

  Another call came into her phone and her brows dipped. Novah noticed the unknown facetime call and her frown deepened. If it was Carter calling her to rub it in her face, she was sure she was going back to jail. He’d been so afraid to see her earlier that he’d sent his ignorant mother to collect the twins.

  “What!”

  Novah answered frowning into the screen. The call connected and the handsome chocolate face that stared back at her wasn’t Carter’s or his wife’s. No, it was the other person responsible for her anger.

  Durand sat inside of his car with a small smirk on his handsome mug. Novah rolled her eyes and he chuckled.

  “Damn, what I do to you? You mad I got your number?”

  Novah’s eyes shifted back to her backyard as she swallowed hard.

  “What do you want?” she asked lowly.

  Durand breathed into the phone.

  “Honestly?”

  Novah nodded. Sadness was exhausting and she was on the verge of falling out from being filled with it.

  “Yes, I have a lot going on and I’m not looking to play any games. Because of you, I lost full custody of my kids.”

  Durand frowned at her response.

  “How? What the fuck are you talking about?” he asked with knitted brows.

  Novah looked back at her screen and saw he was peering at her intently.

  “I had court today for split custody of my kids. While in court my ex showed the judge a video of you fingering me. I believed you when you said that it wouldn’t get out, but it did. I listened to you and I got fucked in the end! Don’t fucking call me again,” she replied and ended the call.

  Novah sat her phone down and Durand called her back. For five minutes he attempted to video call her before calling her through audio. Novah snatched up the phone as more angry tears slid from her eyes.

  “What?”

  “Look, when I said it was all my people, I meant that shit. If what you saying is true, then I’ll get to the bottom of it. I’m sorry that happened. Can I see you?”

  Novah closed her eyes. Everything in her wanted to say no. She’d turned down her mother, sister and best friends visit but Duran was different. He could offer her the kind of comfort that her body needed but still it didn’t feel like it was the right thing to do.

  “I don’t know,” she sighed with a sad tone.

  Durand cleared his throat.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you. I apologize for all that shit that happened today. Even the shit I didn’t have anything to do with. Let me ease your mind. Come on,” he said nearly pleading in his deep voice.

  Novah rolled her eyes hating how weak the body could be at times.

  “Okay,” she replied quietly. “I’ll send you my address.”

  Novah ended the call and shared her location with Durand. She continued to sit on her patio until he was calling for her to open her front door. A million thoughts raced through her mind as she headed for the door. Novah wondered on if she would tell him of the baby but opted out of doing so. She wasn’t ready yet. She could only deal with so much at one time.

  “I’ll tell him next time,” she murmured unlocking her front door.

  Novah pulled her large glass door open and Durand stood on the other end. A black fitted cap sat low on his head. He wore a black crew neck t-shirt with black Nike basketball shorts. On his feet were a pair of Jordan’s while a shiny Patek sat on his wrist. His scent flooded into the home as he stepped in.

  Novah stared up at him nervously. She wore a black silk spaghetti strap nightgown that clung to her curvy frame. Her wavy locks were all over her head as her puffy eyes gazed Durand’s way. He closed the door without speaking and pulled her into his arms.

  Novah’s body fell into his and she sighed. Durand picked her up and her legs went around his waist. He carried her up the stairs and after looking twice through the rooms he went into the master bedroom. Novah held him tightly as he took her over to the large canopy bed that sat in the middle of the room.

  Durand sat down and Novah pulled back to stare into his eyes. She had so many questions but no strength to ask them.

  “You sure it was a video of us?” he asked.

  Novah nodded and Durand gritted his teeth. He removed his cap and Novah was blessed with an up-close sight of his waved-up hair. She watched his jaw tense as he cleared his throat.

  “I’ll get to the bottom of that shit. I know it don’t change anything, but I am sorry. I
can only imagine how that made you look to the judge and shit. I’m sorry,” he apologized and kissed Novah tenderly.

  Novah closed her eyes as the word pregnant flashed through her mind.

  “I’m real fucking sorry beautiful,” he said kissing her neck.

  His lips left a trail of passion on her skin. Durand gripped her bottom and she moaned lightly. His large hands roamed up her back and under her nightgown. He pressed her closer to him as her breathing picked up.

  “I missed you,” he confessed lowly.

  A small smile graced Novah’s face as she looked at him.

  He was ridiculously handsome. Slanted eyes with nice thick lips and the perfect straight nose. Definitely the full package.

  “You don’t even know me.”

  Durand smirked. He licked his lips and kissed her lips once more.

  “And I’m ready for us to change that. Two months without seeing your pretty ass face really isn’t fair. Let’s be friends,” he said and kissed her softly. Novah giggled and he kissed her again. “Then lovers,” Durand kissed her one more time and his eyes peered into her intently. “Then something much more than that. Deal?”

  Novah nodded falling into a spell he’d effortlessly placed on her. Durand grinned as he raised her nightgown over her head.

  “I’ma make your body feel good, ma then when you get up in the morning we gone get to the bottom of some shit. Okay?”

  Novah nodded again feeling relieved to have him there. It had been a while since she’d had a male take charge and assure her everything would be fine. For so long she’d been her own backbone. She didn’t know how creditable Durand was but for the moment she was giving him the benefit of the doubt.

  “And we can’t just go over it tonight?” she asked as the cool air kissed her bare skin.

  Durand placed her on the bed naked and stood up. He quickly stripped out of his clothes and grabbed a Magnum XL from his Damier Ebene printed wallet. As he slid it on his massive hard on, he gazed down at Novah.

  “Nah, after this dick get up in you, you gone be down for the count,” he replied.

  He said it in a matter of fact kind of way. Novah gulped and opened her thick thighs. Her fingers caressed her slick slit as she watched Durand hover over her.

  “You been thinking bout me?”

  Novah nodded as the pad of her finger rubbed in circular motions around her clitoris.

  “I have,” she admitted breathlessly.

  Durand’s teeth sunk into his bottom lip. He leaned towards Novah and her legs wrapped around his waist. As he inserted his thick head at her opening he stared down into her eyes.

  “This the last time we gone go months without seeing each other. I want you and not just your body. I want all of you,” he declared and with one swift motion his member was deeply rooted in her sex.

  Novah whimpered and closed her eyes. Durand attacked her lips aggressively as his dick fucked her in a way that only he could. In a way that Novah feared no one else could ever come close to doing.

  “Talk to me sexy.”

  Novah licked her swollen lips. Durand loved to kiss, and she loved to kiss…... him. For hours, the night before she’d been his love slave. Her body had been his for the taking and now she was dead ass tired. Her limbs weren’t used to the twisting and pulling. Her pussy wasn’t used to limitless pleasure. Her body wasn’t used to back to back orgasms. She was drained however this time it was in a good way.

  As she rode beside Durand in his truck, she deliciously ached all over. Her attire for the day was chill. Cut up jean Bermuda shorts with a navy spaghetti strap body suit and leather slides. Oversized Chloe shades covered her eyes while her hair resided in a messy bun. She turned to Durand and marveled at how attractive he was. She wasn’t the type to fan girl but damn he was the shit.

  He’d taken her back to his place so he could change and grab a bag of clothes. Dressed up or down he was handsome as hell. His chocolate skin bounced off his sexy frame. His fit for the day was designer track pants with the matching collared shirt. On his feet were black designer kicks while his fresh haircut screamed look at me. Novah found herself reaching over and rubbing his forearm that housed a scripture tattoo.

  Durand glanced over at her as he pulled up to his studio that was located in Oak Park.

  “You good?”

  No, I’m having pregnancy migraines like a bitch.

  “I’m fine and it’s a long story but here’s the condensed version. Carter asked me a few months back to split custody with him. He claimed that he dropped dirty for coke at work and was placed on suspension. He said that he also had to pay a lot of money and that it was tight for him. I immediately called bullshit on that. Although he’s flashy he’s good with his money. I didn’t think he was anywhere near broke. I said no simply because his wife that was his mistress while he was with me doesn’t like my sons. I felt like the time he did see them was enough. Carter didn’t like that, and he showed his ass. Called me all kinds of names even kicked my truck with my boys in it. I brushed it off and he served me with papers for court. My cousin Arquez was able to get me what he said was a good lawyer—”

  “Quez? He cousins with Tarik?” Durand asked parking in his designated parking spot.

  Novah nodded as she smiled.

  “Yes, that Quez. I forgot he knows everybody, but court didn’t go well Durand. They brought up pictures of the few times I did go to the bar and somehow, they had a video of us. I wasn’t able to view it, but the judge did, and I know that it influenced her decision. He now has split custody of our twins and he only has to give me $5,000 per kid when I was only getting $12,000 before which wasn’t a lot. I’m not trying to drain his bank account, but he makes a lot of money Durand. My kids should be able to have some of that, right?”

  Durand pulled out his blunt and sparked it up. Novah rolled the window down hating the smell in her current state. She covered her nose and Durand glanced over at her.

  “You want me to put it out?” he asked.

  Novah nodded avoiding eye contact with him and he quickly did. He tossed the small blunt out the window and licked his lips.

  “Every situation is different but what I can say is that every father should provide for their kid. I’ll go without before my fucking kids do. For him to do all that bullshit just tells me that he’s a hoe ass nigga. I’m not feeling him even handling you like that. How long has he been like this?”

  Novah removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. She was still extremely tired.

  Good dick had a way of doing that to you.

  “Since I broke things off with him. Honestly in the beginning I would double back. If he wanted to slide through, then I was okay with that. I still loved him but once he officially got with the bitch that’s now his wife, I cut him off. I didn’t play that side bitch shit and after that he was a different person. Some days he was nice but whenever I shut off his advances, he acted a fool on me.”

  Durand nodded slowly.

  “And he started disrespecting you?”

  Novah sighed. She looked at Durand and he caressed her cheek. The intent gaze he pushed her way made her emotional. No one really knew about Carter’s disrespect. She always shielded it to keep the peace, but it felt good to be honest.

  “Yes.”

  “Has he ever hit you before?”

  Novah quickly shook her head.

  “No but he has grabbed me inappropriately and forced me to kiss him. Done things like shoved his hands in my pants,” she said quietly.

  Durand leaned towards Novah and kissed her cheek.

  “You don’t deserve any of that baby. Remember that the next time he tries it, then you tell me when he does,” he said lowly.

  Novah’s moist lenses connected with him.

  “I don’t want drama,” she said with her stomach becoming queasy.

  Durand nodded.

  “And as long as he stays on some chill shit, I won’t give him none. I’m not trying to make shit harder for you, b
ut I can’t sit back and let him wild out on you like that either. I get why you probably haven’t told your people but I wanna do more with you then make you cum. This shit is crazy, but I’m drawn to you ma. From the moment I met you at the spa you been on my mind. I feel protective over you already and I’m not gonna let somebody hurt you. No matter who it is. You don’t need your cousin to be your rock. I can be that for you. Let me.”

  Novah kissed Durand and pulled back to stare into his eyes.

  “Why should I? I haven’t met a man yet that can be good to me,” she told him truthfully.

  “I can’t speak on them other niggas but as for me I don’t wanna do shit but make you happy. I’m far from perfect. I work a lot and travel more than I care for now that I’m older but I’m a real ass nigga. I don’t cheat and I don’t lie. With me what you see is what you get. The way I feel bout you did catch me off guard, but I’m not gone run from it. I’m a grown ass man. We vibing and we connecting. Let’s embrace it and while doing so we gone be good to each other. I wanna be really fucking good to you Novah. Don’t put what that hoe ass nigga did to you one me. Don’t make me wear that hat, ma. Okay?”

  Novah stared at Durand for a few minutes before nodding. She smiled and Durand kissed her full lips before exiting his truck. They walked hand in hand into the studio. Marijuana smoke billowed out of the large room as Durand opened the door. Novah immediately covered her nose. She walked in and all eyes turned their way.

  “Nigga finally decided to show his face,” Malano, Durand’s group mate jested as he walked in.

  “Right been hitting his ass all day and shit. I was close to putting out an Amber Alert on his ass,” his other group mate Trill cracked while smirking at Durand.

  Durand waved off his boys that he’d been friends with since childhood.

  “Man fuck y’all niggas. Everybody this Novah,” Durand spoke pulling Novah to his side.

  Novah gazed up at him as her stomach lurched again.

  “I’ma go to the bathroom and hi guys.”

  Durand stared down at Novah with furrowed brows. He leaned down and kissed her softly while gripping her waist.