That Bona Fide Hood Love

by Shvonne Latrice

  “Wait, you told him you were a virgin? Why, Kasslyn? That’s not even like you.”

  “Jamal made me tell him that because of his religion, and I just never… corrected it. So now, he and I aren’t even doing what we were doing before.” Placing the test on top of the hamper, I said, “I knew this would end with both he and Jamal hating me.”

  “Well you still have to tell him.”

  Shaking my head, I felt so incredibly stupid.

  Rhea

  I hadn’t heard anything from Kaseem, but I was happy that Jamal had given me his location the night of the dinner with Kasslyn. I was honestly shocked when I saw her sitting across from him.

  All Jamal told me was that Kaseem was out to dinner with another woman and shot me the address so I could make a scene, breaking them up. I expected it to be this Everly Jones he mentioned, but it was someone who I thought was becoming my friend. Then for her to beat on me, knowing I was carrying his child, let me know she was a shitty person.

  I sat back on the couch after finishing my plate of homemade nachos, but the sound of my doorbell going off made me sit back up. Promptly, I checked my phone to see if Jamal had called or something, but nothing was on my screen. I was hoping this wasn’t Ashley, because I’d told her ass about popping up over my house unannounced.

  “Kaseem.”

  I felt like I was losing my breath seeing his fine ass standing there in gray sweats, a white tee, socks, and slides. His butter smooth dark skin was lickable, even while being covered in a bunch of tattoos. His hair was freshly cut into a fade, and his facial hair was lined up perfectly.

  As he slipped into my place, his Burberry cologne assaulted my nostrils. I loved this man and hated that, in actuality, I was carrying his nephew and not his son.

  “Shut the fucking door.”

  Like he told me to, I closed the door while watching him sit down on my couch, throwing his arm along the back. Eyeing his icy watch, I took a seat next to him.

  “Kaseem, I—”

  “Let’s be for real right now.” He stroked his facial hair. “Who you pregnant by?”

  “You. I—”

  “I’m gon’ ask you again, Rhea, and I want you to tell me the fucking truth. You know damn fucking well that ain’t my kid in ya stomach. I haven’t hit you raw in almost a year, so how the fuck is that my kid? Every condom I used on yo’ ass was intact and bought by me.”

  I couldn’t help it, so the tears filled my eyes before dripping down my cheeks. I didn’t even have the strength to wipe them away. As badly as Jamal didn’t want this baby to be his, neither did I. However, I wasn’t going to kill my child simply because it didn’t have the father I preferred. It was still a part of me at the end of the day.

  “Kaseem, I love you so much. I love being with you, but sometimes you neglect me, and overtime, the loneliness drove me to do things I regret.”

  I was sobbing, but his face was stale. He didn’t even give a fuck about what I was saying to him.

  “Who. Are. You. Pregnant. By?”

  Nibbling on my lip, I contemplated on whether or not I should tell him the truth. But I knew if I lied and he found out later, it would be worse for me. I was sure I’d gone too far for us to ever be together again, but maybe if I were honest, it would work in my favor.

  “Jamal.”

  “Jamal Banks?”

  “Yes. He came over one night and comforted me when you weren’t answering my calls, and it just happened.” I couldn’t say we’d been sexing for years.

  “So Jamal just randomly came through to comfort you, of all fucking people, and you ended up pregnant.” Kaseem burst into laughter, shaking his head and standing up. I wanted him to be more upset, to show me this bothered him, but it seemed like he didn’t give a damn.

  “Well I mean, we know each other and—”

  Leaning down in my face, one hand gripping the couch arm, Kaseem clenched his teeth and said, “You telling me that my brother just happened to know I was ignoring you, came over, fucked, and then that was the end of it?”

  “Yes.”

  “And that’s why I never took yo’ ass serious, Rhea. Who the fuck you think you running a muthafuckin game on? You been fucking his ass and slipped up.” He stood up straight and started for the door. “Then trying to pin that shit on me.”

  “No! That is a lie!” I hollered, standing. “It was one time and never happened again! It was his idea to say it was yours!”

  “Good luck to you and yo’ kid.”

  “Wait, Kaseem!” I grabbed his shirt, but he threw my hand off of him. “Baby, I’m sorry! I don’t want to be with him. I wish this was your baby! He doesn’t even want it! He told me he’s basically gonna be an absentee father!

  We can keep this between the three of us and raise this baby as ours! He won’t care. And technically, it has some of your blood.”

  “You must have no idea what type of nigga I am if you thought that weak ass plea was gon’ convince me to build a home with yo’ hoe ass. If my brother don’t want it, you better find a nigga who does. He’s my nephew, so I’ll do shit occasionally, but you and I are a done deal.”

  “What if I got an abortion!” I didn’t want one, but right now, I would say anything to keep Kaseem.

  Before I found out about Kasslyn, and whomever Everly was, I was so confident, that I would allow Kaseem to talk his shit and leave. But now that I knew he had options, I was afraid he’d never come back to me, especially now that I had done the unthinkable.

  “Rhea, even if you’d never fucked my brother and/or got pregnant, I wouldn’t want you. It’s over with, and if you pull anything else, I have no problem getting rid of yo’ ass.”

  I couldn’t help but cry as I looked up into his eyes. There was no love there. All this time, I assumed he loved me, despite him never saying it, but I was seeing that he never said it because he didn’t. I wasn’t used to life without Kaseem, so I didn’t know if I could just take what he was telling me.

  “Can you maybe think about it!” I yelled as he treaded sexily to his car. The thought of my name no longer being associated with his made me feel sick to my stomach. This was a decade plus old relationship! I wasn’t Rhea if I had no Kaseem.

  Kaseem ignored me, continuing to his car, before hopping in and pulling off. I watched him drive until I couldn’t see his car anymore, then turned around to rush into the house. Shutting and locking the door, I ran to the bedroom to grab my phone, dialing up Jamal.

  I paced my bedroom as the line trilled, and when his voicemail picked up, I ended the call then tried again.

  “Rhea, whatever it is, I am not in the mood. I have a lot of work to do today, and—”

  “He knows,” I whimpered. “Kaseem knows.”

  “Knows what?”

  “What do you think? I guess me breaking up his date made him curious. Maybe he thought I was lying the first time, I don’t know! But he came over and pressed me about who I was actually pregnant by.”

  “And why didn’t you stand your fucking ground and say him!”

  I’d never heard Jamal use the F bomb, so this nigga was afraid. The most his holy ass had ever said was damn or hell, and even that was rare.

  “I tried, but he knew. He’s not an idiot, Jamal. I told you from jump he wasn’t going to fall for it!”

  “Fuck!” Jamal hollered the F word again. “You are gonna regret this, woman. I promise you.”

  Click.

  Jamal

  I was panicking like crazy, wondering how I was gonna get out of having to face Kaseem. I’d never technically full on fought my brother, but I’d seen him fight on plenty of occasions, and it was never pretty. Plus, the punches he drove into my face recently, didn’t exactly feel the greatest.

  I wasn’t the fighting type, even a little bit, which is why I steered away from the lifestyle he led as much as I could. No way I could run drugs or do whatever the hell it was that he did. I didn’t tote a gun, and I didn’t brawl.

  And I had n
o problems not being a thug. I liked my life and how simple it was. I worked my job and took myself home at the end of the day. Weeks later, I collected a check for my hours. That was how I liked things. I didn’t enjoy spontaneity or living on the edge, and I wasn’t the type of man to exude that macho man bravado. I was simply Jamal Banks, a lawyer who loved the Lord.

  Over the past months I’d become someone else entirely, and now my world had spun out of control, all because I tried to help the needy. Kasslyn Collins had ruined everything.

  “Yes, Mr. Banks?” My assistant Laurel answered the phone.

  “Hey, cancel any appointments I have for the day. I am not feeling well and am about to go to the ER.”

  “Certainly. Is everything alright, Mr. Banks?”

  “No, everything isn’t alright, Laurel! If it were, I wouldn’t be going to the damn ER!”

  I didn’t mean to blow a fuse, but I was on edge, and she was asking dumb questions.

  “Of course, sir.”

  Inhaling and exhaling deeply, I pressed the button again. “My apologies, Laurel. I am just feeling really ill.”

  “It’s fine, Mr. Banks. I will handle the appointments.”

  I shoved most of the things I needed into my Louis Vuitton briefcase and hurried out, barely speaking to Laurel on the way. I’d realized as I was packing up, that Kaseem could’ve been on his way here to approach me. After all, he obviously knew where I worked and during what time frame.

  Throwing my briefcase into the passenger seat through the driver’s side, I slipped in and floored it out of there. I was driving like a bat out of hell, even though I had no clear idea of where I was going.

  When my father popped up on my GPS screen, attempting to reach me, it hit me that I could go over there. He and my mom had been calling me for the past three days, and I’d been declining to answer because I wasn’t in the mood. Plus, after Kaseem threatened me, it didn’t feel as nice to have them bash him over stealing Kasslyn. Stupid whore.

  “Damnit!” I hissed, after knocking over one of my mother’s garden gnomes because I’d pulled into the driveway too quickly. I damn near tripped out of the car, and rushed to the door, fumbling with my keys. “Jamal, relax,” I told myself before taking a deep breath.

  I got my hands to stop shaking long enough to slip the key into the door and let myself in. As I shut and locked it, I heard someone move on the couch, and almost shit on myself seeing Kaseem there staring at me.

  “Sit down,” he directed me, and after a moment of hesitation, I dropped my belongings and did as he’d asked.

  “Where are Mom and Dad?”

  “Went on a cruise. That’s why they’ve been calling, to let you know.” Kaseem lit a blunt, knowing our parents didn’t allow such activity in here.

  “So a few of the contracts that came in today—”

  “You fucked Rhea?” He cut me off, blowing smoke out and almost killing me.

  I didn’t know what came over me, but instead of responding, I decided to try and make a run for it.

  “Ah!” I groaned in pain when Kaseem cut off my path, gut punching me with so much force that I crouched before falling to the floor.

  “Get the fuck up, dummy.” He snatched me up by my collar and shoved me into the wall after ashing the blunt in the nearby ashtray.

  “Bro, please.” I panted, stomach feeling like it had gone through my back. “I didn’t mean to. It just happened and…” I licked my extremely dry lips as Kaseem just glared into my eyes, holding my shirt collar in his fist. “I mean, come on… like you told me, you don’t even love, Rhea. Don’t let her come between us.”

  “You think I got you hemmed up over the fact that you fucked Rhea?” Kaseem grinned, confusing yet scaring the hell out of me. “I been over that bitch, and I never trusted her funky ass anyway. But she told me yo’ mark ass is talking about not claiming the kid.”

  “I don’t want it. It’s out of wedlock!”

  “Yeah, well you fucked out of wedlock, Jamal, so guess what? If she brings that muthafuckin baby into this world, you gon’ be father of the fucking year, or I swear to God, I’ll break my foot off in yo’ ass every time I lay eyes on you.”

  My chest rose and fell out of anger. Kaseem was supposed to be on my side, not Rhea’s.

  “She needs to just get an abortion.”

  “Well if she don’t, you gon’ do what the fuck I told yo’ ass to. You got it?”

  I nodded, so he let my collar go and backed away.

  “This is all Kasslyn’s fault, Seem. She—”

  “It’s Kasslyn’s fault you fucked one of my hoes and knocked her up?” His brows raised. I simply looked away. “Yeah, thought so.”

  “I just—”

  WHAM!

  Kaseem went across my face with a closed fist, making blood splatter around and outside of my mouth. I couldn’t even talk because I felt like all of my back teeth were loose.

  “That’s for trying to convince Rhea to pin yo’ fucking kid on me like I’m stupid. Keep yo’ muthafuckin distance from now on unless it’s work related or got some shit to do with our parents. And I’m gon’ have eyes on you, making sure you ain’t no deadbeat, even before the baby gets here.” He smirked, and I knew it was because through the pain, he could see how disgruntled I was.

  Kaseem left me right there, and after realizing the blood wouldn’t stop and that I couldn’t talk, I drove myself to the damn ER for real.

  My jaw was all messed up and swollen, so I definitely had been taking some time off of work. At the moment, I’d been staying at my parents’ house since they were still away on that damn cruise. I couldn’t call them either, because my dad left a voicemail the last time, saying their phones wouldn’t have service.

  I was depressed as ever, thinking about having to take care of Rhea and that baby. I was a grown man and should’ve been able to make my own decisions, but I ain’t wanna suffer several broken jaws and whatever else Kaseem decided to hit if I didn’t listen to him. I swear, 90 percent of the time, I was wishing that I were an only child.

  My phone rang, pulling me from my sad thoughts, and I saw Catharine’s name. Usually I wouldn’t answer, but I missed her and missed being around somebody that truly cared for me.

  “Hey.” I answered dryly, due to my jaw.

  “Hi, love. I really miss you, Jamal. I know you think you love—”

  “Hey, can you come see me? I’m at my parents’ home.”

  “Yes, of course! I’m just leaving a prayer meeting, but I will come straight to you. Want any food?”

  I smiled as much as I could before replying, “Yes, please.”

  A half an hour later, Catharine was at the door, so I got up to let her in. Whatever she had in them containers smelled good.

  “I’m happy you invited me over, Jamal. I feel like I haven’t been able to see you, well, spend time with you in a while.”

  Closing the door, I responded, “I know, and I’m sorry for that.” I gestured for her to sit down. She did, placing the containers on the coffee table.

  “What happened to your jaw?” She reached to caress it gently, making me close my eyes.

  “Got into an altercation. But look, I want to apologize for how I’ve been acting and how I basically discarded our whole relationship for a woman I had no feelings for.”

  “Why did you do it? I thought you loved me.”

  “I do, a lot. But…” I glanced down for a moment. “I just got tired of my parents choosing my path, so even though I wanted you, I hated that they chose you. You know this already.”

  “Yeah.” She twiddled her thumbs. “So what now?”

  “Now I want to be with you. I want us to get married next spring like we used to say.”

  “Oh my gosh! This is like a dream right now! I thought I’d lost you forever.” She hugged my neck tightly, making me wince since she’d bumped my jaw. “Sorry, baby.” She pecked it lightly.

  “It’s cool. Listen though, during these past few months, I wasn’
t on the Lord’s path.”

  “I know.”

  “So I did something. I did something really bad.”

  “Whatever it is, we can pray for God’s forgiveness.”

  “Yeah, we can, but the problem will persist and be a poison to our union. Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t want anything threatening our bond as husband and wife.”

  “You know I don’t either.” Her eyes darted around my face. “What did you do?”

  “I engaged in premarital sex, and the woman I did that foul act with is now pregnant.”

  Catharine gasped, her eyes already glossed over.

  “Jamal—”

  “I don’t want the baby, Cat, at all. Only kids I want are with you. Now I’ve told this woman this, and she won’t accept it.”

  “She’s in love with you or something?”

  “Yeah, I think so,” I lied. “Anyway, I need you to help me figure something out because I can’t have any illegitimate children. You deserve a better husband than that.” I moved her hair from her face.

  Catharine was perfect, with her deep caramel skin, dimples, golden straight hair, and extra thick body. I enjoyed how the weight looked in the somewhat tight clothes she wore.

  “Don’t worry, honey; this will be fixed.”

  Smiling widely, I leaned over to kiss her, before we prayed then feasted on the food she’d brought.

  8

  Kaseem

  Can't wait 'til I'm inside… Beat, beat 'til the sunrise… All up in her hair like a hair tie…

  Usher’s “Peace Sign” played over my bedroom as Alexis rode my dick with her fine ass. I gripped her hips, watching how she wound them while going up and down as sweat dripped between her breasts. She was sexy as hell but just had tumbleweed between her fucking ears.

  “Oh shit!” she called out, body trembling as she came down on me for the third time.