That Bona Fide Hood Love

by Shvonne Latrice

  Finally, we were at the restaurant, some seafood place along the beach that was very upscale and beautiful. As soon as I sat down, my phone rang loudly, and I looked down to see it was Kaseem. Jane had a strict rule about our phones staying on vibrate, so I quickly declined his call and adjusted my phone’s ring setting.

  “Important?” Allen quizzed, lying his cloth napkin across his lap.

  “No, not at all.”

  He was dressed in a brown tweed suit jacket, a deep burgundy button up, and his slacks were a navy color. His shoes were a two-tone brown. His cologne was woodsy, and very… father smelling. I’m not sure if that was just the scent or if it was in my head.

  “They have some great options here. I usually get the feast, which comes with lobster, shrimp, red potatoes, scallops, corn, and some spicy sausage.”

  Nodding, I replied, “I will have that as well.” Closing the menu, I asked, “Do you remember me, Allen?”

  “Of course. How could I forget a name like Kasslyn?” He filled his glass using the carafe of ice water on our table, then took a drink.

  “Oh.” I was bummed. I didn’t know why. “Did Jane send you pictures and things?”

  “Yeah, and because of my membership level, she sent me a few pictures of you and two other girls to choose from.”

  He chose me? Yuck!

  “I don’t mean to be offensive in any way, so forgive me if I am, but why would you choose to take me out?”

  “Why wouldn’t I? You’re a beautiful girl, and I already know you.”

  My clutch was vibrating against my thigh, and when I checked on the sly, I saw it was Kaseem calling again. I hit ignore.

  “Well you used to know me. I’m not the same person anymore. And this isn’t weird for you to be taking me out? You were my mother’s boyfriend and for a very long time.”

  “I was, but she and I were never really that in tune. I liked her, she was beautiful, and we had a good run, but it wasn’t as deep as you’re making it out to be.”

  Squinting my eyes, I stared at him, trying to make sense of his words. My mama took her own life because he left her, and he felt their relationship was superficial?

  “Allen, you know why she killed herself and—”

  “Kasslyn.” He shook his head. “I brought you out tonight to have a nice time with a beautiful woman. This is not a 20/20 interview. Let’s eat and have some nice conversation. You don’t want me giving Jane a bad report, do you?”

  “My apologies.” I sipped my water.

  The rest of the dinner was okay since I let him do all the talking and just nodded and smiled or acted impressed. Thankfully, when it was over, he drove me right back to Jane’s, and I couldn’t get inside of that house fast enough.

  Even though he didn’t touch me, I showered well, and then brushed, rinsed, and flossed my teeth. I used mouthwash then slipped into my silk nightgown before crawling into my bed.

  My head hadn’t been on the pillow for two seconds before I heard someone using a key to enter. It couldn’t be anyone but Jane because she was the only one with keys to everyone’s room.

  “Kasslyn.” She called my name, and I looked over my shoulder at her. “Nice job tonight.”

  “Thanks,” I whispered before watching her retreat and close the door.

  My life would forever be a shit show.

  Everly

  Two evenings later…

  “Miss Jones, I am all finished with the chart.” One of the girls who worked under me, Asia, entered my office.

  “Thank you. Go ahead and leave it on the table, please.”

  Asia walked the files over and set them down as directed, while I continued working. I could barely focus because all I kept thinking about was if Roderick’s plan was going to work. He agreed to run it down for me tonight, because I was tired of him saying to just let him handle things and he’d let me know when I needed to intervene. Fuck that.

  Currently, I was looking at an email from a PI I’d hired, showing me cold hard evidence that Miss Kasslyn Collins had been an escort all the way up until this year. I wondered if Kaseem knew that about his little wounded orphan animal that he was so protective of.

  “Miss Jones, are you alright?” Asia’s voice bombarded my thoughts.

  “Yes, Asia, why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Not sure. You just seem a little down, and I’ve noticed you and Mr. Banks haven’t really interacted with one another.”

  “Oh, well I’m fine. I’ve just been a little bit under the weather.”

  “Oh, okay, good. Well not good that you’re sick but good that you’re okay.” I simply gave her a smile before tending back to my work. “Are you and Mr. Banks still together? People are saying it’s over between you two.”

  “What is this, high school? And who is saying such things?”

  “Just people who work on the floor.”

  “Well Asia, you let them know, since they care so much, that Mr. Banks and I are very much together. We’ve just decided to cool things off while in the office because it’s not appropriate, being that he’s the CEO and I’m the head of marketing.”

  “Oh, makes sense. Okay, nice talking to you, Miss Jones.”

  “Shut the door behind you.”

  When Asia left, I sat there seething at the fact that people up here had noticed the shift in the relationship between Kaseem and I. I did not deserve his behavior, and I wanted him to realize that he had a good woman in me before it was too late.

  Did he realize how many men wanted to date me? Yet, here I was pining for him, just for his ass to pay me dust. This fling with Kasslyn was going on way too damn long, and even though Roderick claimed his ‘plan’ was fail proof, I needed to do some groundwork of my own. This PI was only the beginning.

  I dialed up my assistant and let her know that I was going on my lunch early, and that until I returned, Asia was in charge. I fixed my lipstick, fluffed out my hair, and then grabbed my Louis bag before leaving my office and eventually the building. I floored my Porsche out of the parking lot, and seemingly didn’t slow up until I was parking in front of Kaseem’s parents’ home.

  I checked my appearance in the mirror, and then got out of the car to tread up the walkway then ring the doorbell.

  “Everly, is Kaseem okay?” Mr. Banks answered the door with a worried expression.

  “Well I will let you decide that.” I entered the home.

  Kaseem’s father allowed me in and gestured for me to have a seat.

  “Everly, wow, honey, you look beautiful.” His mother beamed at the sight of me, dusting her hands off on her apron. “Will you be having lunch with us?”

  “Sure, why not?” I set my purse to the side of me. “Did you all know that Kasslyn, the young lady bouncing between your sons, is an escort?” I got right to it, making his father’s jaw drop, and his mama stop walking to the kitchen. She didn’t look as astonished as her husband for some reason. It was like she already knew.

  “An escort? Like a hooker?” Mr. Banks frowned.

  “My point exactly, but just a high class one.” I pulled my phone from my purse and showed them the photos from my email. “Those are a few of the dates she’s been on. And the last photo is a whorehouse, for a lack of a better word.”

  “What the hell is wrong with our boys?” Mrs. Banks’ brows dipped as she peered over her seated husband’s shoulder at my phone. “I’d heard things about her… but I guess I needed proof.” She furrowed her brows.

  “Not sure what’s wrong with them, but I love Kaseem, and I am willing to help reel him back in so he won’t be caught up in her mess. You know escorting is illegal.”

  I smiled with glee on the inside, watching Kaseem’s parents look up from my phone with a worried expression. They already felt like Kaseem was a bad apple, so this would really make them say something to his ass. Maybe him hearing that I was the one for him from his parents would plant the seed that I needed in his stupid ass mind.

  Later that night…

&nbs
p; “Fuck you wear that for?” Roderick answered the door to his plush condo, wearing his signature black wife beater and baggy jeans.

  “You said to wear black.” I stepped inside, looking around as if I’d never been here before.

  We’d met up a couple times, just for him to update me on his process of fucking Kasslyn. I wanted to know more though and how him sleeping with that bitch was going to help me. I also wanted to know exactly how he expected me to help him in getting Kaseem out of his way professionally.

  “Yeah. I meant tights and a sweater or something, not no damn ball gown.”

  “Excuse me, hoodlum. This is far from a ball gown. It’s called a peplum dress.” I dusted his couch off and sat down. “Can we get some more lights in here? I need to see better.”

  “You can see fine. Want a drink?”

  “No.” I shook my head. Roderick locked the door and then came to sit next to me. “So explain the shit with Kasslyn.”

  “I told you. I’m gonna get her where I want and fuck. Right now, we email back and forth.”

  “Email? When do you plan on sleeping with her? Next year? You couldn’t even get her damn number?”

  “Relax, I know what I’m doing. Kasslyn is the type of girl who needs a friend first, and then she’ll be putty in my fucking hands at that point.”

  “Okay, so then what?” I rolled my eyes.

  “Then I invite her over, smash, and make sure it’s on video tape. Get that shit in Kaseem’s hands easy, and it’s a wrap for her.”

  I smirked, liking the sound of that.

  “Well, when? And it shouldn’t be that hard because I found out she used to be an escort. Maybe offer her some money and see how she responds.”

  Roderick nodded, like he was taking in what I’d just told him.

  “That’s good to know.”

  “Yeah. And now with Kaseem?”

  “All I need you to do is distract him. I know the route he and Warren take to get the money from the houses and shit. At one of the stops, we gon’ rob him.”

  “Umm, no.”

  “Umm, yes. If you want me to go along with the Kasslyn plan, then you gon’ do what I asked. Kaseem really likes her; thinking about proposing… he told me.”

  “Are you fucking serious?”

  “As a heart attack.”

  “I can just show him that she’s an escort.”

  “He’s in love, baby girl. Niggas like Kaseem don’t fall in love, and when they do, nothing can keep them from their woman. You think some old ass pictures gon’ make him leave her, when he’s talking about proposing?”

  This thug had a point.

  “Okay, so what all do I have to do?”

  “Literally nothing. All I need you to do is be my second gunman. Hold the gun on Kaseem while I rob him. Once I get one of the cash bags, we gon’ dip.”

  “Oh, that’s it?”

  “Yep.”

  “How will that get him out of the game?”

  “Once the boss finds out he got robbed, Kaseem won’t be getting no more work, and his reputation will precede him; meaning, ain’t no muthafucka gon’ wanna put him on.”

  “Ah, okay. And we won’t hurt him, right?”

  “Nah.” Roderick sucked his teeth. “We ain’t gon’ hurt yo’ precious nigga.” He shook his head, removing a blunt from his pocket.

  “Okay then, I’m in.”

  Soon enough, I would be back with Kaseem, and not only that, he’d be out of the game.

  Jamal

  “Hey, so when do you think you’re gonna move out?” Catharine asked as we laid up in my bed at my parents’ house.

  “Soon. Why, you don’t like being here?”

  “No, no.” She turned on her side to face me. “I love being anywhere you are. I just figured that you’d want your own place soon. You’ve always lived with someone.”

  “Yeah, because I don’t see the point in buying a home before I’m married. You know this.”

  “Understandable.” Sighing, she added, “But we know we’re going to be married, so maybe we should start looking into some places. That way we can have it ready by the time we say ‘I do’ in the spring.”

  “That’s not for a while, Cat, but when it gets closer to the time, we can start.”

  “Jamal, finding and purchasing a house can take months. Then if there are renovations—”

  “I said we can look when it gets closer to the time.”

  Catharine nodded and shut up just like a woman was supposed to. That was why I loved her. She understood God’s plan and how a woman in the Christian community was supposed to behave. Kasslyn never understood that.

  “Well I can’t wait until we have our own home and are married. It’s gonna be great.” Catharine grinned.

  “Yeah.” I eyed her thick thighs. She was wearing a dress, not a short one, but it had risen up a bit. I ran my hand along it, making her tense up slightly. “Hey, since we know that we’re going to be married, why don’t we get into the act. That way by the time everything is signed, sealed, and delivered, we’ll have it all figured out.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I leaned over to kiss Catharine, slipping my tongue into her mouth. She stayed in position, kissing me back, and that continued for about five minutes straight.

  I wasn’t used to a woman who was a virgin. I’d been sleeping with Rhea, who had experience, so right now, I didn’t know what to touch, say, or do next. If I wasn’t upset with Kaseem, I’d text and ask.

  We pulled away from the kiss, which was awkward, because now it was silent. Catharine turned onto her back, lacing her fingers under her large breasts.

  “Can we have sex?” I questioned. I was horny, and right now the feeling of having sex overpowered my want to follow in the path of righteousness. I knew I’d be overcome with guilt once I released, but right now I didn’t care.

  “What!” she exclaimed.

  “I mean, we know we’re going to be together, so why not, baby?”

  “Because it’s a sin, Jamal.” She sat up, frowning. “We cannot engage in premarital sex.”

  “But see, that’s for people who ain’t getting married. That’s for people like Kaseem who have sex with no intention of marrying that person,” I explained, sitting up like her.

  “Jamal, I don’t know what happened to you, but I don’t like it.” Catharine got out of the bed. Grabbing her boots to put on, she added, “When you make your way back to God, come find me, but this new you is not it.”

  “Catharine!” I shouted when she stormed to my door. “Catharine, bring yo’— ah!” I threw my pillow at the door, angry and horny.

  I felt like I had no other option, so I hopped off the bed and grabbed some sneakers to put on.

  “Is everything alright?” My mama burst in.

  “Yes, everything is alright! I told you to knock before you come in here, Ma!”

  “Sorry.” She was still standing in the doorway as I tied my shoes. “Did you meet Kasslyn via an escort service?”

  “A what?” I acted surprised.

  “An escort service.”

  “No, of course not. Ask Seem that. That’s his woman now, not mine.” I rose up and then slipped around her before she could reply.

  “I wanted to ask you since technically she was your woman.” My mother followed me to the living room.

  “Not anymore.” I grabbed my coat from the rack, along with my keys. “I’ll be back a little later.”

  “Where are you going at—”

  I slammed the door behind me so I wouldn’t have to answer her question, then hopped into my car. I drove right over to Rhea’s and was happy to see her car was in the driveway. Spraying my breath with some mint spray, I exited the car and jogged to her front door before knocking.

  “Jamal, I—”

  “Can I come in? I wanna apologize for the comments I made about our child,” I faked.

  “Okay.”

  Rhea pushed the screen door open, so I walked in, inhaling the
scent of some type of buttered bread.

  “You made bread or something?”

  “No, it’s a candle.” She pointed to it. My stomach grumbled anyway. “So what do you have to say?”

  “That I’m sorry and that I want to be in my kid’s life. I mean, I’m going to be in its life.”

  Rhea simpered.

  “Okay. Well I’m glad to hear that. When do you think it will be a good time to tell your parents?”

  “Give me a week or two.”

  “Sure.” It was quiet but then I moved closer to kiss Rhea. My hands went right under her shirt so that I could pull it up, but she stopped me. “What are you doing?”

  “Come on. We already got a kid so—”

  “Wow, that’s why you just apologized and gave me that little line about our kid? You wanna fuck?” She laughed angrily.

  “What? No. I could have any woman I want!”

  “Yeah right! Your only other option is that pulpit bitch Catharine, and I know her rotund ass ain’t giving you no pussy! Get out!”

  Again, I understood why Kaseem never saw Rhea as more than a girlfriend; she surely wasn’t wifeable.

  “Do not speak to me that way.” I put my finger up.

  “Nigga, get that damn finger out of my face before I bite it off!” she barked.

  Seemingly, I lost control of my hands, and they were wrapped around her neck… again. We tussled until we fell to the ground, and I squeezed tighter, hoping the life in her body left and right along with that damn baby.

  “Ah!” I growled when Rhea clawed my face.

  I immediately let go as she lay there on the floor, panting like she was having an asthma attack.

  “Get out before I call the police!” she screamed, crying hysterically and still breathing hard.

  I scrambled to my feet, and then ran out of the house, praying she didn’t tell Kaseem.