Love Without Loyalty

by Kaige Keira

  “You never loved me,” Tori screamed back. “You just tolerate me. You hated the fact that I’m his child. Just admit it. Autumn’s daddy was perfect. You just fucked my father because he was the only available dick you could hop on.”

  Slap.

  Autumn gasped when she saw her mother slap her sister across her face. Tori kept her gaze on the wall. Tears was stinging her eyes. “I hate you,” she whispered to her mother. Dina stepped back, still holding her hand. She wanted to take the slap back as soon as she realized what she did. She never raised a hand to her children. She didn’t believe in whipping, but she was frustrated with Tori.

  Dina walked out of the room, leaving Tori and Autumn alone. “What happened to you,” Autumn asked quietly. “You act like Mom didn’t take care of you for sixteen years?

  “She never cared,” Tori said as she grabbed her duffel bag.

  Autumn scoffed. “Never cared? Where was she when you got chicken pox and I had an audition for a play on the same day? She was there for you and let Grandma take me. You think I didn’t want my mother there with me, too? She always made sure you were straight regarding anything before me. Do you know why? Because she said you just needed a little bit more love.”

  Tori threw her things in the duffel bag and zipped it. “You want a ribbon or a cookie,” Tori asked Autumn. Autumn backed out of the room and walked back downstairs. Tori followed behind her. She needed to get out of here. She could smell freedom waiting for her on the outside of that door.

  “You leave out of that door,” Dina called out as she stood in the kitchen. “Don’t come back. You want to be grown. Figure that shit out like I did.”

  Autumn looked at her sister and then went in her room. Tori looked from the front door back to the kitchen. She was suddenly conflicted. She was about to leave the only family she has ever known. She thought she was sure this was what she wanted to do. Tori placed her hand on the door. Autumn walked back out of her room, carrying a small envelope.

  She placed it in Tori’s hand. “You will always be my baby sister. I was gone give you this for your high school graduation, but I guess now is a good time. You can always call me.” Autumn grabbed her sister and gave her a hug. “Please call.”

  Tori interrupted the hug by backing up from her. “I don’t need your charity.” Tori threw the envelope on the ground before walking out the door. That’s all what it took for her to know for sure. Autumn stood there as she watched the little girl she grew up with, walk out of her life.

  Blessings stood in the doorway. “I know it hurts. But it’s her life. She will come back.” Autumn wiped the tears from her eyes as she nodded to what Blessings was telling her.

  “As my mother would say, it’s all in God’s hand,” Blessings said as she hugged her best friend. They were from different backgrounds but yet their path was the same.

  AVERY SAT DOWN AT THE table as Ms. Nancy fixed him a plate of food. “You really have them staying here,” Avery asked as he dug in. Ms. Nancy sat down next to him and sparked a blunt.

  “Well Mark promised to pay extra in rent and lord knows he barely was paying shit anyway,” Ms. Nancy said as she exhaled. “Besides, I try to stay out of yall young folks’ business. This one sleeping with that one but they over here screwing this one and that one as well. Too much sex for my taste.”

  Avery laughed at Ms. Nancy’s words. “I thought you and Uncle Duke were swingers. That’s what my mama used to say.”

  Ms. Nancy rolled her eyes at that statement. “How would she know? Shit, her ass was busy sucking dick to pay attention to who I was fucking.” Ms. Nancy took another pull from her blunt. “But no, we weren’t. We just loved on each other. We did have a threesome but that was before we even got married.”

  Avery smiled when he saw Ms. Nancy eyes light up when she mentioned her late husband. Duke Richards was the sharpest man in town. Avery’s mother was Duke’s youngest sister. But when Avery mother suddenly caught a monkey on her back, as Duke used to tell Avery, Duke took Avery in and raised him as his own before he had gotten sick. Avery remembers when Duke would take all the kids out to the neighborhood pool every Saturday. And afterwards he would then let them go pig out on ice cream. Avery had always looked up to Duke as his father, seeing as though he didn’t know his own father.

  “So, everybody been chill,” Avery asked as he looked down at his plate. Ms. Nancy looked at him and frowned.

  “You miss your woman,” she asked. Avery shook his head no.

  “I found somebody better,” Avery replied with a smile on his face. “I just don’t want you stressing over something they are involved in.”

  Ms. Nancy hooted. “Please, the minute they do one thing I don’t like, they on their own. Bad enough they be bringing some girl over here. She looks more and more strung out by the day.”

  Avery raised his eyebrows in concerns. “Mark not selling drugs, is he?”

  “I wish the fuck he would,” Ms. Nancy exclaimed. “Him and that fake uppity bitch would be homeless. I don’t play that shit.”

  Avery stifled a laugh as he listened to Ms. Nancy fuss. He was about to get up from the table when in walked Yvonne with Tori right behind her.

  “Hey Ms. Nancy,” Yvonne said in a curt tone. When she turned to greet Avery, she froze. She didn’t know it was him in the kitchen talking to Ms. Nancy. Yvonne shuffled from one leg to the other as Tori stood right behind her, holding on to her bag.

  “Hi, I’m Heather,” Tori said as she gave a fake name. She didn’t know what was going on or why Yvonne was acting strange all of a sudden.

  Avery cleared his throat as he looked at Yvonne with hatred in his eyes. Mark was known for flipping girls. Mark used to do it as a side hustle in high school. Avery would have never guessed that Yvonne was helping Mark flip them as well. Let alone for the girl to be the sister of his girlfriend. “Tori, you need to get your ass home,” Avery told Tori when he finally looked her way.

  Yvonne kept her mouth shut as she waited for Mark to enter into the kitchen. She needed help on this one. She agreed to turn Tori out, but she also wanted her man back. She didn’t care who Tori’s sister was or what the fuck Mark asked her to do.

  “How—How do you know my name,” Tori stammered. She was confused.

  “I date your sister. I was the one who helped her bring your ass to the hospital,” Avery stated as he stood up. “You really gone pimp out this girl?” Avery looked at Yvonne for confirmation. “You really that fucking shallow, bitch?”

  Yvonne was about to speak when Mark walked in from the basement. He looked around the room as he tried to survey the situation. “What?”

  Ms. Nancy shook her head as she stood up. “Avery, baby, go outside in the backyard for me. I will be right there,” Ms. Nancy told Avery. Avery was about to protest but she knew she had to remove him from the equation before he showed his natural black ass.

  Ms. Nancy looked at Mark and slapped him. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Not in my fucking house. I told you I would not have that foolishness in my home. Get your shit and get the fuck out.” Ms. Nancy grabbed her small metal box that she kept her weed in. “And baby girl,” Ms. Nancy said to Tori. “I don’t know your story, and nor do I care to know. But these two,” she pointed at Mark and Yvonne, “They don’t mean you no good.”

  “Ma,” Mark protested. Ms. Nancy held up her hand.

  “I tried to reason and pacify your actions since your father died. But it’s time to own up to the fact that this is your fault. You so busy worrying about competing with your own flesh and blood, that you don’t realize you could have had all that.” Ms. Nancy looked at Mark. “Who is you trying to please? This bitch? Because when you not looking, she surely is stalking Avery and trying to convince him to take her back.”

  Mark looked at Yvonne and the only thing Yvonne could do was shrug her shoulders. She wasn’t built for this lifestyle he trying to force her in. She paid her dues and have always been a kept woman. Mark wasn’t doing the job he
told her he was going to do. They can’t eat off promises. How were they going to live off of that?

  “Get your shit and get out,” Ms. Nancy said again as she looked at the both of them. She walked out of the patio doors to join up with her nephew.

  “Wow. Your mom is really delusional,” Yvonne said as she looked at Mark. Mark kept a steady eye on her. He knew she wasn’t accustomed to living how they was living. But he was trying his best every day to give her what she needed.

  “Tori,” Mark said as he looked at her. “Wait for me in the car.” Tori nodded as she left. Mark walked over to Yvonne until he was standing directly in her face. “You need to get your shit together and stop fucking playing with me. You can’t go back to Avery even if you wanted too. I own that ass.” Mark cupped Yvonne’s face roughly.

  “Stop fucking playing with me before it be you selling ass and Tori dropping you off at the motel,” Mark hissed in her ear. Yvonne pulled back from him and hung her head. “Now get my shit so we can fuck go.”

  Yvonne walked past him as she headed to retrieve their belongings. Mark turned around in the kitchen and was surprised to see Avery was standing there, watching him. “The fuck you are looking at,” Mark said as he stepped back.

  Avery laughed as he shook his head. He grabbed the water bottle that was on the table and looked back up at Mark. “Niggas always acting like they Suge Knight but be Ray Charles when another nigga is involved.”

  “The fuck you say,” Mark shouted as he tried to poke his chest out. That just made Avery laugh even harder.

  “Say it with your chest, little ass nigga,” Avery replied as he quoted Kevin Hart. Avery walked right back out the patio doors. He didn’t even bother to look back.

  Pussy ass nigga, Mark said to himself.

  Chapter 12

  “I don’t want too,” Blessings whined as she walked into her apartment. Autumn was right behind her, carrying Blessings bags.

  “You been in my room too long,” Autumn stated as walked in behind Blessings. “Time to face your demons and talk to your man.” Autumn dropped the bags on the sofa and looked around the apartment. “He is not even here.”

  Blessings sat down on the sofa. “He probably at the hotel. Having family time or what not.”

  Autumn sighed loudly. “You are going to drive yourself crazy thinking like that.” Blessings shrugged her shoulders.

  Autumn walked into the bedroom and gasped when she saw the room was barely empty. Luggage was shrew about the room as if somebody was packing. There was bags already packed sitting on the bed. Autumn walked to them and opened one of the bags. She saw that it contained men’s clothing.

  “Told you he was leaving,” Blessings whispered as she stood in the doorway. She casted her eyes to the ground. “It would always be her.”

  Autumn walked over to Blessings and gave her a hug. “If it’s true, then you know you have me in your corner backing you up. You are not alone.”

  “So, how about I go home, grab some clothes and we can have a mini sleepover here,” Autumn asked as she looked at Blessings. “Maybe even watch some more Disney films? I can grab Thai on the way back.”

  Blessings nodded as she walked over to the bed. She suddenly felt nauseous. She didn’t expect for them to break up like this. She just needed time. Eventually she would have come to the conclusion that she could be with him. Imani isn’t her child.

  Autumn left out the house and quickly dialed Avery. He didn’t answer but he did send her a text saying he was by his aunt house. Autumn sighed as she looked back up at the apartment building. Blessings was trying to remain strong, but Autumn could see that once fiery girl starting to disperse. It frightened her how love can change a person’s whole attitude.

  Just as Autumn was pulling off, Priest was pulling up. Priest exited his car and walked into the apartment to retrieve the rest of his belongings. He was surprised to see Blessings curled up in the bed.

  Blessings looked up when she smelled his cologne. They both locked eyes for a minute before Priest spoke. “So, you finally decided to come home,” he asked.

  Blessings scoffed. “Home? What home? You and your bitch decided to move in together?” She was heated. How dare he spring the fact that he had a kid and then expect her not to feel some kind of way.

  “Don’t disrespect the mother of my child,” Priest said as he looked at Blessings. “You are the one that ran off and blocked me instead of talking to me like the grown ass woman you claimed to be. I don’t have time for your temper tantrums.”

  Blessing hopped off the bed and stared at Priest with hatred suddenly brewing like a storm inside of her. “I’m fucking eighteen, my nigga,” Blessings yelled. “You sprang a baby on me and then tell me it’s by a chick you were madly in love with. What was I? Your fucking rebound?”

  Priest looked away. “Stop it. You know I loved you. But I can’t pacify your childish behavior anymore. I have my own kid.”

  Blessing was about to open her mouth to speak but then something clicked. “Loved,” she asked as she looked at him. As in past tense. Meaning he didn’t anymore. “You loved me? So, what you don’t anymore?”

  Priest remained silent as he looked at her. No words were spoken but honestly, he didn’t have to speak. His silence spoke volumes and Blessings were hearing them loud and clear.

  “So, what you and Asha are back an item,” Blessings asked as she stepped by the dresser. Her heart was beating faster, and she tried to slow down her breathing. “You man enough to walk out well be man enough to tell me why.”

  “We are not together,” Priest said as he slid his hand over his face. “We are trying to figure out this co-parent thing. I’m moving out because I can’t be there for my child and worry about if you are alright. You think I wanted this to happen? I didn’t know but you are crucifying me for something I had no control over. So, when you left, so did I.”

  “You are a fucking liar,” Blessings snap as she sized him up. There was no way he was speaking to her in such a tone if he wasn’t lying. It had to be because of Asha. For the past few days, she couldn’t sleep because she felt like he was with her. Blessings tried to hide it, but her heart was breaking over and over just because of that very thought. But seeing how Priest was talking to her, somehow confirmed her fears.

  “I’m not,” Priest stated. He put his hands in his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. He looked down at it and hit the silence button.

  “She calling to see if you are breaking up with me,” Blessings asked. She knew the deal. She just wanted him to be honest with her and keep it one hundred.

  Priest sighed. “I can’t deal with this. I got an apartment. When you start acting like you have some sense, then hit me up.”

  Blessings moved quickly to the bed and grabbed the duffel bag he suddenly reached for. “You are not leaving,” she hissed. “I want you to stay here and tell me the truth. We been around each other for far too long that I know when you are lying, Priest.”

  “What do you want me to say,” Priest asked as he put up his hands. “That me and her are fucking? We not.” Priest looked away when he said that last part. “Now let go of my bag, Blessings.” Blessings shook her head as she held on. Priest grabbed her hand and then stepped forward. Blessings stepped back but then fell on the bed. Priest landed on top of her and Blessings suddenly grabbed his face and gave him a kiss. Priest kissed her back as he sank deeper into her body.

  He placed kisses all over her body, making her shiver. Blessings wrapped her arms around his body as he tore off her pants and eased himself into her. Blessings was already turned on and she welcomed him in without any problems as he went all the way in.

  Priest bit down on his lower lip as he moved slowly in and out of her. The sounds of Blessings moaning in his ear was turning him on as he kept the same pace. The bed creaked with each stroke Priest was giving Blessings as she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, pulling him in deeper.

  “Mm-mm Priest,” Blessings hissed slowly. H
er body was vibrating against his as he brought her to her peak. Blessings closed her eyes as she came. When she opened them, her eyes zeroed in on a small passion mark that was on the base of Priest’s neck. Blessings quickly moved from underneath him.

  “I hope you are happy with her,” Blessings mumbled as she eased back into her pants. She suddenly felt like a two-dollar whore. She easily let him in when she should be mad at his ass. Priest looked at her with confusion written on his face. “You have a passion mark on your neck.”

  Priest got out the bed and tucked his dick back in his pants. “You really tripping, Blessings,” he said as he avoided eye contact with her.

  “I’m tripping? But you the one not looking at me,” Blessings accused. She was starting to become done with the entire situation. Fuck him and that bitch, Blessings thought to herself. “Did you or did you not fuck her?”

  Priest looked away again. “Look at me,” Blessings yelled. Priest looked at her. “Yes or no?”

  “Yes.” Everything around Blessings suddenly turned black. She can feel her blood boiling and just as clear as day, she saw Asha looking at her when they were at the office. Smiling and laughing as if she knew Priest would choose her. Blessings felt like she suddenly been played, and the sex was nothing more than pity sex.

  "I fucking loved you," Blessings screamed. She picked up the vase that was sitting on the nightstand and threw it at him suddenly. Priest moved away just in time as the vase went humming past his ear. Blessings screams again as she collapsed to the floor. She was supposed to be the strong one. The unspoken one. But somehow, he managed to destroy that part of her. The best part of her. She sobbed as she placed her hand over her eyes. "I hate you! You fucking used me."

  Priest tried to walk up to her, but Blessings got up off the floor and backed up. “I just didn’t know what to do. You had a kid and she looked just like you. What did you want me to do, Priest?” Blessings said as she kept rambling on, but she wasn’t thinking straight. All of her thoughts were crashing together, forcing her to go into overdrive. It’s not fair, Blessings said to herself. Priest was one of the best things that happened to her, but she felt like she fucked that up. She put her emotions before his and the minute he needed her, she dropped the ball.