by Jazmyne
“I can’t; I have my man outside waiting for me. And no it isn’t Ace,” Sunshine informed them before anyone could ask.
“Sunshine, he’s welcome to join us too,” Keema stated.
“Okay, let me run out and get him.” Sunshine said, already heading out of the kitchen.
*
J’vion was pissed. However, he tried not to show it. He was angry that Sunshine had him sitting in the car while she was inside mingling with her so called friends.
Sunshine climbed back into the passenger seat. “Sorry it took me so long but they started talking and asking questions,” Sunshine informed him. “They want to meet you.”
“No,” J’vion spoke, shaking his head.
“Why not? I wanna chill with my girls for an hour,” she pouted. “That isn’t long at all.”
“NO! I don’t wanna meet anybody,” J’vion shouted.
“J’vion, I haven’t seen my girls in three years because I was kidnapped and held hostage during that time,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Please, do this one thing for me. I’ll make it up to you later,” she said reaching over and grabbing his dick.
“A’ight,” J’vion agreed as he exited the car.
“Thank you!” Sunshine smiled as she did the same. They walked into Keema’s house hand-in-hand.
*
As soon as J’vion entered the door, he got a bad vibe. He didn’t know if it was him being paranoid or if his gut was telling him something was up. He hated situations like this. He didn’t have his gun on him; he wasn’t even sure if he would need it. This was one of those situations where he’d rather have a gun and not need it versus not having one and needing it. “How long are we gon’ be here?” He whispered in Sunshine’s ear.
“About an hour. Relax, everyone here is cool,” she whispered back.
“I sure hope so.” J’vion thought as they entered the kitchen.
“Hello everyone, this is J’vion.” Sunshine introduced him to everyone in the kitchen.
*
“Did she just say, J’vion?” Boy thought as he looked over to Jay and Boog.
“Did I just hear that correctly?” Jay asked as he got up from his seat and tossed away the last of the blunt he had been smoking.
All three men were sitting on the back porch wondering the same thing.
“We all couldn’t have heard wrong,” Boog said.
Boy stopped Jay. “Not here, my wife and kids are in there,” he commanded.
Jay nodded his head. “I got you mane,” he said as he opened the door and walked inside with Boy and Boog right behind him.
When they stepped into the room, the entire atmosphere changed. The tension was so thick that everyone picked up on it.
“Jay, Boog, oh my, look at you two!” Sunshine said as she went to hug Jay. He stepped to the side and held his hand in the air, preventing any further advancement.
“I don’t fuck with ya kind homey,” Jay retorted.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Sunshine asked. Her feelings were hurt; she had always loved Jay and Boog like brothers. She thought he would be happy to see her alive and well.
“It means I don’t fuck with ya kind,” Jay repeated. “It’s self-explanatory. Neisha we out, let’s roll,” Jay said harshly.
“Jay what’s with you?” Neisha asked. She wasn’t ready to go nor was she ready for her night to end.
“I don’t want you talking to Sunshine anymore,” Jay demanded. He had never been one to bite his tongue.
“Jay, I’m a grown ass woman. You cannot tell me who I can and can’t talk to,” Neisha rebelled, pissed off.
“Ma, you got that. You gon’ be a single, grown ass woman if I find out you talking to her, kicking it with her, or any of that shit,” Jay rebuked. “Out of respect for my big homey, I won’t be fucking shit up tonight. With that being said, I’ma remove myself from the premises. Y’all enjoy the rest of your night. Neisha, you rolling or what?” Jay questioned on his way out the front door.
“Will you all excuse me?” Neisha stated. “I got a nigga to check and put in his place.” She finished as she followed Jay out the front door.
“What just happened?” Sunshine asked confused. Jay had just come at her on some real disrespectful shit for no reason at all.
“I think we should leave,” J’vion advised.
“I think so too. I’m sorry if I ruined anyone’s day,” Sunshine apologized. “Keema, I’ll see you around. We’ll catch up soon love,” she said as she hugged Keema. “Boog, do you have anything you’d like to get off your chest?” Sunshine asked looking into his eyes.
“Just know that eventually, everything that’s done in the dark will come to the light,” Boog admonished and left it at that.
“I know when I’m not wanted; so I’ll leave,” Sunshine alerted everyone.
“It isn’t you that’s not wanted,” Boy said finally joining the conversation as he nodded his head toward J’vion.
“Why…”
“Sunshine, it really doesn’t matter why I’m not wanted here. These are your friends, not mine. So, I respect that,” J’vion answered on their behalf. Sunshine turned to walk away.
“Boom,” Boog said as he used his fingers as a gun, acting as if he was pulling the trigger.
J’vion smiled, “Not if I get you first,” he declared as he followed Sunshine out the door.
Keema knew things had to be bad if Boy didn’t agree with Sunshine’s new man being in the house. She looked at Boy wanting to know what had just occurred.
“I’ll explain it to you later,” he responded to her expression. “Enjoy the rest of your day.” He said as he and Boog also exited through the front door.
*
“What the fuck is your problem?” Neisha asked as she climbed into the passenger seat of the car.
“You’ve never questioned me about what I said before. Why are you doing it now?” Jay answered with a question of his own as he started the car and pulled off.
“Why did you have to come at me like that in front of everyone? And since when did you start telling me who I can and can’t speak to?”
“Neisha, I know Sunshine is your girl and all. Hell, I use to love her like a sister…”
“Use to, when did you stop?”
“When she walked in the door with the fucking enemy,” he snapped. “My nigga struggled with her death for three years. As soon as he thought she was alive, he put his life on the line day in and day out to find her. He’s been in shootout after shootout for her, nursed her back to health, and she walks away with the fucking enemy!” Jay spat pissed off. “Where is the loyalty?”
“I didn’t know,” Neisha apologized.
“You know now and that’s what matters. I love you girl,” Jay declared.
“I love you back,” Neisha countered.
*
Ace had been lounging around the house all day with Aaliyah, Serenity, and Savanna–something he hadn’t done in a very long time. “I could get use to this,” he said as he laid back. They were having movie night.
“You can get use to what?” Aaliyah asked as she snuggled under him. The twins were lying on the floor in front of the TV with a bowl of popcorn.
“Shhh, y’all can’t talk while the movie is on,” Savanna scolded.
“I can get use to days like this. The quiet, time spent with you and my daughters, and having no worries,” Ace whispered. “You know Boy called and invited us over, right?”
“Why didn’t we go?”
“Because, I spend enough time with my homeys as it is. When I’m not running the streets, every chance I get, I’m going to spend with you three,” Ace stated.
“We can still hear you,” Serenity said causing Ace and Aaliyah to laugh. “Daddy you cannot whisper at all,” she said smacking her forehead.
“KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
“What the hell,” Aaliyah said as she began to get up to answer the door.
“Sit down, I’ll answer it,”
Ace said smacking her on the ass.
Ace opened the door to find, Jay and Neisha standing there.
“What brings you this way?” Ace asked as they slapped hands. He hugged Neisha then invited them inside. If Jay drove all the way to see him, something serious was up.
“Neisha, Aaliyah, and the girls are in the living room,” Ace stated before turning his attention to Jay. He entered the kitchen and offered Jay something to drink. “What’s going on?” Ace asked after Jay declined a drink.
“Sunshine,” Jay answered taking a seat.
“What about her?” Ace asked sitting across from his homey.
“I know you said you two are over. I respect that but after tonight, I have no respect for her whatsoever,” Jay declared shaking his head. “You know I build all my relationships off of trust, love, and loyalty.”
“What happened?”
“Mane, her ass gonna have the nerve to walk in Keema and Boy’s house with this nigga, J’vion,” Jay spat. “You already know what I wanted to do but because Boy asked me to be easy, I left.” He finished.
“Hold up, what the fuck did you just say?” Ace questioned. He couldn’t have heard Jay correctly.
“Nigga, you heard me. Shawty walked in the door with this nigga like everything was cool. I wanted to split both her and his shit back,” Jay answered truthfully. “I couldn’t even look in this nigga’s face; I wanted to do him something dirty.” Ace closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. He knew Sunshine didn’t know who J’vion was or the motives behind his actions. Even so, she was dead wrong. “Not only did she downgrade from a boss nigga, but she’s also fucking with the enemy,” Jay snapped.
“Thanks for the heads up,” Ace said as he slapped hands with his day-one nigga.
“Anytime, I’ma holla at you! One bruh,” Jay said as he prepared to leave. “Neisha, we out,” Jay called out as he headed for the door.
*
“So how was the kickback?” Aaliyah asked Neisha.
“Girl, it was going fine until Sunshine walked in with her new nigga,” Neisha informed her.
“Sunshine’s dating someone else?” Aaliyah asked with a surprised look on her face.
“Yes, it was about to go down, which is why we’re here now.”
“Damn, I didn’t even know things between Sunshine and Ace was that bad,” Aaliyah replied a little pissed off that she had to find out by someone other than Ace.
“Girl, that isn’t the half of it. She’s dating some nigga named J’vion who’s apparently the enemy.
“Did you say, J’vion?” Aaliyah asked. Neisha nodded in the affirmative.
“Why, do you know him?”
“J’vion’s my ex and the same nigga who shot up the restaurant when Ace and I were on an outing with the twins.”
“DAMN!” Neisha gasped as she stood. Jay was calling for her. “If you need me, call me anytime,” she advised as they embraced in a hug.
“Thanks, I will,” Aaliyah said.
“Aaliyah, I’ll be back,” Ace told her on his way out the door. Aaliyah wanted to chase after him but understood it was something he had to do.
*
Sunshine didn’t know how many times she had apologized to J’vion before he dropped her off at home. She hadn’t expected everyone to react the way they did when she introduced him. She was still trying to figure out what Boog meant when he said everything that’s done in the dark will come to the light. J’vion kept saying all was well. Yet, she knew otherwise. She was pissed with herself for putting him in that situation. Lying across the couch, she dialed his number. J’vion rejected her call, sending her to his voicemail.
“J’vion, I don’t know how many times you want me to apologize, but I’m sorry. I would never intentionally put you in an uncomfortable situation. Please call me back.” Sunshine pleaded as she disconnected the call.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The banging on the front door scared her; she slowly got up to answer. She cracked the door to find Ace standing there. She already had a pretty good idea as to why he was there.
“What do you want?” She asked. “I thought I told you it was over?”
Ace ignored her as he stepped inside. “So now you’re fucking with the enemy?” Ace asked straight up.
“Ace, what are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about J’vion!” Ace yelled. “Sunshine, I respect that you’ve moved on. What I can’t and don’t appreciate is you sleeping with the enemy,” Ace spat. Sunshine was taken aback.
“Why are you so mad that I’m dating?”
“Sunshine, I don’t give two fucks that you’re dating. It pisses me the fuck off that you’re dating my fucking adversary. That’s where my problem lies,” Ace shouted. “You’re dating the mothafucka who shot up a restaurant OUR daughters were in. A mothafucka who shot up the house I was raising OUR daughters in. The VERY same mothafucka who was in the house on the night I came and saved you!” Ace howled; he was livid.
“Ace, you’re just mad that I no longer wanna be with you!” Sunshine yelled. Ace stepped up and tapped on her forehead.
“Sunshine, you can’t be that fucking naïve. I could never be mad that you moved on. I’m happy for you and wish you nothing but the best. But J’vion isn’t who you wanna move on with,” Ace reprimanded her. “That nigga don’t give a damn about you. All he’s looking for is revenge. He’ll get it anyway he can, which includes using whoever he thinks is close to me!” Ace barked.
“Fuck you, Ace!” Sunshine retorted. “You don’t ever have to worry about me or what happens to me again. You got a bitch at home with you. Worry about her and let me live my life,” she yelled.
“You got that. Just know I tried to warn you,” Ace counseled as he turned then left.
“Yeah, well fuck you and your warnings. I’ll take my chances,” Sunshine spat. “I took my chances with you and look where it got me. Kidnapped and held hostage for three years. There isn’t much more that can happen to me.” She ended as she slammed then locked the door. “Fuck Ace!” She thought in her feelings. Sunshine opened the door, “J’vion is about something. He ain’t no street nigga; he’s above all that. He’s a business man who will be graduating with a Master’s degree in business in a year. That says a lot about him! Don’t you think?” She fired off before slamming the door again.
“Sunshine, I schooled you better than that. For you to believe that bullshit ass, good-boy story he told you, is un-fuck-ing believable on your part.” Ace declared as he continued to his car. “You didn’t survive those three years to go out like some weak, naïve, lost, little girl. You better wake up and pay attention before it costs you everything, including your fucking life!” Ace came back as he climbed into his car then pulled off, leaving tire marks and smoke behind.
Chapter 14
Aaliyah was in the kitchen popping popcorn, getting ready for girls’ night with Savanna and Serenity. Tonight was a pizza and junk food evening. Aaliyah had been eating a lot lately; especially since she found out she was four weeks pregnant. She was excited but hadn’t gotten around to telling Ace.
“Aaliyah, someone’s at the door,” Serenity alerted her, running into the kitchen.
“What did I tell you about running in the house?” She asked. “Don’t say you’re sorry; just don’t do it anymore,” she scolded as they headed for the door together.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Aaliyah yelled. “Who is it?”
“Sunshine,” was the reply from the other side of the door.
“Sunshine?” Aaliyah thought with a bewildered expression. She quickly unlocked then opened the door. When the door opened, she found herself face-to-face with Ace’s wife, Sunshine. Aaliyah couldn’t believe she was standing at her front door.
“What are you doing here?” Aaliyah questioned as she stepped aside to permit Sunshine to enter.
“I won’t be long,” Sunshine stated as she stepped inside. Aaliyah closed the door behind her then esco
rted her into the kitchen.
“Can I offer you anything to drink, eat, anything?” Sunshine shook her head no.
Serenity tapped Aaliyah on her leg as she hid behind her. “Yes, baby?” She asked as she looked down to see what she wanted.
“I know who that is,” Serenity whispered.
“You do, who is she?” Aaliyah asked.