When A Hood Legend Claims It All 2

by Belleza

“Oh my God!” I groaned seeing it was Trina’s car. She got out slamming the door.

  “So this is the cousin you were talking about?”

  Yvette snatched away from staring at me then Trina.

  “Who is she Peter?” Yvette questioned me.

  “Tell your cousin who I am,” Trina exclaimed.

  “Cousin? I’m not his damn cousin.” Yvette looked at me angrily. “Another dumb bitch I–”

  Trina cut her off but swinging on her and they ended up in a big tussle falling on the ground. I managed to get Trina off of Yvette, who shot up from the ground covered in dirt and her hair a mess all over her head.

  “Who’s the bitch now!” she yelled as I held her back from going to attack Yvette again who just looked at her.

  “Your days are numbered! The both of you!” she spat getting into her car and slamming the door before she drove off wildly.

  I knew any chances I had of getting my wife back was now out the window.

  CoCo

  Pulling up to the house that was in the heart of North Philadelphia, I looked around with an unsure face. Gentrification was real in Philly. The house was truly a diamond in the rough and had me second guessing if I even wanted to go through with the showing. For all of that I was better off moving back up Logan with my mother.

  “Something tells me this is going to be a waste of time,” I sighed as Sharita and I got out of her car.

  I had so much to do in my to do list now that my mind wasn’t as foggy from the bliss I was in with Amare. I left Pitt with only a suitcase full of clothes to a hotel and then to Amare’s house, forgetting I no longer had a car or rightfully a place to live.

  Working seven days a week, I barely had time to get myself together. Since I needed to find a place ASAP, I buckled down and only had the shop open for half a day only servicing appointments. It was the slowest day out the week, so I didn’t take that big of loss,

  “Well… Amare did say you can stay,” Sharita chimed which had me cutting my eyes at her.

  “You just like him.”

  “And that’s a fact. I like him for you. He did nothing wrong and a simple conversation is all that it will take to clear the air. The thing is you two are too stubborn to come to terms with that.”

  “Am not. I tried talking to him.”

  “And every smart person knows the worst time to communicate is in the midst of anger.”

  I smiled because Sharita single ass was right. “Well why you ain’t tell me you paid close attention in relationship 101,” I joked.

  “Don’t play with me. You know I’m the worst when it comes to those things but I’m just saying, maybe you’re reacting off emotions right now.”

  “Actually, this is long overdue. The plan was not to leave Pitt to just shack up with another man. That was my issue to begin with, remember?” I looked around. “Not to be uppity, but I don’t think I can pay twelve-hundred-dollars for this.”

  “I’m sure living at ya mama house is free,” she added making me narrow my eyes at her. I loved that woman dearly, but she was not an option. My mom was too invested in my love life as if she was using me to make up for the lack of one she had growing up.

  “You’re not helping. I’m too old to be living with her and that’s not an option. Pitt will just be walking in and out of there like he owns the place.”

  “Listen here young lady, the choice is yours. We can check this place out or go look for something else. We’re running out of options here unless you’re trying to be sharing my bed in my studio.”

  I cracked a smile. “A nice ass studio I may add. Let’s go. We’re here so we might as well give it a shot.”

  “Ms. Moore?”

  Sharita and I turned towards the man that approached us clad in a suit in tie. I quickly took notice that he was good looking as well.

  “Damn, he’s fine,” Sharita murmured reading my mind.

  “Uhm,” I responded.

  He approached us with a smile and an extended hand. “I’m Greg, I’m a part of the management team. I reached out to you when you acquired the property.”

  Up close I surveyed him and he was more beautiful than anything. Golden tanned skin, mocha colored eyes, and a dazzling smile. He was definitely a looker but not really my type. I imagined him sitting in my salon getting a manicure with clear polish coating his nails. The thought made me cringe. I was all for a man taking care of himself, but that was too extreme for me.

  Even if he may not have been as metrosexual as I panned him out to be, he still wouldn’t be my type. My mind and heart was on Amare. As mad as I was with myself about not being upfront and then on top of that his nonchalant behavior, I still wanted him deep down inside.

  “Yes, I remember you,” I responded shaking his hand.

  “Great. Follow me.”

  “You don’t gotta say it twice.”

  Greg laughed, and I shot Sharita’s silly ass a look when she winked her eye at me.

  Once we were inside and Greg was a few feet away heading to the apartment, I pinched her and she jumped dramatically.

  “Behave yourself.”

  “For what? I’m single and so are you, right? If you don’t want him. I’ll take him. These niggas in jeans and Timbs are no good. Maybe this the universe telling me I need a Greg in my life; button down and shiny shoes.”

  With a smirk on my face I shook my head. “Go get em’ tiger,” I encouraged her giggling.

  We walked inside of the apartment and followed Greg as he gave us the specs of each room. I couldn’t even lie and say I wasn’t impressed. Despite being in the ghetto the apartment was worth every penny. Everything was brand new and high quality, making the thousand dollars somewhat worth it.

  As he talked I’ve noticed Greg was staring me right in my face giving me a Colgate smile. I took it as if it was his job to suck up but at length he was going, I had a feeling he was flirting.

  “So what do you think?” Sharita questioned me when he walked off to answer a call.

  “I like it.”

  “Not the apartment. Him.”

  I furrowed my eyebrows. “I’m not here to manhunt. Besides, weren’t you checking for him?”

  “Listen, Greg is fine as fuck, but if he want you, who am I to stand in the way of that?” she argued.

  “Sorry about that, ladies. Are there any questions?”

  Sharita’s slick ass walked off leaving only Greg and I in the living room of the apartment.

  “Um, I will like an application.”

  “Of course.” He opened a folder he had in hand and passed me the packet. “Will it only be you moving in here?” he quizzed passing me the paperwork.

  “Yes.”

  “No children or man?”

  Scrunching my face up, I moved my head slowly from side to side uncomfortable with even answering that question.

  “Today’s my lucky day,” he responded smiling like a Cheshire cat.

  “If you consider lucky being laid up in a hospital, I guess it is.”

  His smile disappeared and my heart felt like it dropped to my feet as my eyes shot open from the sound of Amare’s voice.

  Shit!

  I craned my neck around Greg and at Amare who looked just as calm as he sounded, but his eyes told a different story.

  “Excuse me sir, this is a private showing.”

  “The only thing that’s gonna show is how far I’m knock them veneers down ya throat if you don’t back the fuck up.”

  In my head I prayed he just moved because the last thing I wanted to witness was this grown man get manhandled by Amare.

  Even though he moved, Amare made contact with him knocking him forward a little. Greg balled his face up but fixed it once Amare stood in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest. I’ve witnessed this side of him with Pitt on the receiving end of his cold aggressive glare and knew it wouldn’t end too well if he didn’t comply.

  “Do you know him?” Greg asked me.

  “Yes, can you pleas
e give us a minute?” I asked stepping around Amare hoping to diffuse the situation, quickly.

  Not bothering to respond, he turned around and walked out of the apartment shutting the door behind him.

  Sharita came from the back and opened her mouth more than likely to say ‘hi’ but just one look at Amare’s face and she waved before leaving out as well.

  “So this what you on now?” he spat pointing towards the door.

  “You can’t be serious right now, Amare? Are you stalking me? How the hell did you know I was here?!”

  “Connections,” was all he said walking up to me. “But explain this shit. Why the hell you got this nigga in ya face?”

  I shouldn’t have been livid but I was so turned on and missed him so much. I didn’t think he cared after walking around under the same roof and not saying a word to me.

  “I’m looking for a place to live. That’s not having no man in my face.”

  “I told you, you ain’t have to leave. And that nigga was in ya face cheesing like the Cheshire Cat saying it’s his lucky day. He’s a bitch so I would just slap the shit out of him for that shit.”

  “I can’t believe this,” I mumbled.

  Amare gripped my chin up in his hand and roughly kissed my lips.

  “You better believe it. I don’t play when it comes to mine.”

  I lifted an eyebrow. “I’m yours?”

  “Been mine and that shit never changed. Go ahead and be the reason muhfuckas get bodied.”

  At this point my panties was soaked. Why did he have to look and sound so sexy when he was pissed?

  “I’m yours after you treated me like Casper? You didn’t even give me the chance to explain what really happened.”

  “You’re right, and that’s why I’m here. I miss the shit out of you and I was wrong for giving you the cold shoulder. I could’ve handled that shit in so many ways, but I was focused on not going through the same shit twice.”

  “Me too.”

  “I ain’t that nigga. Never will be and I’m not trying,” he told me taking my hand and pulling me into him.

  My body shuddered when I felt his hands on the waist of my leggings. Pushing them inside, his fingers found my clit and I sucked in a sharp breath trying to stop him even though I didn't want him to.

  “We can’t.”

  “We will,” he mumbled kissing the side of my face. His voice was low, husky and dripping with his longing for me. “I miss the fuck out of you.”

  Squeezing my eyes, memories of our encounter in the club flashed through my mind. “What if he walks in here?”

  “I’ma really beat his ass walking in on you naked.”

  “Oh my God, no. Shit,” I hissed when his finger was dipping in me. I came instantly and before I knew it he had my leggings off and my legs wrapped securely around him riding another wave of a climax in the middle of an empty house.

  ***

  “Why would you scare that man like that? He could’ve called the cops,” I glanced over at Amare who was now cool, calm, and collected as he maneuvered his BMW i8. It drove quiet and smoothly to be so close to the ground and reminded me of a spaceship on the inside with the amount of buttons and a big navigating screen. I had money but it felt like I had no business being in this expensive ass vehicle.

  “I told you this already. That nigga wasn’t trying to rent you a property. He wanted to get some pussy. Did you think I’d be cool with another nigga trying to bag my bitch?”

  My eyebrows snapped together from his choice of words and he laughed pulling across the arm console for a kiss in which I gave but still frowned. “You know what I mean.”

  It was difficult feigning irritation when my entire body was going against me. I missed him a lot.

  “I don’t want to be labeled as no one’s bitch.”

  “Is Mrs. Davis better?”

  A smiled fought hard to spread across my face. I smirked. “So because you think he was trying to fuck me you made sure you got some in the same apartment he tried to rent out to me.”

  Amare ran his tongue over his lips and slid his hand between my legs.

  “Maybe,” he responded laughing because he was petty as hell. If only he knew I wasn’t impressed by Greg at all.

  “Where are we headed?” I asked glancing out the window and seeing we were in another part of the city that was nowhere near his house.

  “Sit back and relax,” he stated.

  I didn’t bother arguing him down because the fucking we did in the apartment had me sleepy. Just as I was about to doze off, he pulled into a cemetery.

  He drove a few feet before pulling over and turning the car off. Pushing a button the doors flipped open and we both got out. After closing his door, he came over and closed mine as well taking my hand in his.

  I silently followed him until we got to a tombstone I assumed had his father’s name on it.

  “Are you okay?” I asked hooking my arms in his.

  “I’m straight. I figured if we gonna do this it’s only fair you know what makes me. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have been half the man that I am now,” he explained.

  “How did he pass?”

  “Suicide He shot himself in the head.”

  My stomach turned from how cold and quick he responded. I took my eyes off his face and stared at the tombstone at the picture of his father. They looked exactly alike and I wondered if Amare’s temper came from him.

  “What was he like?”

  “A great father and husband. Him and my mom had their vices but he made sure he instilled in me that family was everything. He always told me to do what I love and love what I do and make sure I’m the best at it.” He paused. “Once upon a time it was balling. He would pick me up from school with a basket ball in his hand telling me it was time to practice. When I wanted to play with my friends I was balling. I love basketball, but I hated that it took so much of my time. I understand now though. We’d practice for hours into the night everyday doing drills, working out, shooting or playing a one on one. What was just a father and son going through the motions of following through with my passion drew in a crowd. People would come down to the park just to watch us work or to play me. My old man did that shit every day. Once I met Wes and Ken in middle school they joined our ritual as well. That shit lasted all the way until high school.”

  I listened intently how he spoke so highly of his father. It warmed my heart to hear about the love and connection they had especially since I was never given the opportunity to know mine.

  His story about his dad pushing him to the max when it came to basketball didn’t surprise me because he was the star player on Olney’s team. He was great at it and it was no doubt that he would’ve gotten drafted.

  “He told me I was going to go to college and make it to the NBA. He took his own life and our mom checked out on us. Now I’m here. Instead of earning a degree or position in the NBA I earned my stripes in the street.”

  Sighing deeply, he positioned me in front of him and circled his arms around my waist. “Everything happens for a reason. Had I been away balling in college we wouldn’t be here right now.” He kissed my temple. “It would’ve been cool to have my pops. My mom probably wouldn’t have gone A wall, but everything is going well for me.”

  “It’s like fate.”

  “Something like that,” he responded, causing me to look up at him with narrowed eyes. “Come on, let’s go get something to eat. I’ve played ball and slept all day until I decided to pull up on you.”

  “Yeah, I bet. And was about to beat that poor man’s ass.”

  We left and went to this restaurant called Traditions that sold southern style food with a twist. It was a nice sized location that had people waiting to be seated or for take-out orders. Business was doing good.

  I paid close attention to how everyone greeted us and was eager to hold conversation. He held onto my hand securely and introduced me to everyone as his girl as he showed everyone loved back. It took us a whole thirt
y minutes before we were finally able to sit down.

  “You seem important.”

  “Important? If that’s what you want to call it,” he shrugged. “Everybody knows me.

  “And respects you,” I added.

  “That too.”

  “So who’s the special lady?” A man approached our table with two hot plates of food snatching both of our attention.

  “Big Wes, this is my lady, Corryn.”

  The older man placed the food down and greeted me with a warm smile. After doing so he lifted my hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.

  “It’s nice to meet you. I didn’t think I’d ever see the day you bring a beautiful lady around.”

  I blushed from his statement.

  “Aye watch those lips and you speaking as if I bring ugly women around,” Amare shot back at him with his face screwed up.

  Big Wes, released a throaty chuckle. “At the rate you were going, I’d be happy with anything. Ugly or pretty,” he joked making Amare laugh. “Well let me not interrupt. Enjoy your meal. I’ll send Lilly out with some drinks.”

  “Thank you, Big Wes,” I smiled waving. The older man walked off.

  “We got a table while people are still waiting and food without ordering. You must really be important.”

  “That and he is like my peoples. Once I lost my pop he kind of stepped up in a way. That’s Wesley’s father. He runs the place.”

  I nodded my head and dug into the baked Mac and cheese and yams that were on my plate. They both tasted amazing.

  “So… I take it that you haven’t taken anyone serious besides Natalia,” I more so asked deciding to bring up the girl his sister told me about. I held my breath hoping that he wouldn’t get offended, but I felt like this was the best time to ask since he was finally being open with me.

  Amare lifted the napkin and wiped his mouth after demolishing a good amount of his food. The woman who I assumed was Lilly, brought out two glasses of water and a corona on a tray. We both thanked her and he turned the beer up before responding.

  “Pretty much, but she ain’t get this.” He pointed between the both of us. “We were just a high school thing that trickled into our adulthood. I was grinding to pay bills and make sure Amena and I had food to eat, so sitting around in a restaurant wasn’t on my agenda. I had Amena to raise and was still trying to bust moves to make sure we survived. I fucked with her heavy, but she proved she wasn’t to be trusted.”