Upside of Love

by Dominique Thomas

  “Hey, you okay?”

  Billie looked over at Reese as her eyes teared over. She quickly wiped her face and plastered on a fake smile.

  “Yes, I’ll be upstairs if you need me. Where’s Kawan?”

  Reese smiled at Billie.

  “He’s in his room playing Minecraft. Are you really okay? You don’t wanna drink, do you?” she asked.

  Billie quickly shook her head as her brows knitted together. She was thinking about everything but having a drink.

  “No, I swear I’m good. I just need some time alone,” Billie replied and turned on her alarm.

  She then headed for the stairs and rushed into her bedroom. Billie sat at the edge of her large bed with her eyes on the photo of her and Dreux. They were in the DR on a much-needed vacation and at the time had been ridiculously happy. It was before Kawan, before Malachi. They’d both been young and carefree.

  While she never regretted having her son, she missed the days when life was easy. Now it was difficult more times than she’d like to admit and she was having a hard time managing things.

  “I need a break,” she muttered staring at the floor.

  Billie closed her eyes and rubbed at her throbbing temple.

  “God, I know you didn’t bring me this far to leave me. What should I do? Should I leave this house and let him go or do I continue to wait? I don’t know anymore, so I’m giving it to you. Help me,” she pleaded quietly before climbing up the bed.

  With a heavy heart and tired mind, she dozed off to sleep.

  “Are you mad?”

  His jaw clenched as he glared at her. His eyes cast down to the big baby bump, and he snorted. Was he mad? He was fucking furious with her.

  “Tell me what the fuck you think? How the fuck did this shit happen?”

  Billie shrugged. She hung her head low and began to cry.

  “I…I don’t remember, but he said we had sex,”

  Dreux stepped off the door. His eyes blazed with anger as he glared her way.

  “You don’t remember? You was that fucked up?”

  Billie looked up at Dreux and sighed.

  “I wasn’t, but I must have been. I swear I haven’t been back over there since then. I’m sorry Dreux! He showed me the pics and the messages. I know you stayed back to be with her,” Billie cried.

  Dreux’s brows pulled together.

  “With who? Fuck you talking bout Billie?”

  Billie shook her head.

  “Kylie! You're little out of town bitch — the reason why you been playing me to the left. I’ve always loved you and wanted us to be together, and you do me like that? Always placing me in the fucking friend zone and shit. Even after we had sex prom night. How could you play me like that?”

  Dreux sat beside Billie and stared over at her.

  “I don’t love her. It was just something to do. You know I’ll never love another woman the way I love you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry baby,” he apologized before pulling Billie into his arms.

  Soft wet kisses started at the center of her back. Soon a warm hand slid over her smooth ass. She shifted on the bed, and as she sighed with content, his thick member slid into her tight opening. Billie’s eyes shot open as Dreux slowly moved in and out of her. It had been months since she’d felt his thickness stretch her out and her body welcomed the feel of him.

  Her back arched involuntarily as she shook her head.

  “Stop,” she moaned weakly as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

  Dreux sucked on her ear lobe and shoved his tongue into her ear. His hands gripped her waist tightly as he pumped his dick into her sopping wet center.

  “I love you Bethany, and I missed the fuck out of you ma,” he whispered and went so deep into her sex that she gripped the sheets for support.

  Billie refused to respond as Dreux pleasured her affection deprived body.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered again pulling her up. Dreux pulled Billie onto all fours and gripped her neck lovingly. Her head fell back as he slid deep inside of her. “And you love me too. We gone get through this. Okay? You hear me Billie?” he asked and fucked her harder.

  Billie’s eyes watered as she shook her head trying to fight off a release that was coming whether she wanted it to or not. Tears slowly trickled down the side of her face as her sex drenched his member in the best kind of way.

  “That’s it, cum for your nigga,” he murmured and took her body to heights it hadn’t reached in months.

  An hour later Billie rested on her side as sweat drenched her frame. Dreux rested behind her with his hands on her waist. The room reeked of sex and marijuana. Dreux couldn’t stop kissing and rubbing on her as she stared quietly at the wall.

  “I went to my rental property in Atlanta and chilled out there. I needed to get my mind right. Donny ended up flying down and staying with me for a few weeks and shit,” he said lowly.

  Billie frowned at his words.

  “Dreux—”

  Dreux gripped her waist tightly.

  “I gotta first say sorry for how I left you. I was shocked, and that’s not something you can hear and be good off of. You know my mom’s is everything to me. To know that she would do something like that not once but twice fucked me up. We had a sit down in Atlanta with the family a while back before your court date, and shit didn’t go well. I ended up beating Malachi’s ass, and nothing was accomplished. My mom wants to do one this time with just me and Donny, and I guess the nigga you would call my dad, but I don’t know if I’ma make it.”

  Billie nodded with pursed lips. He was talking but saying all of the wrong things.

  “Kylie came by here along with your supposed daughter,” she told him.

  Dreux stopped rubbing on her to grip her hip.

  “How the fuck she know where we live?”

  Billie smiled as her eyes rolled.

  “Malachi brought her. Is that your child Dreux?”

  Dreux slid his tongue across his teeth as he began to rub on her again.

  “Hell no. The only woman I would ever get pregnant is you.”

  Billie nodded.

  “Hmph,” she grunted.

  Dreux hugged Billie from the back, and she could feel his member getting hard again as it pressed against her skin.

  “I’ll take the test for you, and I’ll let that nigga know I don’t play that shit. He was wrong as fuck for bringing her here. How he been treating Kawan since we got him back?”

  We? Billie rolled her eyes once more. Dreux was talking like nothing had changed, and it irked the hell out of her.

  “He hasn’t been treating him like anything. The first time Kawan saw him since the move was earlier. He nor his mom reaches out to me about Kawan. It’s like they’ve wrote him off. Kind of like you did me,” she quipped.

  Dreux turned Billie over and pulled her close to him. His nose flared as he stared into her eyes.

  “I would never write you off. I needed time to process what was happening in my life, but I was coming back. I never said I wasn’t, ma.”

  Billie stared into his eyes intently. Dreux seemed remorseful still it didn’t take away from all the pain he’d caused when he’d abruptly left.

  “But that doesn’t make what you did okay. I needed you there. I was facing him and his mom alone. Without Mickey, I would have been down at the fucking liquor store drinking Christian Brothers. You left me out here bad Dreux so yes, I’m pissed. Orgasms and sweet nothings don’t make what you did okay. We could have been there for one another; instead, you chose to handle it alone. Without me,” she said in an even tone with hurt dripping from her words.

  Dreux sighed. He tried to turn her over again, and she shook her head. Instead, Billie got out of the bed. Dreux pushed the covers back as their bedroom door was pushed open.

  Reese gasped as her eyes connected with Dreux’s semi-hard but still impressive member. She covered her eyes and Dreux frowned as he pulled the cover over his dick.

  “Who the fuck is this?” he ask
ed angrily.

  Billie grabbed her robe as she glared at Reese.

  “Reese you know not to barge into my damn room.”

  Reese shook her head with her eyes still closed.

  “I’m sorry. I thought we were the only people in the house. That lady is back, and this time she has some other women with her. They’re smashing the windows out of your car Billie,” she replied and quickly exited the room.

  “Mannnnn, what the fuck,” Dreux grumbled getting out of the bed.

  Billie shook her head as she put on her pajamas. She watched Dreux throw on black Nike joggers and grab his pistol.

  “Stay in the house I’ma handle this broad,” he replied and walked out of the room.

  Billie exited her room and made sure Kawan was still peacefully resting before finding Reese. Reese was in the guestroom upstairs next to Kawan’s bedroom. A look of fear sat on her pretty face as she held her schoolbook.

  “I’m so sorry Billie! I thought you were alone. Please don’t be mad at me!”

  Billie shook her head. She smiled at Reese as she joined her on the bed.

  “It's cool. He came back a few hours ago. If Kawan wakes up can you make sure he stays in the room?”

  Reese nodded.

  “Yes, of course!”

  Billie smiled relieved that Reese was there. She enjoyed her company.

  “Cool and I know we haven’t spoken about it, but you can stay as long as you want. Also, I think you should call my little sis Normani. She’s older than you but a good person to hang with. She would be good company to keep. I’ll text you her number,” Billie said before leaving out of the bedroom.

  Billie rushed downstairs and found Dreux talking outside with the police. Her brows rose because she knew firsthand how much Dreux hated law enforcement. She tightened her robe as she walked outside.

  “Look I’m not pressing charges. I didn’t even call you muthafucka’s,” Dreux griped as she walked up.

  Billie sighed as she noticed Kylie in the back of the squad car along with two other teary-eyed women. Billie looked over at her car and noticed she was on four flats. Her windshield was completely shattered, and drunk whore was scratched into the side of her car. She swallowed hard as she assessed her damages.

  “I assume you’re the lady of the home. Are you not willing to file charges also? Is this your vehicle?” the ivory colored officer asked turning his attention to Billie.

  Billie looked over at him and nodded.

  “That is my car, and I would like nothing more than to press charges. This woman came to my home earlier, and I asked her not to come back. I see that she did and this time she came with a purpose. This is where my son lives, and I will not place him in the line of danger. Fuck that,” Billie replied ignoring the glare from Dreux.

  The officer nodded.

  “As you should. Let me get your information so you can come down and make a statement,” he replied.

  After speaking with the officer Billie and Dreux went back into their home. Dreux locked up as Billie retreated to the kitchen to start on dinner.

  “Billie you know I don’t fuck around with the police. You already know I’ma handle your car and take care of Kylie. She hyped up on some bullshit, but I feel like that’s all Malachi. Kylie is usually chill. I ain't never seen her do no shit like this before.”

  Billie waved Dreux off. All that was for the birds and irrelevant in her book.

  “All I know is that I will press charges because I told that long-necked hoe not to come her homely looking ass back over here and she did. She also fucked up my car.”

  Dreux licked his lips as he stared over at Billie. Irritation crossed his handsome face before he frowned.

  “And I said I would fix it. All that pressing charges shit is dead.”

  Billie’s head snapped his way as her brows furrowed.

  “That doesn’t matter! She shouldn’t have done the shit, and now her ass is going to pay. What you need to worry about is taking a fucking DNA test nigga. That’s what the fuck you need to be doing Dreux instead of rallying for that hoe. If you keep on talking about this shit I’ma think you got feelings for this bitch, so you need to stop now,” Billie warned him speaking to him in a way like she never had before.

  It felt weird because they’d always shown each other the utmost respect, but Dreux was pushing buttons that had never been touched before by him. Billie felt the need to go in defense mode and let him know what was up. He didn’t get to call the shots if he wasn’t making her happy. At the moment his ass was in the doghouse so how he felt about shit didn’t matter.

  “Wow, since when you start talking to me like that? That shit was mad disrespectful,” he said looking hurt by her tone and choice of words.

  Billie ignored Dreux as she cut her oven on.

  “The way you’ve been acting is mad disrespectful,” she said lowly.

  “Let’s go talk real quick. This shit right here is for the birds. We not bout to be handling each other like this, baby. I just wanna love on your beautiful ass. A nigga could never get used to talking with you like that,” he grumbled.

  He took a step towards her and Kawan walked into the kitchen all smiles. He ran over to Dreux and hugged him tightly. Dreux stopped frowning to smile down at Kawan. He rubbed his back as he chuckled.

  “Hey, lil dude! Tomorrow we hanging tough. We hitting up the barber shop then we gone shoot some hoops and grab some sneakers. Even go to the arcade. Okay?”

  Kawan let him go and nodded with a big grin on his face. Billie hadn’t seen him look so happy in weeks.

  “Y-es!” he yelled and rushed out of the kitchen.

  Billie’s face fell as she stared at her sons retreating back.

  “No love for momma,” she frowned.

  “I got some love for you. Let’s go upstairs so I can give it to you,” Dreux said walking up behind her.

  Billie ignored the tingles his touch gave her body. She shook her head as she grabbed the pasta from her cabinet.

  “Sorry, Dreux I really don’t have the time. When I’m free I’ll let you know,” she replied casually.

  Dreux sucked his teeth. He went back to the island and watched Billie intently cook dinner. Once she was done, she made herself along with Kawan a plate and left out of the kitchen. Billie grabbed the mail as she headed for the table and the lettering on the bright pink envelope caught her eye.

  You are cordially invited to the baby shower of Novah and Durand. This is a Royale baby in the making.

  “What the fuck?”

  Billie had never in her life been so offended. She sat Kawan’s plate on the table in the dining room and before she could call his name he came racing into the room. He smiled at her before sitting down. Dreux strolled into the room minutes later with his plate and a frown marring his face. He sat beside Billie and picked up the envelope.

  “Novah pregnant? What the hell,” he grumbled and sat it back down.

  “Pr-ay, pr-ay,” Kawan managed to say and smiled.

  Billie nodded while grinning at her son. He was a ball of energy, but that was what she loved most about him.

  “I could be dead or in jail like a lot of people I know, but you spared me. I have a lot of things in life, but the best blessings you ever gave me was Billie and Kawan. As long as I have them, Lord, I’m good. Bless this food and the beautiful woman that prepared it. Amen,” Dreux prayed with his head bowed.

  Kawan nodded holding his head down in prayer.

  “M-en,” Kawan mumbled before digging into his food.

  Billie cut her eyes at Dreux before opening the letter. Usually, she prayed and while she loved that he’d taken the initiative to do the praying she wanted it to be real. She hoped he wasn’t trying to use the Lord to get on her good side. Billie turned her attention back to the invite as her men chomped away on the food.

  “Quinn and Erin. Damn, wow,” she murmured.

  Billie felt left out. It was a terrible feeling to be on the outside looking in when
it came to your best friend. She should have been throwing the shower. This was the girl they’d always spoke about yet she wasn’t. She was receiving an invite like everyone else when she wasn’t like the rest. She was different shit would this even be her God child? Or would that honor go to Quinn as well?

  “I see everybody that I thought was down for me is on some other shit,” she mumbled sitting the envelope down.

  Dreux stared at her but said nothing as he began to eat his food. Ten minutes in Reese walked in timidly with her own plate. She wore big pajamas with a clay mask on. She smiled as she sat beside Kawan at the table.

  “I’m Reese. I’m so sorry about what happened. I thought she was alone and I swear that will never happen again,” she said looking at Dreux.

  Dreux stared at Reese with his brows knitted. Billie watched him hard praying he didn’t be mean to Reese.

  “Be nice, Dreux,” she mumbled giving Reese a warm smile.

  Dreux shook his head. He brushed a hand over his unkempt curly taper that still appealed to Billie’s senses and cleared his throat. His almond-shaped eyes softened as he looked Reese’s way.

  “You good just chill out on the walking into my room without knocking shit. Billie your sponsor, right?”

  Reese nodded as Billie watched her visibly relax.

  “Yes, and she’s like the big sister I never had. I look up to her so much!”

  Dreux nodded. He leaned over and pulled Billie to his side. Billie played it cool because Kawan was looking and kept a fake smile on her pretty face. Dreux kissed her cheek softly, and she quickly pulled away from him.

  “I look up to her too. Nobody else can do this life shit like Billie can. She definitely my superwoman and shit,” Dreux said sincerely.

  Billie rose from the table with her plate in her hand.

  “I’ma take a shower and call it a night,” she said before leaving the room.

  Dreux could play like things were cool all he wanted, but the fact of the matter was they weren’t, and Billie wasn’t going to let him off easy. She wasn’t sure what she needed from him, but his half-ass apology and lazy sex wasn’t it.