by A'zayler
He’d blown money on a few women in the past in attempts to initiate some sort of relationship, but it never worked. He’d even let his guard down completely with one woman in particular, and that had been the worst decision of his life. All it left him was a broken heart and a bruised ego. All through high school, he was the ugly homeboy who could dress. After being turned down enough times, being picked last enough times, or getting left out every time there was a group hangout session with women, he became reclusive.
As time passed, not only did Killian begin to stick to himself, but he grew angrier as well. To see the rest of his friends pulling women left and right made him jealous, and that was the one thing he didn’t like. His mother hadn’t raised that kind of man, so the moment he felt the envy and jealousy, he shut himself off to prevent further ill feelings from surfacing.
Onyx and Gabrion were the only people that Killian allowed in his life, and that was only because he could tell that they loved him for real. No matter what, they never allowed Killian to get down on himself or fall too far into his feelings. They were constantly setting him up with women or pushing him off to do more than be a female’s side nigga.
Killian had grown accustomed to the secrecy and hidden lies of life that the women he dealt with pushed off on him. It had taken him a while to open up enough to even consider it, but once he saw how much easier it was to spend money, have sex, and send them back to their men, he actually began to prefer it. Reagan was a small exception to the rule because he’d actually allowed himself to form small feelings for her, which was the biggest irritant in his life right then. He had to hurry up and shake that.
Onyx tapped Killian’s shoulder after stopping next to him. “What you over here thinking about? Face tore up like hell.”
Killian laughed. “About how much I don’t love these hoes.”
“Your ass better start trying before you turn into a bitter old man.”
“I’ll be that. At least I’ll have all my coins.”
“No, the fuck you won’t. Not the way you blow bread on these bitches.”
Killian shrugged. “I got it, so I spend it. I don’t really care about that. What I ain’t doing is giving these hoes my heart like your punk ass.”
“You need to.”
“Fuck no.” Killian’s face frowned instantly.
Onyx shook his head at Killian as they walked out of the store after buying nothing. The mall was crowded with people making their way in and out of stores. Killian and Onyx swaggered out coolly, making sure not to get ransacked by the rowdy, shopping teenagers and their parents. Done shopping for the day, they decided to leave.
Once outside, Killian and Onyx made their way to Killian’s matte red Audi. Its sexiness was magnified in the run-down mall parking lot. All of the Hondas, Saturns, and other low-priced cars looked like Cracker Jack toys compared to the second love of Killian’s life. His mother, Lily, being the first.
“Nigga, where your car at?” Killian questioned when he noticed Onyx pulling at his passenger door.
“Jay dropped me off. She was about to come in with me, but after I saw your car, I told her she could just leave.”
“Don’t be doing that shit. I could have had something else to do.”
Onyx gave Killian a knowing look before twisting his mouth to the side and sliding in the car.
Cool leather seats the color of coal met their backs as they slid in and made themselves comfortable. The calm engine was immediately drowned out by the blaring music blasting from Killian’s trunk. The sound of Kevin Gates’ raspy voice took over the expensive car, drawing attention from everybody within a few feet of them.
“Aye, bruh, cut that down for me real fast.” Onyx nodded toward the music while answering his ringing phone. “What’s going on, beautiful?”
Killian cut his eyes at Onyx with a smirk on his face. “Whipped ass nigga,” he whispered.
Onyx waved him off and continued his conversation. “Oh, damn, I did forget.” Onyx looked over at Killian with a wide grin on his face. “Nah, it’s okay. I got Killian with me anyway, and I think Gabrion said he was pulling up later. All of us should be pulling up in a few minutes… Nah, you know how that nigga be… Yeah… He ’bout to go off.” Onyx burst into laughter while still holding his phone. “At least Gabrion is cool. Kill finna show his ass.”
“Aye, you and Jaylen need to cut that shit out. Y’all always clowning.”
“Jay, you should hear this nigga now, baby. He already whining.” Onyx playfully tapped Killian’s shoulder. “My baby said don’t be such a stick in the mud.”
Killian laughed. “Man, go ’head. You and Jay’s ole proper talking ass is always plotting on me. I have to stay on the defense when it comes to y’all.”
“Yeah, baby, he’s starting already, but he’ll be okay.” Onyx continued his conversation while Killian drove.
He bobbed his head to the music while driving. It wasn’t as loud as he liked to listen to it, but he could still hear it. The lights from the various restaurants lit up the street as he passed them. The atmosphere was cool, not too many cars on the road, but enough to irritate Killian when the light changed. He blew the horn at the car in front of him. The green light shined through his windshield, so he knew the car in front of him had to have seen it as well.
“Kill, you really need to loosen up some, man. Your ass be frowning ninety-nine percent of the time. Life really ain’t that bad.”
“I’m sure it ain’t for a successful pretty-boy.”
Onyx chuckled at Killian’s sarcasm. “Nigga, you’re a trainer with your own damn gym for God’s sake. You got the same two degrees I have, the same amount of money I have, probably more, and you could have a plethora of hoes if you weren’t so mean to women all the time.”
Killian was quiet before laughing. “Bitches just make me sick.”
“I’m sure the feeling is mutual after they meet you.”
“For real. They’re always doing stupid shit. Look at the stunt Reagan just pulled. You can’t be nice to women. They run over you.”
“That’s because you let them. You talk hard to me, then be water under these female’s feet when they come around.”
Killian smiled mischievously. “I’m only like that when I’m getting the pussy.”
“Stop getting pussy then because it’s kryptonite to your pockets.”
Laughter rolled from their lips easily as they continued making jokes and riding. Killian had made it a habit of laughing through the pain. The truth of the matter was, he didn’t have the confidence to step to the good women that Onyx was constantly telling him about.
The women with their shit together were always too pretty, and it was easier to just stay away. Ratchet, ugly hoes would let you do anything to them. They didn’t care about life as long as you bought them the new Jordans with an outfit from the hair store to match.
When they finally pulled into the parking lot of Onyx and Jaylen’s spot, there were two cars in the driveway next to Jaylen’s. One he knew to be her best friend, Sheena’s, the other he’d never seen before.
“Who Jaylen got at y’all spot this time of night?”
“Sheena, and Jay’s cousin that just moved down here from North Carolina. She got a new job somewhere in the city. I had forgotten all about her coming.”
“She’s staying with y’all the whole time?”
Onyx nodded. “Yeah, while she looks for an apartment. She ain’t really got nobody down here, so she decided to come chill with Jaylen until she gets her own spot.”
“Don’t look like I’ma be over here that much then. It’s bad enough Sheena’s ass is always around.”
Their laughter resumed as they exited the car.
“You’re tripping, but she’s cool people. Nothing like Sheena. Her and Jaylen Facetime every night, so I’ve gotten to know her. She’s funny. Kind of mean, like you, but she’s cool. She ain’t walking around with her nose tooted up like Sheena’s fat face ass.” Onyx was walking up th
e stairs but stopped in his tracks. “You know what, this might be a good thing. Two mean people should be able to handle each other, right? Because Jay’s cousin is mean as shit.” Onyx fell over into laughter again.
Killian’s head shook adamantly. “Get the fuck on, don’t even start that shit nih.”
Onyx pushed the door to his home open with Killian in tow. Bright lights and loud music greeted them as soon as they entered.
“I should have taken my ass home. I knew you and Jaylen were plotting.”
“Ain’t nobody trying to make you marry the fucking girl, just get you some conversation and pussy. How hard can that be?”
“Hard as hell,” Killian mumbled when his eyes landed on Sheena in the corner with her phone trained on Jaylen and the girl he assumed to be her cousin. They were in the living room dancing on top of the coffee table.
Well, really it was just her cousin dancing. Killian didn’t know what in the world Jaylen was doing. She couldn’t dance for shit. Cousin, on the other hand, was getting with it. She was kind of tall to be a woman, but very petite, with a gorgeous ass face. Her hair was long and hung over her shoulders as she rolled her slim body to the Beyoncé joint that had all the women wanting to dance for their man.
Killian’s eyes trailed from her exposed stomach up to the small breasts tucked neatly in her cropped top. The gold chain she had wrapped around her body went up around her neck and stopped just above the dark jeans she wore. With just one look, Killian could tell she wasn’t his type. She was too pretty. Everything about her was neat and well put together. From the gold jewelry she wore, to the long, colorful nails on her hands.
Killian wasn’t even about to hurt his own feelings pushing up on her. He’d done that too many times in the past, trying his luck with women he knew were out of his league.
“Babe!” Jaylen screamed and ran to Onyx. Her body was wrapped around his as soon as she’d gotten close enough to jump.
Jaylen was tall as well, easily six-foot-one, beautiful, bright smile, long hair, and big eyes that made her look like a female deer. Her height fit her thick frame well. She had just enough of everything to balance out her height and shape, which worked perfectly for Onyx since he was tall as hell too.
He and Killian both were. Killian being three inches taller than him at 6’6”. That was one other thing that worked in Killian’s favor. Women loved tall niggas, but that wasn’t the answer to it all. They still never gave his ass any real play.
“Practicing your moves for me?” Onyx whispered to her, but Killian had heard him.
Jaylen’s light-colored face turned a little red as she smiled and nodded her head at him. Her eyes were on Onyx’s for only a moment before her lips nearly sucked his from his face. For anyone other than Killian, their public display of affection might have caused some discomfort, but he was over it. Whenever they were close to each other, they were either all hands or all lips.
“Can y’all please!” Sheena practically yelled in annoyance.
Killian’s nose turned up immediately. He hated her hating ass. Anytime she had the chance to hate on somebody, that was what she did. It didn’t matter who it was, she always had something to say. Jaylen was nothing like her, and because of their differences, Killian couldn’t understand how their friendship was so tight. It didn’t matter what Onyx and Jaylen did, she had something ill to follow it.
Killian had learned a long time ago that was their lover’s language, so he paid it no mind. Much like then, he was moving around them and headed into the living room. Cousin was no longer on the table. She’d moved to the sofa and sat down with one leg crossed over the other.
As quiet and smooth as a lion, Killian walked to the large chair in the corner and sat down. Versus sparking any type of conversation, he pulled his phone from his pocket and began checking his notifications. The only things he had were new coupon emails from a couple of the shoe stores he frequented and inquiries from new clients. Killian wasn’t surprised in the least. He didn’t talk to people socially, so people didn’t talk to him. Reagan had hit him up once, but that was it.
His social media was always jumping because he knew everybody, and everybody knew him because of how prominent his gym, The Knockout was, but other than that, he didn’t associate directly. Every so often he’d post a new picture, some client results, or some lyrics from a Gates song, but nothing major enough to be recognized amongst anybody with over a few hundred friends or followers.
“Hey, friend.”
Killian lifted his head to the sweet voice in front of him. It was young and almost too soft for her to be a full-grown woman. His dark eyes met her lighter ones. Her face was just as radiant as Jaylen’s and a bit calmer as she stared at him. Though he didn’t know her very well, he could tell there was something going on with her. There was something about her eyes that looked a little unhappy. Killian wasn’t sure what it was, but he could definitely tell it was something. That wasn’t his problem, though.
“Oh, you don’t talk, friend?”
Her head tilted to the side some as she looked from the fresh sneakers on his feet, up his crisp Robin jeans, to the black and gold Patriots baseball jersey and distressed denim jacket he was wearing.
“Don’t waste your time on rude ass. He never opens his mouth.” Hating ass Sheena spoke for him.
Killian’s face frowned as he shot a disgusted look her way. A good cussing out was on the tip of his tongue for her, but he’d save it. If he said anything to her right then, he’d probably end up snatching that raggedy ass sew-in out of her head, so he’d chill. But if she kept testing him, her ass was grass.
“Is that true, friend?” Cousin smiled at him again.
The twinkle in her eyes shimmered a little more as they continued to the heavy gold chain around his neck, the gold Rolex on his wrist, and the shiny diamonds in his ears. Killian wasn’t moved in the least. Women were always drooling at the materialistic stuff he had going on, but that was as far as they went.
His appearance gave away his financial wealth, which eventually led them to pursue him for his money. Cousin didn’t look to be any different. If that was the case, then Killian was good on her too. He’d had enough women running through his money to last a lifetime.
When her eyes finally reached his again, she smiled. “You too cool to speak to me?”
Killian sat back in his seat and looked away from her. Not bothering to offer her any words. Onyx and Jaylen were still in pretty much the same position except now she was back on her feet. She was still practically glued to him but was slowly pulling herself away.
When she finally came to her senses and realized she had company, she turned around to face her guests. Killian smirked at her because she had the nerve to look ashamed.
“Don’t be looking crazy now. Hot ass.” Killian’s voice was smooth and deep.
“Be quiet, Kill. You know how I am about my man.”
Onyx’s arm wrapped around her waist from behind as his head rested comfortably on her shoulder. His smile was just as mischievous as Jaylen’s.
“Don’t pay Mr. Lonely no mind.”
Jaylen smirked. “I’m not.”
“You shouldn’t. I ain’t nobody.” Killian shrugged playfully.
“Sure the fuck ain’t.”
“You surely are not.” Sheena and Cousin cosigned at the same time.
Killian didn’t bother to look Sheena’s way but gave Cousin his full attention as she stood to her feet and switched past him, grabbing the half-empty bottle of Crown Apple from the table along the way.
“Nigga can’t even open his mouth to speak but got the nerve to be talking about somebody else.”
Killian’s eyes trailed over her slowly while Onyx and Jaylen fought their laughter. He wasn’t bothered as much as he was surprised. Though Onyx had mentioned her mean streak prior to coming into the house, she had been giving off a totally different vibe since he’d come into the living room. Something along the lines of niceness. Obviously, his si
lence had rubbed her the wrong way.
“Jaylen, get your cousin, and Sheena, don’t start tonight.”
Sheena rolled her eyes and shot him a bird without looking up from her phone. Cousin, on the other hand, turned around and rolled her eyes after placing her hand on her microscopic hip.
“I’m right here. You get me.”
Killian frowned as he looked her up and down. “Care your lil’ skinny ass on, nih.”
What did he say that for? Cousin took off toward him as if she was really about to do something. Jaylen was out of Onyx’s grasp and snatching her backward almost immediately. Killian chuckled nonchalantly as he ran his hand over the bottom of his face.
“You ain’t got to hold her back. She ain’t gon’ do shit. Let her go.”
“East, calm down, girl. Killian just likes to talk junk. He’s harmless.” Jaylen’s attempt to calm her cousin down was hilarious to Killian.
East.
He loved the name, halfway even loved the passion she had in her, but would beat her ass like she stole something if she put her hands on him.
“East,” Onyx’s voice was next.
After hearing him, Killian could no longer hold in his laughter. “Y’all can’t seriously think this li’l bitty ass girl can do something to me.” He looked from a smiling Jaylen to Onyx. “I know like hell y’all ain’t serious right now.”
“Unlike your black ass, they know me.”
Killian’s eyes went to her. Yeah, he loved that passion. He loved even more that her first insult to him wasn’t calling him ugly. He was used to that; he’d been ugly his whole life, and that was the one joke that he’d grown accustomed to. Although in certain ways, and on certain days he still allowed it to bother him, the joke was old. It was overused, and it was the main thing that helped him cut people off so fast.
“So, this is you?” Killian raised his eyebrows at her and waved his hand nonchalantly in her direction. “Because if it is, it doesn’t look like you’re much to know.”