My Baby Is a West Coast King

by Shvonne Latrice

  I was gonna try to turn down my crazy, but I think me being obsessed with my man had me acting worse than before.

  Erynne Ingland

  Sunday afternoon…

  Today was the video shoot for the Hunnit Boyz and I was nervous out of my mind. I think it was a combination of reasons why, mainly that I’d never been in a music video, and that I would see Chaz today.

  I wasn’t as comfortable around men as I liked to pretend, and the only person that knew that was Laine. She always tried to get me out of my shell to date and stuff, and I had but it usually never went anywhere. Just recently I’d started building my confidence with the opposite sex, and I admit it was refreshing, making me want to see what other men the world had to offer.

  However, despite all that, I was still a wreck when I came in contact with an attractive man, especially one that looked like Chaz Benjamin. And on top of him being fine as hell, his personality was far from warm, just like Mischief, so that had me on edge too.

  “Come on or you’re gonna be late and you don’t want that!” Laine beat on the bathroom door.

  This house she lived in was beautiful. Her bedroom and bathroom that she shared with Cassie, were both large and fixed up with the best of the best. I was gonna miss staying here, because my apartment back in Chicago couldn’t hold a candle to this place.

  “What do you mean I’m gonna be late. Aren’t you coming?” I snatched the door open to see Laine standing there, with Cassie behind her, texting.

  “I am coming, Cassie and I both, but you’re the only one in the video.”

  “Right, okay, how do I look?”

  “Beautiful like always, now please let’s go.” She lifted my purse towards me along with the bag I’d packed, to change after the shoot.

  We left out and piled into the Lexus, before Cassie sped from the mansion. The video was being shot at some home on Manhattan Beach. Chaz said it was a beautiful beach house that his aunt and uncle owned. I was excited to see it because I’d never been in a damn beach house, but I’d seen them on television all the time.

  We made it to the home, which looked like it was made of pure glass and windows only. There seemed to be a nice amount of people here, coming in and out, some carrying equipment and others with red cups in their hands. I saw a few girls coming and going, some hanging out front, staring down at the car Cassie, Laine, and I were in.

  I sighed because it reminded be of being back home, where girls hated me and made fun of me because I looked Asian but had a deep mocha complexion with full lips and a slim thick frame. I later learned it was because their boyfriends or crush wanted to smash me and they were jealous, but dealing with that hatred was still not a fun time.

  “Let’s go,” Cassie parked in the short driveway and cut the car off.

  The three of us climbed out, and it was like time froze. The girls standing outside smoking weed, stopped to watch us walk up, while whispering something to one another just as we approached the wide-open front door.

  “Are you Mischief’s girlfriend?” the front-runner asked, allowing the blunt between her fingers to damn near burn out.

  “You know the answer already, or else you wouldn’t even be asking,” Laine replied as the three of us slipped into the house.

  We spotted the brothers in the kitchen, along with their cousin Ishmael. All four of them were handsome as hell, and you couldn’t really go wrong with any of them. However, I found Chaz the most interesting and appealing, with his deep caramel skin, low-cut beard and mustache. He was extremely tall, just like Laine had said, and built like a muthafucka. He wasn’t super muscular like a body builder or wrestler, but you could tell he was in shape. He had no tattoos, which I found to be attractive since it was so uncommon. Then again, maybe he had them in places I hadn’t seen yet… I mean places I hadn’t seen. What am I talking about yet?

  “Welcome, ladies,” Chaz’s eyes landed on me, as Cassie, Laine, and I walked into the open kitchen. Laine and Mischief immediately embraced and started kissing, forcing the guys to groan.

  “You look nice, Cassie, wanna be in the video?” Kordell grinned. “It’s a sex scene.” Cassie rolled her eyes but you could see the smile embedded in her face.

  Chaz and I made awkward eye contact since I caught him staring at me, but then we both looked away at the rest of the people. He was so weird and he was making me act the same.

  “Kordell, tie this for me,” one of the bitches from outside walked in, purposely allowing her bikini top to fall while pretending she was trying to catch it. Desperate was an understatement.

  “You didn’t introduce us to your girlfriend, Mischief,” the front-runner from outside said, taking a pull on the roach in her hand.

  “Because you clearly already know who she is.”

  “We don’t know her name though.”

  “Don’t need to. Only person that needs to know her name is me.” Mischief led Laine out of the kitchen by her hand, and into the large living area.

  “Alright, can we get this shit started, a nigga is hungry… and not for food,” Kordell said the last part lowly, playfully licking his lips at Cassie who hit him in the stomach before walking off. He followed behind her like a puppy, eyes glued to her ass.

  “Ready?” Chaz looked down at me, eyes scanning my face.

  “Yeah, of course.” He smelled so good but looked even better.

  After four long hours of shooting, we were finally done. Ishmael had hired caterers, so they brought food for everybody to enjoy. The video was basically a house party theme, and I was of course Chaz’s love interest. And even though Kordell offered Cassie the role, she declined so he used this other girl. The whole time, Cassie was dogging her, clearly jealous. She needed to quit acting like she didn’t like Kordell because no one believed it.

  At the moment, the shoot had become an actual house party. More people had shown up, guys and girls, and everyone was having a good time smoking, drinking, dancing, and conversing. Some people had even gone out to the beach to swim, since it was right out front.

  “Have you seen the beach?” Chaz walked up to me as I grabbed one of the many salads Ishmael had ordered from the Subway.

  “Not up close, just from afar.”

  Relax, Erynne.

  “You can’t come to Sunny California and not witness the beach. Even if it is a bit dark out, it’s still nice to look at.”

  “But it’s cold out there.”

  “I got a jacket for you.” He pulled his hoodie off and extended it to me. I inhaled his cologne as I tugged it down over my body. It came almost to my knees because of how tall he was, and swallowed me because of his build.

  “Lookin’ like a little gangsta and shit,” he grinned, before taking my hand and leading me outside of the house. I looked back at Laine who had her eyes bucked playfully, making me laugh.

  Chaz and I walked down to the beach, passing a few restaurants and the beach parking lot. The sand was cold as hell, making me wish I hadn’t taken my shoes off before stepping onto it. We found a spot to sit, and I was glad I had on jean shorts and not a skirt, because we had no blanket.

  It was quiet between the two of us for a minute as we stared at the waves, some crashing in abruptly and others more smoothly. It was relaxing honestly, and for a moment I got lost in my thoughts while watching them.

  “Did you have fun?” Chaz asked, breaking the silence. He was sitting with his knees propped up and his feet planted flatly into the sand.

  “Yeah, I did. I admit I was afraid because I’d never done anything like this before, but it was pretty easy. I love the song too.”

  “Have you heard any of my music before?”

  “Yeah. When Laine first told me about Mischief, she said his brothers were in a rap group and I looked you guys’ name up. I didn’t know what y’all looked like though. I have the mixtape Spruce on my phone.”

  “You ain’t just saying that, right? I can take criticism, it’s part of the game,” he laughed lowly. My eyes scann
ed his long muscular arms, admiring the soft appearance of his caramel skin. His hands looked so sexy and strong as they hung off of his elevated knees.

  “No, I’m not just saying that. I would have just lied and said I hadn’t heard the song before if I didn’t like it.” We chuckled together. “Why is it named Spruce?”

  “That’s the street I grew up on in Compton before my father got rich.”

  “Oh, I see. Can I ask you something and you have to promise not to get mad at me.”

  “Go ahead. It takes a lot to get me riled up, so I doubt you can upset me with a question, especially because I don’t know you. Nothing you say can really affect me.”

  Damn. Rude.

  “Well, where is your wife? Both times I’ve seen you she hasn’t been around. The party I understand, but this video shoot, I guess I expected her to be here.”

  “She’s a busy woman.”

  “Too busy for you?”

  He looked at me and then focused his attention back on the ocean.

  “Yeah, sometimes. It’s cool though. When do you leave?”

  “Tomorrow evening.”

  “Can I text you?”

  “Chaz, you’re married. I don’t think you should be texting me, hell, I shouldn’t even be sitting here with you. I don’t like drama, and I especially don’t like being a side piece.”

  “I ain’t ask you to be my fucking side piece! Fuck make you think I would? I asked you a simple question and all it needed was a damn yes or no. I would never cheat on my wife and don’t ever insinuate that I would,” he hissed, scaring me a little bit.

  “Chaz—”

  “You have a good night. Get at Ishmael for your check.” He stood up abruptly and started off back towards the house.

  “Bowlegged ass bitch,” I mumbled to myself, eyeing him sexily walk away while pulling up his jeans.

  I watched him tread all the way back, leaving me with his jacket that I sure and the fuck planned to keep. I didn’t know who he thought he was talking to, but I didn’t have the balls to go at it with him. I didn’t know where he lied on the psycho meter just yet, and unlike most people, when it came to men, I picked my battles wisely.

  After looking out at the water for a little longer, I got up and went back to the house. I got my check from Ishmael, which was a grand, and not what I’d expected. I was happy as hell, though.

  Chaz acted like he didn’t know me for the next hour, not even to ask for his jacket back.

  I got up to go to the bathroom, and when I walked down the hall, I heard people fucking in the bedroom next to the bathroom. When I listened closer, I realized it was Laine and Mischief.

  “Fuck, you cum so hard when I get you from the back,” Mischief panted over the sound of Laine’s moans and their skin smacking.

  “I want you to cum, daddy,” she panted.

  “Where can I cum?” he huffed.

  “In my mouth,” she whimpered before letting out a loud moan.

  I jerked my neck back and rushed off to the bathroom. I had no business listening to their nasty asses anyway. What the fuck!

  When it was time to go, Cassie had agreed to go somewhere with Kordell, so it was just Laine and I for the rest of the night. I knew Cassie wanted him even though she liked to play otherwise, and I’m glad she was seemingly starting to accept that fact herself.

  I sat in the car on the passenger side, waiting for Laine and staring in the side mirror, watching Chaz converse with his cousin. I didn’t understand why it mattered to me that he was angry, especially since I did nothing wrong.

  Mischief had Laine pinned up against the driver’s side, kissing her like he was about to fuck her up against the car. I saw that same group of thirsties watching with disgusted looks. It was the same expression they had when Cassie left with Kordell, and when I walked off with Chaz hours earlier. I was pretty sure Ishmael slept with one of them though, while we were here, because she was all over him like he was the best thing ever.

  Finally, Laine got into the car, and Mischief closed the door for her.

  “Bitch, you’re nasty as hell,” I said as she cranked up and turned the heat on.

  “How? Because we were kissing?”

  “You told him to cum in your mouth, you freak hoe!”

  “You heard us?” her eyes bucked. “He didn’t make it though. He came before he could even pull out.”

  We both burst into laughter as she backed out of the driveway and pulled off.

  What a damn night!

  Kordell

  Ten minutes earlier…

  “Where are we going?” Cassie turned her lip up as I pulled her up the incline of Manhattan Beach Boulevard. It was live tonight, with people walking up and down, music blasting from the bars, and people making noise down from the beach and pier behind us.

  “You said you didn’t want Subway so we’re about to eat.” I looked both ways, before I pulled her with me across the street to this place named The Kettle.

  I opened the door for her, and placed my hand on the small of her back to escort her in. Her ass wasn’t huge, but it was perfectly plump and round; just my type. Once inside, everyone seemed to be slightly intimidated by me being a big ass black nigga. I found it funny how the scrawny hostess was damn near stuttering when asking me how many people. I was used to that shit, but it was comical each time.

  After being seated, Cassie said, “I didn’t know you were so scary.”

  “What you mean?” I smiled.

  “That hostess and everyone else that worked here was about to shit on themselves when we walked inside.”

  “I’m used to that bullshit by now. Any black man over six feet is seen as a threat to society,” I shrugged before scanning the menu. “Shit, even some under six feet.”

  “Yeah, to be honest, being a black woman is hard enough but I couldn’t imagine having to be a black man, especially now. You just never know. You could be on your way to work and get killed by the police these days.”

  “Tell me about it. But I just look at it like if God wants me gone, I will be and if he doesn’t, then I will continue to live no matter what.”

  “Good way to see things I guess. Have to find light somewhere.”

  The waitress came to our table as soon as Cassie finished speaking, so we put in our drink and food orders. As she collected the menus from the table, I let my eyes wander all over Cassie trying to figure her weird ass out.

  She was always so on edge, like she was waiting for the police to show up and arrest her for some shit. Like right now, she was staring out the window, nervously scanning the people walking by.

  “So who did you kill or rob?” I quizzed, folding my arms.

  Her neck damn near snapped when she looked at me.

  “Why would you ask me that? Do I look like a person that would kill? Matter fact, I should be asking you that question when you really think about it.”

  Yeah, something was up. Most people would have laughed it off; at least I think so. She went way too hard for no reason, but then again, that could have been her personality.

  “I was kidding, calm yo’ ass down before I make you.”

  “You can’t make me do anything,” she said lowly as the waitress set down our drinks.

  “Your food will be out in a moment.”

  “Aye, can we get some bread? A nigga is hungry as fuck and y’all are supposed to bring that shit as soon as we get to the table.”

  “Oh my gosh,” Cassie mumbled, shielding her face in embarrassment.

  “Yes, sir, I apologize. The oven shut down, so it halted the bread baking for a moment. We’re waiting on a fresh batch now.” I just nodded and took a sip of my drink. “Anything else I can get for you in the meantime, sir?”

  “Nah, you good.”

  The waitress walked off abruptly.

  “Could you have been any more ignorant with that?” Cassie smiled, pushing her hair out of her face. Damn she was pretty. I could barely think straight at times because every time I saw
her, I thought about hitting her deeply from all types of positions. “I know you’re hungry but stop looking at me like I’m a piece of chicken,” she giggled.

  See.

  “Oh damn, my bad.” I shifted in my booth seat to adjust my dick before asking, “Why does it sound like you have a southern accent?”

  Shaking her head ‘no’ with her mouth open, she replied, “I don’t. But umm, I do have family down south and I used to visit them a lot. Maybe I picked it up.”

  “Tell me about yourself, Cassie. You claim a nigga wasn’t trying to get to know you so now I am. There has to be a reason why you act like you’re on the run.”

  “I’m really not that interesting, Kordell. I’m twenty, I’m an aspiring model, and I… I’m from Oakland. I’d much rather talk about you, and why you come for me so hard.”

  “Already answered that. And shit, I’m not that interesting either. I mean, I’m a handsome ass nigga,” I flashed her a smile and she laughed, “but that’s about it. I’m from Compton, live in Long Beach now, and I rap.”

  “You are handsome, I will give you that.” She gave me a closed mouth smile and shook her head before looking out the window of the restaurant again. “How old are you?”

  “I’m twenty-two. Oh, and I have a baby coming.”

  “Are you joking? You’re out with me and you have a baby on the way?”

  “Yeah, what does one have to do with the other? I don’t wanna be with the mother, my ex, and the baby ain’t here yet, so fuck yeah I’m out with you.”

  She just sighed and shook her head before smiling softly.

  “Are you in a gang like Mischief? It doesn’t seem like it, but you never know.”

  “Absolutely not. We hung with different people growing up. When my dad moved us to Beverly Hills, Mischief was barely home when he got to be like fourteen. He basically lived with his homeboy, Nate, who was our neighbor when we resided in Compton, which ended up with Mischief going to Compton High. And while being with Nate, he got into a lot of shit, a gang being one of them.”