Ain't No Wifey

by Jahquel J.

  “You know you’re mine now, right?” Micah stated, after their lips parted.

  “Is that right?” Minka giggled. Micah scooped her up and carried her back to the BBQ while she lay on his shoulder with her feet wrapped around his waist. She felt safe for once in a very long time.

  Chapter Eight

  Ashley laid in bed with Juelz, her legs entangled in his. She kissed his thick soft lips then lay back on her pillow. Ashley couldn’t believe she was in bed with Juelz after she promised herself she wouldn’t go back to him. Now here she was lying in bed with him after they had just finished fucking.

  Juelz came with the sob story about getting to know his son and being there for him. At first Ashley was mad and ignored him but he was persistent and kept showing up to her apartment with clothes for Ashland and stuff for her. Minka would kill her if she knew they were back together. Minka couldn’t stand Juelz and felt she wasted her time and virginity on him, but Ashley had to do what was best for her and Ashland. Minka was traveling half the time, she was never home. When she did stop by, she would drop money or gifts off and be gone for another couple weeks or month. Ashley needed stability for Ashland and it seemed like Juelz would be able to give him that.

  Every time Ashley slept with Juelz she felt bad. However, after she saw the way Juelz interacted with their son the situation melted her heart. Ashland being with his father made her decision that much easier. Ashland didn’t have a father figure before Juelz came back. He couldn’t get enough of having him around. Ashland loved calling Juelz daddy.

  Ashley walked into Ashland’s bedroom, he was still sound asleep. Ashley was surprised with all the noise she and his daddy made that he wasn’t up. She went in his closet and took out his uniform for school and put it on his chair. She worried about how she was going to come up with the thousand dollars for Ashland’s tuition fees; she was counting on Minka to come around. Ashley grabbed a pen and pad then sat at the kitchen to write a note to the financial office at Ashland’s school. Juelz crept up behind her and snuck a kiss on her neck. He quickly read the letter she was had wrote.

  “Ash, throw that shit in the garbage. I’ll give you the money to pay for my son’s school. Why didn’t you ask me anyway?” Juelz grabbed the paper. Ashley exhaled slowly.

  “I just don’t like to ask people for shit. It’s nothing personal.” Ashley took the time to rub her man’s chiseled chest. Juelz was a fine piece of meat. He stood 5’9 with a low cut Caesar, chestnut skin and a body to die for. People called him Juelz because he looked just like Juelz Santana but his real name was Johan.

  “Look, I know I ain’t been the best father to my son. I’m here now and I want to not only raise my son, but I want to make it work with you too. If you can’t come to me for stuff my son needs than why are we even trying?”

  “You right, Ju. I just like being independent.”

  ***

  Ashley walked into work feeling on top of the world. She had just dropped her little man off plus paid his tuition in full for three months, thanks to Juelz. Ashley was sitting at the nurse’s station typing in the dosages for each patient she had today when Kola, Juelz other baby mama, came switching in and sat down next to Ashley. Kola and Ashley weren’t friends but they both knew they were about money and wasn’t going to let the fact that they both had a child with Juelz deter them from making money. Kola and Juelz’s daughter was a year older than Ashland. Kola couldn’t stand Ashely because she felt she was better than everyone else, when that could be furthest from the truth.

  “I heard Juelz shacking up with you now. That’s comical.” Kola shook her head.

  “The only thing that’s comical is that he had a child with your trifling ass,” Ashley whispered. She didn’t need their supervisor to see them arguing again. Last time they both almost lost their jobs arguing in front of a patient. Kola was a PCA. She didn’t like the authority Ashley had over her since she was a nurse.

  “Calm down. Nobody want you’re so called man, just know you’re not the only one he came back to. I just got some dick and sent him on his way. That dust head ain’t got no money, anyhow.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. He just paid three months of my son’s thousand dollar tuition,” Ashley bragged, she stood up and pushed the medicine cart to do her runs. Kola looked at her dumfounded before pulling her phone out then shooting a text to Juelz. If he was paying for her son than he was damn sure gonna start paying for their daughter. She didn’t go to private school, but she needed other stuff and Kola needed her car note paid.

  Keisha needs some new clothes and she wanna see her daddy, Kola texted him.

  Their daughter didn’t need clothes because Kola made sure she had everything she needed. She also didn’t miss her father because she didn’t hardly know him. She just knew his name was JuJu. Kola needed him to come to her house she needed to put her pussy on him so bad he would soon be throwing money at her. Kola put her phone away and went to make her rounds on the west wing.

  Fuck you thought, Ashley? I run shit, she thought to herself laughing

  Chapter Nine

  Juelz sat in the back booth in Junior’s restaurant on Flatbush Avenue tapping his nails impatiently on the table waiting for his guest to finally show up. When he looked up, he saw his guest maneuver through the restaurant toward his way so he calmed down a bit and sat back.

  “Good afternoon, Johan. Isn’t it a beautiful day out?” Federal Agent Ramez sat across from Juelz.

  “Yea, it would be an even better one if you had hurried up and didn’t have me waiting for a damn hour.”

  “Works calls. I’m sorry I had things to wrap up. Good job on helping us nail Kirk. We been trying to take down the Moore brothers for years. Now the problem is, we don’t have enough to hand him no more than 2-5 years. With good behavior and parole, he will be out in a year in a half. We need you to have his brother Kevin, aka Snuff, incriMinkate his self and Kirk. Here take this.” Ramez handed Juelz a bag filled with money.

  “Start buying more work from Snuff, then handle more business with him. Get him comfortable enough to speak freely around you,” Ramez continued.

  “How much is my cut out of this?” Juelz asked with his hands itching.

  “In that bag is fifty thousand. Use half to buy from Kevin and use the other half for your personal expenses. Remember if we don’t get Kevin to incriMinkate Kirk or himself, we lose our case and Kirk is back on the streets again. Which mean your case will be go to trial. Try not to let your poison of choice overshadow your judgment,” Ramez advised and got up to leave. While Juelz started to dream about what he was gonna do with the money.

  ***

  Juelz had Ashley’s apartment lit with candles and food on the stove. He had made chicken parm and picked up a bottle off Moet on his way back to the crib. Although they weren’t living together, yet, Juelz still had a key to her apartment. Ashley came through the door with Ashland right behind her. She had dry cleaning, groceries and Ashland’s book bag. Ashland ran to Juelz and gave him a hug.

  “Aye, man. What I tell you about helping your mama?” Juelz helped Ashley with the bags.

  “Sorry, daddy.” Ashland grabbed his book bag from his mother and ran off to his room.

  “Thanks, baby. I was coming home to cook, what you made?” Ashley examined the pots on the stove.

  “Don’t worry about it. You and Ash go change and come to the table.”

  Ashley, Ashland and Juelz were all seated around the table eating the dinner Juelz had just prepared. Juelz didn’t have much of an appetite so he poked his food around, while Ashland and Ashley scarfed theirs down. Juelz knew Ashley was still hesitant about them being together mostly based on what Minka thought.

  Juelz and Minka were old news, he never was feeling her from get. Minka was shallow besides she always cared about materialistic shit. That’s why he cheated with Ashley. Kola was just bad judgment. Juelz felt bad for his reasons for being in his son’s life. He did it because he needed to be close
to Ashley. So he bit a piece of his meatball and put his plan into play.

  “Baby, why don’t you invite your sister over with the kids sometimes? She is your sister and Ashland needs to know his cousins more,” Juelz suggested, which caused Ashley to choke.

  “Tamia is always with Snuff, you know I can’t stand that nigga. Plus that nigga be putting his hands on her so instead of arguing with her I keep my distance.” Ashley stuffed some more chicken in her mouth.

  “Make the effort, babe. Just because you don’t agree with her lifestyle doesn’t mean the children should suffer. Invite the kids over and let Ashland get to know his cousins. My cousins were everything to me when I was growing up, being I was the only child,” Juelz acted like he cared. He needed Ashley to hang with her sister more. It gave him a reason to speak to Snuff and do business with him.

  Juelz pushed his plate aside.

  “Baby I will try but don’t say nothing when this blows over. Tamia and I never see eye to eye,” Ashley warned Juelz pointing her fork at him.

  “That’s all I ask for, babe.” Juelz reached over and kissed Ashley.

  Chapter Ten

  The sunny, California sun shined through the hotel windows Minka was staying in. She had just arrived there last night. Micah invited her to hang with him in California for the week and she graciously accepted. She had started to receive blocked phone calls and she knew were from Austin. Minka shrugged the calls off, but he was persistent and managed to call whenever she was alone. To add to her problems, Minka hadn’t spoken to Ashley in a while and she wasn’t about to call her. The phone worked both ways.

  Minka hadn’t been to New York. Even though she missed it, she was spending some much needed down time with her family and friends. Occasionally George would fly in to be serviced. But a new thing was on the horizon for Minka and they were called feelings.

  Micah called and invited her to California so she packed and left on the first flight. Ever since the cook-out at her Great- grandparents’ house, Micah and Minka had been talking, texting and face-timing every day. When Minka wasn’t talking to Micah, she spent her time thinking about him. She was so wrapped up in him that she couldn’t think straight. The feelings she felt for him were magical. It made her feel like she was a new woman. Micah made Minka feel like a teenager first discovering love. She didn’t feel like the used and abused woman she usually felt like.

  Minka got dressed. She was rocking a pair of jeans, tank top, and some Jordan 4s with a fedora hat. She grabbed her bag, sunglasses and rental car keys before she left. She was meeting Micah at his house in Calabasas so she had a little drive ahead of her, especially since she wasn’t familiar with California.

  Minka pulled up to the gate of the mansion. She checked her phone three times to make sure she had the address correct but each time she checked, the address was correct. She buzzed the intercom. A voice that she somewhat recognized came through the intercom..

  “Who are you here for?”

  “Hi, I’m here for Micah.”

  “Come right through.” The voice said.

  Minka pulled through the gates and drove up a driveway that led to a six car garage. She spotted Donovan standing next to a Porsche so she pulled in next to him before turning off the car. Minka stepped out into the breezy October weather. She rubbed her arms, upset that she didn’t bring a sweater.

  “What’s good? Minka, right?” Donovan reached out for a hug.

  “Damn, you don’t remember my name? You don’t meet too many people named Minka.” Minka returned the hug.

  “My bad. My mind be gone sometimes. Welcome to Cali.”

  “Thanks, where Micah?”

  “He inside. Go up the stairs and make a left down the hall and there’s a room with two doors. He played a game last night even though he was sick. That nigga is Superman.” Donovan jumped into his car. He rolled down his window when he saw Minka trying to say something.

  “Huh?”

  “Game?” Minka asked confused.

  “Yeah. Take care of my boy.” Donovan waved as he pulled off. Minka shrugged her shoulders and continued to the house.

  Minka walked in the house and was amazed at how immaculate it was. The double staircase wrapped around into the foyer with a beautiful, white leather, four-seat ottoman in the middle of both stair cases. Minka continued up the stairs while she followed the directions Donovan gave her. She came across the room with the double doors. Inside of it, was a white room with a huge, California four-pillar, onyx bed with black and white satin sheets and pillows.

  When she walked in, on her left and right were two doors. Minka quickly opened to see that inside were his and hers closets. A little further in the room, to the right, remained a bathroom the size of Minka’s living room. Minka was use to the finer things. But they usually included expensive hotels. She was never invited to a man’s house. The view Micah had from his bay window was truly breath–taking.

  In the bed, Micah laid sleeping unaware that Minka was even in the room. Minka put her bag down and started to look for the kitchen. She wanted to make him some soup and tea. She finally found the kitchen and just like the rest of the house, it was exquisite. The kitchen contained stainless steel appliances, two ovens, and two refrigerators. One was completely see-through for fruits and vegetables, while the other was for all other food items. The kitchen also had a wine dispenser stocked with expensive wine. Centered in the middle of the kitchen, sat a granite island with eight barstools. Minka didn’t cook much but she loved the kitchen; particularly the wine dispenser.

  Two hours later, Minka cooked a beef based soup with potatoes, shrimp, broccoli and carrots; she figured it was a little heartier than chicken soup. She poured the tea into the cup adding sugar, lemon juice and cough drops for added relief. Minka carefully walked up the stairs and brought it into the room.

  Micah had moved to the sitting area. He had his shirt off, which turned Minka on. Micah’s chest and arms were covered in tattoos. Micah’s physique reminded her of Rick Ross; she wanted to jump his bones right there.

  “I made you some soup,” Minka announced, unaware that she had startled Micah.

  “How long you been here? I thought something came up I hadn’t heard from you since last night.”

  “Sit down so you can eat. I heard you were sick,” Minka confidently ordered.

  “It’s something small to a giant,” He said, trying to downplay how he really felt; which was like shit.

  Minka sat the tray on the nightstand and handed Micah the soup. She sat down beside him while he ate like he hadn’t ate in a while.

  “You eating Minkay Minka’s homemade right there.” Minka joked.

  “This shit is good! You don’t look like you cook.”

  “There’s a lot of stuff I look like I don’t do.” She smiled devilishly.

  ***

  Later on that night, the two sat in Micah’s theater room watching Madea’s Family Reunion. Minka sat on Micah’s lap eating Reese’s Pieces while Micah caressed her small, manicured feet.

  “Why were you playing ball last night if you were sick?” Minka asked

  “Baby, what are you talking about?” Micah asked, confused.

  “Donovan said you played ball last night. If you’re sick, why are you playing ball?” Micah burst out laughing making Minka irritated. She didn’t see what was so funny when she asked a simple question.

  “What the hell is so damn funny?” Minka caught a slight attitude.

  Micah had finally stopped laughing and wiped the tears out the corner of his eyes.

  “Baby, I play for the NFL so sick or not I had to play regardless.”

  Minka’s mouth hung wide open. She was shocked; she usually could spot a man worth something. Micah didn’t give her the aurora. When Micah told her he owned a studio she believed him. She never thought he was NFL player. God really did worked in mysterious ways.

  “Is that why my family was drooling over you? I should have known. Grampy is a diehard football
fan.”

  “He and your great uncles. While you were helping your cousin change her baby, I signed over a thousand things for them.” He laughed. Micah liked her family. They were good people.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were a football player?” Minka asked curious as to why Micah would hide who he was.

  Minka would have never admit it, but she was happy Micah didn’t reveal who he was. She would be so involved in his money that she would have never got to know the man that stood before her. Micah was caring, loving and attentive; all the things Minka would never divulge that she needed in a man.

  “I’ve been with bitches who just wanted me for money. Once they got what they wanted, they dipped to the next nigga. I wanted to see who you really are. Are you one of them hoes? Or are you special.”

  “So what am I?” Minka looked Micah in the eye.

  “You’re as special as special can get.” Micah pinched her thigh. “You’re so special and I cherish this time we spent together today, I hope there will be more days.”

  Minka looked down at the floor. Even though she felt like a hoe, Micah saw her as someone special and that melted her heart. Micah lifted her face and puckered his lips. Minka put her lips right where he wanted them; on his. Micah was really feeling Minka and he didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to know everything about her. She was a little guarded but he was confident he could chip away the brick that clouded her heart.

  “You staying with me tonight. I don’t wanna be in this big house by myself.” Micah ordered.

  “I don’t know. You know how these athletes are.” Minka teased.

  Micah picked Minka up and carried her upstairs to the bedroom. He threw her on the bed while she laughed. She got comfortable and took off her jeans, showing the pink lace thong she wore. Micah licked his thick lips as he became turned on. Minka threw her jeans at Micah and grabbed the remote.

  “Pass me a T-shirt,” She demanded, taking her tank top and bra off.