Don't Hate the Player

by Brandie

  Taeko also went pro. He played for the Hawks. Pimped a Bentley and wore diamonds and platinum from head to toe, the boy was ballin’ in more ways than one. He signed the biggest contract in the history of the NBA and bought a four-story house with an elevator, theater, inside and outside basketball courts and more out in Henry County. With all that, he still slipped and let the groupies get to both of his heads.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chocolate

  It was Thursday and I had to pick up Sap, so I decided to deliver those four-karat earrings to Salone. I went to McDonald’s first to pick up Sap’s favorite cheeseburger happy meal. While I stood in line, I looked out into the parking lot. High school didn’t seem that long ago, but Nikki and Caymin did. All that drama for what? Nothing. Not a damn thang came of it. If I could go back to graduation night, boy, would I change the whole thang!

  “Hey, Chinoe, how you doin’?”

  I turned around and stared into the eyes of Joslen Frank, still as cute as she was in school. “What’s up, girl?” We embraced each other.

  “Well, you know I’m back here in Atlanta now.”

  “Oh, yeah, you went to L.A. for acting, right?”

  “Yeah, right. So what are you doing now?”

  Shit! I wanted to say that I was a big-time, high profile, entertainment lawyer. “Well, I graduated with a B.A. in Computer Programming. I’m self-contracting, trying to decide if I want to stay in Atlanta or not.”

  “Well, you should stay in Atlanta. Black people are making Atlanta hotter than ever.” Her smile could have broken any hovering cloud. “So you married? Kids?” Joslen asked.

  The cashier cleared her throat, and tried to hand me Sap’s happy meal.

  “Oh, no. This is for Luvly’s little girl, my goddaughter.”

  “Oh, yeah, she did have a little girl by Diamond, right?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  “Well, here’s my card. Let me write my home number on the back.”

  I took her number to satisfy her ego, and dropped it in the trash as I left. She was definitely not the one, and I’m not the one to pretend.

  I headed up Old National to the daycare center. When I walked in, Sap was running around being bossy as usual.

  “Hi, Mr. Starr. Sapphire has been using foul language today. I don’t know why she is so hostile lately, but we are not going to tolerate it,” Mrs. Tate said, smiling. But I knew she meant business, seeing that this was an academy for excelling and gifted children.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Tate. I will address this with Sapphire.”

  Sapphire looked around the corner, and almost broke her neck to get to me. Her little lips almost swallowed up her face with a huge smile.

  “Hey, Uncle Cha-late.”

  Before I picked her up into my arms like I always did, I stopped her in mid jump. “Hey, li’l lady, have you been bad today?”

  She put her finger in her mouth and shook her head no.

  “Sap, is Mrs. Tate telling stories on you?”

  She started to twist her long ponytails.

  “Sapphire, I’m very disappointed in you, but I can forgive you for a hug, an apology, and a promise to never use those words again.”

  Mrs. Tate pulled her close for a hug then gave her a lollipop. They loved Sap at her school. She was very bright, talkative, and sweet, thanks to my mother.

  I scooped her up in my arms and headed for Southlake Mall.

  “Uncle Cha-late, when Uncle Money come home? I miss him.”

  I looked at her through the rearview mirror. She was stuffing her face with fries. She had no idea the predicament her mother had put her in.

  “He’s coming in two weeks.”

  She started bouncing up and down shaking her head from side to side. “Yeah! Yeah! Uncle Money come home. D’mond is bad.”

  “Did Diamond hit you, Sap?” I hit the brakes, almost killing us both.

  She shook her head no. “Mommy, in the face.”

  I knew I had to talk to Money and Luvly before I went to jail for some shit they could have handled a long time ago. That little girl deserved the best, and Diamond was far from that. As we walked through the mall, Sap started going crazy. “Uncle Cha-late, I want the doggies! The doggies!”

  “Okay, pun’kin, after I go into this store.”

  Walking toward Salone’s shop, I caught déjà vu. There she was—my heaven. I rushed Sap into the store. “Salone, watch Sap, right quick.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  I ran down the steps, this time almost breaking both legs. I could only see her from the back, but I knew it was her.

  “Excuse me, Miss . . .” She turned around, shooting my spirits straight to hell. “Oh, I’m sorry to bother you, Miss, I thought you were someone else.”

  “That’s okay,” she said, extending her hand. “My name is Sophie.”

  “Hey, how you doin’? I’m Mac. Nice to meet you.”

  Her four girls were running around, out of control and screaming, my cue to get the hell on.

  “Well, I have to go and get my three boys and girl from the toy store upstairs.” I knew that would discourage her. Women looking for someone to take care of them and theirs and don’t want a man with as many kids as they have.

  Damn! I was disappointed and relieved at the same time. That wasn’t even that woman’s real hair; my doll has natural hair, from the roots.

  * * *

  When I got back to the store Salone seemed content playing with Sap, even though she held pure hatred for her mother. The love she held for Money was enough to keep her cool about Sap.

  “Uncle Cha-late, I want that dress, and that dress, and that pants,” she giggled and continued to play dress up.

  “Yeah, Uncle Cha-late,” Salone said laughingly, “buy me a dress, too,” she continued mockingly. She knelt down in front of Sap. “Here, take these dresses and pants outfits home and show your mommy, tell her Auntie Salone gave them to you.”

  Sap took in her whole face. “What did that to face?” The little girl asked as best she could, pointing her little finger to the scar under Salone’s left eye.

  With a sad look in her eyes, there was no way Salone could tell Sap that she’d gotten that scar from trying to abort her from her mother’s womb. “She is getting so big.” Salone rubbed playfully on Sap’s stomach.

  “Yeah, old enough to relay that sneaky-ass message you tryin’ to send to Luvly.”

  Salone stood against the tall counter; arms folded, took a long sigh, and blew her bangs up into the air. “It’s not that I’m being sneaky; I just want her to know that I’m still here and I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Well, I’m not gettin’ caught up in y’all mess.”

  “Yeah, well, she looks just like Money. Is she Money’s or what? Why that ho . . . I mean, why hasn’t she got a test yet?”

  “You know that if I knew the answer I still wouldn’t get in y’all business. That’s my boy, and my loyalty is to him,” I insisted, as I grabbed for Sap’s hand.

  “Yeah, y’all low-down niggas always stick together.”

  “Salone, you know I’m not low-down; I’m a good brother just looking for my queen.”

  “Ahhhh, man, please don’t be givin’ me that queen bullshit; I know the real deal.”

  I reached in my coat pocket and pulled out the pink box. “Here. This is from your low-down friend—Money.”

  She broke into a smile and took the box.

  “Oh, yeah, don’t open it until you get in front of the web-cam.”

  Her expression convinced me that this would comfort her for the week. “Come on, Sap. Tell Miss Salone thank you.”

  With candy all over her hands and mouth, she waved good-bye.

  “Come on, messy mouth. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  We went to the bathroom in the back of the store to wash her hands and mouth. Looking at how beautiful she was with big, black eyes framed by long eyelashes, coffee-colored skin, and long, sandy brown ponytails. Her lips and nose ha
d Money written all over them.

  I heard a new voice from outside the curtain, asking about some shoes. It sounded so sexy. A little rough and hoarse, but still very womanly. I tried to look around the corner, and almost tripped over a box. I couldn’t see who it was because of all the clothes obstructing my view. “Come on, Sap. Hurry up,” I whispered to myself.

  By the time I grabbed Sap and we walked out, the lovely voice was gone.

  “We out, Salone.”

  “We out, S’one.” Sap always repeated everything she heard.

  “Are you still coming down to the shelter Saturday to help with the food? Taeko can’t be there, so we need an extra hand.”

  “Yeah, I’ll be happy to help the homeless.”

  When we got to my condo, I gave Sap some cookies and juice, and put on Teletubbies before I sat down at the computer to check my emails.

  I’d been a little anxious about my e-mails and assignments. Being lonely for companionship was really starting to bother me. The sex thing was still not an issue. Head was keeping my head straight to be twenty-one and still looking for that pot of gold, actually, I’d upgraded to platinum. A gold piece would be good, but platinum would be more rare and precious.

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  The phone interrupted my concentration.

  “Starr residence.”

  “What’s up, Dawg?” Taeko asked. “I was just calling before I headed to Houston.”

  “Where Joi and the kids?”

  “Over her mama house.” He answered in a nonchalant attitude. Lately he’d been acting like he was womanless and childless. I saw more of Supreme and Trinket than he did. He had the option of taking them with him and never did. I knew he loved his kids, but I don’t think they knew it.

  “Is everything set for Daytona and Cancún?” He asked, with the excitement in his voice that he should have had about Joi and his kids.

  “Yeah, Money got one beach house in Daytona and he workin’ on a mansion with Jay-Z for Cancún.”

  “That nigga just wanna see some hoes shake they ass.” We discussed a few more details and ended the conversation.

  Sap began to fall asleep, and I started getting lazy-eyed as well, so I shut down the computer and grabbed Sap. We got into my bed, snuggled, and were out for the count.

  Lying there, I thought about all the women that had come in and out of my life, all the pussy I passed up, and wondered if waiting for the perfect woman was becoming a waste of time.

  There was Tiona, twenty-six, with two B.A.’s and a Masters in physical therapy, bad-ass body, beautiful attitude, and could cook her ass off. But I felt she was becoming clingy and possessive. She definitely was not platinum—or maybe she was and I was just afraid of commitment.

  Then there was Nina. Man, she was all prissy and too high-class for me. Shit! I got money, too, but I didn’t let it rule my life or attitude. But I must admit she could suck a good dick.

  And Wendi was a trip. Fun, carefree attitude, but definitely not the bullshit type. She demanded everything, my time, my attention, my whole life. She would ask, “Who is that on the phone? And what time did you say you’d be back?” She used to trip about me watching Howard Stern, saying it was nonsense and only exploited naked women. That nigga was a fool. I had to catch that every night. If someone tripped on him, then he or she was just as big an asshole as he was.

  The one that brought back the fondest memories was Koshia. Shit! She had to have some fly shit between them legs, the way she walked and strutted around smelling good all through the day. She was a hundred percent platinum, but then she said, “Chinoe, if I get totally involved with you, I will lose myself. Right now, I need to find out who I really am—in terms of my career and what I want out of life. I’m sure we’ll meet up again.”

  It had been almost four years, and that girl from the mall was still etched in my brain. Atlanta was not as big as people thought but I still hadn’t seen her yet. I was sure I would see her again and prayed about it every night.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chocolate

  I looked at my watch, as I anxiously awaited Money’s arrival scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Family and friends were waiting, too. His grandmother, my mother, Salone, Taeko, Joi and the kids, waited impatiently with Sap clinging to Money’s grandmother. Mrs. Loane was so attached to her.

  “This is the sweetest babe. Jesus! I swear she looks like Maynea. Just hope she don’t grow up actin’ like ’er.”

  Last I heard, Money’s mother, Maynea, had gotten herself straight and was living in Tennessee.

  By one-thirty the kids started getting antsy and hungry.

  “We thirsty.”

  “I hungry.”

  “Y’all can’t wait until we get to the restaurant?” I asked, wishing we’d gone with the original plan of letting Precious keep the kids.

  “Nooooooo.”

  Me and Taeko let everyone know that we were going to get the kids something to drink.

  Taeko gently pushed the kids ahead of us. “Chocolate, I need your opinion on something.”

  “Shoot.”

  “I’m not happy with my life.”

  Here we were again with that stupid shit. Taeko had what every man dreamed of, a long-term relationship with the same woman, two beautiful kids, and a career as a professional basketball player.

  “What the hell can possibly not be going right to make you unhappy?”

  “I want my freedom.”

  “What? A free agent or what?” I looked at him like he was stupid.

  He looked disappointed and sad. “Man, stop playin’. I’m willin’ to give all the cheese in the world to be apart from Joi.”

  I really didn’t want to hear that shit. Joi was a good woman and had been there for Taeko through paternity tests, Enquirer scandals, and other woman suing for all types of shit. And most of all, she was there when his ass only had five dollars to his name.

  “Man, Joi has been there for you when you didn’t have shit or wasn’t shit. Plus that’s pussy at home that you know is disease-free.”

  “I know, but I feel like I haven’t had a life for myself. Shit, we had Trey when we were in the eleventh grade; we’ve been together since the ninth grade. I need some time to myself.”

  “Man, please,” I told him, dismissing him with my hand. “Niggas dream of a relationship like yours. Well, you know I’m bias to this situation because that’s what I long for.”

  Shit, Taeko just didn’t know. I prayed for what he had. I needed that kind of companionship. I wanted someone to lie down with at night and wake up with in the morning.

  We reached the store and began purchasing juices.

  “I want the red one,” Trinket yelled.

  “I want the yellow one,” Sap added.

  A young lady with Chinese eyes and bob-length hair walked in the store. We both looked at her like a piece of meat. The flight attendant gear fit her to a T. She placed her purchase on the counter next to ours.

  “Those are some beautiful girls.”

  In unison, “Thank you.” I turned around because I didn’t see Trey.

  “Uncle Cha-late, Trey ran down there,” Trinket told on her older brother.

  “Damn! I’ll go get him, Taeko.”

  Taeko

  “Um, Taeko. That name sounds familiar. Are you Taeko of the hot Hawks?”

  Taeko almost lost his smile. He wanted to get with a woman who didn’t know that he played pro ball. He wanted a woman who wanted him for himself and not for the hype of his name or the size of his bank account.

  “Yeah, that’s me. Can I get that stuff for you?” Taeko asked, thinking what the hell, she looked like a nice piece of ass.

  “Sure.” She smiled.

  “Can I write my number down, so that we can keep in touch?”

  The girls were busy playing with their dolls.

  “Yeah, but what’s your name?”

  “Sema.”

  “Well, maybe we can get together this weekend?” />
  “I have to fly out this weekend; I won’t be back until next week, Thursday.”

  “Well, my boy is coming home today, so I will probably be hanging with the boys, anyway. So how about I give you my cell number, and when you get a chance, hit me up.”

  “Okay, Taeko. Nice meeting you.” They shook hands, and Taeko watched her sashay out the store.

  “That’s what I miss in Joi,” Taeko reflected. She was not sophisticated or elegant. She was homebody and ghetto-plain, still stuck in the blonde-hair phase, tight-ass pants, and long-ass nails. The woman I wanted standing next to me needed to have neatly done hair, flowing pant suits, some casual wear, with manicured nails.

  “If Chocolate isn’t going to support me, I know who will. It’s one forty-two pm, and that nigga will be arriving in three minutes.”

  Chocolate

  Everyone started screaming and waving signs, giving welcome home hugs and kisses. Even though they didn’t win the Super Bowl, the city of Atlanta still considered them winners. Jamal Anderson, Jessie Tuggle, Gary Downs, Chris Chandler, Terrance Mathis, and Money Loane all walked behind each other like million-dollar men.

  Sap took off running towards Money. Trey was giving all the Falcons dap.

  “Hey, Baby Doll, look what I got for you.” Money handed Sap a beautiful, black cheerleader baby doll with her name engraved on the front of the sweater and his number on the back. He handed another doll to Trinket and gave a football with all the players’ signatures to Trey.

  “Hey, Grandma.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  “Your grandfather is so proud of you. He’s still in Italy. But he said be ready to tell him all about it when he get back.”

  He dapped me and Taeko as we congratulated him and made jokes. “That game was lame as hell, Dawg. Y’all did good, though. Just got a little overexcited about going to the big bowl.”

  “Yeah, that’s all that mattered, I was there. Next year, Dawg, next year.” Money laughed.