Don't Hate the Player

by Brandie

  “Money, this is not Diamond,” I said, pulling him off Taeko. “Cool out, nigga. Chill.”

  Everybody was out of breath.

  Taeko, rocking back and forth, holding the back of his head, “I didn’t mean to hurt her.” He started crying like a child. “She started talking about leaving me, taking my kids. I lost control. Is she hurt bad?” he asked with regret in his voice.

  “Emotionally more than physically. Her face is fucked up. I can’t believe you hit her like that. You better get yo’ ass together. You goin’ home and you gon’ do whatever it takes to save your family and career,” Money warned.

  Taeko cleaned himself up, and Money drove him home.

  * * *

  I sat on the sofa and took in a deep breath. “What the hell is going on? What has happened to us?”

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  My phone was ringing at the wrong time. Private number, too.

  “Hello.”

  “Chinoe, can we talk?” Haven said quickly.

  “You gon’ fuck?” My attitude was nasty and hard. She deserved no chances.

  “Yes.”

  “Bitch, I told you, you was triflin’.” Click.

  * * *

  I walked to the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror, wondering if I was becoming everything I didn’t want to be: chasing women, screwing meaninglessly, being a rude-ass nigga, and making money—forgetting where I came from.

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  “Damn! Hello.”

  “Chinoe, hi. Did I catch you at a bad time? This is Chaise.”

  “What’s up, Chaise. Can I get back with you later?”

  “Yeah, but we have a shoot on the second of May.”

  “Where?”

  “Atlanta.”

  Good. At least I don’t have to leave home. Too many problems that need my attention. “All right. Thanks.”

  “I’ll be down a week earlier. Will I be able to see you?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Okay, see you then.”

  Man, damn, why I tell her that? Oh, well, what’s done is done. Shit! I’m living the single life.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chocolate

  ‘2000’

  Springtime in Atlanta was gorgeous, but hot. The heat always announced that this was definitely the South.

  My new house gave me peace and seclusion. I was chilling on my balcony that lead from my bedroom that included a Jacuzzi, two lounging love seats, a wet bar, and a fifty-inch plasma TV.

  Everyone was trying to gather their senses and make amends. Luvly and Money have not made their union official, but they’ were working on it. Tae and Joi were giving it another chance. Tae was still slipping, of course. They all needed to come sit on my balcony and think about life.

  Sap’s fifth birthday was in two weeks. And I needed to touch bases with Ma and Luvly to make sure everything was planned.

  * * *

  “So when am I going to meet this sweet, little girl I keep hearing about and seeing all over your walls?” Warm soft hands caressed the back of my head, down to my neck.

  “Well, I’ll go get her tomorrow or Thursday. Let’s rest and get cozy for the next couple of days.”

  “That sounds good to me,” Chaise said, sitting on my lap. She felt so warm and good. Her thighs were making me horny.

  We’d been kicking it for about two months.

  After Brandie, I got kind of wild, trying to replace her. There’d been five women since her. To most men that’s nothing, but in my world that’s more than too many. Too many diseases and scandalous women tryin’ to catch a “money-nut.”

  I hadn’t seen Brandie in a year. Damn! I missed her. I know I didn’t see her face, but I missed her conversation, the perfect way she felt in my arms. I really wanted to get to know her. She put something on me that night. I tried not to think about it because it made me mad. The woman who took my virginity disappeared. My mystery star had fallen from the sky. What was a brother to do?

  “What are you thinking about, Chinoe?” Chaise asked, searching my eyes, hoping I would say my thoughts were consumed with nothing but her. Wrong.

  “Life.”

  “What about it?”

  “Why are we put here on earth? Why do we suffer, cry, be hungry, kill each other for greed and power? What does all this really mean?”

  She hugged me tight, rolling my head in her breast. “I told you when I first met you that you are unbelievable, always thinking of others, so giving, and fine as hell. You makin’ me want some.”

  “It’s all yours for the taking.”

  She jumped off me and ran into the bedroom. I chased her like a little kid. Sex was the only thing that kept me calm. But I had faith that Brandie would find me and tame what she had started.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Brandie

  “I’ll do the party Thursday, but I’m working in “Ithe club Friday.”

  “Okay, Miss Delite. Understood.”

  I don’t know why they thought I liked working outside of the club. It just wasn’t safe. Just last week a girl got kidnapped, raped, beaten, and cut up.

  I think the only reason I still danced at that club every night was because I was in search for Chinoe. I’d often seen Money and his buddies in the club. I guess Chinoe’s been out of town working. His spread in Ebony was the shit. I kissed the page when I saw him layed out in that cream linen suit.

  I’ve kept him in my heart and memory for a whole year. I wanted him so bad to be in my world. I was tired of street-niggas, hustlers, and dope dealers. I needed some stability in my life.

  * * *

  It was springtime, and I wanted to be in love like the birds and the bees. I was in that big ol’ house all by myself, and all I did was work and go to school.

  The only place I went was New York to see Sean. I was his on call booty. But I tried not to get caught up. With his record company and being a big-time rapper, I knew women were at his beck and call, even though he said we were so-called exclusive.

  I admit, he did try to get me to go on tour with him and move to New York, but I wanted to have my practice here in the ATL.

  I pressed the intercom. “Yes.”

  “What’s up, girl? Let me in.”

  “All right.” Caymin walked in all smiles. “Hey, I just saw my old girlfriend, Luvly. She invited me to her little girl’s birthday party.”

  “And?”

  “And her daughter’s father is Money Loane, so you know it’s going to be off the hook. All types of ballers.”

  Money Loane! Shit! I’m sure his road dawg will be hanging.

  “So you goin’?” I asked, trying to sound un-entertained by the idea.

  “Yeah, we goin’,” she said, reading my mind.

  “So you talk to Sean?”

  “You know he on tour. He called Sunday, but that was the last time I talked to him.”

  “You lucky as hell. You got a superstar on your hands.”

  “It’s not as good as you makin’ it sound. Shoot! You see I’m in this house all day. I go to sleep alone every night.”

  “Come on, Brandie. That’s by choice. Shit! Sean bought you this big-ass house, and Hunt bought you that Yukon. So what else do you want? Shit! If I could have all that I would sleep alone, too.”

  “Robert takes care of that ass too. So what’s the difference?”

  “I have a small townhouse and a Honda Civic. That’s a little short of what you have.”

  “It’s coming, baby girl, it’s coming.” We slapped hands.

  Me and Caymin had become very close. We went out all the time, to the malls, clubs, seminars, and plays. We seem to be well-made friends. No jealousy or envy.

  Thank you, Lord, for sending me a friend that doesn’t cast a shadow over me or me over her. We lift each other up simultaneously. Your blessings are truly in need.

  Amen.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

/>   Luvly

  “Hello.”

  “Hello?”

  “Hel-lo.”

  “Hi, is this . . . umm . . . Chas?”

  “Chaise. Yes, this is she.”

  Damn! She was already answerin’ Chocolate’s phone. Must be gettin’ serious.

  “This is Luvly.”

  “Hi, Luvly! How are you? Chinoe’s on a phone call with the agency. Do you want me to have him call you back?”

  What is she? His damn secretary? Have him call me back?

  “Can you please tell him that I’m about to take Sapphire to the hospital?”

  “Is she all right?”

  “I don’t know. Tell him I’m going to Emory and he can either come or call me on my cell phone.” Stupid bitch! If I knew, I wouldn’t be taking her to the damn hospital. I already don’t feel this Chaise chick.

  “Okay.”

  “Thanks.”

  I didn’t know what was wrong with my baby. She was burning up and saying her legs and arms hurt.

  “Sap, your legs and arms still hurtin’?”

  “Yes, Mommie,” she cried.

  “Okay, baby girl. Mommy and your uncles are going to take you to the doctor.”

  “No! No! He is going to hurt me!”

  “No, sweetheart, the doctor is there to make you better,” I tried to convince her, wiping both of our tears, as she lay in my arms, defenseless.

  “I want Uncle Chocolate and Uncle Money!”

  “Okay, Babe.”

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  “Damn! Money, pick up the phone!”

  “This Money. Sorry I missed—” Damn it! I didn’t want that shit. Where could he be? Oh, damn. Today is the day he helps at the Boys’ Club.

  “I think your Uncle Money is helping at the Boys’ club today, Sap.” She lay limp in my lap.

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  “Hello.”

  “Are you leaving now, or do I need to come get you? I’m down the street from you.”

  “Yes, Ma, please. Sap is doing bad, and I can’t find Money. I think he’s at the Boys’ Club!”

  “Calm down, baby. I’m on my way.” My mother, Lord knows, was a strong woman. She had to be, to be able to deal with me and all my trouble. I envied her smooth, dark-brown skin since I was a child. I saw her big, light-brown eyes every time I looked at Sap.

  “Come on, Sap. Let me put some clothes on you.” What can possibly be wrong with you, little girl? She had never been this sick before, apart from the occasional ear infection, chicken pox, and slight colds.

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  Looking at the caller ID, I saw “Babe.”

  “Hey, Babe, what’s up?”

  Relieved to hear Money’s voice, I told him, “Sap is sick. She has a one hundred three-degree fever, and she said her legs and arms hurt.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  “No, just go to Emory. My mother is on her way over here. It’ll take you too long to get here.”

  “All right. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Once at the hospital, doctors rushed her back because of her high fever and swollen arms. They asked me to stay out front because they had to ask her questions about someone possibly abusing her. The small dark, purplish spots on her swollen arms looked like bruises. They were overreacting if you ask me, but that was procedure.

  * * *

  Forty minutes later, “Miss Mancini, we are going to give her an cool bath to bring her fever down. Do you mind helping us? She won’t let us undress her. Said her grandmother told her no one is to see her but her mom, and her grandmas, not even her uncles.”

  I gave him a slight smile, proud of her little self-righteous self, and that he didn’t come out and say she was dying. I put my hands to my mouth, and let out a deep breath.

  “Ma, when Money get here . . . tell them that he is her father so that he can come back.”

  “Okay, honey.”

  Maybe all of this was the stress of me and Diamond fighting. I had to change my life if I want Sap to have a better one.

  “Sap, are you feeling better?”

  “A little bit.”

  “We gave her a mild pain reliever. Her arms and legs are very tender.”

  “Thank you very much.”

  I looked into Sap’s beautiful eyes, thinking about how vulnerable she was right then. I hadn’t been a bad mother; I’d just made poor decisions for both of us.

  “Uncle Money!” Sap jumped up.

  “Girl, sit down. He’s coming to you.”

  “Hey, Babe.” He kissed Sap, then me. “You okay, big girl?”

  “I feel a lit-tle better. I had to take some nas-ty stuff.”

  We both laughed at her.

  “She still silly.”

  “Don’t chu know it. That’s your side coming out.” I said, hoping he would catch on to the fact that I was telling him that she was his.

  “So what did they say?” He sat down beside her and held her tiny hands.

  “She has to stay in this tub at least an hour.”

  I sat back and stared at them. They looked just alike. She had everything from him, except his lips and eyes—those belonged to me and my mother.

  “What are you staring at?”

  “You and your daughter.”

  Sap was playing with toys, so she wasn’t paying me attention.

  Money looked at me with wide eyes. “Are you for real?”

  “Yes, Money. I know she’s yours, but I know I’m still going to have a blood test to confirm it and to make Diamond a final exit.” He hugged me tight. I felt all the love we’d been missing out on. “I love you so much, Money. Please tell me you are ready to be in love with both of us. Tell me you are ready to love me as your wife, lover, and friend, and your child’s mother.”

  He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. “Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear you say those things and mean it. I’ve always been in love with Sap and the idea of her being my child, but you have taken me through hell and back with Diamond. I’m scared to just give my all to you. We tried this once before, and you failed. I don’t want to fail. I want everything you do, but you have to show me that you are ready.”

  Being with Diamond as recently as three months ago, I knew he was right, so I couldn’t blame him for feeling the way he did. “I understand. When the time is right, we’ll know.”

  Money pulled me close and rubbed my back, telling me he loved me, while we waited for the doctor to come back with the results of Sap’s test.

  “Mommie, do I have a daddy? I don’t have one, do I? Karrey at school has a daddy; Trinket has a daddy, too.”

  I looked at Money for an answer to give her. She was getting older and more inquisitive. We had to tell her something.

  “You do know what a daddy is, don’t you, big girl?” Money asked with a loving voice.

  “Yesssss, bu-t-t I do not have one,” Sap said, shrugging her shoulders, and raising both of her palms up.

  “Yes, you do.” He took a deep breath and a long sigh. “I’m your daddy. Would you like that, big girl?”

  She stopped splashing the water and looked up at him. “You my daddy? Ump umm, you my uncle Money.”

  “Who is always there when you hurt yourself? Who is there to pick you up from school?” Money asked, seeming kind of sad from the years of frustration. “Take care of you and put you to bed at night?”

  “Uncle Chocolate, you, Mommie, and my two grandmas, and Papa!”

  “That’s right, and we all love you very much. And Daddies do all those things and more.”

  “But Daddies live in the house with Mommies and kids.”

  In a hush-hush voice, he said, “Damn! She’s too smart for her own good. Maybe she’ll be a lawyer or politician.” He smiled. “Your daddy will be living with you soon, Sap. Very soon.”

  “Okay, Uncle Money.” She stood up and held her arms out for a hug.

  My daughter finally knew that Money
was her father, even though she really didn’t understand. That’s all I ever wanted her to know.

  “Miss Mancini, everything looks okay. The swelling in her arms and legs has gone down, and her fever has dropped to 99.6. We’re thinking that maybe she had an allergic reaction to food or the environment. But we would like to do some extensive tests. We’ll call you with that information. Just give her this prescription for pain twice a day, and this one if her fever comes back. If she gets any worse, bring her back. We also would like to do blood work on you and her father.”

  “Okay. Thank you, doctor.”

  The doctor remained with a silly grin on his face. “Oh, can I ask you, sir, for one thing?”

  “Do you have a pen? And tell me who to make it out to,” Money said.

  The doctor laughed and thanked Money.

  “You want my autograph, too, Miss?” Leaning his forehead on mine.

  “Yeah, on my stuff tonight.”

  “I’ll bring my special pen for that autograph.”

  Everything was looking up; I just hope it stayed this way.

  Chapter Forty

  Chocolate

  “Why didn’t you interrupt my call?”

  “I . . . I didn’t know what to do, Chinoe. The call you were on was important so—”

  In a strong, hard voice, I said, “Sap is the most important of the two—or anything for that matter!”

  The look on her face told me she got the message loud and clear. Walking up to me, she layed her head on my chest. “I apologize, Chinoe. I truly do understand that she comes before anything,” she said before abruptly going downstairs.

  I knew I hurt her feelings by talking to her like that. But my baby was sick and she came before work.

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  “Starr residence.”

  “Ma, Luvly call you?”

  “Yes, she’s on her way back home now. Money is with her. Mrs. Mancini was there, too. And where were you? Why couldn’t they get in touch with you?”