Don't Hate the Player

by Brandie

  I didn’t even answer my mother. She just wanted to act a fool about whatever Luvly had told her about Chaise.

  “What did they say is wrong with her?”

  “She had a high fever, and her arms and legs were hurting. They gave her some pain medicine and a cool bath. She’s doing better. I talked to her little grown butt. Let’s not start letting the new cat in the cage handle your business.”

  “Yeah, Ma, whatever. Well, that’s good. They had me scared.”

  “Whenever you can escape from your master come by. A package came for you.”

  “What kind of package?”

  “I don’t know; I don’t get in your business. Hold on. Someone wants to talk to you.”

  “Hey da, boy.”

  “What’s up, old man?”

  “Living. Making a living and trying to live right.”

  “I heard that. So when you get back?”

  “Two days ago, but I’ll be leaving again next week. After that I’ll only have to fly out one weekend every two months to make sure everything is going as planned.”

  “Yeah, I got to go to Cancún in three weeks. Until then, I’ll be doing local shoots and two shows at the Cobb Galleria and Lenox Mall.”

  “Get your old man some of them ‘Sace suits. Ha! Ha! Ha! Them some sharp suits.” My dad still thinks he is as young as he is cool.

  “I hear you. Tell Ma I’ll be by tomorrow. I’m going to rest.”

  “All right. Check you later.”

  My dad thought he was slick, hanging under my mother for her good food, and loving.

  “Chaise.”

  “Yes?”

  “Come here, sweetness.” I needed to apologize to her. She needed to know that I did respect her. Even though I was using her to fill a void in my life.

  “Yes?” She came halfway up the steps to the landing step.

  “Our shoot is in three weeks in Cancún.”

  She shook her head yes and started walking back downstairs.

  “Wait a minute.” I walked up behind her, wrapped my arms around her waist and my lips around her ear. “Forgive me.”

  “Stop, Chinoe,” she said in a lazy, but happy tone.

  “I’m sorry about snapping earlier. Forgive me?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Maybe?” She jerked away from my arms and ran toward the stairs, but I caught her before she took her first step. “Where you goin’?” She started squirming, trying to get away. “Feisty, huh? You gon’ make us fall down all these steps and break my back. If I break that, all of this is gone to waste.” I rotated my hips on her ass.

  We fell onto the landing of the stairs, and Chaise ended up on top. Damn! She looked good sitting up there. Her silk robe barely closed, I slipped my finger through the opening.

  “Stop!” she said, slapping my hand. “I’m still mad at you.” I kept fingering her through the opening of the robe. She slapped my hand again. “For real, Chinoe. You hurt my feelings.”

  “Let me make it up to your feelings.” I opened her robe and massaged her breast. “Damn, you look good up there!”

  She looked at me through lusty eyes but said nothing.

  “Give me a kiss.”

  “Are you truly sorry?” she asked, pouting.

  “Let me show you.” She leaned down thinking I wanted a kiss, but I flipped her over.

  I licked slowly across her lips, down to her neck. She held my head close to her trying to control the heat that was rising between her legs.

  I continued my tongue bath, licking and sucking her breast, hungrily pushing both nipples into my mouth. Using my tongue like the wave of an ocean.

  “Ummm,” she moaned as I licked her navel down to her hairline. “Sssttt, Chinoe.”

  Her thighs were next, sucking on them like they were succulent ribs. She started backing up, so I pulled her aggressively to the first step, opening her legs and putting each one on a banister.

  Her breathing was becoming heavy, as she tried to keep control of herself. I began sucking on her panties, blowing hot heat to make her wetter. “Damn! Chinoe, I want you.”

  “Be patient. I want you dripping.”

  I stuck my finger inside her to see how bad she wanted me. She was just right. I pulled my finger out of her and licked it in her full view.

  She layed her head back and arched her back so that her pussy was right at my mouth. I slipped her panties off and sucked the hell out of that pussy. “Ummm. Damn! Chinoe . . . ohhh . . . umm . . . mmm, ahhh, ooooo, it’s so good! Eat it, Babe!”

  I knew this wouldn’t erase any hurt I’d caused her, but it would calm her down for the moment.

  When I finished wiping my wrong away, she sat on my lap. She was so excited, riding my dick fast and hard. It felt good holding her hips as she let my entire dick all the way inside her. But they weren’t as full and soft as Brandie’s.

  Damn! I wanted her. Thinking about her sex, Chaise became better by the second. “Damn, Brandie!” I came so hard it felt like I’d busted a vessel in my dick.

  She stopped riding and pushed my head. “Who? What did you just call me?”

  “Babe.”

  “Chinoe, you don’t call me that.”

  “I did this time; it was so good.” I pulled her to me and kissed her. I knew she heard me call her Brandie. But damn, if she only knew . . .

  “Do you want to go with me over to Luvly’s?”

  Her eyes lit up. I’d never introduced her to any of them, so I figured this would dig me out of the hole.

  “Yes, I would love that!”

  Patting her on the butt, I said, “I have to go by the center to set up vouchers for the new kids.”

  “I still can’t get over how successful the center is and how much y’all give to families. That is just so sweet and unselfish of you all.”

  “That’s what we became famous for: to give back to the community. Let’s take a shower.”

  I needed to be intoxicated right then and forever with some Brandie.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Brandie

  “I know Mesia didn’t steal my sky-blue outfit last week, that skanky heifer! I know I put it on top of everything in my locker.”

  “She hatin’ like that?”

  “Yeah . . . that jealous bitch! She was jockin’ Sean before he really blew up, so you know that put a dent in our friendship from jump.”

  “I heard she was trying to get close to Hunt?”

  “What? Not my sugar daddy. I know him better than that, though. He likes women with class, with something going for herself. That piece of trash is very much lacking all of the above.” Neglecting my initial mission, I turned towards Caymin. “Caymin, why you just now tellin’ me this?”

  “ ’Cause y’all work together. I don’t want y’all fightin’ over no man.”

  “She fightin’ me over you and you a woman,” I told her, looking at her out the corner of my eye. “You sure you didn’t give her any?”

  “Whatever,” she said, throwing a big pillow at me. “Y’all were closer than me and her,” she added, with raised eyebrows.

  While trying to act unconcerned about Mesia being up on Hunt, I started applying lip gloss, trying to change the subject. “So are we going to the mall?”

  “You got it, chic.”

  Not knowing about Mesia and Hunt was eating me up. “So tell me how you know about Mesia trying to get with Hunt?”

  “Promise me you won’t get mad and start no shit with her.”

  I looked away since lately I had been having trouble keeping my promises.

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  “Robert said when they were in the club, you know, when you were in New York?”

  “Yeah.”

  “She stayed at their table the whole night. She was trying to turn these two other girls on to them at first, but then, when Hunt asked them to leave, she stayed. Robert said that Hunt paid her about a grand.”

  “For what?”

  “Da
ncing, I guess.”

  “Naw. Fuck that dancin’ shit! Fuck that!”

  I got on the phone immediately. Robert was in love with Caymin and told her everything, so I knew he told her the whole story. She was just trying to keep me from kicking Mesia’s ass.

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  “Yeah.”

  “Yeah, my ass.”

  “What’s going on, Ma?”

  “Mesia.” I said with much attitude. “Did I stay in New York too long?” I grunted, slapping my hand on my thigh.

  “Ain’t nobody messin’ around with no Mesia. She just danced for us—”

  “You.”

  “Us, Brandie. If Caymin gon’ tell the story, tell her to tell it right.”

  Hunt’s mellow tone was pissing me off—like he was unaffected by me or life itself. “So why five hundred, Hunt?”

  “Mannn, why you coming at me wit’ that bullshit.”

  “Oh so you admitting it?”

  “Shiddd, I was DUI and—”

  “And I’m GDT!”

  “What?”

  “God-damn-through!” I hung up on his dumb ass.

  “Brandie, why you call him? Robert ain’t gon’ tell me nothin’ no more.”

  “Ahh, girl, your pussy and looks are your security,” I told her, recognizing she was just worried about losing his money.

  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring.

  “Hello.”

  “Brandie, stop playin’ games!”

  “This is not a game! I find out you fuckin’ her it’s over; this whole package will be expire.”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “Hunt, I’m going to the mall. Talk to you later.”

  “You need some money?”

  “What I tell you about askin’ me about what I need. I don’t need a damn thing but God and my family!”

  “Sorry, Babe. Will a grand be enough?”

  “Yep,” I responded smacking my lips. Niggas needed to pay for their mistakes. Maybe they would stop being so damn sorry. But the sad part about it was niggas like Hunt could afford to be sorry all their lives.

  “That’s all?”

  “I’m not greedy.”

  “I’ll shoot it through there in a minute.”

  “Naw. Bring it to Lenox.”

  “I’m right here by your house.”

  “Lenox!”

  “All right.”

  He was gone set me straight in front of her ass. We had to pick up those suits for the party at 6:30. She would be there, and so would he and I.

  Lord, please guide me and lead me to the right things in life. Help me make the right choices and avoid the same misguided decisions.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chocolate

  Ding, Dong. Ding, Dong.

  Ding, Dong. Ding, Dong. Ding, Dong . . .

  “They must be fuckin’ cause damn—it don’t take nobody that long to get down eight or twelve steps.”

  “Let them enjoy each other,” Chaise said.

  I saw Luvly standing at the top of the stairway with nothing but a t-shirt on.

  “Open the damn door ol’ crazy girl!”

  I barely heard her say, “Hold on,” through the thick glass.

  Money finally opened the door. “Nigga, it ain’t cold outside, and I’m sure ain’t no bullets ridin’ yo’ ass.”

  Chaise’s eyes danced with excitement at the sight of Money.

  “You know I had to handle a little business. Had to whup that ass in Madden right quick.”

  “Man, y’all left me outside for the damn Play Station.”

  Luvly hopped down the stairs like a little child. “It was getting crucial. Hey, you must be Chaise,” she said, pronouncing it slowly and correctly.

  “Yes. Hi, how are you?”

  “Fine. Have a seat.”

  “Where my baby at?”

  “She is just waking up from that medicine; it made her drowsy.”

  Running from upstairs, Sap shouted, “Hey, Uncle Chocolate. Hey, Hey!” and jumped into my arms. “I feel better, Uncle Chocolate.”

  “That’s what I want to hear.”

  Her face looked a little swollen.

  Pointing at Money, Sap asked, “Who is that, Uncle Chocolate?”

  “Uncle Money, you silly girl.” Her giggle made Chaise smile.

  “Daddy!” My eyes got big as I looked at the smile on Luvly’s face.

  “You are so beautiful. What’s your name?” Chaise asked.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Chaise.”

  I really didn’t want Sap to know her all that well since I didn’t expect Sap to be seeing Chaise on a regular.

  “Hey, you guys thirsty?” Luvly asked, playing happy homemaker.

  Chaise cleared her dry throat. “Yes, I’ll have something to drink.”

  “Chocolate, get your woman a drink; you ain’t no guest in this house, boy.”

  Cutting my eyes at Luvly, I went to the kitchen to get us something to drink. “Aye, Money, where the cranberry juice?”

  Walking into the kitchen with a smile on his face, he said to me, “She tight, Dawg.”

  “Yeah, but she ain’t the one.”

  “What? She tight. She got a good-ass job and she travel. That means good pussy, self-supported, and space.”

  “She ain’t the one.”

  “Man, stop chasin’ that dead-ass dream. Be happy that that type of women is hangin’ around. The type of women like her,” he said pointing toward the great room, “are high above their means. They are usually too professional and independent to know what they want, but she wants you—bad!”

  “You right, but she just isn’t the one. Trust me, Money.” We walked back into the great room with me shaking my head no.

  “I didn’t know Chaise was your photographer,” Luvly said. “She does some beautiful layouts.”

  “Naw, it’s just my beautiful face and body.”

  Both of them put their hands in front of my face.

  “No. Like I said, she got an eye for a good shot.”

  “Jealousy is an ugly thing,” I said in a funny accent.

  Sap began falling asleep. “She’s still tired. She had a rough day. I’m going to put her in the bed and myself as a matter of fact. I’m tired, and I haven’t had any drugs. Nice meetin’ you, Chaise,” Money joked as he took Sap upstairs.

  “Well, Miss Luvly, I just came by to see my girl. I’m still tired from the session we had a few days ago.”

  “So what are you going to do about Sap’s party? I know y’all comin’?”

  “It’s on; whatever you need I’ll do it. But Chaise got a shoot that weekend,” I answered without confirmation from her.

  “Well, I don’t know yet,” said Chaise with an “I-can’t-believe-you-didn’t-ask-me tone.”

  Yes, she will, if I have anything to do with it. I don’t want her mingling with everyone, trying to make something out of nothing.

  “Taeko talkin’ ’bout rentin’ a big place.”

  “Naw. Why? She only four. Let’s have it at Dave and Busters.”

  “Yeah, that’ll be nice; that way the grown-ups can play, too.”

  “How many people comin’?”

  “Over seventy-five kids I know, and probably eighty-five adults.”

  “Well, call me if you need anything else.”

  Chaise seemed bothered by the closeness as Luvly and I hugged. For all the right reasons we rode in silence. I was through explaining my relationship with Luvly to her and anyone else.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chocolate

  I had to literally shove Chaise’s out of control, jealous butt onto the plane. She tried to make up every excuse why she should and could stay to accompany me to Sap’s party. I convinced her that no one single would be there, and if they were, they had kids. And she knew I wasn’t too keen on dating women with children.

  We paid the restaurant to shut down the game area for Sap’s party. But they left the rest of the rest
aurant area open so that it could make more money off of people coming to see celebrities.

  Being agitated and feverish put a halt on Sap’s running around and playing. She was more interested in looking than participating.

  Taeko and Money saw to it that all their teammates and their families were there. Each giving Sap a card with a hundred dollars, plus a gift.

  “Chocolate, do you think we should bring the cake out now? She’s getting tired and sluggish.”

  “Give ’em a little more time. Let everybody get here.”

  “My mother and father are riding with your mother and father.”

  “Is Mama Loane coming?”

  “Yeah, he sent a limo to get her.” Money’s grandfather passed early last year. He died peacefully in his sleep one night while reading his bible. Now the only joy Mama Loane had was Money, Sap, and me. My mother took care of her twice a week. But her heart and strength died with Papa Loane.

  Luvly’s parents and my parents walked in with arms full of presents.

  “Heeeey.” Luvly hugged everyone. “Y’all give this girl too much all year round; she doesn’t need all this stuff.”

  “This baby needs everything and can have anything she wants.” My mother picked Sap up. “She’s warm, Luvly.”

  “I know, but I wanted y’all to be here to see her blow out her candles.”

  My dad gave her a hug and kiss. “You gettin’ to be a big girl now,” he said, pulling at her legs. “Gonna have to buy you a car in a few years.”

  She laughed and hugged him back.

  “Hey, Pops,” I greeted my dad, embracing him. “Old man, you smellin’ good.”

  “Yeahhh, my handsome son sent it to me from one of those European places he visited.”

  “He is handsome, huh?” I asked, rubbing my face.

  “Boy, you crazy.”

  Mr. and Mrs. Mancini hugged Luvly and Sap. “How’s granddaddy’s baby?” he asked Luvly. It’s like he could read the worry of her entire life, on her face.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Why are you not playing with the other kids, little lady?” Mrs. Mancini asked, placing kisses on her forehead.

  Sap shrugged her shoulders.

  “Aahhhh, hey, girl. Glad you could make it!” Luvly greeted someone screaming like she hasn’t seen them in forever. I couldn’t see who it was due to the armful of presents I was carrying to the room.