Don't Hate the Player

by Brandie

  Ding, Dong. Ding, Dong.

  “Girl, Whatchu doin’? Open up!” Caymin screamed through the intercom.

  Sean released inside of me. “Goddamn, this pussy is so . . . ummmm. You still got it,” he said and slapped my ass. “Too bad I couldn’t taste dat thang.”

  I scrambled away from him grabbing my robe and some paper towels, wetting them, wiping myself off. “Get out!” I screamed.

  “Nooo, baby, I’m here for the weekend. Invite your friend in,” he said as he buckled up his pants.

  Ding, Dong.

  “Brandie, girl, what are you doing? Open up.”

  “Sean, fuck you! It’s over.” I ran to the door.

  “What’s up, honey? I thought I was gon’ have to call the fire department.”

  “Naw I was working out in the basement and I couldn’t hear you.”

  Caymin’s eyes looked past me, taking in a full view of Sean.

  He walked up behind me, kissing me on the neck, “What’s up? And your name is?” Extending his hand.

  “Caymin.” She looked at me with question in her face.

  “Sean was just leaving. Thanks for everything.” I excused him without looking in his eyes.

  He laughed. “I’ll see you later, baby girl.”

  “Never will be too soon.” I said under my breath.

  “That was Sean Parter, the rapper?” She asked, smiling from ear to ear.

  “Yep.” I said not interested in explaining how I knew him or anything about him. “So tell me about your cruise?” I asked trying to get her mind off of Sean.

  “Wonderful, girl we went to the Bahamas.” I looked interested, but my mind was on what had just taken place.

  Lord, have mercy on me.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chocolate

  Ding, Dong. Ding, Dong.

  “Hold yo’ damn horses; I’m comin’,” Miss Fresh hollered through the door. She cracked the door and buttoning her robe. “Oh, oh, come on in, Money and—?”

  “Chinoe.”

  Smoothing her wild, uncombed hair with her hand, she said, “That’s right. How y’all?”

  “Good. Good.”

  “Thanks for all y’all have been doing for us and for getting me in this program,” a thin Miss Fresh said, lighting a cigarette.

  Morgan, a sixteen-year-old-used-to-be-virgin-before-Taeko, walked slowly down the stairs looking heartbroken and took a seat on the couch across from her mother.

  “Miss Fresh,” Money cleared his throat, “Morgan went to the clinic today, and she’s four months pregnant.”

  Miss Fresh looked at Morgan. “Mo, why you didn’t tell me?”

  Morgan fiddled with her fingers, looking like the true little girl she was.

  “Tell me, Mo. How we gon’ take care of a baby when we got all these babies in here now?” She started scratching profusely.

  “It’s Taeko’s, Mama,” Morgan shouted wide-eyed, as if they’d won the lottery.

  “What?” Miss Fresh still scratching looked confused and not nearly as excited as Morgan anticipated. She looked back at us. “Basketball player?”

  I two-wayed him and told him to come in the house.

  His six-eight, dark frame, sporting braids, expensive clothes, and twenty-karat earrings looked like a million dollars, and felt like shit.

  Taeko walked in slow and cautious, standing at the door speechless.

  “Why my baby, Taeko? She only sixteen, the one that was gon’ make something out of her life. Your money don’t mean shit to me . . . when you come in here taking advantage of my child. She has three meetings over the next six months with them scholarship people. How she gon’ talk ’bout playin’ soccer wit’ a potbelly? Whatchu gon’ do, Mo? Let all that go to waste over a man who probably don’t want chu, anyway? Ain’t chu married wit’ two babies of yo’ own?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Don’t ma’am me. What? Yo’ life jus’ s’pose to go on and hers stop for a damn baby and a couple of dollars.” Then she turned toward Morgan. “Is that whatchu want, Mo? Money? Ain’t they gave enough?”

  “If it’s mine,” said Takeo, “I gone to take care of it, but I’m going to sign my parental rights over.”

  My hand was itching to slap this muthafucka, right then and there, for old and new.

  Miss Fresh placed her hands on her hips. “Oh, you think that’s gon’ make the problem go away? She stuck with takin’ care of it while you play ball and travel the world with yo’ family? Livin’ the good life?” she said sarcastically, beginning to scratch again. “ Naw, yo’ wife gon’ know ’bout dis.”

  Money tried to reason with her. “Miss Fresh, I promise you, Taeko will be dealt with, but let’s not get innocent people involved. We just need to calm down and figure this thang out.”

  “I want five thousand dollars a month until this thang is over.”

  “Hell, naw, I ain’t payin’ this crackhead ho no five thousand dollars a month!”

  “You gon’ pay worse than that in hell!” Miss Fresh jumped up and ran toward Taeko, but I grabbed her, taking her into the kitchen of her new house, that Money had just bought five months ago.

  Morgan was still sitting in the same spot. “Taeko, I love you. I want to be with you.”

  For the first time in a long time he put someone else first besides himself. He pulled Morgan to her feet and hugged her.

  They both sat down on the sofa. “Morgan, you are a special to me, but I can’t be with you. I don’t love you, but I like you a lot,” he said, sounding like a grade school boy. “You are too young right now. I got caught up, but you have to go on with your life. I’m really fucked up right now. I don’t know what’s good for me, let alone someone else. I don’t even take time up with my kids for runnin’ the streets. I’m sorry, but this is it.”

  “See, what I tell ya! He don’t want chu—none of ’em do. Done got yo’ li’l pussy and gone,” Miss Fresh said, rolling her neck, as I blocked her from going into the den.

  “I’m getting an abortion,” Morgan said with sadness, her head held down. “I want to go to school and play soccer.” She swiftly turned to Money. “Money, please tell me this won’t stop you from sponsoring us; we need it to survive. Don’t put us back on the street.”

  Such a young, vibrant, beautiful young lady, with so much potential. Attention from a baller, older man, money, designer clothes and now a baby, a meal ticket for the rest of her life. Could anyone blame the impressionable young girl?

  She hugged Money and Taeko.

  We left the house in silence and got in the truck. Then all hell broke loose. “Muthafucka, I should take yo’ ass out to a field, twist two wire hangers together, and whoop yo’ ass like a slave.” Waving my gun around in my right hand, “That young girl ain’t got a daddy, but I’ll take his place.”

  “Chocolate, I’m tired of this shit. Who the fuck you think you are? You done got a little pussy and think you the shit! Nigga, you still ain’t shit!”

  I stomped on the brakes in the middle of the street, grabbed my gun from my waistband, jumped out of the truck, and opened his door. “Get cho muthafuckin’ ass out.” I said calmly.

  “Chocolate, throw me the gun,” Money said, noticing my nasty attitude.

  “Taeko will die tonight if he fucks with me.” He towered my six-foot frame, but I didn’t give a fuck. “Talk that shit now, nigga.”

  “Look, take me to my shit so I can ride out.”

  I cocked the gun. “The only way you gettin’ to yo’ shit is if you whup my ass and take my keys.”

  Money was laughing in the truck, thinking I was just fuckin’ wit’ him, but I was dead serious.

  The first punch came fast and stiff, knocking me to the ground; my gun fell to my feet. “Now, take me to my shit!”

  Before he turned around I was on my feet and into his stomach, hitting his back into the open truck door. His arm flew between the door, so I slammed it on his arm.

  “CHOCOLATE!” Money screamed, running
around to the side of the truck we were on. “What the fuck you doin’?” He opened the door.

  “Teach him to stop touchin’ shit all the time. I know you fucked Haven. She told me ’bout that shit once she knew I wasn’t gon’ let her back in. That slimy bitch thought that shit was hurting me. I’m glad I ain’t fuck ’er stanking-ass pussy—especially after yo’ slimy ass. You act like a jealous bitch, always eatin’ somebody else leftovers, but I got something fo’ that ass if you ever try Brandie.” I grabbed my gun and pointed it to his head. “Now get cho punk ass in the truck so I can take you to the hospital.”

  * * *

  He had no breaks or fractures, just a swollen hand and a hurt heart. He got off easy, twice . . . in one night. That nigga better pray about his life before his blessings run out.

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  The Session

  Luvly, Brandie & Caymin

  “Robert got you sittin phat,” Luvly told Caymin, as her and Brandie dragged bags of clothing into the house.

  “I told her this Condo is tight,” Brandie said, pushing Caymin playfully.

  The marble floors in the foyer led into a round sunken den. Layered with fur rugs, and throw blankets—brown and crème. The Isley brothers serenaded us as we walked through.

  “Ya’ll the one with mansions laid. Come on in. I made some tea lemonade anddddd,” waving a bottle of green liquid, “apple martinis.”

  “Where is the wine?” Brandie asked.

  Smiling, Caymin went behind the bar. “I’m not gone play dress up, hostess and be a bartender. Here is everything you could possibly want.”

  Luvly and Brandie filled up two glasses a piece, one of the pre mixed apple martinis and the other with wine.

  “I don’t drink, but I’ve been needing and wanting one of these.” Brandie said as she took a big gulp of her drink.

  “Where is Sap?” Caymin asked, getting comfortable on the sofa.

  “With Joi,” Luvly answered through sips of the tart, but strong drink.

  “I can’t get over how everything has changed with you and Joi becoming close.”

  “Not close, cordial, for the kids. Our daughters are the same age, you know, like sisters.”

  Brandie was all ears, already finishing one of her glasses.

  “Before we get started selecting outfits for the LADY OF SOUL and VMA’S, can we talk about Money’s party. The most important thang, who not to invite,” Luvly demanded, watching Brandie gulp down her other glass.

  “Not need to invite?” Brandie inquired in a tipsy voice.

  “Girl, you took that straight to the head.” Luvly and Caymin slapped hands, acknowledging Brandie’s quick drink. “I don’t want all of Money’s old flames and my enemies at the party. This is a start of a new year and his birthday. We have enough months to weed out all the bad apples.”

  Brandie jumped up. “I got to go to the bathroom.”

  “You can’t drink girl.”

  “That’s what I was gone ask you Luvly. Salone and Joi are stuck together by the hip. How do you trust her to be around Sap?”

  “She ain’t crazy. Joi love Sap like her own, and if all else fail, Chinoe and Money will get in Salone’s ass about her. About seven months ago I had to beat her ass at Spondivits.”

  “Whaddd?”

  “She came in there drunk while we were eating. Popping off at the lips, saying shit about my baby being a bastard. I stabbed dat bitch wit’ a fork ’cause she hit me in the face with a beer pitcher.”

  “Whadddddd?” Caymin screamed with excitement. “She is so stupid for playing second all these years.”

  Brandie walked in the room like she was walking on the catwalk—dead gorgeous. “Not as stupid as I was for being the last on Diamonds list.” Luvly downed her second Appletini. “I was just dumb.” She said bothered by the whole thought of Diamond. “I really was stupid for him.” Admiring Brandie’s crème leather pants and halter top, “Girl that is the shit. You gone turn more heads than your super model boyfriend.” Luvly quickly started on a third drink, with Diamond on her brain.

  “Ok, my turn. Since I’m only going to the Lady of Soul awards this should be simple.” Caymin stretched her long legs before going to try on her dress.

  “Diamond?” Brandie snapped her fingers, trying to remember, “He Puerto Rican, Cuban or something ain’t he? All I know is he fine as hell.

  Luvly, very intoxicated, smacked her lips. “He was once Sap’s father.”

  Brandie spit some of her third drink out, “I thought . . .”

  “Yeah, she is Money’s, but . . . it’s a long story that I don’t want to tell right now, I’m feeling too good.”

  “He be at the club a lot. Handing out a lot of cheese. Every girl, including bartenders and waitresses be tryin’ to get wit’ him. But I don’t date men from the club. I only see them as a pay check.”

  “Thank God for small blessings. You’ve saved yourself dignity, a broken heart and your pretty face.”

  “Well, I got to give it to you. Diamond is fine as wine. I can see why you so crazy about him.”

  “Crazy over who?” Caymin asked, entering the room like a goddess, in a pink sheer, one shoulder dress.

  “Diamond.” Brandie looked up, giving her full attention to Caymin’s dress. “That’s cute. It’ll definitely work.”

  Caymin modeled the dress like one of the PRICE IS RIGHT beauties.

  “Heartbreaker,” Luvly said to Brandie.

  “We gon’ be the smell on the shit.” Brandie snapped her fingers.

  “Forget the fire, we gone be the bomb.” They both laughed.

  Luvly held onto the sofa, cramping up on the floor, with tears running down her face.

  “We gone out do Mariah Carey, Mary J and . . . Luvly, girl, what’s wrong?” Brandie jumped to her knees.

  Caymin kneeled down, touching Luvly’s shoulder. “You all right?”

  Luvly held onto her stomach, unable to speak. Only to think about the day Diamond truly broke her down.

  * * *

  Sap was two years old, participating in a Georgia Baby Misses contest. Two days before the contest Luvly took Sap to the mall to pick up her costumes. To get to the store, they had to past Micks.

  “ ’mell good, Mommie.”

  “Yes it does, baby.”

  As Luvly looked through the window to admire the happy families eating together, her heart almost stopped, mid-beat. Her eyes watered without a blink. Her hand was tight in a fist.

  With her feet moving, Luvly followed her stare, leading her to a table with a mother, a father, a little boy and a new born baby, both children favoring their father.

  “You ain’t shit! You knew I was coming up here to pick up Sap’s stuff today. You can’t even give me that much respect!” Luvly knew what was going on with Diamond and other women, but she never had to deal with it face to face.

  “Take yo’ ass outside. In here causing a scene.” Diamond waved his fork at Luvly, dismissing her like a child.

  There was only one young, white couple in earshot. They kept their eyes glued to their own table.

  “You can take this mudhole bitch and her nappy headed puppy out to—”

  Jordan jumped up out of her seat, “Hold on bitch—”

  “Sit cho punk ass down,” Diamond directed Jordan. “If ya’ll don’t shut the fuck up, I’m gone fuck both of ya’ll up.” Jordan sat back down in her seat, defeated once again.

  Once the threats started coming, the white couple grabbed their things and left.

  “Muthafucka, that’s why I don’t wonna be wit’ cho trifling ass.” She threw her six-karat, white gold, broken promise, ring into Jordan’s plate.

  Diamond laughed at her like she was a little child putting on a talent show. “Luvly, if you don’t . . .”

  “Whatchu scared of, Diamond? That another man will do a better job at taking care of what you obviously can’t?” She patted her stomach, letting Jordan know that she was pregnant.

  Slap! Smack!
He knocked her to the floor with all his might. Showing her and anyone else that was looking that she didn’t mean shit to him. Sap stood motionless, watching her mother get beat to a pulp.

  “Jordan, get Sap and take her to the house!” he screamed.

  “Nooo!” Luvly screamed from her bloody mouth. She scrambled hard to get to her knees, but Diamond punched her in the face. “Don’t touch my baby!” As Luvly tried again to get to Sap, Diamond grabbed her by the shirt, jean jacket, and hair, all in one try. Dragging her off to the bathroom. Why did he take my baby? Somebody go get my baby from these monsters! Please help me; he’s going to kill me!

  The manager was glad that they had taken it to the bathroom, out of the sight of patrons enjoying their dinner. He didn’t want to call the police and disturb his restaurant. He’d only been on the job two weeks and wasn’t going to jeopardize losing his position because of some ghetto shit.

  Diamond slung Luvly into the bathroom like a rag doll.

  “What the fuck is wrong wit’ chu?”

  Luvly sat back on the wall with tears pouring from her eyes, “Please get my baby back. Go get Sap.”

  “Why do you make me fuck you up?”

  She sat quiet, starring into nowhere.

  “Answer me, bitch.” He stomped his foot into her chest.

  Between breaths, “Why . . . do you . . . treat me . . . like this?”

  He released his foot and backed away from her.

  Crying, “Call Jordan and tell her to bring Sap back to me.”

  “Naw, I’m sending Sap to Cuba.”

  Covering her mouth and stomach with her hands. She thought she was dying. Her baby was going to stay with that treacherous family, making Sap hug and kiss them even when they were mean to her, beating her, starving her when she didn’t obey by their rules. Telling her horrible things about her mother.

  There was a long silence. He stared at her, secretly admiring her beauty and strength. “When I first met you, I knew you were too young for me. Man, I knew all along that you only wanted me because I was different from what you was use to. But I had to have you. You were a challenge for me.” He was smiling now, looking as good as the day they met. “You wouldn’t have sex with me no matter how much money I gave you or what I bought you. All my boys thought I was going soft. But I just wanted to make you smile. You was the only girl that ever got to me like that.” He looked at Luvly, “But you had other plans all the time. You had to have Money Loan ole punk ass. Mannn, my boys that were sent to watch over you would call me and tell me when ya’ll was fucking and you sucking his dick. I loved you so much that I let all that shit go. Until the day I found ya’ll violating our bed.” He punched the paper towel holder. “I’ll never let you go to him. I’ll kill you first.”