Don't Hate the Player

by Brandie

  “I asked you to let me go, Diamond. But you wouldn’t.”

  “I couldn’t. I want you for always. Even if that meant you suffer to your death. Now get up and take your clothes off.”

  “What?”

  “I ain’t gone ask you no more. Take ’em off. I need time to get Sap to the plane without you making trouble.”

  Her tears came back forcefully. “Please, please—give me, oooh, baby I swear I’ll be good.” She grabbed onto his leg, trying to gain strength.

  “If you fight me I’ll beat cho ass unconscious.”

  “You can do anything to me, I swear—”

  “Whooping yo’ ass ain’t gone solve nothing no more, so I’m hurting you the sure fire way I know how.”

  He had finally gotten to her. At this time, Money had promised to stay out of her life and Chocolate was out of town for a month. She was on her own now. Lost. Hurt. Angry.

  She removed her clothes and Diamond made her have sex, right there on the nasty, cold, bathroom floor. She could feel her body rejecting her pregnancy. The cramps were horrible, but she dare not reject Diamond or she would lose her life as well.

  Bam! Bam! Bam! “This is the manager, I need you to come out, or I’m going to have to call the police.”

  “I’ll take her where you’ll never see her again.” Diamond threatened Luvly, looking deep into her eyes.

  “Yes, sir, I’m fine. I’m pregnant and having complications.”

  “I’ll go get help.” The manager went to get help.

  Diamond left Luvly on the cold, nasty floor, naked, and raped of more than just her clothes and sex—dignity, control of her life, pride and most of all her child.

  What was she going to tell the police? Her mind was steadily racing, trying to figure out how she was going to cover up the mess that Diamond had once again stirred up.

  * * *

  “Talk to me, Luvly. Can you breathe?” Brandie asked, getting a queasy stomach herself.

  Luvly exhaled and layed her head back onto the sofa, and spoke with a soft, wet voice, “This alcohol was the wrong thing for me.”

  “You scared the shit out of me.” Caymin held her hand over her chest.”

  “Talking about Diamond got me upset, I’m sorry I scared ya’ll. But I just hate that dirty muthafucka.” She wiped her tears away, wishing she could wipe away the memories. “Well, it’s my turn.” Luvly grabbed her bag and went into the bathroom.

  “I’m glad I didn’t experience all the bad stuff Luvly did with Diamond, having dated some bad boys myself,” said Brandie.

  Caymin remembered the day she was at Brandie’s house, the look on her face and the guy Sean, was that Caymin had walked in on something that was suppose to be secret.

  “Have you talked to Sean lately?” Caymin asked.

  Almost choking on her drink, Brandie responded, “Naw.”

  “I don’t know why you still messing around wit’ anybody. Chinoe gives you everything and more.”

  Brandie clenched her teeth and stared at Caymin through mean eyes.

  “Chinoe is the only man I need and want. And you right, he’ll take care of everything I need,” she said in a smart tone. “I just hope Sean, stays the hell away from me.” She added in a serious tone.

  Luvly walked back in with a two-piece black flower printed skirt and half top set on. “Well, we do need some fine men. I got some single cousins visiting from Italy,” I added.

  They both stopped mid discussion. “Where you get that from? That is so fire.”

  “You like? I guess from ya’ll tongues hanging out, this is VMA all the way.”

  “I wonder if I should keep my outfit on and call Dun over here after ya’ll leave.” Caymin smiled.

  “Dun?” Luvly questioned.

  “She done had her eye on Dun for some time now. He go to school wit’ us. When ya’ll start talking?” Brandie inquired, glad to get the subject on someone else.

  “About two weeks ago.”

  “Ahh, you really got your eye on this Dun, Caymin. I know that look, that’s how you use to look when you were with Chocolate.”

  Silence tightened their lips. Luvly being sorry that she’d drank too much, thought she should have kept her mouth shut. Brandie looked stunned. And Caymin looked wild-eyed, because she probably hadn’t told Brandie that they used to be together in a real relationship.

  Brandie said it real slow. “My Chocolate?” Putting her hand over her heart?”

  “It was years before ya’ll,” Luvly said, trying to compensate for opening up the can of worms in the first place.

  “I’m talking to Caymin,” Brandie snapped.

  “Excuse the fuck outta me,” Luvly snapped back.

  “We use to be together in high school.”

  “Ya’ll fuck?”

  “Nooo, he’s, or was a virgin,” Caymin said with regret in her voice.

  “Oh. Well, that’s cool. Ya’ll were kids. No hard feelings.” Brandie hugged Caymin. But I could see the hurt in Caymin’s eyes. She still loved him, and wanted to be with him.

  Trying to break the monotony, Luvly said, “Well, what about this Dun, Caymin? You stepping out on Rob?”

  “Robert all right, but I never committed to him. So I’m single to mingle.”

  We laughed and slapped hands.

  “Dun look like he can eat some good coochie? Big pretty lips.” Brandie said through a huge smile.

  “Just make sure he brush his teeth first. I went to the OB-GYN last week. She said that a nasty tongue could give you bacteria.”

  “Can I ask you something, Luvly? Something I’ve been dying to know?”

  “Yeah, Caymin.”

  “Who’s better, Money or Diamond?”

  Luvly gave her a crazy look. “I don’t tell.” Smiling, “They about the same in bed, Money got ’em by a little bit. But out of bed Diamond is no competition.”

  Ring . . . Ring. “Hello. Ok, I’m on my way. Brandie, are you sober enough to drive me down the street to the shop?”

  “I’m cool now, I done pissed most of it out.”

  “Okay. Caymin check on the decorations and half of the crowd. I’ll call you.”

  “Bye, ya’ll”

  In unison, we said, “Bye.”

  If what Luvly saw in Caymin’s eyes was true, then Brandie better watch out cause the desire Caymin had for Chocolate was serious.

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Chocolate

  “You nervous, baby?” I asked Brandie, looking all sweet in her brown, burnt orange, and tan stripe Gucci dress that crossed in the front, and hung down over the hips with slits up to her hips on both sides, and burnt orange strap sandals up to her knees.

  “Yes. It’s just that so many people are here that weren’t at the Lady of Soul awards. When I take my position as an entertainment lawyer, I’m going to demand that my clients support all black awards shows and functions.”

  “That’s my baby. Thinking ahead of the game. You look good too boo.” We kissed.

  “Ahh, nigga, quit that shit in here. If I ain’t gettin none, you can’t either.” Money said with a long lip.

  “You shouldn’t have been talking about my skirt.” Luvly pouted.

  “What skirt? Here we go again. You know you stole that shit from Sap closet.”

  “Fuck you.”

  Luvly’s black flower printed, see-through, two-piece set would have been in the garbage if Brandie had thought about wearing it. But she looked good in it, as long as she wasn’t my girl.

  Joi and Taeko stayed home to get some quiet time. Thank God for small blessings.

  The limo pulled up to the red carpet, “Here we go, baby.” Brandie looked like she was praying for something, very uncomfortable.

  The paparazzi, media and fans were screaming, “Chocolate, we love you.” “Over here, Chocolate.” “Smile that million dollar smile right here.”

  “Damn, I know you fine, but they are going crazy over you,” Brandie screamed in my ear, over everyone else.r />
  “But I’m here with you. And I have the million-dollar smile, so they say and pay.” Damn, I’m glad Chaise had a shoot to do in Milan. She’d been right up in my face acting crazy.

  After doing countless interviews and answering who Brandie was for the hundredth time, we were free to go to our seats. Leaving Money and Luvly behind to do more interviews.

  Some one bumped shoulders with me. “Excuse me, brother. Sorry ’bout that. Oh, snap, what’s up, Sean?” We slapped hands.

  “What’s up, Chocolate, right?”

  “Yeah, good luck on all six nominations.”

  Remembering the picture on Brandie’s mantel, “You know Sean, right, Brandie?”

  “Hey,” she said in dry tone, “I got to use the bathroom.” She shot off toward someone with earphones to ask where the bathroom was.

  He laughed. “Check ya later.”

  “Later.”

  Brandie returned shortly after Sean left, like she was waiting for him to leave. “Boo, you a’ight?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I thought that was ya boy. You took a pic—”

  “And that was all, a picture at the club. He was and is a nobody.” She said sternly, as if she were warning me to drop his name from our vocabulary. “Come on let’s go sit down. I’m just amazed at all the people I’ve seen on TV, and actually seeing them in person is crazy.”

  “Are you going to be all right when I go up to present the award?”

  “Yeah, just come back to me, after being next to Vivica Fox and Lisa Raye.”

  The night turned out perfect. Even though I didn’t get no pussy. I couldn’t believe my boyz and I had actually made it—STAR status!

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Brandie

  Tonight was wonderful! Being on the arm of the sexiest man at the show, and wearing the baddest Gucci dress that Chinoe had made for me was unreal. It couldn’t be recreated. Women who walked the red carpet every week of their life complimented me on my dress.

  But that damn Sean had to come in the picture. What was that shit he was trying to pull. He’d already done enough. Raping me in my own home wasn’t enough for him. He had to rape me again, in public, in front of my man. I felt like vomiting on him, scratching his eyes out.

  Someone I once thought I could be happy with violated my body and worst of all my spirit. But I wanted Chinoe to have a wonderful night, so I ran to the bathroom as fast as I could before I spat in Sean’s face.

  He thought I was the most precious thing in the world. How could I tell him that I had to get an abortion two weeks ago, because of what Sean did to me?

  God, that was the most horrible thing I’d been through, besides what got me in that predicament. Sean was scheming on ways to bust my bubble, but I had to make the first move—sell the house, auction off the truck for the Lupus foundation and tell Chinoe the truth about everything . . . No—way.

  It was going to get harder trying to avoid having sex, when I’d been his sex kitten; periods only came once a month, and yeast infections didn’t last forever.

  Chinoe kept talking about having a family. I didn’t want kids right then. He was trying to make me into the little old lady that lived in a shoe, at twenty-two.

  * * *

  My baby looked so handsome in his crème Sean John suit. Fresh hair cut. Enough waves to make an ocean jealous. And a sexy goatee that would make anyone weak, especially when he licked his lips and caressed it with his fingertips. The women and press were going crazy over him, screaming, “Chocolate, Chocolate, you so fine!” “Can I be your lady?” “I love you!” “I wanna have your babies.”

  I was so nervous with all those cameras and mikes in my face, but Chinoe handled it with a grain of salt. He introduced me as, “Brandie, the DELITE of my life.”

  I was so proud of him. But the bigger question was if he knew everything about me, would he still be as proud of me???

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Brandie

  The sunshine sprayed down on us brightly and selfishly, taking all of our energy for itself.

  “Chinoe, this lake is so beautiful.”

  Rubbing his nose on mine, he murmured, “Not as beautiful as you.”

  “Boy, what am I going to do with you?”

  “Love me, like me, stay with me.”

  I layed into his chest and closed my eyes. It seemed like we’d been together for an eternity even though it’d only been a few months. We knew what each other’s moves were before we made them, finishing each other’s sentences. I was not use to being so close to someone like that, but I was trying. It wasn’t hard, just frustrating when I wanted to roam free and Chinoe wanted to be in my footsteps.

  He walked me down onto the docks where there were three mid-size boats and one large boat.

  “I’ve never been on a boat before.”

  “I was hoping I could be your first for something.”

  See that was the type of shit he said that got on my nerves, but I was in love so I over looked it.

  “What do you mean?”

  “This is my boat.” He said with a smile on his face, pointing at the candy painted yellow boat with MYSTERY STAR, painted on the side in silver.

  “For real?”

  “And the white one is Money’s.” Sapphire graced the side of the boat in blue and silver glitter.

  “That one must be Taeko’s?” DREAM CHASER, in black, glided across the red boat.

  “Yep, and that one is my mom and dad’s.”

  “How sweet. It has your name on it.” SWEET CHOCOLATE.

  “Come on, your day of spoiling has begun.”

  As we got onto the boat Eric Benet’s FEMININITY started playing. Three big fluffy pillows that seat two a piece had gift boxes on each of them. On the yellow pillow there were three gifts; a long rectangle box, a square flat box, and a tall octagon box.

  With a big smile on my face, I said. “What is all this?”

  “Wha’zzzzz up, my people?” I turned around to see Money screaming, with Luvly in his arms.

  “Damn Money why you always got to be so loud?” Luvly said, as she reached for a hug from Chinoe then me. “Hey girl. Ooh them shoes are the bomb. Where you get ’em from”

  “At that boutique at the mall . . . aah . . . Doll Wear.”

  She stared at me and then cut her eyes at Money. “Can I see how they look on my feet?”

  “Luvly, cut that shit out.”

  “I just want to try ’em on.”

  Was this a joke on or something? Luvly’s little bitty feet could not fit in my shoes, but I gave them to her anyway.

  She slung them toward the lake, Money grabbed her arm to stop her, but Chinoe caught them just in time before they hit the water.

  “What da hell? I thought we were cool?” I asked her.

  “Oh, we are,” snatching away from Money. “It’s just where the shoes came from.”

  “I’ll just take them down stairs and put them in the cabin. Ya’ll ladies have a seat while we go get the rest of the stuff.” Money and Chinoe went down to the cabin leaving Luvly and me to have some girl talk.

  Peeping from the door, “Don’t open those gifts, Luvly.” Money winked at her, but she smacked her lips and turned her head away from him.

  “Glad my outfit didn’t come from Doll Wear or I’d be naked out here.”

  She laughed, “Sorry ’bout that. Do you know the owner?”

  “Not really. I don’t get involved with too many females. I’ve just seen her a few times.”

  “Salone ole slimy ass. The one I told you about.”

  “Oh, yeah, she the one all over the papers and magazines with him?”

  “Yep and that bitch gone get what’s coming to her too. If not from me, from somebody.”

  “Yeah, you started telling me about when you was pregnant, but you didn’t get into it.”

  “She tried to make me lose Sapphire. She jumped on me with some of her friends. But what she didn’t understand was that me and Money choose
each other time and time again. We aren’t going to leave each other alone—”

  We heard someone step onto the boat. We both turned around and met eyes with Taeko and some unknown woman.

  Luvly whispered, “Oh, my God, Taeko is really tripping. Money and Chinoe are gone flip.”

  “I can’t believe him, especially with them all being high profile. I bet the paparazzi are giving their cameras a work out.

  Taeko walked up like he didn’t have a care in the world, “What’s up, Luvly and Brandie.”

  We both said “hi” in low, hushed tones.

  “Where dem boys at?”

  “Down in the cabin.” I answered.

  “Taeko, whatchu you doing?” Luvly asked, staring dead into his eyes.

  The female that was with him was displaying comfortable body language. She sat down on the last pillow available. “Hi. How ya’ll doing? A sista is hungry. Working out all day,” she added, smiling at Taeko, insinuating sex, “brings on a healthy appetite. Ain’t you dat girl that go wit’ Money Loane?”

  “No dis heffa ain’t in my business,” Luvly said, talking to me.

  “Ahhh, Luvly. This is Kenya.”

  “I don’t want no formal introductions. Ya’ll need to leave.”

  “Why? This is a day for all of us.”

  “What the fuck e’va.” Luvly walked down to the cabin.